Angels star player Shohei Ohtani has been named the starting pitcher for the American League in the 2021 All-Star Game while also batting lead-off. Adding to his already impressive All-Star weekend, Ohtani competed in the Home Run Derby just 24 hours before the All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.

Ohtani is the first player to earn All-Star recognition as both a pitcher and field player. Ohtani’s monumental status forced the MLB to change their rules in the All-Star game, as they altered the Designated Hitter rule specifically to suit Ohtani. He will now be the AL’s DH and hit at the top of the order while also pitching the first inning of the game for the American League.

Prior to the beginning of All-Star Weekend, Ohtani spoke with MLB.com. “It’s my first time so I just want to enjoy everything,” Ohtani said. “There’s also the Home Run Derby, so I’m looking forward to taking it all in and enjoying everything.”

Ohtani’s incredible season is highlighted by his league-leading 33 home runs, which is also a record for a Japanese-born player. Ohtani’s participation in the Home Run Derby made him the first Japanese player to participate. He came into the derby as the top seed, however, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets went on to win the event.

New York Mets superstar pitcher Noah Syndergaard his headed to the disabled list again, but not for the reasons you might expect. Syndergaard has been somewhat injury prone over the course of his career, mostly in regards to the elbow on his pitching arm, various issues with which have resulted in multiple DL stints for the right-hander. However, it’s not his elbow that concerns Thor and his team: it’s a rather unusual illness.

Syndergaard has been diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease, a virus which most commonly occurs among young children. It’s believed that Syndergaard contracted the disease while hosting a baseball camp for kids, at least one of whom was likely to have spread the disease via coughing or sneezing.

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The team first realized that Syndergaard was suffering from the illness after pulling him after the fifth inning of his start versus the Yankees on Friday, July 20. They noticed blotches and blisters in his hands, which they attributed to his loss in velocity over the course of the start. Following the announcement of Syndergaard’s disease, Mets manager Mickey Callaway indicated that the illness was mostly responsible for the pitcher’s drop in velocity, saying, “During the game, he didn’t quite figure it out. He knew he had trouble breathing. I put my hands on his legs to talk to him when he came out and said, ‘Hey, man. Is everything OK?’ And I felt his leg shaking. So he was just weak and run-down, and I think the virus just took its toll.”

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Callaway assured reporters that nobody else on the Mets roster or staff has shown symptoms of the disease.

Since the illness is not considered extremely serious, Syndergaard is expected to make his return as soon as he is eligible to get off the 10-day disabled list. As is the case, he is only expected to miss one start, much to the relief of Mets fans everywhere as their team continues to fall farther and farther down the standings.

Pitcher Casey Mize was selected as the top overall pick in the MLB draft on Monday, and is moving from one team of Tigers to another.

Tigers Select Auburn’s Casey Mize As Top Draft Pick

The Detroit Tigers selected the 21-year-old right-hander out of Auburn. Mize reportedly rotates frequently between four different pitches — a fastball, a splitter, a slider and a cutter — and has an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, according to ESPN.

Per ESPN, Mize has struck out 308 hitters and walked 37 in 255 1/3 innings at Auburn. His fastball is estimated to be in the 92-96 mph range.

Mize admitted that making it to the major leagues — and especially being chosen as the top draft pick — was something completely unexpected to him up until recently.

“People ask me a lot, ‘Is it your dream to get to the big leagues?'” Mize told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. “I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ Is it your dream to be the No. 1 overall pick?’ I’m like, ‘No.’ Never in a million years did I think that would be an option, and so when I was growing up, that was never a goal or anything.”

In Auburn’s College World Series on Saturday, Mize pitched seven strong innings in a 12-1 rout of Army in Raleigh, North Carolina. On Sunday, Auburn defeated North Carolina State 15-7. The Tigers will thus advance to a Super Regional for the second time in team history.

“You have to have a little something to make it to the highest level,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson told ESPN of Mize. “Casey has just been so impressive. You look at how he handled last year when it really started looking like, ‘Hey, this is a dude.’ He cares about where his feet are planted. He’s done a good job of caring about Auburn. There have been guys who’ve gotten so sidetracked and distracted by this kind of thing, I think it would sweep the average bear off his feet.”

Mize is the first pitcher to be drafted first overall to an MLB team since the Tampa Bay Rays selected current Boston Red Sox ace David Price in 2007.

Rounds 3-10 of the MLB Draft were held Tuesday at 1pm EST, and rounds 11-40 will be held Wednesday at noon EST.

Jake Arrieta is angry at the Philadelphia Phillies for their recent performances, and understandably so.

Jake Arrieta Says Phillies Need To Improve Defensively

The Phillies (31-26) have dropped six of their last eight games, and are third in the NL East. Included in this run is a three-game series loss to the Giants in San Francisco. After losing 4-0 and then 2-0, Arrieta drove in Philadelphia’s only run of the series in the final game, which the Giants won 6-1 on Sunday.

“Overall, it’s just a really horses— series,” the former Chicago Cubs pitcher told NBC Sports Philadelphia after Sunday’s defeat.

Arrieta’s criticism of his own team didn’t stop there, however.

“We’ve had bad defensive shifts. We had a checked swing,” he added. “[Shortstop Scott] Kingery should’ve gone to second on that play. And they got three hits in a row. The home run — credit [Andrew] McCutchen for putting a good swing on it, but did not expect a ball like that to get out.”

Arrieta specified further what be believes the Phillies need to improve on defensively.

“We’re the worst in the league with shifts, so we need to change that,” he added.

The Phillies next start a three-game series against the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday. According to ESPN, Arrieta (5-3, 2.66 ERA) is not expected to pitch for that series. The right-hander is next set to start against the Milwaukee Brewers at home on Saturday.

Arrieta signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Phillies in March.

It’s been a tough year for St. Louis Cardinals starter Alex Reyes.

During the 2016 season, Reyes quickly made himself out to be one of the best up-and-coming pitchers in baseball, throwing for a 4-1 record (and one save) and 1.57 ERA while striking out 52 batters over 46 innings and showing some pretty incredible velocity. However, he was sidelined for the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and underwent a long and arduous rehab process. The 23-year-old started 2018 on the 60-day disabled list due to an elbow injury and looked to make his way back onto a Major League mound as soon as he was eligible, a wish he was granted, but at a cost.

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Reyes took the hill against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, tossing 4 scoreless innings, giving up 3 hits, a pair of walks, and striking out 2. However, Reyes exited the game due to what the team later revealed as a right lat strain, which Cardinals general manager Michael Girsch described as “significant.” As a result, Reyes is back on the DL, this time for at least 10 days.

On exactly how long Reyes might be out, Girsch said, “It is not going to be a couple starts. It’s going to be more than a few starts. We don’t have all the information yet so we don’t know beyond that how long it’s going to be. But it is not a minor injury and we’re gathering more information.”

Unfortunately, it seems as though Reyes aggravated the elbow which has sidelined him for all of 2018 up until Wednesday. However, it’s at least a little bit promising that he is going on the 10-day DL as opposed to being out for at least 60 days. This is easily subject to change, but a little optimism never hurts.

St. Louis Cardinals rookie Jordan Hicks was on fire in Sunday’s 5-1 home victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, after he threw five of the fastest pitches of 2018 in the ninth inning.

Cardinals’ Jordan Hicks Tosses Pair Of 105-mph pitches

The 21-year-old right-hander tossed two 105-mph pitches on Sunday to become the first ace to throw several balls at that speed in the same outing over the last 10 seasons, according to ESPN. Odubel Herrera was on the receiving end of those two pitches.

Hicks also threw two 104-mph pitches and one 103-mph pitch against the Phillies. Those were all the fastest pitches thrown this year, according to Statcast.

Per ESPN Stats & Information, New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman is the only other ace to pitch 105 mph two or more times in a game.

Hicks is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA, and has logged nine strikeouts in 22 innings. Before him, another Cardinals rookie also put on an impressive display. Pitcher Jack Flaherty retired the first nine batters he faced over the course of three innings, and even had four consecutive strikeouts. Rhys Hoskins scored the Phillies’ only home run with one out in the fourth inning.

Hicks replaced Flaherty in the eighth and kept Philadelphia scoreless until the end of the game. The Cardinals won two of their four games against the Phillies at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis (25-19) is third in the NL Central and next hosts the Kansas City Royals on Monday at 8:15pm EST.

Houston Astros reliever Ken Giles gave up a big home run to the New York Yankees at home on Tuesday night, and he clearly showed how angry about this he was.

Ken Giles Punches Himself In Astros’ Loss

Gary Sanchez smacked a three-run homer over the center-field wall at Minute Maid Park in the ninth inning to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. New York won the game 4-0. As the visitors celebrated their major hit, Giles instead kept his head down and then punched himself hard across the face while furiously heading to the dugout. Giles, 27, then proceeded to throw a tantrum by picking up a bat and throwing it down onto the ground and kicking an object in the dugout.

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Unsurprisingly, dozens of GIFS of Giles’ actions began surfacing on social media.

Giles also allowed the Yankees’ fourth run and was pulled shortly after that. He took responsibility for the Astros’ loss, and noted how the defending national champions could have won the game had he played better. Giles has only given up two runs in his first 11 appearances this year.

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“I screwed up a win,” Giles told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart after Tuesday’s game. “We should have won this game. We should have bounced back. I didn’t give our team a chance. Of course I’m going to be frustrated with that. This team deserves the best out of everybody and they need me to be the best I can be. They deserve that and that’s what I’m going to give them from here on out.”

The Yankees (19-10, second in AL East) and Astros (20-11, first in AL West) will face off again on Wednesday at 8:10pm EST, the third game of a four-game series in Houston.

Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton received an unexpected, up close and personal visit from a bald eagle on Thursday, when the regal bird ended up on his shoulder.

James Paxton Bald Eagle incident, Mariners vs. Twins

The funny incident occurred during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Minnesota Twins’ home opener against the Mariners. Paxton, who was simply and quietly standing while the national anthem played, seemed to handle the situation in a rather cool manner, simply waving the eagle off after it landed between his arm and shoulder.

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The incident is also ironic because the eagle is usually associated with the United States, while left-hander Paxton is Canadian.

Shortly after the eagle landed on Paxton, its handler rushed onto Target Field and fetched the bird.

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“Figured I’m not going to outrun an eagle,” Paxton told reporters after the game. “So might as well see what happens.”

Incidentally, Paxton recently appeared in a Mariners ad. In the commercial, the 29-year-old pitcher removes his cap and shows that inside it are three bird eggs in a nest.

Paxton was the AL Pitcher of the Month in July 2017 and played for the Kentucky Wildcats in college.

The Twins won Thursday’s game, the first of a three-game series, 4-2. Minnesota and Seattle face off again at 2:10pm EST on Saturday.

Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi are donating their mansion in Branson, Missouri to charity.

Cole Hamels mansion donation news

The 32,000-square-foot home — listed at $9.4 million on Realtor.com — will be given to Camp Barnabas, a nonprofit that helps children with special needs and chronic illnesses.

“Seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, reading the stories of the kids they serve; there is truly nothing like it,” said Hamels, a four-time All-Star. “Barnabas makes dreams come true, and we felt called to help them in a big way.”

Heidi Hamels grew up in Buffalo, Missouri, about 85 miles away from the mansion. The Hamels began building the house — which sits on over 100 acres of land — in 2012. It went up for sale in August of this year.

“Our mission is to change lives through disability ministry, and we’ve been strategically looking for ways to expand our ministry outside of a summer camp,” said Jason Brawner, CEO of Camp Barnabas. “We have no doubt this gift will allow us to do just that.”

Hamels and his wife initially believed they would live in the mansion long-term. However, after Hamels was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Rangers in 2015, the couple moved to Texas and never moved into their Missouri estate.

Hamels helped lead the Phillies to a national title in 2008, and was also named the World Series MVP and NLCS MVP that year.

ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 25: Cole Hamels #35 of the Texas Rangers throws against the Cleveland Indians in the second inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 25, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay died Tuesday after a plane he was in crashed into the Gulf of Mexico near Holiday, Florida. He was 40.

MLB Pitcher Roy Halladay Death News

No other details were immediately available, including the total number of victims, injuries or cause of the crash.

Halladay was an avid fan of flying:

He was one of only six pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues. On May 29, 2010, Halladay threw a perfect game to lead his team to a 1-0 victory against the Florida Marlins. In his first-ever playoff start later that season, Halladay tossed the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history against the Cincinatti Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS. In the latter game, Halladay struck out eight batters and walked one.

The right-handed ace — nicknamed “Doc” — also played for the Toronto Blue Jays for 12 seasons during his 16-year career. He made eight All-Star games.

Halladay retired with the Phillies in 2013 and finished his career with 203 wins, 2,117 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.38. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

People from all across the baseball world expressed their condolences for Halladay on social media after his passing:

Halladay is survived by his wife Brandy and his two children, Ryan and Braden. 

ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 3: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the second inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field on April 3, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Free-agent pitcher Jason Hammel and the Kansas City Royals agreed on a $16 million, two-year deal on Sunday, and the contract comes with an option for a third year.

The $16M Deal For the Free Agent Pitcher Includes An Option For A Third Year

The option is a mutual one, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported the deal, pending a physical would pay the 34-year-old Hammel $8 million per year.

All offseason, Royals officials have said the team’s payroll would not exceed the franchise-record of more than $140 million in 2016.

Hammel went 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA and recorded 144 strikeouts in 30 starts with the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs last season. The right-hander did not pitch in the postseason. The Cubs declined Hammel’s $12 million option for 2017, which made him one of the best starters on the free-agent market.

The Cubs acquired lefty Mike Montgomery in a trade with Seattle last July, and he could replace Hammel in the rotation.

In two seasons with Chicago, Hammel went 33-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 78 starts. The righty first signed with the Cubs in February 2014 and went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 17 starts that season. He was then traded to Oakland in the deal that brought shortstop Addison Russell to Chicago. Hammel then re-signed with the Cubs the following December for $20 million for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Newly signed pitcher Brett Anderson, who signed a minor league deal with the Cubs earlier this offseason, could also play a greater role in the team’s rotation.

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 19: Jason Hammel #39 of the Chicago Cubs throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning on September 19, 2016 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

The Miami Marlins have acquired right-handed starter Dan Straily from the Cincinnati Reds for three of their top 16 prospects, the team announced Thursday.

Marlins Acquire RHP Dan Straily From Reds For Three Top Prospects

Miami dealt right-handed pitching prospects Luis Castillo and Austin Brice, and minor league outfielder Isaiah White. 

Straily, 28, is coming off a spectacular season with the Reds, going 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA. The righty made 31 starts and appeared in 34 games, throwing 191 1/3 total innings.

The Reds claimed Straily off waivers from the San Diego Padres on April 1. He tied for the MLB lead in homers allowed at 31.

Straily broke in with the Oakland A’s in 2012, and in five seasons in the Majors, he is 27-21 with a 4.24 ERA. He was previously involved in another big trade. The Chicago Cubs sent him to Houston in January 2015 in a deal involving Dexter Fowler, who now plays for St. Louis.

Where Straily fits into the Marlins’ rotation remains unclear. The team now has six candidates for five spots. In December, Miami signed free-agent right-hander Edinson Volquez and lefty Jeff Locke. Lefties Wei-Yin Chen and Adam Conley and right-hander Tom Koehler return from last year.

Along with Volque and Locke, the Marlins have also added relievers Brad Ziegler, Junichi Tazawa, backup catcher A.J. Ellis and brought back reliever Dustin McGowan this offseason.

Miami’s top priority this offseason was to deepen their bullpen and add durable starters.

Castillo, 24, pitched at Single-A and Double-A last season, going 8-6 with a 2.26 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings.

Brice, also 24, threw in Double-A and Triple-A. He was 4-7 with a 2.74 ERA in 32 minor league games, including 13 starts. He played in 15 games for the Marlins last season where he had a 7.07 ERA in 14 major league innings.

White, 20, was selected by Miami in the third round of the 2015 draft. He played at Single-A last season, hitting .214 with one homer and 17 RBIs in 51 games.

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 24: Dan Straily #58 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 24, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)

The Boston Red Sox added another ace to their starting rotation Tuesday, acquiring All-Star left-handed pitcher Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a whopping four prospects that include highly touted infielder Yoan Moncada and right-hander Michael Kopech.

Red Sox Acquire LHP Chris Sale From White Sox, Trade 4 Players

A baseball official briefed on the agreement confirmed the deal on the condition of anonymity, since the teams have not yet formally announced it.

The deal came at a large cost. Moncada and Kopech are two of the top prospects in the game. Per MLB sources, two well-regarded Single A players– outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe and righthander Victor Diaz– also went to Chicago.

The trade also, however, cements the Red Sox as a strong American League team who can do well in 2017, as the addition of Sale adds to a rotation that includes 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, and David Price, who won the same award for Tampa Bay in 2012.

Nevertheless, the Red Sox were able to keep their major league roster intact, something that did not seem possible given Chicago’s demands for Sale at the non-waiver trade deadline in July.

The Red Sox also boast Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz, who were All-Stars last summer, as well as Eduardo Rodriguez and Clay Buchholz, among their starters.

Earlier in the day, Boston obtained right-handed reliever Tyler Thornburg from the Milwaukee Brewers for a package of players led by infielder Travis Shaw. 

Sale, 27, was 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA in 32 starts last season. He has been one of the league’s most consistent and accomplished starters since being moved out of the bullpen in 2012.

In the last five years, Sale is 70-47 with a 3.04 ERA and an average of 226.6 strikeouts. He made the All-Star team in each of those seasons and finished between third and sixth in the Cy Young voting.

During that span, only Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers has a lower ERA and more strikeouts.

Kershaw has led the Dodgers to four straight division titles and has a $215 million contract. Sale has never pitched in the playoffs and is under club control for just $39.5 million for the next three years.

The White Sox are coming off their fourth straight losing season. Moncada, 21, signed for $31.5 million from Cuba in 2015. He hit .294, with 15 homers, 45 steals and a .918 on-base plus slugging percentage in the minors last season, earning a September promotion. Furthermore, Baseball America ranked him as the game’s No. 3 prospect before last season.

Kopech, the 33rd overall pick in the 2014 draft, has a 2.61 E.R.A. in 36 professional games, averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The 20-year-old has not pitched above high Class A.

KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Chris Sale #49 of the Chicago White Sox warms up prior to the 3rd inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Jeurys Familia will have to appear in court next week.

Mets Closer Jeurys Familia, Arrested On Domestic Violence Charge, Has Nov. 10 Court Date

The New York Mets closing pitcher was arrested at his New Jersey home on Monday following an alleged domestic violence incident, and now has a 10 a.m. court proceeding scheduled for Nov. 10 in Fort Lee Municipal Court.

Familia, 27– who is identified in the complaint as Jeurys F. Mojica– was charged with simple assault.

In a supremely ironic case, the charge comes just weeks after the All-Star Dominican pitcher appeared in an ad where he stated in Spanish, “I am a fan of baseball. I am a fan of the Mets. I am not a fan of domestic violence.”

Familia, who was been with the Mets for five seasons, shares his Fort Lee apartment with his wife, Bianca Rivas, and their 1-year-old son, Jeurys Jr. 

Fort Lee police chief Keith Bendul told the Record of North Jersey that police responded to a call regarding “a dispute” at an apartment on Park Avenue at 2:22 a.m. Monday. The battered victim suffered a bruised cheek and a scratched face, according to police, who said the victim’s injuries were visible to the naked eye.

The Mets star was released on $1,500 bail and is barred from phone, mail or personal contact with the victim– whose identity was withheld, the complaint stated.

Familia’s attorney, Paul Brickfield, has not yet made an official statement.

The public service announcement Familia appeared in last month was sponsored by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Other ads featured Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Knicks legend John Starks and other athletes.

New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who announced the campaign on Oct. 5, said in a statement she was “deeply disturbed” by the allegations against Familia and called on the MLB to launch an investigation.

Familia is the second athlete from a New York-based major league sports team to be investigated for domestic abuse in the last month. Former Giants kicker Josh Brown also confessed in a diary to abusing his wife, and was released from the team after initially being placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list.

“I will be reaching out to the Mets and the Familia ads will be removed from the campaign,” Mark-Viverito said. “Last week it was Josh Brown this week it’s Familia. The problem is rampant. The solution is to confront it.”

Familia’s arrest also will provide another test for Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, unveiled in August 2015 after negotiations with its Players Association.

Among the players who have been suspended under the policy is Familia’s teammate, Jose Reyes. Then a member of the Colorado Rockies, Reyes was suspended without pay for the first 51 games of the 2016 season in the wake of his arrest on a domestic violence charge last offseason.

Police at the time said Reyes shoved his wife into a door in a Hawaii hotel. Reyes pleaded not guilty and the charges were dropped because prosecutors said Reyes’ wife declined to cooperate. Reyes was released by the Rockies after his suspension ended and signed with the Mets on June 25.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 21: Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at AT&T Park on August 21, 2016 in San Francisco, California. The New York Mets defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-0. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Though he wasn’t physically present, Jose Fernandez was the name on everyone’s mind at Marlins Park on Monday night, and Miami’s team fed off the energy.

Marlins Honor Late RHP Jose Fernandez Before And After 7-3 Home Win Over Mets

Dee Gordon kicked things off, honoring his friend and teammate by taking a pitch in the right-handed batter’s box before turning around to his natural left-handed side and blasting a tearful leadoff homer in the first. Gordon also pointed up to the sky after going 4-for-5 and driving in two runs to pair with Justin Bour’s three hits to help lead the Marlins to a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets in Miami.

The game was bookended by tributes to Fernandez, the 24-year-old Cuban Marlins pitcher who died in a boating accident early Sunday morning.

The game began with a chilling pre-game ceremony, which featured a lone trumpeter playing the drawn-out notes of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The Marlins held a moment of silence. After this and a video tribute for Fernandez, both teams, rushed to the infield, where Mets players offered hugs and handshakes to their opponents. Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes, a Cuban and close friend of Fernandez, remained on the field to embrace several Miami players at length.

“This team is first-class,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “Our organization is first-class. I’m very proud of our guys, the way they went about things. They respected, certainly, the night. They respected Jose. And they’ll get ready to play tomorrow.”

Adam Conley made the start in place of Fernandez. The left-hander was appearing in his first major league game since he went on the disabled list on Aug. 14 with left third finger tendinitis. Conley worked just three scoreless innings and was removed after 45 pitches.A.J. Ramos closed out the game in a non-save situation.

The Marlins jumped out quickly against Mets starter Bartolo Colon, who worked just 2 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits. The Mets, after falling behind by seven runs, got on the board in the fifth on Asdrubal Cabrera‘s two-run double off Brian Ellington. New York also loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning, but Hunter Cervenka struck out Lucas Duda looking and right-hander Dustin McGowan retired pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson on a fielder’s choice to short.

Gordon had a season-high four hits, and Bour recorded his first career triple.

Marlins reliever David Phelps, who worked a clean seventh inning, slumped behind the mound and touched the painted No. 16 (Fernandez’s number) before heading to Miami’s dugout. Ramos retired Curtis Granderson to seal the win and the Marlins players gathered around the mound, all wearing Fernandez’s jersey, to honor their fallen teammate. The Marlins, who decided the No. 16 will never be worn by another franchise player again, then placed their hats on the mound.

“I’ve had nothing but hard feelings, strong feelings, for all those guys across the diamond since yesterday, since I heard the news,” Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud said. “I really couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose any one of my brothers here in the dugout. It was a really hard game today to even step on the diamond and see all of them.”

Marlins manager Don Mattingly said watching Fernandez’s loved ones reminded him of his own personal loss, which he suffered at a very young age.

“Watching his mom and grandmother yesterday reminded me of my brother, who was killed at 23, when I was like 6 years old,” Mattingly said. “And they shielded me. I was not really a part of all that, what was going on. But now I know what was going on. So I knew the pain.”

Collins embraced Mattingly after the pre-game moment of silence.

Mattingly continued to speak emotionally at the postgame news conference.

“I think it will get easier for us, as time goes, to play, and there are things you see,” he said. Myself, driving today, you come across that bridge and turn toward the parking lot, and there’s a big 16 on the building out there, overnight. And you get choked up. I think it’s going to keep happening to all of us, over time. I just keep thinking about the families. For us, it’s one thing. For them, it’s totally different.”

The two teams will face off again for the second game of their three-game series at Marlins Park on Tuesday night. Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard (13-9, 2.63 ERA) will return to the mound for the first time since coming down with a case of strep throat last week. Marlins righty Tom Koehler (9-12, 4.02 ERA) will be seeking his first win since Aug. 9, having gone without a victory in eight straight starts.

MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 26: Miami Marlins players all wearing jerseys bearing the number 16 and name Fernandez honor the late Jose Fernandez after the game against the New York Mets at Marlins Park on September 26, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball has suspended San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller for 30 days without pay for his conduct in the trade of All-Star pitcher Drew Pomeranz to the Boston Red Sox.

MLB Suspends Padres GM A.J. Preller 30 Days For Conduct In Drew Pomeranz Trade

The commissioner’s office announced the suspension on Thursday, but did not state in detail what Preller did wrong.

The general manager becomes the first non-uniformed personnel to be publicly suspended since the late Marge Schott, former owner of the Cincinnati Reds. Schott was banned for two years in 1996-1997 for expressing racial and ethnic slurs.

Despite the severity of the punishment, Preller will not be fired or receive further discipline, a high-ranking club official told USA TODAY Sports.

The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports only on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of their internal conversations.

The Padres traded Pomeranz to the Red Sox on July 14 for right-handed prospect Anderson Espinoza. 

MLB, which completed their investigation on Thursday, assessed that the Padres did not include Pomeranz’s entire medical records when they traded him to Boston. The Red Sox filed an official complaint with MLB shortly after the trade.

Preller said in a statement that he takes full responsibility for his actions.

“I accept full responsibility for issues related to the oversight of our medical administration and record keeping,’’ Preller said in a statement. “I want to emphasize that there was no malicious intent on the part of me, or anyone on my staff, to conceal, information or disregard MLB’s recommended guidelines.

“This has been a learning process for me. I will serve my punishment and look forward to being back on the job in 30 days.’’

At least one other team front-office executive insists the medical information was intentionally withheld, which led to Commissioner Rob Manfred’s harsh penalty.

Two other MLB teams– the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox– questioned the veracity of their records in summer trades with the Padres. The Marlins acquired pitchers Andrew Cashner, Colin Rea and Fernando Rodney, and the White Sox acquired James Shields.

While Pomeranz and Shields have stayed with Boston and Chicago, respectively, Rea was diagnosed with elbow ligament damage that may require Tommy John surgery. According to Marlins officials, Rea said he had been receiving treatment on his elbow for weeks prior to the deal. Rea was sent back to the Padres.

“We accept the discipline handled down from Major League Baseball and will fully comply with Commissioner’ Manfred’s recommendations pertaining to change with our medical administration and record keeping,’’ Padres CEO Ron Fowler, managing partner Peter Seidler and CEO Mike Dee said in a joint statement. “Rest assured, we will leave no stone unturned in developing comprehensive processes to remediate this unintentional, but inexcusable, occurrence.

“To be clear, we believe that there was no intent on the part of A.J. Preller or other members of our baseball operations staff to mislead other clubs.

“We are obviously disappointed that we will lose A.J.’s services for 30 days, but will work closely with him upon his reinstating to ensure that this unfortunate set of circumstances does not happen again.’’

Yet, considering Preller’s previous errors, one more strike could earn him a year-long suspension, and possibly even termination. This is Preller’s second suspension. Preller, hired in August, 2014 as the Padres’ GM, was also privately suspended by MLB in 2010 while he was an assistant GM with the Texas Rangers for violating international signing rules. He also was fined last summer by MLB for an illegal workout in Aruba.

The Padres have missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year, and are 4th in the NL West with a 62-84 record.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Ryan Schimpf #11 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Luis Sardinas #2 and Wil Myers #4 after hitting a three run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at AT&T Park on September 13, 2016 in San Francisco, California. The San Diego Padres defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-4. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Clayton Kershaw is set to return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday night following an 11-week absence due to a herniated disc in his lower back.

Dodgers Eager To Get Clayton Kershaw Back Friday Vs Marlins After LHP Suffers Lower Back Injury

Kershaw, 28, will do so as the Dodgers increase their National League West lead over the rival San Francisco Giants to a season-high five games with merely 23 left to play.

On June 26, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Dodgers, 4-3, at PNC Park. Kershaw took his second loss of the season that day. Three days later, he was diagnosed with a mild disc herniation in his lower back, and has not pitched in a major league game since.

He will be able to do so, however, on Friday night in Miami, when Kershaw starts the Dodgers’ three-game series opener against the Marlins.

“We’re excited for us as a team, but I think we’re excited for Clayton, too,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s been a season of highs and lows. For him to watch his teammates the last two and a half months, it’s been very difficult. So the anticipation to get him back on Friday, yeah, we’re very excited.”

Kershaw was 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA at the time of his injury. Since then, the Dodgers first trailed the first-place Giants by eight games in the NL West after the June 26 defeat in Pittsburgh.

Having thrown only 34 pitches in three dominant innings of work for High-A Rancho Cucamonga in his lone rehab start last Saturday, Kershaw will likely be held to 60 to 70 pitches in his upcoming matchup against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez. The Dodgers hope he can stretch those pitches over five innings.

For a pitcher who has started an average of 32 games the last seven seasons, waiting proved to be the most difficult part. Kershaw hinted at that when he told the media on Sunday: “I didn’t really learn anything other than it’s not fun to not play.”

In private, the left-hander attempted to look happy for his teammates, although Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said, “you could tell that he felt that pain for two months.”

Physical or emotional?

“He’s an emotional guy,” Jansen said. “He tried to hide it. You could tell he wanted to be out there so bad to help us win.”

After Fernandez on Friday, Kershaw will face left-hander Rich Hill on Saturday and Kenta Maeda on Sunday.

The Washington Nationals lost pitcher Stephen Strasburg to injury yet again on Wednesday night, so that is also sure to affect the National League standings.

For more than a month, the Dodgers’ top three pitchers lined up only in their dreams. Now, they’re lined up to pitch consecutive games for the first-place squad in the NL West.

Said Roberts: “It’s starting to shape up the way we envisioned.”

Kershaw’s performance over the first three months of this season represented a new high with his 218 ERA+, 1.67 Fielding Independent Pitching and 16.11 strikeout-to-walk ratios over that span, all of which are career highs.

There is a strong reason to believe Kershaw could deliver yet another top performance in his return. Coming off the only other disabled list stint of his career in May 2014, after a trip to Australia and a strained teres major muscle behind his pitching shoulder, Kershaw striking out 18 in his first 14 innings while allowing just three runs and walking no one in two starts. He allowed more than three runs in just one of his remaining 24 starts and won Cy Young and MVP awards despite missing a month.

Since the Cy Young award was created in 1956, only two starting pitchers have won the award in non-strike years with fewer than 200 innings pitched. One was Kershaw in 2014, when he threw 198 1/3 innings. The other was Rick Sutcliffe in 1984.

With a player as amazing as Kershaw, a lot seems to be possible.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 26: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 26, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are all concerned for starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker, the right-hander who is resting in a hospital following surgery to stop bleeding in his skull after a line drive hit him in the head in Sunday’s 4-2 win against the Mariners in Seattle.

Angels’ Matt Shoemaker Has Successful Surgery After 105MPH Hit

“We’re all thinking about him,” Angels center fielder Mike Trout said. “It’s bigger than the game of baseball.”

The Angels defeated the A’s 10-7 in Oakland on Monday, but before the game, they received the news that Shoemaker, who will be 30 later this month, had undergone surgery Sunday night.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler stated the surgery had been successful, and relatively straightforward. He expects Shoemaker to make a full recovery so as to be able to pitch next season.

The right-hander will remain in Seattle, accompanied by team trainer Adam Nevala, for the next few days, and then return to Los Angeles.

“We’ve exhaled a little bit,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “They hopefully corrected what was causing the bleeding. He’s resting comfortably. Hopefully it looks like everything is taken care of. Now it’s just a recuperation process for Matty. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”

In the bottom of the second inning of Sunday’s game, Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager hit a line drive, estimated at 105 mph, that struck Shoemaker squarely on the right side of his head. Shoemaker was immediately carried off and initially diagnosed with a laceration, and following CT scans at a local hospital, a skull fracture and hematoma were discovered.

Eppler stated he’d been in regular contact with Nevala, who has spoken to Shoemaker. The GM has also spoken to Shoemaker’s wife, who he said is holding up well.

“She’s a rock,” Eppler said.

Scioscia said he and many of Shoemaker’s teammates have been texting him.

“I’m just glad he’s talking and texting and reaching out to us,” said Trout, who exchanged texts with Shoemaker on Sunday. “He’s coming home in a few days and we’ll be happy to see him… It’s a scary moment for our team. A scary moment for him. Scary for baseball in general.”

Scioscia said the team is still considering several options for Shoemaker’s replacement. Tim Lincecum, who gave up one run in seven innings in his final start at Triple-A on Sunday, is one possibility. The only other clear options would be Jhoulys Chacin, Brett Oberholtzer or Daniel Wright. 

Wright, claimed on waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, was added to the active roster on Monday. The right-hander began most of this season in Triple-A, and made two starts in the majors in June.

The Angels have an off day on Thursday, so they could delay using another starter until one week from Tuesday, at home against the Mariners. After Shoemaker lasted just four outs before needing to leave the game, Jered Weaver came out after four innings on Monday. He had been hit in the hip by a line drive in the third inning, and it caused him too much discomfort to continue after the fourth. He is expected to be fine, however.

“Some guys are doing some really good things to keep us in games,” Weaver said. “It was kind of a weird game yesterday. You don’t know what to do. Do we keep playing or what? It definitely took the wind out of us. The bullpen came in and did a great job yesterday and they did a great job today.”

Shoemaker entered Sunday’s game with a 3.91 ERA and 9-13 record. The Angels (60–75) sit in fourth place in the American League West.

TORONTO, CANADA – AUGUST 24: Matt Shoemaker #52 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 24, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Jake Arrieta suggested on Wednesday that he’s worth more than the $175 million deal right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg recently signed with the Washington Nationals, and added he’s not prepared to give his team, the Chicago Cubs, the so-called “hometown discount.”

Jake Arrieta Hints Worth More Than Stephen Strasburg

“I’ll let you judge that,” Arrieta told reporters Wednesday morning, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers when asked what he believes his market value to be. “Just look at the numbers.”

Arrieta, 30, also pointed out that “aces get seven years,” seemingly hinting he considers himself one. Strasburg, who inked his seven-year extension with the Nationals on Tuesday, has never had a sub-3.00 ERA over a full season of starts, though he’s 5-0 with a 2.76 mark right now.

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Arrieta, meanwhile, has seen his ERA improve dramatically over his three seasons with the Cubs, going from 3.66 in 2013 to 2.53 in 2014 to 1.77 last season, during which he won the award and posted a 22-6 record. That trend has continued so far this season, as he’s gotten off to a 6-0 record with a 1.13 ERA.

“That’s why starting pitching is so valuable,” said Arrieta, whose agent is Scott Boras, who also represents Strasburg. “There’s not many guys that can pitch at the top of the rotation floating around the league.”

Arrieta is set to earn $10.7 million this season and has one year left of arbitration. He can become a free agent after the 2017 season. Once the Cubs and Arrieta begin discussing a new deal, this deal is expected to be well above what Strasburg received from the Nationals, perhaps in the $200 million range.

Cubs president Theo Epstein acknowledged that the Strasburg deal will have an impact on any potential contract talks with Arrieta, whenever such discussions would occur. Arrieta has stated he would be fine with contract talks in-season while insisting he’d be able to remain focused on baseball even if negotiations were to occur.

Arrieta’s comparables are more likely to be David Price (7 years, $217 million) or Max Scherzer (7 years, $210 million), who is also a Boras client. Both won the Cy Young Award before signing huge free-agent deals with the Boston Red Sox and the Nationals, respectively.

“Most of the focus has to stay on what we’re trying to accomplish today,” he said. “If we keep winning, those kinds of things work themselves out in time. If they want to talk, they know where I’m at and we can get something going …

“In a perfect world, I prefer it be done quickly. Let’s get it over with and go play.”

PHOTO: NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 18:  Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch in the first inning against the New York Mets during game two of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Citi Field on October 18, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Bartolo Colon is a 42-year-old New York Mets pitcher who has long been beloved by his team despite never scored a home run in a game before.

Mets Pitcher Bartolo Colon Hits First Career Home Run In 6-3 Win Over Padres

However, he stunned and ultimately delighted fans on Saturday after he hit his first career home run against the San Diego Padres. He knocked the ball toward deep left field and out of San Diego’s Petco Park for a two-run shot to extend the Mets’ lead over the Padres, 4-0 in the top of the second inning. His fellow teammates in the Mets dugout went insane.

Colon labeled the moment the biggest of his career.

“The three years that I’ve been here, I was chasing one. Even back in my Montreal days,” Colon said through an interpreter. “But I wasn’t expecting something like this to happen. … My heart was beating a lot. And today’s a day I’m never going to forget.”

Colon’s historic first home run will now be immortalized not only in the hearts of thousands of fans, but also in the form of a trading card.

Colon, a Dominican right-hander known as “Big Sexy” by his teammates and the media, made his major league debut in 1997 with the Cleveland Indians. His first full season, however, came the following year, when he made his first All-Star game. He won the American League Cy Young Award with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005. After four seasons filled with arm problems and injuries, many fans thought he was done with baseball for good after he missed all of 2010. Instead, he returned and recorded his best season since his Cy Young campaign.

He then had two strong seasons with the Oakland Athletics from 2012-2013, and moved on to the Mets in 2014. Entering the 2016 MLB season, he officially became the oldest active player in the League (following the retirement of Maicer Izturis). He has spent every year of his career in the American League, except for a few months with the Montreal Expos in 2002.

It’s more than just Colon’s home run, however. He also pitched the longest at-bat of record, going 20 deep against Ricky Gutierrez in the eighth inning of a ballgame back in June 1998.

The Mets ended up winning the game 6-3 on Saturday. With this feat, the seasoned Dominican Mets pitcher has certainly earned his way into MLB history as a living legend.  

PHOTO: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 7: Bartolo Colon #40 of the New York Mets hits a two-home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on May 7, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)