Nationals left fielder Adam Eaton has been shut down from baseball activities for now so the bone bruise in his left ankle can completely heal. Eaton had initially hoped his ankle injury would limit him to the minimum 10 days on the disabled list, but he continued to feel discomfort whenever he tested it. He was re-evaluated this past week and the team wants the outfielder to focus on getting treatment. Eaton played in just eight games before landing on the disabled list, and it's going to be some time before he takes the field again.
Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes went 3-for-4 with a solo homer Tuesday vs. the Braves. Cespedes returned to the Mets' lineup Tuesday at Citi Field, just two days after leaving a game early due to a left thumb injury suffered during a stolen-base attempt. Cespedes, who was heating up at the plate when he was pulled on Sunday, stayed hot on Tuesday by clubbing his seventh homer of the season in the sixth inning off Braves rookie right-hander Mike Soroka. The solo blast marked his sixth hit in six straight at-bats dating back to Saturday after he singled in his first two chances on Tuesday.
Nationals righty Max Scherzer won after allowing two runs on three hits (one homer) and two walks with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings vs. the Pirates on Tuesday. Scherzer's MLB-leading sixth win was a relatively easy one as Washington pulled away, building its lead to 12-0 through six innings. The three-time NL Cy Young winner held Pittsburgh scoreless until yielding a two-run homer to Corey Dickerson in the seventh, extending his streak of starts with two or fewer earned runs to seven to begin the season. Six of his seven outings have been quality starts, and he now sports a 65:11 K/BB ratio in 45 1/3 innings. Scherzer will look to keep rolling in his next scheduled start vs. the Phillies at home on May 6.
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, two runs scored and a walk Tuesday vs. the Pirates. Moved up to the leadoff spot to take advantage of his elite on-base skills (.458 OBP entering Tuesday), Harper launched a three-run shot off Chad Kuhl in the bottom of the fifth for his ninth home run of the year. He also drew another walk; his 39 free passes lead the Major Leagues and have helped him score 25 runs as well as post a 1.013 OPS. Given his success in the leadoff role on Tuesday, it's possible manager Dave Martinez will continue using him there in the future.
Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, a walk and a stolen base Tuesday vs. the Dodgers. Pollock homered for the fourth time in two games with a shot to lead off the second inning. After swatting three homers the night before, Pollock jumped on an 89-mph fastball from Clayton Kershaw and deposited it over the wall in left. The homer was the 10th of the year for Pollock, who is now tied for the Major League lead. Six of his homers have come against the Dodgers, and seven of his last 15 hits overall have left the yard. He also picked up his seventh steal.
This is just a small sample our daily analysis, join our member area for over 80 daily player updates sent to your inbox every morning and track your team online. Click here for details: https://www.insiderbaseball.com/baseballsample.htm Click here to register: http://www.fantistics.com/salesbaseball.php3
