Happy Father’s Day to those Razzpals who are celebrating!
And for those who don’t enjoy a good weekend not we celebrate fathers.
Speaking of my dad, I went with mine last week and didn’t get service for a week. So, I’m sorry I didn’t respond to many comments in a timely manner. I got it even crazier not even writing last week’s Ambulance Chasers. I understand that it is probably the most important thread on this site that everyone’s success depends on. So, I’m back and I’m officially yours again.
I’m playing a little bit on what I missed last week. Therefore, some significant damage is “old news” with updates.
Let’s get busy.
Significant Injury
AL East
Alek Manoah (SP, TOR), elbow: Roller coaster Alek Manoah will be out for the rest of the season with a strained UCL in his right elbow. Manoah will avoid Tommy John surgery by having an internal brace on his arm. This leaves the Blue Jays with Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Yusei Kikuchi, and Bowden Francis. Of those strikers, Bowden Francis may be the only one available in the league. Francis had an up and coming season, but if you were with Manoah you were in the same boat anyway.
We made some good friends along the way, didn’t we?
AL West
Yainer Díaz (C, HOU), finger: Díaz, at press time, was in doubt about the pain in his right index finger after being hit in the dirt with points. An MRI removed any suspicion of serious damage, but Houston still remembers César Salazar, who rang bells for other people. Fortunately, Yainer returned to the lineup yesterday.
Logan O’Hoppe (C, LAA), groin: O’Hoppe got the ball in the groin, and to be more specific, in the balls or whatever word you choose. Anyway, his O’Hoppes have cooled off, and he’s back in action now. Phew!
If baseball is called a sport, what do we call these dangers to human life?
Wonder how Logan O’Hoppe feels about the announcers talking about him taking a foul ball to his home ground as a “soft tissue” injury?#GoHalos
– Mr. Bunch (@darinbunch) June 14, 2024
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU), shin: Tucker first strained his shin on June 4, and although, he showed signs of improvement, he wasn’t ready to return yesterday, his first day of eligibility back in IL. He was ruled out over the weekend by individual manager Joe Espada.
There is a lot of movement in Houston. Joey Loperfido was called up temporarily to replace Tucker. He was sent back down immediately (and is not eligible to return until June 21st, ironically with Jose Abreu’s release; Mauricio Dubón was inserted at 1B yesterday). Regarding Tucker, the Astros have turned to Trey Cabbage and Chas McCormick in right field in Tucker’s absence. Cabbage has a best last 20 AB: .300/.300/.450 with 1 SB and 1 HR. McCormick was one of my preseason bench picks, but he has struggled a bit this season.
.@HighGrainger alumnus Trey Cabbage hit his second career home run and first with #Astros. pic.twitter.com/HR039sIrWU
– Reece Van Haaften (@Reece_VH) June 5, 2024
Ty France (1B, SEA), heel: France broke his right heel on June 8. General Justin Hollander said the Mariners don’t expect France to be out longer than 10 days in IL. France may not be fully recovered upon his return and may have a limited role as he ascends.
If you need someone to cover France right now, check out the White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn. In his last 29 ABs, he has 3 HRs and 7 RBIs.
France makes a @PHill_Bone grounder drill here pregame#TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/k0Gv1R5elW
– Circling Seattle Sports (@CirclingSports) June 13, 2024
Bryan Woo (SP, SEA), arm: Woo felt arm pain and was scratched on Tuesday, but an MRI of his right arm came back clean. He is expected to avoid IL and return to the lineup next week. You may remember when Woo was dealing with elbow inflammation earlier this season. So, it’s possible that we’ll see arm and elbow issues crop up throughout the season, but the Mariners have talked extensively about handling Woo’s increased workload. For now, we can bask in the warm glow of Woo’s 1.07 ERA and 0.5 BB/9 in 33.7 IP.
If you need a temporarily instead, Hunter Brown of the Astros is another option. He has some control issues (4 BB in his last 6 IP), but he has 10.5 K/9 over that same span.
Hunter Brown over his last six games:
2.91 ERA | 34.0 IP| 22H| 11 BB | 38 k
He also changed four starters of straight quality! He starts tonight. #Astros #Infinite pic.twitter.com/NVO67vXRR6
– Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) June 14, 2024
NL East
JT Realmuto (C, PHI), knee: Real-poop-o Realmuto’s right knee, which needed to be surgically repaired. Realmuto played through knee pain, which was eventually diagnosed as a torn meniscus, in May. Dave Dombrowski said Realmuto is expected to be out for a month. While the Phillies have depth at catching, it’s not quality depth.
If you need a catcher, I personally go for Jose Trevino (.333/.357/.533 in his last 15 AB) or Freddy Fermin (.313/.313/.500 in his last 16 AB) . Both should be available in your leagues.
The bad news is that they both have very high BABIPs, but like me, you all probably love Dolly Parton’s spots at the Vegas airport.
NL West
Brendan Rodgers (2B, COL), hamstring: Rodgers strained his left hamstring last week while running in the first base. Fortunately, the strain is mild, and we were able to see Rodgers return before July. The Rockies called up Adael Amador to replace Rodgers in the lineup.
There are two decent 2B options I can think of, both with downside. Another option is Whit Merrifield. Merrifield has been hot recently, but has had a low BABIP so far this season. Are things just looking up? Is it possible? Another option is Donovan Solano. Solano has had a consistent season with the current kicking slump.
Injury Updates
Here are your lightning damage updates.
If I’ve missed someone or we’ve had a status change after publication time, let’s talk in the comments!
- Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET), back: there is no recovery time from a lumbar spine stress fracture.
- Evan Carter (OF, TEX), back: back injury was a stress reaction; Carter will likely be out until at least July.
- Triston Casas (1B, BOS), ribs: tea swing by Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe.
- Gerrit Cole (SP, NYY), elbow: he started the repair work.
- Wilson Contreras (C, STL), arm: could start again next week with Derrick Goold of St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Brandon Drury (1B/2B, LAA), hamstring: he started the repair work.
- Tommy Edman (2B/SS/OF, STL), arm: taking batting practice on the field, but he’s probably a few weeks away from being activated.
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand (1B, CIN), arm: The timeline is murking as the possibility of surgery for the hamstring injury, which could require a 3-month recovery period, is on the table per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
- Vaughn Grissom (2B/SS, BOS), hamstring: resumed baseball activities.
- Eloy Jiménez (DH, CWS), hamstring: he started the repair work.
- Nolan Jones (OF, COL), knee: back to the line *poking with a stick*.
- Josh Jung (3B, TEX), arm: is headed for a rehab assignment in Triple-A but won’t work soon via Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.
- Dean Kremer (SP, BAL), triceps: he could start a renovation this weekend per Sam Cohn of The Baltimore Sun.
- Bobby Miller (SP, LAD), shoulder inflammation: may be activated soon.
- Max Muncy (3B, LAD), oblique: dry swings for individual manager Dave Roberts; there is no timeline for recovery.
- Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL), oblique: we have to turn again this weekend with Oli.
- Tommy Pham (OF, CWS), ankle: came out of IL yesterday via Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Robbie Ray (SP, SEA), elbow: he started the repair work.
- Jordan Romano (RP, TOR), elbow: will start playing catch this weekend.
- Jeffrey Springs (SP, TBR), elbow: long time no see; he started the repair work.
- Trea Turner (SS, PHI), muscle: maybe back this weekend or early next week with MLB.com.
- Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), back: he started the repair work.
- Kodai Senga (SP, NYM), applause: Slowed down by a triceps injury, Senga will face live strikers soon with each manager Carlos Mendoza. Mendoza also stated that Senga will not return before the All-Star Break.
- Alek Thomas (OF, ARI), hamstring: back to some action like DH.
- Gavin Williams (SP, CLE), elbow: he started the repair work.
Carlos Mendoza says Kodai Senga is playing a long toss this weekend in hopes of starting bullpen sessions early next week: pic.twitter.com/QMO3jCsti7
– SNY (@SNYtv) June 8, 2024
See you next week friends. As always, leave me comments or questions.
I always exist outside these three or four more walls Twitter or BlueSky.
