New York Mets right-hander Max Kranick (hamstring) is dealing with a left-hamstring strain and will "be down a while," according to manager Carlos Mendoza. It effectively takes Kranick out of the competition for the fifth starting spot to open the 2024 season. The 26-year-old could eventually join the Mets' rotation eventually, but he's going to be on the injured list on Opening Day in late March. Kranick wasn't a realistic fantasy target, even in NL-only leagues, anyway, as he's only pitched in 11 big-league games (nine starts) for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021 and 2022 and has a 5.56 ERA (4.49 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with 22 walks and 36 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings pitched.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Max Kranick (1-3) allowed five earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out over 4 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of Wednesday's start and struggled in Wednesday's loss. The 24-year-old surrendered a three-run blast to Gavin Sheets and exited in the fifth frame after 83 pitches. Kranick has had a disappointing rookie campaign, owning a 7.66 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts over 24 2/3 innings. It's unclear if Kranick will stick in the Pirates' rotation, and fantasy managers can leave the right-hander on the waiver in most leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Max Kranick struggled on the mound against Milwaukee on Wednesday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings of work. He looked solid through his first five innings, but a three-run sixth inning chased him out of the game. After tossing five perfect innings in his major league debut, Kranick has struggled over his last three appearances, going 0-2 with a 10.64 ERA and 2.364 WHIP over 11 innings of work. He's shown in the minors potential to be a backend rotation guy, but until he starts producing on the mound he has no value in redraft leagues.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge went from being a late scratch to hitting a tiebreaking single in a two-run 10th inning to help the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight day, 3-1 on Wednesday night. Judge was taken out of the lineup about 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Although no announcement was made about why, the All-Star right fielder struck out in the fifth pinch-hitting for Estevan Florial. Judge returned to the team Tuesday after going on the COVID-19 injured list July 16. New York also had a big night off the field. The Yankees reached a deal to get All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced and was subject to approval of medical records of the players involved. Greg Allen was hit by a pitch from Pete Fairbanks (3-4) leading off the 10th, putting runners on first and second. Judge... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge went from being a late scratch to hitting a tiebreaking single in a two-run 10th inning to help the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight day, 3-1 on Wednesday night. Judge was taken out of the lineup about 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Although no announcement was made about why, the All-Star right fielder struck out in the fifth pinch-hitting for Estevan Florial. Judge returned to the team Tuesday after going on the COVID-19 injured list July 16. New York also had a big night off the field. The Yankees reached a deal to get All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced and was subject to approval of medical records of the players involved. Greg Allen was hit by a pitch from Pete Fairbanks (3-4) leading off the 10th, putting runners on first and second. Judge... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge went from being a late scratch to hitting a tiebreaking single in a two-run 10th inning to help the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight day, 3-1 on Wednesday night. Judge was taken out of the lineup about 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Although no announcement was made about why, the All-Star right fielder struck out in the fifth pinch-hitting for Estevan Florial. Judge returned to the team Tuesday after going on the COVID-19 injured list July 16. New York also had a big night off the field. The Yankees reached a deal to get All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced and was subject to approval of medical records of the players involved. Greg Allen was hit by a pitch from Pete Fairbanks (3-4) leading off the 10th, putting runners on first and second. Judge... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge went from being a late scratch to hitting a tiebreaking single in a two-run 10th inning to help the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight day, 3-1 on Wednesday night. Judge was taken out of the lineup about 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Although no announcement was made about why, the All-Star right fielder struck out in the fifth pinch-hitting for Estevan Florial. Judge returned to the team Tuesday after going on the COVID-19 injured list July 16. New York also had a big night off the field. The Yankees reached a deal to get All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced and was subject to approval of medical records of the players involved. Greg Allen was hit by a pitch from Pete Fairbanks (3-4) leading off the 10th, putting runners on first and second. Judge... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Franmil Reyes homered twice, the first a second-inning blast that bounced out of Progressive Field and almost dinged a bicyclist pedaling on a street, and the Cleveland Indians beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 on Wednesday. Reyes’ leadoff homer in the second glanced off the pedestrian bridge in left field and landed on the plaza area between the ballpark and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The ball traveled an estimated 446 feet. Reyes wasn’t done. He finished off Cleveland’s three-homer inning in the third with his 19th of the season, a 421-foot drive to center. César Hernández and José Ramírez also homered in the inning for Cleveland. Kwang Hyun Kim (6-6) gave up all four homers and lost for the first time since June 20. Zach Plesac (6-3) gave up two runs in five innings. Dylan Carlson homered for St. Louis. BLUE JAYS 4, RED SOX 1, 1ST GAME RED SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 1, 2ND GAME BOSTON (AP) — Rookie starter Tanner Houck struck out seven over four innings and Boston beat Toronto... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will have season-ending surgery to repair a completely torn ACL in his right knee after he was injured during Atlanta’s 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday. An MRI showed the severity of the injury and the Braves made the announcement shortly before midnight that their three-time All-Star will be out until at least next year. Acuña landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping on the warning track in right field to try to catch a drive from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fifth inning. The 23-year-old slammed into the outfield wall and crumbled on the warning track, immediately grabbing his right knee while Chisholm sprinted out an inside-the-park homer. The 23-year-old Acuña did not put any weight on his right leg and had to be helped to a cart before being taken from the field. Freddie Freeman had a two-run homer and an RBI single, while Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley ripped doubles as the first three Braves reached base off All-Star pitcher... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will have season-ending surgery to repair a completely torn ACL in his right knee after he was injured during Atlanta’s 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday. An MRI showed the severity of the injury and the Braves made the announcement shortly before midnight that their three-time All-Star will be out until at least next year. Acuña landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping on the warning track in right field to try to catch a drive from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fifth inning. The 23-year-old slammed into the outfield wall and crumbled on the warning track, immediately grabbing his right knee while Chisholm sprinted out an inside-the-park homer. The 23-year-old Acuña did not put any weight on his right leg and had to be helped to a cart before being taken from the field. Freddie Freeman had a two-run homer and an RBI single, while Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley ripped doubles as the first three Braves reached base off All-Star pitcher... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: HOMER HAPPY Kyle Schwarber keeps putting on a remarkable power show, clearing the fences at a record rate for the Nationals. The Washington leadoff hitter launched two more home runs Monday night against the Mets. That gave him 15 homers in 17 days -- the shortest span for a player to hit 15 in major league history, STATS said. Schwarber next takes aim against Rich Hill and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. PADRE POWER Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and their San Diego teammates hit the road after a 9-1 homestand. The Padres’ success at Petco Park included a four-game sweep of Cincinnati and a three-game sweep over the defending World Series champion Dodgers. Lefty Blake Snell (3-3, 5.29 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game series at Cincinnati. Righty Tony Santillan (1-1, 3.29 ERA) starts for the Reds. HOPE TO SEE YA SOON Pirates pitcher Max Kranick is back in the minors, along with his unblemished record. The 23-year-old... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Tuesday: HOMER HAPPY Kyle Schwarber keeps putting on a remarkable power show, clearing the fences at a record rate for the Nationals. The Washington leadoff hitter launched two more home runs Monday night against the Mets. That gave him 15 homers in 17 days -- the shortest span for a player to hit 15 in major league history, STATS said. Schwarber next takes aim against Rich Hill and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. PADRE POWER Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and their San Diego teammates hit the road after a 9-1 homestand. The Padres’ success at Petco Park included a four-game sweep of Cincinnati and a three-game sweep over the defending World Series champion Dodgers. Lefty Blake Snell (3-3, 5.29 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game series at Cincinnati. Righty Tony Santillan (1-1, 3.29 ERA) starts for the Reds. HOPE TO SEE YA SOON Pirates pitcher Max Kranick is back in the minors, along with his unblemished record. The 23-year-old... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates optioned right-hander Max Kranick to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, a day after he pitched five perfect innings to win his major league debut. The Pirates, who are using a six-man rotation, recalled right-hander Cody Ponce from Indianapolis. Kranick retired all 15 batters he faced Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals before a lengthy rain delay forced him from the mound. The Pirates went on to win 7-2. Kranick became the first pitcher since 1893 to leave after at least five innings with a perfect game intact in his MLB debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports