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MLB notebook: Boston's Cora to reportedly skip White House trip

[May 06, 2019] Boston manager Alex Cora will not be with his team Thursday when the Red Sox celebrate winning the 2018 World Series at the White House.

El Nuevo Dia in Puerto Rico reported the news Sunday and said Cora has declined the invitation because his native land continues to struggle to recover from Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico in September 2017.

Last year, Cora criticized President Donald Trump for his tweets downplaying the number of Puerto Ricans who died as a result of the natural disaster. Trump also has blamed the slow recovery on elected officials in Puerto Rico, taking aim at San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz by calling her "crazed and incompetent."

"Although the government of the United States has helped, there is still a long way to go, that is OUR reality," Cora said in a statement to El Nuevo Dia, translated from Spanish. "I have continually used my voice so that we Puerto Ricans are not forgotten and my absence is not different."

--New York Yankees ace Luis Severino will not make his 2019 debut until after the All-Star break, general manager Brian Cashman said.

The 25-year-old right-hander is on the 60-day injured list with a lat strain that occurred during spring training. A two-time All-Star, Severino was 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 32 starts last season.

Three outfielders are closest to rejoining the team, according to Cashman. Clint Frazier (ankle) will likely be activated Monday or Tuesday, with Aaron Hicks (back) due to return next weekend. Giancarlo Stanton (biceps) will return to batting practice this week. Left-hander James Paxton (left knee) will be out for about three weeks.

--Oakland Athletics closer Blake Treinen was ruled unavailable for a second consecutive game and will have his sore right elbow re-evaluated by team doctors Monday when the team returns to the Bay Area.

Treinen last pitched April 28 at Toronto, giving up four runs on five hits over 1 2/3 innings while taking the loss. He has not pitched in the current series at Pittsburgh. According to MLB.com, Treinen said he was feeling better Sunday and the A's are hoping the injury is not serious.

Treinen, who has never been on the injured list in his six-year career, is 1-2 this season with a 3.00 ERA and six saves over 12 appearances (15 innings). He has 61 career saves, including 38 last season when he was an American League All-Star and finished sixth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

--Outfielder Christian Yelich was back in the starting lineup, making his first start for the Milwaukee Brewers in a week and going 1-for-4 with his 15th homer in the Brewers' 3-2 win over the New York Mets.

The Brewers secured a sweep of their three-game series with the victory. Yelich also saw action Saturday night as a pinch-hitter in the Brewers' 18-inning, 4-3 win but failed to reach base.

Yelich, the reigning National League MVP, left the Brewers' game last Sunday against the Mets at Citi Field with lower back discomfort following the top of the fifth inning. On the season, Yelich, 27, is batting .346 with 15 homers and 36 RBIs in 31 games.

--The Washington Nationals' injury list keeps growing, with first baseman Matt Adams joining the group with a left shoulder strain.

Adams landed on the 10-day IL after jamming his shoulder while making a diving out at first base in the second inning of Saturday's 10-8 win against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nationals recalled infielder Jake Noll from Triple-A Fresno in a corresponding move, the third time the rookie has been called up.

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Red Sox manager Alex Cora against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the home opener at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

He joins starting first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who was sidelined a week ago with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Outfielder Juan Soto (back), third baseman Anthony Rendon (elbow) and shortstop Trea Turner (index finger) are also on the injured list.

--The Los Angeles Dodgers elected to carry three catchers on their roster, signing free agent Travis d'Arnaud, who was designated for assignment by the New York Mets on April 28 and released Friday.

The right-handed hitting d'Arnaud joined his new teammates before the Dodgers' series finale Sunday at San Diego. To make room on the 25-man roster, infielder Matt Beaty was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

A seven-year veteran who once was considered one of the top catching prospects in the game, d'Arnaud had just two hits in 23 at-bats this season as a backup to Wilson Ramos. The Southern California native played in just four games last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

--Oakland A's left fielder and cleanup hitter Khris Davis left their game at Pittsburgh after hitting a padded railing hard on his left side.

Davis reached over the railing into the stands at PNC Park to catch a foul ball hit by the Pirates' Adam Frazier, who was leading off the bottom of the first inning. Davis exhibited signs of pain but remained in the field for the rest of the inning. He was replaced in the second by Chad Pinder.

The 31-year-old Davis is batting .229 this season, but has a team-high 10 home runs and 26 RBIs. He signed a two-year extension with the A's in April, a contract that will run through the 2021 season.

--The Cincinnati Reds called up hard-hitting infielder Josh VanMeter from Triple-A Louisville.

VanMeter, 24, made his major league debut when he drew a pinch-hit walk. He was batting .336 and slugging .736 with 13 homers, 31 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 30 games for Louisville. On April 29, he went 4-for-5 with three homers and eight RBIs in a 15-4 win against Toledo.

Defensively, VanMeter has started games at first, second and third base this season. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Reds optioned left-hander Cody Reed to Louisville.

--The Indians recalled right-hander Cody Anderson from Triple-A Columbus in time to start Cleveland's game against the Seattle Mariners.

It will be Anderson's first start since Sept. 24, 2016. The 28-year-old did not make it out of the first inning, giving up four runs and four hits in 2/3 innings in a 10-0 defeat.

To clear a roster spot, the Indians designated infielder Max Moroff for assignment.

--Field Level Media

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