Yasiel Puig diagnosed with strained ligament in left thumb

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On Saturday against the Giants, Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig injured his thumb diving head-first into first base. Puig underwent X-rays but the team did not announce results until Sunday night. Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times reports that Puig has been diagnosed with a strained ligament in his left thumb and is day-to-day.

In the third inning against Madison Bumgarner on Saturday, Puig hit a ground ball up the middle, forcing shortstop Brandon Crawford to range far to his left. Crawford wheeled and fired but pulled Brandon Belt off of the first base bag. Puig, though, sensed it would be a close play and dove head-first in attempt to give himself an advantage (though such dive attempts typically hinder, not help, in that regard). After the umpire ruled him safe, Puig remained on the ground in pain. After getting up, Puig was standing on first base, doubled over in pain. However, he stayed in the game and finished 1-for-4.

Fortunately for Puig, the Dodgers have an off-day on Monday, so he could return to game action on Tuesday against the Tigers.

Cardinals sign pitcher Miles Mikolas to 3-year, $55.75M deal

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Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports
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ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas is sticking with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The right-hander signed a three-year, $55.75 million contract on Friday that will carry through the 2025 season.

The new deal replaces a $68 million, four-year contract signed in February 2019 that covered the 2020-23 seasons and was set to pay $15.75 million this year.

Mikolas will receive a $5 million signing bonus payable July 1 and will make $18.75 million in 2023 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons. Mikolas can earn a $250,000 bonus for winning a Cy Young Award, $50,000 for All-Star election or selection or winning a Gold Glove, $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $150,000 for World Series MVP.

Mikolas is scheduled to make the second opening-day start of his big league career next Thursday when the Cardinals host Toronto. Mikolas went 12-13 with a 3.29 ERA last season while helping St. Louis to the NL Central title.

“Miles stands among the top pitchers in the game today, and has continued to provide a steady presence for us both in the rotation and inside the clubhouse,” St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement.

Mikolas is 45-40 with a 3.79 in 143 games with San Diego, Texas and St. Louis. He recently pitched six shutout innings in two appearances for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic.