Starling Marte leaves game with concussion symptoms

By Drew SilvaJun 24, 2014, 10:24 PM EDT
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Pirates left fielder Starling Marte banged his head into the knee of Rays infielder Sean Rodriguez while trying to steal second base in the top of the fifth inning Tuesday. A little white later, the Bucs tweeted this …

An extended absence seems likely even if the concussion is deemed mild. Pittsburgh can roll with the hot-hitting Josh Harrison in left field with second baseman Neil Walker recovered from an appendectomy.

Brandon McCarthy to retire after the season

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images
By Bill BaerAug 14, 2018, 8:53 PM EDT
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Braves pitcher Brandon McCarthy said he will retire at the end of the 2018 season, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports. McCarthy has been on the disabled list since June 25 due to tendinitis in his right knee. He is hoping to contribute out of the bullpen down the stretch.

McCarthy said, “I’m done after this. This is it. The offseason is the rest of my life. If I was going to keep playing, a month and a half ago I would have had the surgery that cleans the [knee] and I’d be back next year just a little bit after spring [training].”

In 15 starts this season, McCarthy posted a 4.92 ERA with a 65/21 K/BB ratio in 78 2/3 innings. He would be eligible for free agency after the season. The Braves acquired McCarthy along with Charlie Culberson, Scott Kazmir, and Adrian Gonzalez from the Dodgers in December in exchange for Matt Kemp.

McCarthy has spent parts of 13 seasons in the majors with the White Sox, Rangers, Athletics, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Dodgers, and Braves. Altogether, he has won 69 games with a 4.20 ERA across 1,223 2/3 innings. Nice.