Ambulance Chasers: Austin Riley’s Bosses Up

Welcome to your 18th May 2024 episode of Razzball Ambulance Chasers.
Don’t forget to buy tickets to our Ambulance Chasers Family Fun Fair where there will be free gurney rides and lots of crazy looking injury lawyers. Like hats and spray tans. If you live in the Chicagoland area, you might be thinking about this guy:
He won’t actually be at the Family Fun Fair, but a few boys like him will be there.
However, we are not responsible for boiling hot coffee spills at the Family Fun show.
Speaking of celebration mode, it’s a light week for new IL entries. There are several updates to the DTD. There have been more and more hamstring injuries recently, and the elbow problems continue. Let’s kick it!
Significant Injury
AL Central
Kenta Maeda (SP, DET), illness: Maeda went to IL for 15 days due to a viral illness. Although he should be back around, if not later, May 23, he may need a rehab assignment. He has been throwing bullpen sessions. Matt Manning was recalled to the minors a few days after Maeda started for IL. Meh.
If you need a replacement in the next 5 days (hopefully), the AL Central option is Royal Michael Wacha, who uses Big Angels Energy. In his last 12 IP, Wacha has 9.8 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9. While Wacha will likely regress and continue to have control issues, Kansas City plays Oakland, the Tigers, and the Rays in the next few series. So, the idea is perfect if you need someone to keep Maeda’s seat warm.
Shelby Miller (RP, DET), arm: Shelby Miller joins Maeda in Detroit, IL with ulnar nerve inflammation. Miller’s recent performance has been marked by struggle. In his last 8 IP, he has a 7.88 ERA and a 4.5 BB/9 with a low velo. He is due to return on May 27, but it is not certain whether he will return on that date. Miller has a long history of arm problems that includes a 2017 injury that required Tommy John surgery.
Detroit RP Beau Brieske was recalled from Triple-A. Brieske had only thrown 1 inning at press time. So, there is not a large sample size there. Yankee Luke Weaver has been on offense lately. In his last 18.7 IP, he has 12.0 K/9 and 1.0 BB/9 (0.83 FIP). Weaver will be lacking in saves, but that’s not much of an issue here.
NL Central
Adbert Alzolay (RP, CHC), arm: Alzolay hit IL with a right arm press. He is eligible to return on May 28. However, as you might expect when you see the word “forward”, Alzolay’s opinion was taken “concerningly” by Craig Counsell. I will share updates as they come in over the next few weeks.
José Cuas was recalled when Alzolay went to IL. In 4.0 IP, Cuas has 6.8 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 with a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
Alzolay’s elbow hurt when he left Pittsburgh yesterday. He is filming today.
Given that Alzolay is on the IL immediately and is being evaluated, Counsell said that’s about it. Lambs won’t know the severity and recovery time until they get the test results.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 13, 2024
The other would be Met Reed Garrett who is still available to be listed in most major leagues. He’s been held up a bit this week, but in his last 16 IP he has a 1.13 ERA and 14.6 K/9 with 1 SV. I still believe in Reed.
Rhys Hoskins (1B, MIL), hamstring: Hoskins is making the trip to IL with a right hamstring he strained while running. He is due back on May 23rd, but it will likely be closer to mid-June (plus or minus a week) depending on what the pictures show (not released at press time).
Owen Miller was brought back to Nashville to replace Hoskins, but let’s turn our backs on him for now. Luke Raley would be a good option here. In his last 65 AB, Raley hit .317/.369/.483 with 3 HR and 9 RBI. 2 of 3 HRs have come in his last 17 AB. His BABIP is also crazy, but YOLO.
Luke Raley is HOT. BAKED IN FIRE. ? ? pic.twitter.com/Yf0cnjpTz5
– Seattle Mariners ON Tap (@MarinersONTap) May 15, 2024
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), groin: Lodolo returns to IL with a strained groin. The move was described as a “precautionary measure” by Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Lodolo is eligible to return on May 27, and he seems very determined to make it that day (maybe he really is).
Sam Moll has replaced Lodolo on the roster, but you don’t want to deal with that right now. How about a man with an incredibly fitting name: Milwaukee prospect Robert Gasser? In 11 IP, 6 K and 1 BB. I love Gas Man.
NL East
Austin Riley (3B, ATL), stomach: Riley has been a DTD due to a side injury, but he is only a DTD. He had an MRI that showed inflammation and nothing systemic. So, he should come back soon.
Zack Short replaced Riley. In 10 hits, he has 4 hits and 2 RBIs. While that kind of performance likely isn’t sustainable for Short, it’s not a bad option while you wait for Riley’s return.
Zack Short had an RBI single and an RBI double in Wednesday’s 7-1 loss to the Cubs, and has now reached base twice in his first four games (three starts) since being traded #Heroes. He made his third consecutive start at 3B in place of Austin Riley (type on the sideline).
— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 16, 2024
NL West
Emmet Sheehan (SP, LAD), elbow: This is more of an injury update. Emmet Sheehan had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday. So, he’s done with a season that seemed to offer promise at one point. Sheehan’s injury highlights the Dodgers IL struggles with 6 pitchers on 60 day IL and 5 on 15 day IL. Those numbers don’t include Ohtani. Good thing the Dodgers don’t care about the rain.
Injury Updates
Let’s do a quick run through some damage updates including a few DTDs you might be wondering about. Feel free to hit me up in the comments with anyone I missed or anyone who needs an update.
- Gerrit Cole (SP, NYY), elbow: he might come back in june (good idea).
- Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX), elbow: throw from 90 feet; The August shooting came from MLB’s Kennedy Landry.
- Brandon Drury (1B/2B, LAA), hamstring: in IL with a hamstring injury; it may come back tomorrow or in the next few days.
- Nathan Eovaldi (SP, TEX), groin: throwing off the mound this weekend; due back on May 25.
- Pete Fairbanks (RP, TBR), arm: activated, then he cut his index finger, but now he is really back.
- Nico Hoerner (2B/SS, CHC), hamstring: he can come back this weekend.
- DJ LeMahieu (1B/3B, NYY), foot: he began a maintenance career at Double-A.
- Wyatt Langford (OF, TEX), hamstring: early June to return.
- Brandon Lowe (2B, TBR), oblique: starting maintenance work this weekend.
- Sean Murphy (C, ATL), oblique: it should start again next week.
- Luis Robert (OF, CWS), hip: may return at the end of May.
- Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL), elbow: he can come back this weekend.
- Trea Turner (SS, PHI), muscle: out for at least a month.
- Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), back: getting a Botox shot for thoracic outlet syndrome.
- Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC), oblique: it has been activated.
- Alek Thomas (OF, ARI), hamstring: re-examined; it was discovered that the hamstring was not healing. There is no timeline.
- Gavin Williams (SP, CLE), elbow: he may return sometime in June.
Nathan Eovaldi, Dane Dunning and Cody Bradford all threw some form today, albeit on a flat surface. Eovaldi may come off the mound this weekend. # Passengers
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) May 13, 2024
Take care and see you next week to welcome a new batch of injured baseball boys.
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