Astros demote RBI leader J.D. Martinez to minors - MLB

I’m not much for evaluating hitters based on RBI totals, but it’s still interesting that the struggling Astros have demoted their RBI leader, J.D. Martinez, to Triple-A after he was their starting left fielder for the first two-thirds of the season.

Martinez has a team-high 54 RBIs in 102 games, although that a) isn’t all that many and b) comes with a measly .235 batting average, 11 homers, and .681 OPS. And those modest season totals include a very strong April, after which Martinez has hit just .222 with a .276 on-base percentage and .352 slugging percentage in 80 games.

Martinez jumped from Double-A to the majors, so the Astros are hoping it’ll be easier for him to work on his swing while playing at Triple-A for the first time and most likely he’ll be back in Houston as a September call-up.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.