Michael Pineda hasn't pitched much this season, but when he has been on the mound, it's generally been good for the Yankees.
MLB news: Michael Pineda and Jeff Samardzija shine, Bartolo Colon clears waivers
Both Michael Pineda and Jeff Samardzija led their teams to victory Monday night, while Bartolo Colon reportedly cleared waivers, enabling the Mets to trade the right-hander to any team.
Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Pineda impressed again Monday night, stymieing the Royals over 6⅓ innings in the Yankees' 8-1 win in Kansas City. The right-hander gave up only five hits and an earned run, striking out five batters and walking none. The outing lowered Pineda's ERA to 1.95 and FIP to 2.70 on the year.
The Yankees, meanwhile, moved to within 2.5 games of the second Wild Card spot with the victory, and have now won five straight contests.
Samardzija dominates Astros in A’s win
Jeff Samardzija gave the A's a strong start Monday in Houston, helping Oakland move into a tie with the Angels atop the AL West.
The right-hander pitched eight innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs, while striking out 10 Astros batters. Since being traded to Oakland, Samardzija has now made 10 starts and posted a 3.88 ERA. He has struck out 53 hitters and walked 10 in 67⅔ innings.
With the Angels and A’s both having 32 games remaining on their schedule, the two teams will face each other seven times before the end of the season.
Colon clears waivers
Rumors of a potential trade involving Bartolo Colon look set to heat up over the coming days after the right-hander cleared waivers Monday afternoon, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Colon has been the subject of trade speculation since before the July 31 deadline, and now that he has cleared waivers, the Mets can deal the 41-year-old to any team before the end of the season. Despite pitching in his 17th major league campaign, Colon has been a consistent performer yet again in 2014, posting a 3.82 ERA and 3.35 FIP over 25 starts this season. He has struck out 130 batters and walked just 22 in 167⅓ innings pitched.
Whether the Mets can find a suitable trading partner remains to be seen. The Angels could be searching for starting pitching following Garrett Richards' recent injury, and the Dodgers are also said to be in the market for pitching help given the injuries to their rotation.
Colon is set to make $11 million in 2015, but the Mets have no intention of simply dealing Colon to get rid of his salary. But with all the young pitching depth the club has, holding on to Colon likely doesn’t figure into the Mets’ 2015 plans.
Rays to keep Escobar
The Rays will not trade shortstop Yunel Escobar after the Athletics claimed him on waivers Sunday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Escobar has struggled for the Rays in 2014, but with both Jed Lowrie and Nick Punto currently injured, the A's could use some further middle-infield depth as they battle the Angels for AL West supremacy down the stretch. The 31-year-old Escobar has hit .253/.317/.318 with just 18 extra-base hits in his second season for the Rays.
The Cuban shortstop is under team control through at least 2016 and will make $5 million next season, $7 million in 2016, with the Rays holding a team option of $7 million for the 2017 season.
Cubs call up outfielder Soler
Yet another exciting young Cubs hitter is set to make his major league debut, with the club calling up outfielder Jorge Soler from Triple-A on Monday night, per CSN Chicago's David Kaplan.
Ranked as the No. 41 prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the season, Soler has torn through the upper minors after missing nearly two months with injury earlier in the year. The 22-year-old hit .415/.494/.863 in 22 games at Double-A before batting .278/.376/.593 in 31 games at Triple-A.
The Cubs signed Soler out of Cuba to a nine-year, $30 million contract back in 2012.
Bickford leaves Cal State Fullerton, eyes spot in 2015 draft
Former Blue Jays first-round pick Phil Bickford has decided not to return to Cal State Fullerton for his sophomore season, according to Perfect Game's Kendall Rogers.
Bickford is clearly eyeing a spot in the 2015 MLB Draft, with Aaron Fitt of Baseball America reporting that the 19-year-old is likely to head to junior college this fall. The Jays took the 6’4 right-hander 10th overall out of high school in the 2013 draft, but failed to sign him before he went to Cal State Fullerton.
During his freshman season at Fullerton, Bickford appeared in 20 games and made 10 starts, while posting a 2.13 ERA and striking out 74 batters in 76 innings pitched. He was named the Big West Conference’s Freshman Pitcher of the Year.
See More:
