Mining the News (8/5/26)

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American League

Athletics

• Zack Gelof will need ~20 PA before returning from the IL.

LF Zack Gelof
Injury: Right knee laceration
IL date: July 10 (10-day IL)
Expected return: Early August
Status: Began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 4. Expected to require around 20 Minor League at-bats before returning.

Guardians

• The team promoted Angel Genao to play third base so José Ramírez can rest or DH as he deals with a hand injury.

Of course, Rocchio is entrenched at shortstop, so Genao’s quickest path to playing time is likely at the hot corner for now. Ramírez sat out of Tuesday’s game with left wrist inflammation after missing five weeks due to hamate surgery on the left arm. Manager Stephen Vogt considers him day-to-day, but the 33-year-old could conceivably spend time DHing when he’s ready to hit.

Genao could also spell Travis Bazzana, the club’s top prospect to open the season, at the keystone as well. He’s a better hitter than incumbent backup infielder Gabriel Arias, who has been scrutinized for his third-base defense.

Even if Genao’s first callup is short-lived after injuries created an opening for him, he’s proof of the Guardians’ scouting and developmental strategy with their favorite type of player. And if he continues to grow into more power and improve on defense, he has a chance to become their best homegrown shortstop in years.

Genao is starting at third base on Wednesday.

Red Sox

• Jarren Duran could start sitting more against lefties with Eli White on the team.

White will give them a strong defensive outfielder with speed who Tracy said will mostly play against left-handers while Jarren Duran sits. Tracy also noted White’s ability to play anywhere in the outfield will help give Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu days off. Abreu has missed just two games this year and Rafaela four.

“Having Eli, even if it’s against a righty on a certain day, if you feel like one of those guys needs a break, you have the ability to do that and have a really good defensive outfielder out there,” Tracy said.

This season, Duran has a .585 OPS against lefties while White has a .758 OPS.

Tigers

• Drew Anderson and Jackson Jobe will join the rotation this week.

The Tigers will build long reliever Drew Anderson up as a starting pitcher, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (link via Chris McCosky of The Detroit News). They’ll also activate Jackson Jobe during this weekend’s series in San Francisco.

Those will be the immediate replacements for Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize. Anderson will take the ball tomorrow at T-Mobile Park, where the Mariners will trot out Bryan Woo. Detroit has Troy Melton on the bump tonight and will pitch Framber Valdez in Thursday’s finale. They haven’t announced their rotation for the weekend. They can pitch Keider Montero in the opener and officially reinstate Jobe from the 60-day injured list for Saturday’s ballgame.

Twins

• Joe Ryan’s struggles can be linked back to arm fatigue and a mechanical issue.

But Ryan’s current stretch has to be concerning for the team’s decision-makers because he’s clearly not 100 percent. Battling what’s been described as arm fatigue, Ryan’s four-seam fastball velocity was down more than a mile per hour from his season average.

Asked whether he’s past the arm fatigue, Ryan paused and stalled before saying, “Yeah, I guess.”

But something is definitely amiss. Since his All-Star Game appearance, Ryan has allowed 17 runs (16 earned) and 25 hits in 15 1/3 innings while striking out only 10 batters.

He agreed a mechanical issue is part of his struggles before conceding: “I don’t know what’s necessarily causing that side of it.”

• When available, Yoendrys Gómez will close games.

Though Hoffman has previously been a closer and has 50 career saves, Shelton said Hoffman’s opportunities would come in high-leverage situations without committing to a specific role. Shelton still intends to use Yoendrys Gómez as the closer on days when he’s fresh.

National League

Braves

• Jim Jarvis will be the regular shortstop with Mauricio Dubón moving to a utility role.

Who thought when the Braves signed Ha-Seong Kim for $20 million in the offseason rookie Jim Jarvis would be taking the majority of reps at shortstop by August?

That’s the Braves’ reality. Jarvis has earned the team’s trust since rejoining the roster at the start of July. He’s hit over .250, played premium defense and can speed around the bases. In part to give Jarvis more runway, the Braves designated Jorge Mateo for assignment.

…

He added, “Walt (Weiss, the Braves’ manager) has been giving (Jarvis) the lion’s share of shortstop starts. That’s his choice to make.”

Meanwhile, Mauricio Dubón will return to a utility role after filling in during outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.’s absence. And with left field likely to be shared by Thomas and Mike Yastrzemski, Dubón might not get as many at-bats as he did earlier in the year.

Cubs

• Tyrone Taylor will start against lefties in the place of Ian Happ.

There's going to be "some spots" where Ian Happ doesn't play against left-handed pitching given the arrival of Tyrone Taylor, Craig Counsell says.

The Cubs still want to get Happ going against lefties, and they'll play him in the back half of games against lefties sometimes. https://t.co/zRdUSA7nSq

— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) August 4, 2026

This season, Taylor has a .864 OPS against lefties while Happ has a .530 OPS.

Diamondbacks

• Lars Nootbaar will only play against right-handed pitchers …

Nootbaar has experience at all three outfield spots, but the Diamondbacks have a plan to ease him in at left field. He started at designated hitter on Tuesday.

“He’s gonna play against righties and either DH or play left field until he gets some footing,” Lovullo said. “I know he’s played center field, there’s an option there at some point. I want him to get comfortable and get into Dave McKay’s program. … I explained to him that we pinch hit here, so when he starts or when he doesn’t start, he’s gonna play a lot.”

… as he continues to “heel” from his offseason surgery.

Nootbaar has remained relatively healthy since making his big league debut in 2021, but spent time on the 60-day injured list following a bilateral haglund’s deformity excision on Oct. 7, 2025.

The procedure removed bone spurs from his heels, and required a lengthy rehab process. His recovery included time in a wheelchair, followed by the use of two walking boots with crutches, and he said he does not expect to be 100 percent until he is one year removed from surgery.

• Jordan Lawlar is starting his rehab assignment.

Lawlar will play on Tuesday and Wednesday and get Thursday off before the team evaluates his situation.

Dodgers

• Blake Snell’s next start should be in the majors, with Tyler Glasnow needing at least a couple of rehab starts.

More updates, per Dave Roberts:
-While Blake Snell didn't get into the 5th inning last night, he did enough that his next start should be for the Dodgers.
-Once Tyler Glasnow makes two more rehab starts and builds up to 4 innings, there'll be a conversation about activating him.

— Sonja Chen (@SonjaMChen) August 5, 2026