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MLB notebook: Kemp, Chirinos suspended for altercation

[June 16, 2018] Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos have each been suspended one game by MLB for their altercation during Wednesday's game between the teams.

Chirinos will serve his suspension Friday night when the Rangers begin a series with the Colorado Rockies. Kemp will appeal his suspension.

Kemp collided with Chirinos on a play at the plate in the third inning. Chirinos took exception with Kemp and shoved him, and Kemp shoved him back as both benches cleared. Both players were ejected. "I thought it was a clean play," Kemp told reporters. "Blocking the plate, ran him over. Pretty much that simple."

Said Chirinos, "I got mad. When he was starting to get up, he kind of leaned into me with his shoulder. That's when I pushed him. Part of the game."

--It's no secret the New York Yankees are looking to add starting pitching ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner saying earlier this week the area is a concern.

General manager Brian Cashman verified that intent, telling reporters he's reached out to about 20 teams to gauge the market for starters.

Unsurprisingly, phenom rookie Gleyber Torres won't be dangled in trade talks. The 21-year-old second baseman entered Friday hitting .289 with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs in 45 games and has been deemed untouchable. "Come on now," Cashman said, "I've got to walk around this city."

--The Los Angeles Angels placed infielder Zack Cozart, right-handed starters Garrett Richards and Nick Tropeano and righty reliever Jim Johnson on the 10-day disabled list, the team announced.

The moves for Tropeano (right shoulder inflammation) and Johnson (lumbar strain) are retroactive to Tuesday, while those for Richards (left hamstring strain) and Cozart (left shoulder subluxation) are retroactive to Thursday.

In corresponding moves, the Angels recalled four right-handed pitchers from Triple-A Salt Lake: Eduardo Paredes, Akeel Morris, Felix Pena and Jake Jewell. Of the group, only Jewell has starting experience, although he has appeared solely as a reliever in 2018.

--Baltimore Orioles left-hander Richard Bleier will likely miss the rest of the season after being placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, according to manager Buck Showalter.

Bleier, 31, was placed on the 10-day DL after straining his lat pitching during the seventh inning of Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. He had an MRI on Thursday, revealing the injury. Bleier is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 31 appearances this season for Baltimore.

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The southpaw is awaiting a second opinion, but Showalter is not optimistic about Bleier's prognosis. "I don't expect him to play again this year," Showalter said. "The worst case is that it's a Grade 3 (strain) and he has surgery and returns sometime next season."

--Cleveland Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso will miss at least three games after being placed on the family medical emergency list.

Major League Baseball rules require Alonso to miss at least three days and a maximum of seven. Alonso, 31, is batting .248 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs in 65 games. Indians manager Terry Francona didn't divulge the nature of his family emergency.

Cleveland activated outfielder Tyler Naquin (left hamstring) off the disabled list in a corresponding move. The Indians were preparing to option outfielder Greg Allen to Triple-A Columbus prior to Alonso's situation arising.

--The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated infielder Jung Ho Kang from the restricted list, a move that places him back on the team's 40-man roster.

Kang hasn't played in the majors since 2016 after being arrested on a DUI charge in his native South Korea for the third time. He received a suspended eight-month prison sentence in March 2017 for leaving the scene of an accident in Seoul on Dec. 2, 2016.

Kang, 31, was granted a work visa to re-enter the United States in April. He is now allowed to drive in the United States and recently told reporters he no longer drinks alcohol. The Pirates also assigned Kang to Triple-A Indianapolis.

--The Minnesota Twins activated first baseman Joe Mauer from the disabled list prior to the team's game against the Cleveland Indians.

Mauer, batting .283 in 38 games but has just one homer and 11 RBIs, had been sidelined for four weeks due to a concussion suffered on May 18 and a cervical strain in his neck. He missed Minnesota's previous 25 games.

The Twins also recalled infielder Taylor Motter from Triple-A Rochester. The team had two openings after demoting 2017 All-Star Miguel Sano to Class-A Fort Myers and outfielder Jake Cave to Rochester.

--Field Level Media

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