MLB Injury News

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2013-05-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

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Blue Jays' J.A. Happ progressing slowly due to knee injury

2013-05-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

The line drive to the head was the scary part, but that's not what's keeping J.A. Happ from pitching off a mound. The Toronto Blue Jays starter who was hit in the head by a Desmond Jennings line drive suffered a knee injury when he tried to get out of the way of the liner. That knee injury is preventing his progress from speeding along.

Gregor Chisolm of MLB.com says Happ suffered a sprained knee as he fell to the ground. The line drive hit Happ in the head and caused a minor skull fracture. He also suffered a concussion and a laceration. Happ seems to have recovered nicely from the concussion, but the knee is still holding him back.

"His head is feeling fine, his knee is bothering him a little bit," manager John Gibbons "Somebody's looking at it all the time but no more X-rays. It's just one of those things that's just going to take time. He'll be a while."

Chisolm points out that there is still no timetable for Happ's return. He will continue to be evaluated by doctors and will go through a rehab program that may include a minor league assignment at some point. Happ's return, though, could help the Blue Jays keep up in the American League East.

Toronto is in last place in the East, ten games out of first. However, they have time to make a run still. The team simply need to put things together and gel as a cohesive unit. Right now, they seem like they are stuck in "figure things out" mode. Happ's eventual return could help right the ship.
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Padres' Cory Luebke suffers setback during rehab

2013-05-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

The San Diego Padres have been less than horrible this season. They have won four of their last six games (including a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles), but they could be better. Their ace, Cory Luebke, has been out while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, he's hit yet another hiccup in his recovery.

Corey Brock of MLB.com says Luebke's throwing program has been put on hold. Again. This is the second time Luebke has had to take a step back in his recovery process.

#Padres LHP Cory Luebke (TJ, May 2012) has had his throwing program stopped for 2nd time in 2013. Had progressed to playing catch off mound.
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) May 18, 2013

These setbacks are likely to push back Luebke's expected return significantly. The young righty was slated for a June return, but now the team has not put a timetable on his activation. Luebke will need to progress from playing catch to throwing off a mound to rehab games. That could take awhile.

The Padres were high on Luebke coming into last season. So much so that they gave him a contract extension that guarantees him $12 million and could be worth a whole lot more if the club picks up the options through the 2017 season. Luebke became the club's ace late in 2011 and continued to prove he owned that role in 2012. Unfortunately, elbow discomfort quickly became a torn UCL.

Luebke has pithced in three Major League seasons. He has a total of 55 games-pitched in the books. Of those 55 games, 25 have been starts. Luebke has a career 3.25 ERA. His success as a starter made him a fan-favorite in San Diego. When he does make his eventual return, the Padres should get better fast.

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Braves place Eric O’Flaherty on DL with UCL tear

2013-05-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Braves placed left-handed reliever Eric O’Flaherty on the disabled list yesterday due to a strained elbow. David O’Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution later reported that O’Flaherty was dealing with a UCL tear, an injury that usually requires Tommy John surgery.

#Braves don't have an appt. yet with Andrews, but figure it'll be next couple days. Team didn't say, but any UCL tear usually means surgery.
— David O'Brien (@ajcbraves) May 18, 2013

This is another huge blow for the Braves, as their once vaunted bullpen now looks like a potential weak link. Before O’Flaherty’s injury was announced, Atlanta had already placed Jonny Venters, Jordan Walden, Luis Ayala and Cristhian Martinez on the DL.

O’Flaherty has been a pivotal part of the Braves’ bullpen over the past several seasons. He maintained a miniscule ERA and WHIP of 0.98 and 1.086 in 2011, and posted another impressive campaign last year (1.73 ERA, 1.151 WHIP). He was off to a good start this year prior to suffering his elbow injury.

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Cardinals' Jaime Garcia placed on the DL

2013-05-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

The St. Louis Cardinals are dealing with yet another injured pitcher. Jaime Garcia was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. The 26-year old pitcher has suffered a shoulder strain, and he and the team are concerned the injury could be even more significant than originally thought.

According to Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com, there is a possibility that Garcia may need surgery on the shoulder. The official diagnosis right now remains a left shoulder strain. However, a shoulder impingement seems to be the real concern. Generally, impingements require surgery to correct properly. If Garcia does have to undergo surgery, he would likely be moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.

Yesterday, the Cardinals activated Mitchell Boggs. He is expected to be available today if necessary. Boggs was on the disabled list with a strained back. Although Boggs will be returning, the team is still taking a big hit with the loss of Garcia. Garcia was having a nice start to the season.

In nine starts, Garcia was 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA. In his career, Garcia owns a 3.45 ERA. He has been a solid pitcher for the Cardinals since he made his debut with them in 2008.
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Cubs' Matt Garza to be activated Tuesday

2013-05-19T08:23:00.002-04:00

After a good week of rehab, Matt Garza began to speculate that he would be ready for a Major League return soon. The plan was to allow his bullpen session on Saturday determine when he would come back. It appears that session went well as the team plans to activate Garza Tuesday.

According to Sahadev Sharma of ESPN Chicago, the Cubs will not only activate Garza on Tuesday, he will be their starter against the Philadelphia Phillies. Garza was obviously excited.

"I'm excited and happy I don't have to rehab again," Garza said. "This actually means something, so I can't wait. It's been 10 months in the making, I'm excited to get back out there."

Garza hasn't pitched in a Major League game since the middle of last season. A stress reaction in his pitching elbow sidelined him for the rest of the season. Garza was expected to be ready for Opening Day, but setbacks during spring training landed him on the DL to open the year. Garza's recent injury history will likely be a big roadblock to the Cubs dealing him this summer, but his return Tuesday will give him plenty of time to show other teams what he's got.

Garza has had a solid Major League career. He has fared well in Chicago, aside from the injuries of course. In his career, Garza has a 3.84 ERA. In his two years with Chicago, his ERA is 3.52. Garza is in the final year of arbitration eligibility. This means he will be a free agent after the season if the Cubs do not sign him to an extension. The team has made every indication they intend to trade him, but that will mean Garza must pitch well leading up to the July trade deadline.
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Josh Hamilton out of Saturday's lineup

2013-05-18T18:07:00.001-04:00

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton was scratched from the lineup before Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox.

As reported by William Boor at MLB.com,

" Josh Hamilton was initially in Saturday's lineup -- batting fifth and playing right field. Albert Pujols moved from first base to designated hitter, while Mark Trumbo shifted from designated hitter to right field. There was no explanation to the change."

Hamilton had 43 home runs, 128 runs batted in and a .285 batting average in 2012. So far this season, he he struggled. He entered Saturday with a .210 average, five home runs, 12 runs batted in, and a .258 on base percentage.

Astros rumors: Considering Jose Altuve extension

2013-05-18T14:00:00.000-04:00

Over the past two years, the Houston Astros have been in the business of trading away veteran players in hope of building a future contender for years to come. Jose Altuve is one of the few remaining experienced players on the roster, but Houston isn’t interested in trading him. Instead, general manager Jeff Luhnow told Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle that the Astros are open to discussing a long-term contract extension with Altuve.

Asked about possible contract extension for Jose Altuve, #Astros' Luhnow said club will consider all options for players "we feel can ...
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) May 17, 2013

... be around for a while and Altuve could be one of them. We'll consider any opportunity to keep him here over the long haul."
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) May 17, 2013

Luhnow said the team is open to discussion extensions with any players they believe will be around for years to come. Altuve is one of those players, and he said the team will “consider any opportunity to keep him here over the long haul.”

There’s no rush for the Astros, as Altuve won’t be arbitration eligible for 2015, and he won’t hit the free agent market until after the 2017 campaign. He’s only 23 years old, but he’s already spent parts of three seasons in the majors.

So far this season, Altuve has hit .333/.371/.444 with nine doubles, one triple and two home runs over 167 plate appearances. He owns a career batting line of .294/.336/.397.

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Padres rumors: No plans of trading Chase Headley

2013-05-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

Rumors involving potential Chase Headley trades began to swirl earlier this year when the third baseman told the San Diego Padres that he wouldn’t discuss a contract extension until the offseason. However, people with ties to the team told Jon Heyman of CBS Sports that it’s “unlikely” there will be a trade involving the Padres’ slugger.

Prior to Headley cutting off talks when the regular season started, the Padres didn’t get extremely far in extension discussions with the third baseman. Heyman notes that San Diego was hoping for a deal south of $100 million, likely in the five-year, $75 million range.

While Headley’s demands haven’t been defined, there is belief that he’s targeting Ryan Zimmerman’s six-year, $100 million extension with Washington Nationals.

The Padres’ first choice is to re-sign Headley, according to general manager Josh Byrnes. He hasn’t ruled out listening to offers for Headley – who will become a free agent after the 2014 season – but it did say that the team’s asking price has increased over the past season-plus.

Still, San Diego figures to receive calls for Headley. The 29-year-old garnered MVP consideration last season, and he’s off to another hot start, hitting .296/.402/.500 with eight doubles and four home runs over 117 plate appearances.

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Yankees place Andy Pettitte on DL

2013-05-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

New York Yankees left-handed starting pitcher Andy Pettitte exited his last start due to injury, and the club placed him on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a strained left trapezius muscle, according to Kieran Darcy of ESPN New York.

General manager Brian Cashman told reporters that the team doesn’t consider the upper shoulder/back injury to be “overly serious,” adding that they want to “play it safe.”

Pettitte was surprised by the DL transaction, and he believes the decision could be “overly cautious.” However, the veteran understands the move considering the team’s current rough stretch.

"It could be overly cautious, but I also understand," Pettitte said. "I probably need a few days to let it calm down before I can throw a bullpen, and I need to pitch on Tuesday, and they don't want to send me out there in Baltimore on Tuesday and start warming up and it locked up and then we don't have pitching. We're on a tough stretch right now, so I understand."

Prior to hitting the DL, Pettitte was 4-3 with a 3.83 ERA over his first eight starts of the regular season. The 40-year-old has posted a 1.287 WHIP with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.60.

To replace Pettitte on the roster, the Yankees will recall Vidal Nuno from Triple-A to join the rotation. He won his first major league debut against the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

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Jose Reyes could rejoin Blue Jays by late June

2013-05-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes has been sidelined by a severely sprained left ankle since early April. He recently had his walking boot removed, allowing him to begin the slow process of regaining strength in his ankle. As his rehab picks up, Reyes is hoping to return to the Blue Jays by the end of June, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.

When Reyes initially suffered the injury, he was expected to be sidelined through the All-Star break. He’s since resumed playing catch and hitting off a tee, and he hopes to start jogging by the end of next week. Considering the progression he’s made, general manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters that it’s possible the timeline could be pushed up to the end of June.

Still, the is a long road ahead for Reyes, as a more accurate timeframe will be established once he resumes running and truly testing the ankle. While the shortstop is frustrated by the recovery, he said he’s doing everything he can to return with the Blue Jays as soon as possible.

"It's frustrating because I want to be on the field helping my ballclub win a lot of ballgames," said Reyes, who will accompany the team back to Toronto on Sunday. "Injuries happen, that's part of the game. I've been working the last five weeks very hard to come back as soon as possible."

Prior to hitting the disabled list, Reyes was off to a hot start for Toronto. Over 43 plate appearances, the 29-year-old hit .395/.465/.526 with two doubles and one home run with five stolen bases in five attempts.

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Braves place Jordan Walden on DL; activate Jason Heyward

2013-05-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Braves made room on their roster for activated outfielder Jason Heyward by placing late-inning reliever Jordan Walden on the disabled list, the team announced.

The Braves have activated OF Jason Heyward (appendectomy) from DL. RHP Jordan Walden has been placed on DL with right shoulder inflammation.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 17, 2013

Heyward had been out since the end of April after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. During his absence, the Braves used Evan Gattis, Reed Johnson and Jordan Schafer to fill in.

Prior to hitting the DL, Heyward was off to a rough start to the season, maintaining a batting average of .121 over his first 17 games. Atlanta’s hoping that production picks up following his return, and he did go 2-for-4 with a double and RBI last night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Walden has been sidelined due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder. The right-hander – who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels over the winter in exchange for Tommy Hanson – has posted an ERA of 4.85 to go with his 1.54 WHIP over 14 appearances. Walden’s maintained a solid 5.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio, but he’s allowed 17 hits over his 13 innings pitched.

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Athletics’ Brett Anderson out two months with stress fracture

2013-05-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Oakland Athletics left-handed starting pitcher Brett Anderson has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot, the team announced yesterday.

The #Athletics announced that LHP Brett Anderson has a navicular stress fracture of his right foot. He will be reevaluated in four weeks.
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) May 17, 2013

Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle speculates that the news will mean Anderson will be sidelined for roughly two months, assuming he doesn’t face another setback. This isn’t a safe bet, as Anderson has been hampered by issues relating to his ankle throughout the 2013 campaign.

Anderson will be shut down four weeks before his stress fracture is reevaluated. If his ankle doesn’t show improvement by that point, season-ending surgery could become a real possibility.

While he’s understandably frustrated by the situation, Anderson is trying to remain as upbeat as possible:

“I wouldn’t have predicted on Sunday I’d be in a walking boot on Friday,” he said. “It’s disappointing, but I can’t do anything about it. I kind of have to wear it.”

This is apparently a new injury, as Anderson felt he was fully recovered from the sprained ankle that sidelined him earlier in the season. However, the other side of his ailing foot began to hurt Monday when he was running. The cause of the injury is unknown, but it could have had to do with his overcompensating for the sprained ankle.

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Cubs’ Matt Garza says he is ready: Saturday session may determine

2013-05-17T17:30:00.000-04:00

The Chicago Cubs may soon have a very nice problem: six starting pitchers. Matt Garza has completed four rehab starts, and he feels that he can return to the Cubs’ rotation. MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat tweeted Garza’s confidence early on May 17.

#Cubs Matt Garza says he's ready to go wp.me/p1rXwp-8WRH via @wordpressdotcom
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) May 17, 2013

Garza threw 75 pitches for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs on May 16. Whereas earlier Garza would pile up his pitches in three- or four-inning stints, he threw much more efficiently this time. Garza lasted six innings while averaging 12.5 pitches per inning. He allowed two hits and no runs. In his four starts, he allowed only two runs in 15.1 innings.

Garza will throw a bullpen session on Saturday, May 18. MLB.com’s Cash Kruth reports that this session could be the deciding factor in determining his readiness to return to the Majors. Garza believes that he is ready. Said Garza, “I don’t need another start down here. There’s no reason for me to stay in the Minor Leagues.” Manager Dale Sveum stated that the adrenaline of pitching in the Majors again will give Garza the boost he needs to increase and maintain stamina.

Upon Garza’s return, the Cubs will have a six-man rotation until Sveum decides who leaves it. That could be a tough call as the Cubs’ starters are fourth in the National League in ERA at 3.51 following their game on May 17. The rotation is not the reason the Cubs are seven games below .500.

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Giants rumors: No contact with Brian Wilson

2013-05-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean sat down with Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area to discuss several topics surrounding the team. One name that came up was former Giants closer Brian Wilson. While Sabean doesn’t appear ready to close the door on Wilson rejoining San Francisco, he hasn’t had much contact recently with the right-hander.

When asked if he’s been talking to Wilson, Sabean replied that all he knows is that the veteran plans on showcasing his abilities over the All-Star break. Beyond that, Sabean hasn’t heard much, as he doesn’t know how Wilson is throwing. What he does know is that the right-hander is “working out like a fiend.”

Baggarly went on to ask if, considering the way Sergio Romo has performed for the Giants, was Sabean ready to move along when it comes to Wilson. The GM wasn’t ready to say that, but he does believe the team’s bullpen “has a lot of talent.”

Wilson appeared in two games last season before requiring season-ending surgery. He pitched for the New York Mets over the offseason, but he was reportedly unimpressive. After that disappointing showing, Wilson will reportedly not throw for teams again until he feels closer to full health. This is expected to take place in the next two months, most likely around the All-Star break.

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2013-05-17T13:00:00.000-04:00

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Tigers rumors: Detroit ‘looking hard’ for relievers

2013-05-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Tigers are concerned enough about their late-inning relief that they’re still “looking hard” for options on the trade market, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.

Entering the spring, the Tigers were expected to go with rookie Bruce Rondon as their closer. His struggles during the exhibition season resulted in him beginning the year in the minors. In his place, Detroit had been using a closer-by-committee system, which included Joakim Benoit and Phil Coke.

Unsatisfied with this setup, the Tigers went out and re-signed former closer Jose Valverde, who’s since reclaimed the role he had held over the past few seasons. He’s only allowed one hit over his first seven innings, but he is still a risk to become highly erratic at any moment.

Knobler notes that it’s not clear if the Tigers are focused on any one target, and the trade market for impact relievers still hasn’t developed. Despite sitting in first place in the American League Central, Tigers relievers have combined for only the 18^th-best ERA in the majors (3.77).

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Yankees rumors: Robinson Cano extension talks continue

2013-05-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner told David Lennon of Newsday that the team has kept up contract talks with pending free agent Robinson Cano’s new agent, adding that the sides are “going to continue in the weeks to come to work through things and try to come to an agreement."

Cano recently parted ways with agent Scott Boras in favor of a new agency headed by Jay-Z. While this was thought to increase the Yankees’ chances of re-signing him prior to free agency, discussions haven’t appeared to progress much since.

Still, Steinbrenner is optimistic that New York will be able to reach a deal with Cano, as he says both sides want it to get done:

"I know that Robby wants to be there, and Robby knows that we want him to be here. We want him to end his career here. I think to me, whether I'm right or not, that plays a big part in it regardless of who the agent is. But we're going to continue to try and push ahead and get something done. We want him to be a Yankee."

Cano could be in line for a $200 million contract, as he’s been one of the game’s best hitters over the past several seasons. This production has carried over into the 2013 campaign, as the 30-year-old has hit .301/.345/.552 with 11 doubles and 10 home runs over 174 plate appearances.

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Nationals’ Jayson Werth suffers setback

2013-05-17T10:00:00.001-04:00

The Washington Nationals were expecting to get outfielder Jayson Werth back from the disabled list on Saturday, but this will likely be pushed back a few days as the slugger has experienced a setback during his rehab, according to Amanda Comak of The Washington Times.

Werth recently experienced tightness in his hamstring, the injury which initially sent him to the DL. He traveled to New York yesterday to have his hamstring examined, and as a result his return will likely be pushed back.

Werth’s minor league rehab assignment began on Wednesday, and it was supposed to continue Thursday with the Nationals’ Single-A affiliate. However, manager Davey Johnson told reporters that Werth wanted to have his hamstring examined after experiencing the tightness.

“He wanted to go see another doctor in New York,” Johnson said before the Nationals’ game against the San Diego Padres on Thursday. “Reason being, he felt a slight, little bit of tightness in his hamstring. He just wanted to check something out.”

At this point, it’s unclear how long Werth’s return will be pushed back as a result of the setback. While Johnson didn’t rule out the outfielder’s activation on Saturday, general manager Mike Rizzo said it would probably be safe to assume that the return would be pushed back for at least a few days.

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Red Sox aren't considering shutting Daniel Bard down

2013-05-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

As Daniel Bard works through some mental and mechanical issues in the minor leagues, the team has been asked about their plans if he continues to struggle. As of now, the Red Sox do not plan to shut Bard down or send him to extended spring training. This comes after yet another bad outing for Bard at Double-A Portland.

