A slumping Bryce Harper was out of the lineup again tonight for the Nationals owing to a seemingly minor neck issue, but the precise nature of his injury has been the subject of some debate. Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post breaks down all the back-and-forth on the topic. In essence, Nats GM Mike Rizzo strongly denied a report from SI.com’s Tom Verducci indicating that Harper may have been playing through a shoulder injury for some time. Rizzo insists that Harper simply has a stiff neck that has not yet required a DL placement.
Here’s more on some injury situations around the game:
- Diamondbacks righty Rubby De La Rosa has suffered a setback in his efforts to come back from a forearm injury, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com tweets. He’s headed for an MRI to see where things stand. It seems as if there’s little reason to expect the 27-year-old to return to the majors this season. That’s a tough blow for the D-Backs, who surely would like to get a longer look at a pitcher who showed a fair bit of promise this year. Over 47 2/3 innings earlier in the season, De La Rosa worked to a 4.15 ERA with 9.3 K/9 against 2.8 BB/9.
- The Astros will be without Colby Rasmus for a month or more after he underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his ear, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Rasmus has been struggling for some time, and it’s fair to wonder whether the issue may have played a significant role. He’ll need to return in good form to provide a boost to the ’Stros — and to bolster his fading free agent position.
- Marlins first baseman Justin Bour isn’t progressing in his attempt to return from an ankle injury, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports on Twitter. In fact, manager Don Mattingly says that Bour “went backwards” of late, with the team’s expectation now being that he won’t return until at least early September. That certainly seems to open some room for Miami to look into adding a bat to chip in down the stretch.
- Athletics righty Sonny Gray only just began forearm exercises today, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports. He won’t begin throwing again unless and until the inflammation subsides. At this point, it seems far from certain whether he’ll make it back to a major league hill this season.
- The Mariners may soon send reliever Steve Cishek out on a rehab assignment, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports. It appears that his hip labrum issue is indeed as minor as the team had suggested. Meanwhile, fellow pen righty Tony Zych is also finally making some progress and will begin a rehab assignment on Friday. Adding those two arms down the stretch would provide a significant boost to Seattle’s late-inning mix.
Nobody in Seattle wants Cishek back
A lot of people would be fine as long as he isn’t closing
Amazing to see the Mariners, Tigers, Red Sox, and Astros all in the Wild Card mix. All 2.0 GB or less.
Justin Bour went backwards = Alex Rodriguez is going to be a Marlin soon.
Wouldn’t be the first time Harper tried to “play” hurt aka play badly and act like you are somehow still helping the team when the reality is Harper not at 100% = not a good baseball player.
Actually Harper at 100% is a good baseball player just not a great one
Chuck, what Just Another Fan is saying is that when Harper is hurt he does not help the team, not that he is not a good player.
I think the Braves should consider Sonny Gray in the offseason if affordable. Beane will probably want All Star status for Gray but if they sell low then it would be in the Braves or others interest. It sounds like Gray just had some injuries that may have contributed to his poor year. He is still young enough to have a few more All Star years I believe he turns it around no matter what uniform he wears next year.
Beane not selling low on Gray. He has turned down many offers on him. Frost the GM said that Gray will not be traded.
Dang! These Mariners sure do have a stacked bullpen. Cishek, Zych, Diaz, Vincent. Lots of guys with heat. It’s no wonder why they sent Montgomery packing.
Edwin Diaz is gonna have a sick career. 22 years old, and within his first three months in the majors, he’s closing out games for a contender like its nothing. Dipoto with the stroke of genius by making him a reliever. You just don’t find guys establishing themselves as reliable closers with that little service time these days.
See: Osuna, Roberto
Sale the A’s to Lacob et al… Smart business mind group that likes to win so that they keep starts like Gray and others, new stadium or not… Beane will surely be offered his job back, and will the resources in place the A’s will be successful again…