Injured Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks played catch in the outfield Friday, though the righty “could miss another couple of turns” through the team’s rotation, Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. “We’re happy that the initial shutdown has been good, but we’re not ready to talk through a plan yet, or a progression,” general manager Jed Hoyer said of Hendricks, who has been out since June 15 with a right shoulder impingement. The Cubs started Tyler Chatwood in Hendricks’ place Thursday, but the next opportunity may go to prospect Adbert Alzolay, per Greenberg. Alzolay, 24, followed Chatwood in Thursday’s game and enjoyed a triumphant debut in a win over the Mets.
- Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and center fielder A.J. Pollock could start rehab stints during next month’s All-Star break, manager Dave Roberts said Friday (Twitter links via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com). Meanwhile, reliever Scott Alexander still hasn’t returned to throwing since left forearm inflammation forced him to the injured list June 8. Seager went to the IL on June 13 with a left hamstring strain, which should cost him four to six weeks. Pollock underwent early May surgery on his troublesome right elbow. The expectation then was that he’d be back in July.
- Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman began a rehab assignment Friday at the Double-A level, Jamal Collier of MLB.com tweets. Zimmerman has been out since April 28 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, the latest in a long line of injuries for the 34-year-old. While Zimmerman posted a couple resurgent offensive seasons from 2017-18, he came out of the gates slowly this year before hitting the IL. Zimmerman’s a .213/.302/.373 batter thus far in 86 plate appearances. Matt Adams, Howie Kendrick and Gerardo Parra have been the Nationals’ most common first base choices in Zimmerman’s absence. Kendrick has been brilliant at the plate, while Adams and Parra have only put together replacement-level numbers.
- A few reinforcements are trying to work back for the Indians, as Mandy Bell of MLB.com details. Ace Corey Kluber, shelved since May 1 with a fractured right forearm, has an upcoming eight-week checkup that will determine whether he’ll be able to start throwing. Fellow righty Danny Salazar just threw a second two-inning simulated game, but he’s “waiting to advance to a real game in Arizona before he gets a rehab assignment,” Bell explains. Shoulder issues have kept Salazar out of action since 2017. Unlike Kluber and Salazar, reliever Dan Otero’s not making progress. Already out almost three weeks with right shoulder inflammation, Otero is now dealing with a setback of unknown severity.
- Yankees righty Domingo German could rejoin their rotation before the All-Star break, manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday (via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). German has been out since June 9 with a left hip flexor strain. The 26-year-old struggled over a handful of starts leading up to his IL placement, though he still carries a respectable 3.86 ERA/4.05 FIP in 70 innings on the season.
Sooooooo glad the Padres didn’t trade a bunch of top 100 prospects for Kluber!
Because he’d clearly have gotten hit by a line drive and broken his arm there too.
Sure, because he definitely would have gotten hit by a comebacker in the exact same arm if he was playing for the Padres.
He’s also been bad this year
K.
Exactly I could careless about a freak injury. I’d be happy they didn’t trade a haul for a guy losing Velo and who showed much worse control.
He stunk before that happened. He’s toast just like Cody Allen and Miller
Soooooooo glad to see a comment from a Padres fan here not suggesting th3 typical absolutely ridiculous lopsided trade scenario,p, even if it’s one as dumb as this one…
Come on Braves, if not a shot in the dark at trading for Scherzer then maybe a jab at Kluber. It was the none throwing arm he broke right?
It was his right forearm. His pitching arm. I believe he just got put on the 60-day IL this week.
At this point, that’s merely a formality. They only did it to open a 40-man spot to activate Mike Clevinger.
Is Seager ever going to play a full year? He seems to always be hurt.
Twice isn’t always,
A more complete article on the situation for Seager and Pollock says that both players have expressed a willingness to play through the All Star break, not that their rehab stints won’t start until then. Those were described as potentially starting “soon.”
The Dodgers also put Josh Sborz on the IL and recalled Matt Beaty.
Adbert! Adbert! Adbert!
Matt Beaty was on his way to OKC, turned around & came back to the stadium & hit a 2 out bottom of 9th walk off. That ensured Walker Buehler the win on a night he became the first Dodger pitcher EVER with 16 K & 0 BB…wow. Not a bad season the Dodgers are putting together.
Beaty’s flight was booked but he never boarded. Seems he hadn’t left his hotel yet when he was recalled. Has to be one of the shortest options in baseball history, and one of the better outcomes. Maybe they’ll let him stay for awhile this time. He has certainly earned it.
If Zimmerman’s return means less playing time for Kendrick (now that Dozier is hitting and playing more at 2B), then I’ll pass.