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After considering demoting starting pitcher Matt Harvey to the minor leagues, the New York Mets‘ leadership has agreed to stick with him at the MLB level.  

ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin reported Wednesday that Harvey will make his next start at home this coming Monday against the Chicago White Sox. Rubin’s report featured comments from Mets manager Terry Collins and assistant general manager John Ricco regarding the Harvey situation.

Collins expressed a desire to see Harvey bounce back from the adversity and use it to light a competitive fire under him to return to his 2013 All-Star form:

This guy is too big a piece to write him off, to flip him in the bullpen to where you’ve got to pick and choose when you might use him. …

He was the best in baseball [in 2013]. That’s the guy we’re trying to get back instead of ‘woe is me.’ What he did last year, there’s going to be a period he’s got to recover. … That’s where I want the fight. That’s where the fight has to be. Quit fighting yourself and just understand we’re a support team here. We’re in this together.

Ricco spoke about the potential demotion to the minors working out for others but insisted New York made the right call by letting Harvey work out his issues where he is:

We believe the best way to get him back is to have him keep pitching and keep making progress and stay up here in the big leagues. …

Some big-name guys have gone down, and that has worked. So I don’t think there’s this huge stigma about that. I think at the end of the day we’re looking for whatever is the best path. He’s part of that decision-making process right now.

A strong 2015 campaign saw Harvey post a 13-8 record with a 2.71 ERA. Making it all the more impressive was the fact he missed all of the previous season due to Tommy John surgery.

But this year has been a far different story. Harvey’s ERA has soared to 6.08, resulting in a 3-7 record through 10 starts. In Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, Harvey yielded five runs in five innings, including three homers.

The good news is New York has the luxury of a loaded pitching staff that helped the Mets rank third in baseball in team ERA at 3.15 entering Monday’s game against Washington. If Harvey were pitching to his typical standard, New York would be even better in that category.

Few teams have the depth the Mets do to allow Harvey the opportunity to continue starting, and he has the talent to justify the risk.

The good-faith move New York made to trust Harvey—rather than demote him, place him on the disabled list or skip a start, which were the other alternatives, per Rubin—should pay off for the club and its 27-year-old pitcher in the long run.

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The family of late San Diego Padres legend Tony Gwynn filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against tobacco corporation Altria Group Inc. in San Diego Superior Court on Monday.

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times reported the news of the Gwynns’ legal action. The Hall of Famer died of salivary gland cancer in June 2014 at age 54 following decades of smokeless tobacco use.

Per Kepner, Gwynn used “one-and-a-half to two cans” of smokeless tobacco every day for 31 years. The lawsuit claims Gwynn was manipulated into his tobacco addiction.

Gwynn’s son, Tony Gwynn Jr., was named as one of three plaintiffs in the suit. Junior’s mother, Alicia Gwynn, and his sister, Anisha Gwynn-Jones, were the other two. Gwynn Jr. said his father didn’t know the dangers or health risks associated with dipping when he started and that his dad didn’t smoke or drink.

“The tobacco companies were using his addiction to turn him into their ultimate walking billboard,” Gwynn Jr. said. “He never knew it, but they were using him to promote their dip to the next generation of kids and fans who idolized him.”

University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry assistant professor Benjamin Chaffee co-authored a study last year “that found that 15 percent of male high school students in the United States used smokeless tobacco, and that high school athletes used at an even higher rate,” per Kepner. Chaffee said:

If you look at the marketing that smokeless tobacco companies have been doing for decades, there was absolutely tying-in with baseball products — caps, other gear, equipment or promotional items. It was a very intentional action to intertwine smokeless tobacco as part of the baseball culture — really, an intentional infiltration of the values of the sport with a product that was known to be deadly and continues to be deadly today.

Gwynn received free samples of smokeless tobacco when he was a college player at San Diego State, which he attended from 1977 to 1981. He was pictured on Topps baseball cards with tobacco in his mouth in 1985 and 1989. Those cards were featured in the suit.

When Gwynn was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, doctors found that the duct from the right parotid salivary gland where the cancer was detected “led directly to the spot where he placed his dip for so many years,” per Kepner.

According to the suit, Gwynn’s smokeless tobacco use was equivalent to smoking four to five packs of cigarettes per day. The lawsuit doesn’t seek specific damages but requests a jury trial on the grounds of negligence, fraud and product liability, per Kepner.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was placed on the disabled list Monday because of a strained hamstring.

Continue for updates.   

No Timetable for Choo’s Return

Monday, May 23

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reported on Choo’s trip to the DL. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Jeff Wilson reported on the muddled forecast for when Choo can return to the field.

Choo has a nice blend of power, speed and defense that makes him a solid everyday starter. His 3.5 WAR rating from last year, per ESPN.com, showed he’s well above a replacement-level player.

After appearing in 149 games last season, though, Choo hit the disabled list early in the 2016 campaign because of a calf injury. That ailment was expected to keep Choo out for a longer stretch of games than the 33-year-old missed in all of 2015.

But when Choo first went down, it created a chance for 21-year-old prodigy Nomar Mazara to take over in right field.

Mazara has immense upside and has proved himself ready to roll in the big leagues, evidenced by Texas’ decision to plug him in at the No. 2 spot in the lineup for his debut and his .304 batting average entering Monday.

The Rangers therefore don’t have to rush Choo back into action. They can keep giving Mazara game reps so he can gain experience, which will expedite his development and enhance his chances of becoming a true franchise cornerstone.

Especially since he’s already gone down with a rather severe injury this year, Choo should be given maximum time to recover so he’s fit enough to help Texas on a prospective playoff push.

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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong was carted off the field in the second inning of Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies after being struck in the head by a Jordan Lyles fastball. He suffered facial fractures and has been placed on the disabled list. It is uncertain when he will be able to return to action.

Continue for updates.

Latest on Vogelsong’s Playing Status 

Tuesday, May 24

The Pirates announced that Vogelsong has been placed on the 15-day DL.

Vogelsong Admitted to Hospital

Monday, May 23

The Pirates announced that Vogelsong was transported to Allegheny General Hospital, where he will be evaluated. The team noted it will provide more details on Tuesday.

His wife Nicole would later confirm that Vogelsong was stable and “will be OK.”

Vogelsong Hit by 92 MPH Pitch

Monday, May 23

The Pirates’ official Twitter account provided an image of Vogelsong exiting the contest after trainers examined him:

Christopher Horner of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review captured an image of the impact of Lyles’ pitch as it ricocheted off Vogelsong’s cheek:

Pirates Have Depth to Account for Vogelsong’s Absence

Usually a relief pitcher with infrequent opportunities to bat, Vogelsong was a spot starter Monday in a makeup game that was previously postponed. It was only his second plate appearance of the 2016 campaign.

The 38-year-old pitched two scoreless innings and was credited with an RBI due to the bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, but the chief concern is obviously his health. Wilfredo Boscan replaced Vogelsong to begin the third inning.

Although Pittsburgh’s bullpen depth may suffer in the short term, the starting staff was tied for 10th in quality starts entering Monday’s action. The Pirates also have a strong batting order to count on and were second in all of baseball with a .280 team average before their showdown with the Rockies.

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Pittsburgh Pirates star infielder Jung Ho Kang left the field during Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies with a hand injury suffered in the sixth inning. He’s considered day-to-day, per Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, but it is uncertain when he will return to the field.

Continue for updates.

Kang Out vs. Rockies

Monday, May 23

The Pirates announced that Kang will not play against Colorado on Monday.

Hurdle Comments on Kang’s Injury

Sunday, May 22

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters it is unclear when Kang will be available and that he will need to run through some tests, per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Put the bat in his hands, that was the complicated part for him yesterday was swinging the bat,” Hurdle added, per Brink.

Kang Struggling to Shake Injury Bug

Kang was in the midst of a fine rookie MLB season last year before suffering a torn MCL and fractured left leg when he took a hard slide from then-Chicago Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan in September. The 29-year-old had a WAR of 4.0 last season, registering a slash line of .287/.355/.461, per ESPN.com.

The Pirates did well to bolster infield depth by acquiring David Freese in free agency. The 2011 World Series MVP gives Pittsburgh flexibility and fills the spot at the hot corner, where Kang played in his maiden MLB campaign.

Freese can fill in at third while Jordy Mercer occupies shortstop. Mercer isn’t the caliber of hitter that Kang is, so the others in the lineup will have to step up while Kang recovers.

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The Atlanta Braves have the worst record in Major League Baseball this season at 9-28, and they opted to make a big change Tuesday, firing manager Fredi Gonzalez.

The Braves announced the dismissal of Gonzalez and bench coach Carlos Tosca, and stated skipper Brian Snitker of the Gwinnett Braves, the team’s Triple-A affiliate, will serve as Atlanta’s interim manager.

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Mark Bowman of MLB.com initially reported the news of Gonzalez’s dismissal, which came after five-plus seasons and a 1-4 record in playoff games.

O’Brien also reported Gonzalez learned of his firing in an email, though the manager declined to confirm the report.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, citing a source, reported details on Snitker’s role: “Snitker is the Braves interim manager, but he’ll remain in the role through the end of the season.” The New York Post‘s Joel Sherman added: “Snitker has been in the Braves organization since 1977, [and he] actually replaced Gonzalez as [the third base] coach when [Gonzalez] became the Miami Marlins manager.

The Braves made other changes to the staff as well, per O’Brien:

To be fair to Gonzalez, Atlanta is in rebuilding mode and last year offered him an extension through 2016 when he had the Braves hovering near .500 at 42-47 in the middle of the season. Since then, however, the club has struggled mightily.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported May 4 that Atlanta was considering letting Gonzalez go and had former San Diego Padres manager Bud Black in mind as the team’s next manager.

Crasnick reported Mark DeRosa was also a potential replacement. Crasnick noted a source close to former Braves third baseman Chipper Jones revealed Jones is not interested in the position. Jones, however, denied the report:

Braves president of baseball operations John Hart and Braves senior adviser John Schuerholz both have ties to Black, per Nightengale, who reported May 4 that Black was the “heavy favorite” to begin 2017 as the team’s manager. Even if Atlanta doesn’t go after a full-time replacement right away, Black may be the long-term play.

The team will move into a new stadium, SunTrust Park, in 2017.

A new, proven leader could help the Braves gain some momentum heading into next year, but it’s going to be a while before they have enough talent to contend.

Atlanta traded All-Stars in Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Shelby Miller and Craig Kimbrel and Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop Andrelton Simmons toward the end of Gonzalez’s stint, which left the manager little to work with.

Gonzalez has had tough draws in his managerial career. Before his Braves tenure—in which he was tasked with succeeding the legendary Bobby Cox—he landed the gig with the then-Florida Marlins, who are notorious for roster—and managerial—turnover.

If given the chance to lead a team with ample talent, Gonzalez may well find success. Atlanta reached the postseason in two of his first three years, which included 94- and 96- win campaigns in 2012 and 2013. He was 276-279 in three-plus seasons in Miami.

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Free-agent starting pitcher Kyle Lohse threw for teams at UC Irvine this past Thursday, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, and is reportedly coveted by multiple clubs following that session.

Continue for updates.

Rangers, Angels Among Teams Interested in Lohse

Saturday, May 7

Heyman had the inside information on Texas and Los Angeles—and indicated there may be other clubs who want to acquire the 37-year-old pitcher.

Lohse last played for the Milwaukee Brewers last season and had a rough go on the mound, posting a 5-13 record with a 5.85 ERA in 37 appearances, which consisted of only 22 starts as he was moved to the bullpen.

The two years before, though, Lohse built on a strong finish to his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and continued to function as a solid MLB starter. His last season in St. Louis was his peak—he posted a 16-3 record with a 2.86 ERA.

Although his 2015 campaign is discouraging, Lohse has to feel good about his outlook in light of the fact multiple teams are at least considering him after one workout. On the other hand, Heyman reported on a showcase Lohse put on in March, which didn’t result in getting signed.

Lackluster pitching has often been an undeniable shortcoming for the Rangers in recent years. They did improve from last to tied for 17th in quality starts from 2014 to 2015 and were tied for second in that category in all of baseball entering Saturday’s games.

Any team looking for pitching help, whether it be as an extra arm in the bullpen or a No. 5 starter, could do far worse than adding Lohse. He’s posted seven double-digit win seasons in his career, including three in a row before a rough 2015.

Other than former San Francisco Giants star Tim Lincecum, there aren’t many better, more proven options on the open market than Lohse at the moment.

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Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley will spend time on the disabled list with an oblique injury after being a late scratch from Thursday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.  

Continue for updates.

Rockies Place Hundley on 15-Day DL

Friday, May 6

Per the Rockies’ official Twitter, Dustin Garneau was recalled after Hundley was placed on the disabled list due to a strained oblique. 

Rockies manager Walt Weiss told Nick Groke of the Denver Post on Thursday his catcher “felt a little tweak in his oblique” during batting practice. 

Hundley snapped out of a perpetual hitting slump once he signed with Colorado prior to last season, posting a slash line of .301/.339/.467 in 103 games for the Rockies in 2015.

The 32-year-old veteran is a valuable backstop to Colorado’s lineup, but his absence may well create a golden opportunity for one of the Rockies’ several promising catcher prospects. Injuries are starting to pile up for Hundley in 2016, as he was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion in mid-April. 

Tony Wolters is the backup catcher and will likely be elevated into a starting role with Hundley on the disabled list. The 23-year-old has played in 17 games so far this season, showing good patience at the plate with eight walks in 52 plate appearances. 

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Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is dealing with a small fracture in his left foot and hit the disabled list on Tuesday. 

Continue for updates.

Latest on Hardy’s Playing Status

Tuesday, May 3

The Orioles placed Hardy on the DL and recalled Ryan Flaherty from Triple-A on Tuesday, per Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com. 

On Monday, ESPN’s Jim Bowden reported Hardy is expected to be out six to eight weeks with the injury, which is lengthy and indicative of the severity considering the toughness he’s shown in the past.

Hardy No Stranger to Injuries

Hardy spent time on the DL toward the beginning of each of the prior two seasons. He admitted this past October that he played the entire 2015 campaign with a torn labrum in his left shoulder—not to mention the other ailments he dealt with such as back spasms, a right groin strain and a sore oblique.

Unfortunately, the trend of sitting early on will continue in 2016, but it’s better for Hardy and the club to get it out of the way early in the year if he must leave the lineup.

That doesn’t mean Baltimore will find it easy to win without Hardy, though. The 33-year-old veteran is a key leader in the infield as a three-time Gold Glove Award winner who made only three errors in 114 games last season at short.

While his power at the plate has declined in recent years—he hit 77 homers in his first three seasons with the Orioles but has had only 19 since—Hardy is nevertheless going to be tough to replace in all areas.

Baltimore currently ranks 29th in quality starts, leaning more on its bullpen and batting order for a 14-10 record to date. The club needs its pitching staff to step up and make the defense’s job easier while Hardy recovers.

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Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant missed one game after leaving the field during the Cubs’ April 28 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers after suffering a mild sprained right ankle while running the bases in the third inning. However, he’s ready to return.

Continue for updates.

Bryant Active vs. Braves

Sunday, May 1

Bruce Levine of WSCR in Chicago reported Bryant will bat third and play left field against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Bryant One of the Top Stars Leading 1st-Place Cubs  

Bryant is hitting .289 with four home runs, 15 RBI and a .372 OBP for the first-place Cubs (17-5). 

The 24-year-old had a hot 2015 spring training but wasn’t called up to the MLB level right away last season. It didn’t take long for that to change, and Bryant proved he was worthy of the immense hype.

By the end of June 2015, the prodigy already had 10 homers, 41 runs and 43 RBI—the first Cubs rookie ever to do that, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Spearheading a new era in the Windy City, Bryant and his club’s young core have created an electric and winning atmosphere at Wrigley Field again. 

It was wise for the Cubs to exercise caution with Bryant, but the team will be happy to see him back in the lineup on Sunday.

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