Welcome to your May 18th, 2024 edition of Razzball Ambulance Chasers.
Don’t forget to buy tickets for our Ambulance Chasers Family Fun Fair where there will be free gurney rides and a host of personal injury lawyers with quirky signature looks. Like hats and spray tans. If you live in the Chicagoland area, you may think of this guy:
He won’t actually be at the Family Fun Fair, but a few guys that look just like him will be present.
Anyway, we are not liable for boiling hot coffee spills at the Family Fun Fair.
Speaking of a celebratory mood, it is a little bit of a lighter week in terms of new IL entries. There are a few DTD updates. There have been more hamstring injuries cropping up lately, and elbow issues persist. Let’s kick it off!
Notable Injuries
AL Central
Kenta Maeda (SP, DET), illness: Maeda went on the 15-day IL for a viral illness. Although he should return close to, if not on, May 23, he may require a rehab assignment. He has been throwing bullpen sessions. Matt Manning was recalled from the minors a few days after Maeda went on the IL. Meh.
If you need a replacement for the next 5ish (hopefully) days, an AL Central option is Royal Michael Wacha, who is running off Big Angels Energy. In his last 12 IP, Wacha has a 9.8 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9. While Wacha will probably regress and continue to have control issues, Kansas City is playing Oakland, Tigers, and the Rays over the next few series. So, the outlook is relatively positive if you need someone to keep Maeda’s seat warm.
Shelby Miller (RP, DET), forearm: Shelby Miller joins Maeda on Detroit’s 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 4.5 BB/9 with lower velo. He is eligible to return May 27, but it is uncertain if he will be back by that date. Miller has a long history of forearm issues including a 2017 injury that required Tommy John surgery.
Detroit RP Beau Brieske was recalled from Triple-A. Brieske had only thrown 1 inning at the timing of publication. So, not huge sample size there. Yankee Luke Weaver has been making a case lately. In his last 18.7 IP, he has a 12.0 K/9 and 1.0 BB/9 (0.83 FIP). Weaver would be lacking in saves, but that’s not an issue so much here.
NL Central
Adbert Alzolay (RP, CHC), forearm: Alzolay hit the IL with a right forearm strain. He is eligible to return May 28. However, as you might expect when you see the word “forearm”, Alzolay’s outlook has been deemed “concerning” by Craig Counsell. I’ll share updates as they come in over the next few weeks.
José Cuas was recalled when Alzolay went to the IL. In 4.0 IP, Cuas has a 6.8 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 with a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
Alzolay’s elbow became sore during his outing yesterday in Pittsburgh. He’s getting imaging today.
Given that Alzolay went on the IL immediately and is getting testing, Counsell said that is concerning. Cubs won’t know severity & timeframe for return until they get test results. https://t.co/UuwdPUCkjX
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 13, 2024
An alternative could be Met Reed Garrett who is still available to roster in many leagues. He got hosed 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 taking a trip to the IL with a strained right hamstring which he sustained while running bases. He is eligible to return May 23, but it will probably be closer to mid-June (plus or minus a week) depending on what imaging shows (not released at time of publication).
Owen Miller was recalled from Nashville to replace Hoskins, but let us turn away from him for now. Luke Raley would be a good option here. In his last 65 AB, Raley has hit .317/.369/.483 with 3 HR and 9 RBIs. 2 of 3 HRs have happened in his last 17 AB. His BABIP is also crazy high, but YOLO.
Luke Raley is HOT. ON FIRE. ? ? pic.twitter.com/Yf0cnjpTz5
— Seattle Mariners ON Tap (@MarinersONTap) May 15, 2024
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), groin: Lodolo returns to the IL with a strained groin. The move has been described as “precautionary” per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Lodolo is eligible to return on May 27, and he seems pretty determined to make that date (maybe even really determined).
Sam Moll took Lodolo’s place on the roster, but you don’t want to deal with that right now. What about the man with the incredibly appropriate name: Milwaukee pitching prospect Robert Gasser? In 11 IP, 6 K and 1 BB. I like the Gas Man.
NL East
Austin Riley (3B, ATL), abdomen: Riley has been DTD with a side injury, but is only DTD. He had an MRI that showed inflammation and nothing structural. So, he should be back very soon.
Zack Short has stepped in for Riley. In 10 hits, he has 4 hits and 2 RBIs. While that kind of performance is likely not sustainable for Short, it’s not a bad option while you wait for Riley’s return.
Zack Short had a single and RBI double in the 7-1 loss Wednesday to the Cubs, and he’s now reached base twice in each of his first four games (three starts) since being traded to the #Braves. He made his third consecutive start at 3B in place of Austin Riley (side strain).
— 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 is super done with a season which seemed to offer promise at one point. Sheehan’s injury highlights the Dodgers IL struggles with 6 pitchers on the 60-day IL and 5 on the 15-day IL. Those numbers do not include Ohtani. Good thing the Dodgers don’t mind making it rain.
Injury Updates
Let’s do a quick run through of some injury updates including a few DTDs you may wonder about. Feel free to hit me up in the comments with anyone I missed or anyone you need an update on.
- Gerrit Cole (SP, NYY), elbow: could be back in June (a positive outlook).
- Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX), elbow: throwing from 90 feet; shooting for August return per MLB’s Kennedi Landry.
- Brandon Drury (1B/2B, LAA), hamstring: on IL with hamstring injury; may return tomorrow or the next few days.
- Nathan Eovaldi (SP, TEX), groin: throwing off the mound this weekend; eligible to return May 25.
- Pete Fairbanks (RP, TBR), arm: activated, then cut index finger, but now he is back for real.
- Nico Hoerner (2B/SS, CHC), hamstring: may return this weekend.
- DJ LeMahieu (1B/3B, NYY), foot: began rehab assignment in Double-A.
- Wyatt Langford (OF, TEX), hamstring: early June return.
- Brandon Lowe (2B, TBR), oblique: beginning rehab assignment this weekend.
- Sean Murphy (C, ATL), oblique: should begin rehab next week.
- Luis Robert (OF, CWS), hip: may be back by the end of May.
- Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL), elbow: may return this weekend.
- Trea Turner (SS, PHI), hamstring: out for at least a month.
- Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), back: receiving Botox shots for thoracic outlet syndrome.
- Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC), oblique: activated.
- Alek Thomas (OF, ARI), hamstring: reevaluated; found hamstring was not healing. No timeline.
- Gavin Williams (SP, CLE), elbow: may be back sometime in June.
Nathan Eovaldi, Dane Dunning and Cody Bradford all did some kind of throwing today, though only on flat ground. Eovaldi could be off a mound this weekend. #Rangers
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) May 13, 2024
Take care and see you next week to welcome the freshest batch of bruised baseball boys.
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