Baseball

Even before the 2016 Major League Baseball season began, the American League looked like it was going to be a wide-open battle that any team could win in the end.

Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Gomez was forced to exit Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners with a hand injury after getting hit by a pitch. 

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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa has suffered a groin strain and was put on the 15-day disabled list, the team announced Wednesday. 

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Rockies Face Time Without Top-End Starter

Wednesday, April 27

The Rockies recalled right-hander Eddie Butler from Triple-A as a prospective replacement for De La Rosa in the rotation. 

The Detroit Tigers announced they activated pitcher Francisco Rodriguez from the family medical emergency list and optioned outfielder Tyler Collins to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Collins, 25, had two hits in 20 at-bats this season. He was also the source of some controversy Monday after flipping off a booing Detroit crowd after misplaying a ball in the outfield.      

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Tuesday he would ban shifts in baseball if he was the commissioner of the MLB, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPN.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Charlie Morton will miss the remainder of this season after suffering a hamstring injury on April 23.   

The Phillies announced that Morton's MRI revealed a torn left hamstring that will keep him out for six to eight months. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen broke out of his slump in a big way Tuesday night, recording the second three-homer game of his career in a 9-4 win over the Colorado Rockies, per MLB Stat of the Day.

Andrew McCutchen went into the Pittsburgh Pirates' latest contest as the worst hitter in their everyday lineup. Clearly, what he needed was a slump-buster.

Or three.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann has already made history during his inaugural season in Motown, becoming the first starting pitcher in 43 years to begin his tenure with a new team by throwing 20-plus scoreless innings, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols moved into sole possession of 13th place on the all-time home runs list during the third inning of Monday's 6-1 win over the Kansas City Royals, hitting career homer No.