Here are the latest health notes from around the game:
- The Astros dodged a bullet tonight when star second baseman Jose Altuve left the game after being struck on the forearm by a pitch. Thankfully, as Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle tweets, x-rays came back negative. The diminutive 27-year-old is leading the American League in hits for the fourth consecutive year and in batting average for the third time in four seasons. He’s also pacing qualified batters with a career-best 168 OPS+.
- Also departing with an injury tonight was Cardinals veteran Yadier Molina. The team announced that he’s undergoing testing as part of the concussion protocol after taking two consecutive foul balls off of his mask. His status for the rest of the regular season remains uncertain, but it could become a bigger issue if St. Louis can claw into Wild Card position.
- Athletics slugger Matt Olson has been diagnosed with a grade 2 hamstring strain, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. He’s very likely to miss the remainder of the season, but it won’t put a damper on an exciting campaign. Olson, 23, has streaked to 24 long balls in 216 trips to the plate, with a robust .259/.352/.651 batting line. He’ll fall shy of a full year of service, too, so the A’s will control Olson for six more campaigns.
- Things didn’t go quite as hoped for the Red Sox tonight. Lefty Drew Pomeranz was sitting in the high-eighties with his fastball, though he says that was part of a plan to save some gas for the later innings, as Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports. Star outfielder Mookie Betts left with a wrist issue, though there’s no reason as yet to think it’s significant. Of the greatest concern, perhaps, infielder Eduardo Nunez tweaked his injured knee. He suggested that he’ll sit out a few more games and try again to return, as Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald tweets.
I know Kelly isn’t the greatest hitter right now but he’s great defensively so if Molina can’t come back, at least they have a competent backup.
glad altuve is ok. don’t wanna see one of the most exciting players in the game sidelined
People in the Red Sox dugout began diagnosing the injury to Betts by strapping an Apple Watch to his wrist when he got back to the dugout. Too bad there was no app for the team to steal a diagnosis from another team. lol
Ok Mikeyank55 your wicked funny
NOT
His wicked funny what? Finish your sentence.
Ehhh, I think he was just pulling your chain….Or maybe he was yanking it…
Lol
Trol fits perfect!
it was a fitbit
Laughing at your own attempts at humor?…
That jokes a stretch…. even for you.
Does D-Pomer normally sit in the high 80’s, when he’s taking some off his FB??
IF not, that could quite possibly be a pretty big blow to the Red Sox…That decreased velo could be a sign he may be struggling with an injury, whether it is minor or possibly even an underlying more serious…
Fastball usually sits in the 91-93 range. High 80’s isn’t too slow for him, but I’d just keep a close eye on him if I were the trainer or manager.