The Rockies have perhaps been the game’s most unfortunate team this spring in the injury department, and today delivered another bit of unwelcome news. Key righty Jon Gray left his start after experiencing discomfort in his left big toe, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports on Twitter. It’s certainly far too soon to know whether there’s any real cause for concern in Gray’s case, though the Colorado organization can scarcely afford even a short-term gap in the rotation.
Here’s more on a few other injury situations from around the game:
- Rangers righty Tanner Scheppers left his club’s game today with what the team is describing as “lower core” pain, as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News tweets. His outlook won’t be known until he undergoes an MRI, but as T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes on Twitter, the injury seemingly opens the door for Rule 5 pick Mike Hauschild to make the club. He has impressed in 17 1/3 frames this spring, allowing six earned runs on 15 hits and five walks while recording 15 strikeouts.
- After being diagnosed with a lat strain, Padres lefty Christian Friedrich is slated to open the year on the DL,Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. That takes him out of the competition for the remaining open rotation spots, at least for the time being. Per Lin, that leaves three pitchers fighting for the jobs, with veterans Trevor Cahill and Jarred Cosart trying to hold off youngster Luis Perdomo — the Rule 5 pick who showed so much promise last year.
- The Braves may be without high-powered righty Mauricio Cabrera to start the season, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports. Cabrera, a key cog in the team’s future and immediate bullpen plans, felt some discomfort in his elbow. It’s possible he’ll end up back on track for Opening Day, but the organization will (understandably) be quite cautious, manager Brian Snitker explains. If he does require a DL stint, Bowman says the organization could choose to use the opening to hang onto either out-of-options righty Chaz Roe or veteran minor-league free agent Blaine Boyer.
- Though Dodgers hurler Pedro Baez was able to throw a live BP and seems to be progressing through his thumb injury, the news wasn’t so good for fellow right-handed reliever Josh Ravin, as MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick (Twitter links). The 29-year-old, who has shown well in two brief MLB stints in the past two years but struggled this spring, has suffered a groin strain that’s expected to sideline him for several weeks.
- With all this talk of injuries, perhaps it’s best to end on a positive note. Red Sox righty Carson Smith, who’s on his way back from Tommy John surgery, is moving in the right direction, as Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports. After Smith’s first pen session, which John Farrell described as “surprisingly good,” the club is hopeful that they’ll welcome him back by June.
Poor Rockies can’t catch a break.
They got two pitching coaches now
Bud and whoever else is there
You suggesting one of them come out of retirement and take the ball. Bold plan.
Why do you think the padres had such great pitching over the stretch.
Bud is a good pitching coach horrible manager. You will learn and see.
How does this have anything to do with their injuries lol?
Nothing
Just a fair warning
Hard to manage a team without support from the front office. I mean, the Padres couldn’t even bother providing Black with a shortstop while he was there.
The struggle is real with the short stops
Haven’t had a good one since Khalil Greene
Exactly. And he left San Diego after the 2008 season. That’s eight straight seasons without a starting caliber shortstop, except for that half-season of Everth Cabrera.
But with Black, I mean, that 2008 team is a good example of the Padres’ cheapness and inability to draft well. That 2008 team’s starting 2B was Tad Iguchi, its starting CF was JOdy Gerut, Kevin Kouzmanoff was doing his usual below-.300 OBP thing, Cha-Seung Bak was in the starting rotation, Adrian Gonzalez’ bad older brother got 300 at-bats. Joe McCarthy or Casey Stengel would have finished last with those teams.
Darren Balsley!
Welcome to the NL West curse. Tag your it. Black black no take backs. Seriously though I hope no serious injuries occur. It’s the nature of baseball. I still think the Rockies are a year away from outright damage.
big left toe, eh?
Yeah, that would be the first part of his foot to hit the ground as he finishes his delivery, so if it’s sprained/strained or broken he’s not going to be able to finish his pitches. correctly.