MLB notebook: Yankees’ Pineda facing Tommy John surgery

New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda needs Tommy John surgery for a torn ulnar collateral ligament, the team announced Friday.

Pineda, 28, plans to get a second opinion before opting to have the season-ending procedure, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team has recommended surgery.

Pineda’s last start was on July 5 when he gave up nine hits and five runs in just three innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Pineda is 8-4 with a 4.39 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 96 1/3 innings in 17 starts this season. He was 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA in the first two months of the season.

–The Boston Red Sox designated third baseman Pablo Sandoval for assignment.

Sandoval, 30, was returned from his injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket and activated from the 10-day disabled list before being designated for assignment. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 20 with a left inner ear infection.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement prior to Friday night’s home game against the New York Yankees.

Sandoval is still owed $18.6 million in each of the next two seasons, a $5 million buyout and the rest of his $17 million for 2017.

–Oakland Athletics right-hander Andrew Triggs underwent surgery on his left hip, the team announced.

The season-ending surgery was performed Thursday in Vail, Colo., by Dr. Marc Philippon, who repaired the injured labrum in Triggs’ hip.

Triggs got off to a superb start this season — he was 5-2 with a 2.12 ERA over his first eight starts — before struggling while fighting through the injury.

Triggs had a 9.64 ERA while losing four consecutive starts before being placed on the disabled list on June 10.

–The upper third of Comerica Park’s outfield grass looks like exactly what it is: two different types of grass.

The Detroit Tigers’ home field hosted a Metallica concert Wednesday night in the middle of three straight rainy days. Taking down the stage played havoc with the grass, so much so it had to be replaced.

“It’s not pretty, there’s no question about that,” Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said prior to Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. “Because the grass, the sod they got doesn’t match up. The sod they normally get comes from Wisconsin. Couldn’t get it here quick enough.

“They laid it down, they rolled it out, they cut it. It looks worse than it is. I think it was Mother Nature and Metallica combined.”

–The Washington Nationals placed right-hander Joe Ross on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained elbow.

The Nationals also added depth to their bullpen by calling up right-handed relievers Austin Adams and Trevor Gott from Triple-A Syracuse. Left-hander Sammy Solis was optioned to the Triple-A club.

Ross owns a 5-3 mark with a 5.01 ERA in 13 starts. The 24-year-old posted a 2-1 record with a 2.36 ERA in four outings prior to sustaining the injury.

Adams, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in an offseason deal, would make his major league debut should he appear with the team. The 26-year-old owns a 4-1 mark with three saves and a 2.50 ERA in 28 games with Syracuse.

Gott, 24, posted a 2-0 mark with a 3.34 ERA in 28 games with Syracuse this season.

Solis, 28, surrendered eight runs in four contests since being reinstated on July 1 after missing 65 games with a sore elbow.