Astros hurler Charlie Morton departed from today’s contest against the Angels after pitching just one inning. As Brian McTaggart of MLB.com was among those to tweet, the cause for his exit was discomfort in his right shoulder. Shoulder inflammation was what sent Morton to the DL earlier this season, and the situation is particularly concerning considering Morton was already pitching on seven days’ rest. We’ll await further news from Houston’s camp on Morton’s situation, but needless to say, this is an unfortunate development for a team hoping to begin its title defense in under two weeks. Morton’s been a force for the Astros this season, posting a 3.15 ERA with 195 strikeouts in just 163 innings, and they can scarce stand to lose him for any stretch of the playoffs with Lance McCullers Jr.’s ability to pitch deep into games still an uncertainty. [UPDATE: A.J. Hinch told McTaggart and other reporters that Morton was only supposed to throw three or four innings, and was removed for precautionary reasons after Morton’s velocity dropped. The righty is still expected to make a start next weekend against the Orioles.]
A few more unfortunate injury developments from around baseball…
- Another AL playoff team will be white-knuckling it today, as Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced that Didi Gregorius tore cartilage in his wrist on a slide home yesterday and may not return this season (h/t Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). He’s since received a cortisone injection, and while there’s no definitive word on his status for October, the news is ominous and unwelcome to a Yankees ballclub that would definitely like to be at full strength as they attempt to secure home field advantage over the A’s in a return to the one-game Wild Card playoff.
- Add Orioles infielder Breyvic Valera to the list of players whose status for the season’s final weeks is in doubt. X-rays showed a fracture of the second metacarpal in his left index finger, per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Valera was one of five players to join the Orioles as a component of the trade that sent Manny Machado to the Dodgers. He’s collected nine hits (all singles) in 38 plate appearances since coming to Baltimore, chipping in a stolen base along the way.
- Pirates outfielder Starling Marte departed today’s game with left calf tightness. The two-time Gold Glove award winner has hit .277/.322/.452 with 19 homers and 33 steals in 576 plate appearances in 2018, and while the Pirates were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss in that game, they’ll surely be hoping the injury to Marte isn’t serious. Needless to say, he’s a vital component in their contention plans for the 2019 season, and as we await further word on the details, the Pittsburgh fan base will surely be hoping that a late-season calf issue doesn’t disrupt that.
In my mind if Didi is out for the year then Torres shifts from 2B to his natural position at SS. Neil Walker would play second. That would probably be the best option. They could also do Hechavarria at SS and Gleyber at 2B.
I would think Neil Walker, once he plays, he is great, even his arm throwing out runners at home from second or first for that matter.
At least he could hit well as a lefty.
I am in shock just reading this, with a side order of despair!
There goes a needed Lefty bat from a lineup that is too Righty dominant as it is…
I agree. We can replace his glove with Torres or Heckavarria but his bat vs righties will be missed. Walker hits RHP better as a LH batter but his value still falls below what Didi brought vs RHP (22 of his 25 hrs are vs RHP).
Add to the fact that Bird and Gardner probably will be starters and it makes the batter worse.
Gardner might just come through in the playoffs, but the thought of Bird playing scares the crap out of me.
Yup. lol
Happy Birthday
Greetings and Salutations
Bird will be playing on his iPhone
Vinny, Gardner’s birthday is Aug 24, not Sept 24.
haaha
the Haha was for Bird and IPhone Mike
Bird and Gardner wouldn’t be starters. They have a loaded outfield and Voit at first.
Bird is not starting. Luke Voit has 11 HRs in 34 games with the Yankees. 4 HRs in his last 6. He’s also hitting .300, no way in hell Bird starts the WC. I doubt he will even make the postseason roster.
I don’t think Bird has played 2 games in the last 3 weeks.
Correction: I mean’t “probably WON’T be starters (so their bats won’t be in the line-up) which would (Didi’s absence) make matters worse”.
The Athletics are beating the Yankees 6-5 in 12 innings. You heard it here first.
In the 12th, you are too optimistic. First, the Yankees look to lose home field. Second, they”ll roll over in Oakland. Just looking forward to the off season, and hope they clean out the non producers and pretenders. Going under the salary cap and now we’ll see if the Steinbrenner is a man of his word.
Hey jimbo-how will you see if Steinbrenner is a man of his word? It’s not like he can actually go out and get extra players on the post season roster(outside of players in the Yankee organization). They are not losing the home field advantage nor the wild card game.
And nice scientific prediction 1600.
You’ve inspired me to make one at this time as well:
You are wrong. You heard it here first.
AMEN!!!
6-5 seems pretty ambitious for a 12 inning game. I’m gonna go with a more modest score of 4-3 in 11 innings.
Yankees muat beat Oakland in wild card game, then face Boston who will throw lefthanders Sale and Price. Oakkand will be tough to beat home or away.
Price is a head case when
he faces the Yankees, and just like life itself, one day at a time!
Framber Valdez would be an able replacement if Morton can’t start.
Valera had a triple in today’s game.
It’s gotta suck to lose to a team with 110 losses.
It’s gotta suck worse to have an identity crisis like yours. Anyone who aspires to self promote the Mets needs to get some help from a shrink. It must be difficult losing for the most part for over 30 years.
56 years but whose counting?
Ok Yanks…get healthy this winter and get some pitching. They have the bats.
I Am Now Worried That Didi Gregorious Will Need An Operation On The Wrist,Would He Recover In Time For The Beginning Of Next Season?
He Might But You Never Know
I’d rather have Didi sit out the rest of the year than just play through the injury and risk making it worse. That said, hopefully this injury isnt as bad as it seems