Blue Jays
All-Star 1B Edwin Encarnacion (strained right quadriceps) went on the 15-day DL. Encarnacion ranks among the major league leaders with 26 home runs and 70 RBIs. He was picked Sunday for the AL All-Star team, but won’t be able to play in the game Tuesday at Minnesota. OF Nolan Reimold was claimed off waivers from Baltimore. He had back surgery last July and played 17 games for Double-A Bowie this year while on a rehabilitation assignment, hitting .315. Over parts of five seasons with the Orioles, he hit .252 with 41 home runs.
Orioles
Manager Buck Showalter brushed off Red Sox RHP John Lackey’s comments after Cruz’s five-hit game. Lackey said he had “nothing to say” about Cruz, apparently referring to his 50-game suspension a year ago for his role in the Biogenesis drug scandal. “We need to all make sure we check our own backyard before we start looking at somebody else’s,” Showalter said.
Rays
Because elite talents with great bats at marquee positions are rare, the Rays officially invested almost $3 million in one even though Dominican SS Adrian Rondon just turned 16. “We feel that combination is a very hard thing to find,” director of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said. Baseball America calls the 6-foot-2 Rondon this year’s top international prospect, with a strong bat and the potential to skyrocket through the system like the Cubs’ Starlin Castro, who made his major-league debut at age 20. … LHP Jake McGee said he was a little disappointed about being left off the All-Star team, but he understands how challenging it is for a noncloser reliever to make the squad. “It’s kind of hard to compete with that sometimes,” McGee told the Tampa Bay Times.
Red Sox
The Red Sox activated 1B/OF Mike Carp from the 15-day disabled list and optioned INF Jonathan Herrera to Triple-A Pawtucket. … DH Ortiz went 1 for 4 in the nightcap after missing the opener sunday to attend his daughter’s graduation in the Dominican Republic.
Yankees
Braves 1B coach Terry Pendleton told the New York Post he is not surprised C Brian McCann is struggling.“New York is not Brian,” Pendleton told the newspaper. “That’s my opinion. I knew if he chose New York, there would be more than he expected or knew about. He’ll never be comfortable with that.” McCann signed a five-year, $85 million contract as a free agent in the offseason. … To a slow-to-heal right elbow, add a swollen right knee to Carlos Beltran’s physical issues. The switch-hitting outfielder was not in Monday night’s lineup because of swelling in a knee that has given the 37-year-old problems in previous seasons.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
