UNDATED (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have activated Tim Anderson from the 10-day injured list after the dynamic shortstop was sidelined by a strained right groin. Anderson, who turns 29 on Thursday, got hurt while making a play in the field during a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on May 29.
The reigning AL Central champions went 8-10 while Anderson was sidelined.
To make room on the active roster, third baseman Yoán Moncada was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained right hamstring. Moncada left Friday night’s 13-3 loss at Houston in the third inning.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— Manny Machado was out of the lineup a day after spraining his left ankle, but Padres acting manager Ryan Flaherty is optimistic the All-Star third baseman won’t need to go on the injured list. Machado, who’s having an MVP-caliber season, was injured Sunday in Colorado while trying to beat out a grounder. His cleats slipped across the top of first base and he fell to the ground. Machado is batting .328 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs. He has largely carried the Padres’ offense in the absence of All-Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who remains out while rehabbing his surgically repaired left wrist.
— The New York Mets have promoted first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith from Triple-A Syracuse, ending the popular 26-year-old’s three-week stint in the minor leagues. New York called up Smith and put right-hander Seth Lugo on the paternity list Monday prior to a game against the Miami Marlins. Smith was optioned to Syracuse on May 31 after hitting .186 without a home run in 101 plate appearances this season. He hit .316 during a breakout season in 2020, but he hasn’t been the same player in the majors since.
— Relievers Sergio Romo and and Roenis Elías were cut by the struggling Seattle Mariners to make room for reliever Ken Giles and infielder Kevin Padlo. Romo and Elías were designated for assignment, Giles was activated from the 60-day injured list and Padlo was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. Seattle has lost seven of its last nine games and is fourth in the AL West at 29-39, 13 games behind first-place Houston. Romo had an 8.16 ERA in 17 relief appearances.
— The game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates was delayed for a few minutes in the bottom of the second inning when a squirrel ran on to the field at PNC Park. The squirrel appeared to enter from along the stands on the third base side. He then scampered into the left field corner. Three members of the grounds crew were able to coax the critter into exiting the field through the bullpen gate. The squirrel brought the home team good luck as the Pirates went on to score three runs in the inning to break a scoreless tie.
