New York Post | Greg Joyce: Trent Grisham left last night’s game in Toronto with what the Yankees termed left hamstring tightness. At time of writing, it was unclear when exactly Grisham tweaked the muscle. Grisham ran the bases in the fourth, and also made a running attempt at a catch that inning.
MLB Trade Rumors | Steve Adams: Fernando Cruz is back on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain. The Yankees called up right-hander Geoff Hartlieb yesterday in his stead. Cruz has been a remarkable bullpen find for the Yankees, posting a 3.00 ERA with a strikeout rate north of 40 percent, but he’ll hit the shelf for the second time in the last month. Hartlieb, a 31-year-old journeyman, has gotten knocked around across 79.1 innings in the big leagues, but has performed well in Triple-A this year, running a 3.34 ERA with Scranton.
CBS Sports | Mike Axisa: Jazz Chisholm Jr. is a “game-changer”, according to Aaron Judge and according to his play on the field. Chisholm has been vital since returning from the IL, hitting .318/.379/.600 in his first 23 games after coming back from an oblique injury. Chisholm has credited his success to playing at 70 percent, which speaks more to his mentality more than a measure of how hard Chisholm is playing. Chisholm’s average bat speed is actually up since his return from injury, but he appears to be playing more within himself, rather than “getting too big with his swing and trying to end a slump with a five-run homer”, as Axisa puts it.
Yahoo Sports | Alex Smith: The Yankees will be represented at this month’s Futures Game, with George Lombard Jr. tabbed to be on the American League roster. Lombard rocketed up prospect lists earlier in the year, as the infielder showed off gaudy tools in spring training then proceeded to tear up High-A over 24 games. He’s come down to earth in his first run at Double-A, posting a .660 OPS in 48 games, but remains perhaps the club’s most exciting prospect.
Sports Media Watch | Jon Lewis: Shifting more toward league news, ESPN and MLB are reportedly back at the negotiating table. Earlier this year, ESPN opted out of its current broadcast deal with MLB, and commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that as a result its relationship with the network would end, but the two sides appear to be trying to rekindle things.