MLB notebook: Yanks' Stanton nears return

[June 17, 2019]  New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Giancarlo Stanton will return from the injured list and play on Tuesday.

Boone added that newly acquired slugger Edwin Encarnacion will be active Monday night when the Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays. Encarnacion, acquired from the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night, is leading the American League with 21 home runs.

Stanton has been sidelined since March 31 with multiple injuries, including a calf ailment. The Yankees have also been without fellow outfielder Aaron Judge for most of this season, but Judge (strained oblique) is nearing his return as well.

"Encarnacion, Stanton and Judge, that's three elite power hitters plugged into our lineup," Boone told reporters. "Hopefully it's something that over time creates a big-time advantage for us."

--The New York Mets placed right-hander Noah Syndergaard on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain and activated second baseman Robinson Cano.

Syndergaard left Saturday night's 8-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning. An MRI was scheduled for Sunday morning. On the season, Syndergaard is 5-4 with a 4.55 ERA for the Mets.

Cano had last played on June 5, when he aggravated a left quadriceps injury and landed on the injured list for the second time in a month. He went 1-for-3 in his return to the lineup Sunday.

--Mets left-hander Jason Vargas exited Sunday's game against the Cardinals with a cramp in his left calf.

Vargas fouled off a 1-0 pitch while batting in the fourth inning, grimaced and bent over before coming out of the game. His plate appearance was completed by Jacob deGrom, who drew a walk. Wilmer Font replaced Vargas on the mound.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) looks on from the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The game was tied at 3-3 when Vargas exited. He allowed three runs and a two-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt in the first as the only hit.

--The Atlanta Braves will continue to monitor left-hander Sean Newcomb, but he passed initial tests after getting hit in the back of the head with a line drive on Saturday.

Newcomb exited his start against the Philadelphia Phillies after a comebacker off the bat of Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto hit off his head and ricocheted into the Philadelphia dugout for a ground-rule double. The line drive exited Realmuto's bat at 102 mph.

"We're just going to keep monitoring him," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He's passed the tests. You just don't know with an injury like that overnight. Hopefully, he gets through the night and sleeps, and he comes in here and he's great."

--Shortstop Jose Iglesias missed the Cincinnati Reds' series finale against the Texas Rangers after the team placed him on the three-day paternity leave list.

The Reds reinstated right-hander Robert Stephenson from a rehabilitation assignment in a corresponding move.

Iglesias, 29, is batting .289 with four home runs and 24 RBIs this season.

--Field Level Media

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