Red Sox are not considering shutting down or sending Daniel Bard to extended Farrell said. Bard regularly in touch with team mental coach
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) May 16, 2013

Bard was once one of the more promising young pitchers in the Red Sox organization. He started his Major League career in the bullpen with sights set on the starting rotation. When Bard finally got into the rotation, he wasn't the same pitcher. In 2012, Bard started 10 games. In those games, he was 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA. Even more troubling was the fact that he suddenly couldn't pitch in relief anymore either. As a reliever last season, Bard posted a 16.20 ERA in seven appearances.

Unfortunately, the young pitcher has not been able to work through his issues. According to Alex Speier of WEEI.com, Red Sox pitching coach Juan Nieves is worried.

“I’m concerned over, of course, how he’s doing mentally,” said Nieves. “You’re always concerned about a guy’s mental state when he’s engaged in an at-bat and doesn’t do well. It continues to be the same thing.”

Bard is still just 27 years old, but he is running out of time to work things out before he becomes labeled a bust. The Red Sox are clearly still holding out hope that he can regain some of the form he showed as a reliever from 2009-2011. If he can't, Bard may soon be out of work. He never reached the point of getting a contract extension, so he is still in his arbitration years. That means the Red Sox could part ways with Bard with little to no financial impact. They aren't there yet, though. But they soon could be.
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Wilson Ramos update: Nationals catcher back on the DL

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

As expected after Wilson Ramos exited Wednesday night's game, the Washington Nationals have placed the injury-prone catcher on the disabled list. Ramos was on the DL earlier in the season with a strain to the same area of his hamstring he strained Wednesday. The team expects this injury to take some time now that Ramos has re-injured it.

Bryan Kerr of MASN says the team recalled Jhonatan Solano in a corresponding move to fill out the roster once Ramos was officially placed on the 15-day DL. Solano had been with the team earlier in the year when Ramos was injured, but he was sent down when the team's starting catcher returned from injury. Now, Solano will once again have to fill in and provide Kurt Suzuki, the team's second catcher on the depth chart, rest whenever possible.

The impact of Ramos' injury is significant for two reasons. Ramos has a better bat than Suzuki, for one. But possibly more significant is the notion that the team's ace, Stephen Strasburg, may actually pitch better when Ramos is behind the plate. While the numbers are not quite up to date anymore, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post pointed out the stark disparity in Strasburg's performances with Ramos behind the plate versus any other catcher.

Ramos has played in just 14 games this season. He has not had enough time to even find his groove and is hitting .250/.308/.438. Kurt Suzuki will get the brunt of the catching duties from here, and he is hitting .247/.326/.407.

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Rockies' place Jeff Francis on the DL

2013-05-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

The Colorado Rockies will be without their best pitcher. Jeff Francis is the team's ace, if they can even be considered as a team having an ace. He is also a veteran and knows how to pitch in the high altitude environment of Coors Field. Unfortunately, he has landed on the 15-day DL.

Owen Perkins of MLB.com says Francis was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained groin. This comes on the heels of a dominating performance in which Francis gave up just one run in six innings of work. The injury is certainly frustrating to the struggling Rockies. It's also frustrating to Francis.

"It's very disappointing," Francis said before the Rockies' opener of a four-game set with the Giants. "I've been struggling a bit since the first week of the year. To put an outing like that together was very rewarding, because you've done the work and the preparation to go there and pitch like that, so to have that taken away is very frustrating."

Francis has spent eight of his nine Major League seasons with the Rockies. He's familiar with the trouble pitchers have pitching at home in Denver. However, he has managed to be a relatively successful pitcher considering the conditions. In his career, Francis is 69-76 with a 4.89 ERA. With Colorado, he actually has a winning record at 63-60.

The Rockies are settling in as the National League West's cellar dwellers for now. It's a tough position for them to be in after they had a successful run from 2007-2010. Francis' injury certainly won't help them climb out of the basement, but it's best this injury happens now. If the team were competing, the loss of Francis would have been much more devastating.
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Red Sox Joel Hanrahan undergoes successful surgery, Bailey to return Monday

2013-05-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Boston Red Sox got news yesterday that Joel Hanrahan's surgery went well. He underwent Tommy John surgery as well as flexor tendon surgery yesterday afternoon. He will miss the rest of the season as well as the start of next season. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews.

According to the Boston Globe, Andrew Bailey will be the teams closer when he is activated from the disabled list. That won't be until Monday, though. Until then, the Red Sox will have to use whoever they can to get the ninth inning closed out. Bailey has been sidelined with a right biceps strain.

It's been a rough year for Red Sox closers. Bailey landed on the 15-day disabled list, thus clearing the way for Hanrahan to become the team's closer. Hanrahan had experience closing out games in Pittsburgh before coming to Boston. Unfortunately, he started experiencing elbow discomfort. Fears of the worst were soon confirmed as he was diagnosed with a UCL tear and a flexor tendon tear.

Bailey has been injury prone since the Red Sox acquired him from the Oakland Athletics back in 2011. Bailey pitched in just 19 games in 2012 because of injury. So far this season, he has appeared in 13 games. However, once he comes back from the DL, Bailey should get plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time. He will just have to stay healthy going forward.
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Yankees' Andy Pettitte, Chris Stewart both hurt

2013-05-17T05:00:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees may now be out of options at catcher. With Francisco Cervelii out with a fractured hand, the team was leaning on Chris Stewart. Unfortunately, Stewart left last night's game with a strained groin. To make matters worse for the Yankees, who seemed to be healing up finally, Andy Pettitte had to leave his start with a left trapezius muscle injury.

According to Matt Ehalt of ESPN New York, Pettitte said after the game his trapezius wasn't tight anymore. This is good news and indicative of what was likely a precautionary move to take Pettitte out of the game. However, Pettitte wasn't sure if he'd need to miss his next start. Stewart's injury may be a little more serious. He will be sent for an MRI before any decision on his status are made.

"When he went around the base and stopped, he felt something," Girardi said. "He said it didn't pop and he said he was OK, and when we saw him run, it continued to hurt, and we said, 'Well, we got to get you out.'"

Stewart suffered the injury while running the bases in the seventh inning. He tried to stay in the game, but the pain persisted. If he lands on the DL, the Yankees will be down to Austin Romine. They will have to call someone up if Stewart lands on the DL. They may have to even if Stewart has to miss a couple games. The team can't carry just one healthy catcher.

As for Pettitte, he's a competitor, so if he can pitch, he'll make his next start. However, the Yankees have suffered through so many injuries this season, it would not be surprising to see them have Pettitte skip his next start as a precaution.
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Alexi Ogando hits disabled list with biceps tendinitis

2013-05-16T18:00:00.000-04:00

The Texas Rangers have a healthy seven game lead atop the AL West but their starting rotation is starting to look very thin with the news that Alexi Ogando has been placed on the disabled list. The move was announced on Thursday afternoon by Rangers Executive VP of Communications, John Blake:

Rangers place Alexi Ogando on 15-day DL with right biceps tendinitis. RHP Cory Burns recalled from Round Rock.
— John Blake (@RangerBlake) May 16, 2013

Todd Willis of ESPNDallas.com said that Ogando had complained of soreness during Wednesday's win over the Oakland Athletics. Ogando went six innings in last night's start, throwing 92 pitches and giving up two earned runs on four hits.

Willis also reported that Josh Lindblom is lined up to make Monday's start in Ogando's place, also against the A's. Lindblom has pitched just over 100 innings in the big leagues, all as a reliever, but has been starting at Triple-A Round Rock this season with good results: a K/BB ratio of 3 and a 0.87 WHIP to go along with his 2.08 ERA. With Colby Lewis' recent setback and Matt Harrison likely out until at least August, the Rangers will be hoping that Ogando's stay on the DL is a brief one. They already have two rookies in the rotation in Nick Tepesch and Justin Grimm and can ill-afford another setback.

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