The Nationals are expecting ace Max Scherzer to return from the injured list by Thursday or Friday, Byron Kerr of MASNsports.com reports. Scherzer, out since July 13 with right shoulder bursitis, threw a full bullpen session Monday and offered an encouraging assessment afterward, per Kerr. The Nationals have maintained a playoff spot during Scherzer’s absence, but the three-time Cy Young winner is their MVP and someone they likely can’t go without for much longer. The 34-year-old Scherzer was amid another all-world season before hit hit the shelf, with a 2.30 ERA/2.02 FIP, 12.6 K/9, 1.6 BB/9 and 5.5 WAR in 129 1/3 innings.
More on a few other clubs…
- Back on July 1, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington downplayed the possibility of trading closer Felipe Vazquez. The Bucs have lost 10 of 16 since then, putting them six games out of playoff position, but Huntington’s mind hasn’t changed. He once again made it clear Sunday that the Pirates expect to push for contention in the near future with Vazquez on their roster (via Adam Berry of MLB.com). On a potential Vazquez trade, Huntington said: “If we were expecting to lose 100 games next year, then it’s a different approach. But our expectation is to be right back in this — if we don’t get there this year — to be right back in this next year, and to have a guy like that in the back end is really important.” The Pirates haven’t made the playoffs since 2015, the year before they acquired the electric Vazquez, and appear as if they’ll extend their drought this season. Vazquez is controllable through 2023, giving the Pirates time to take advantage of his presence; on the other hand, Vazquez’s team-friendly contract is one of the reasons he’d bring back so much in a trade. Huntington appears to have no interest in giving up one of the greatest acquisitions of his tenure, though.
- When the Orioles designated center fielder Keon Broxton for assignment Sunday, manager Brandon Hyde suggested the O’s would lose him, saying (via Joe Trezza of MLB.com): “I’m hoping he’ll get picked up by somebody, especially someone who needs outfield defense and baserunning for the postseason. I wish Keon the best.” It appears Broxton will indeed end up elsewhere in the coming days, as Trezza reports “a few teams” have checked in on the 29-year-old. Broxton can run and defend, as Hyde noted, though horrid hitting has torpedoed his value in 2019. Broxton has struck out in 43 percent of his 165 plate appearances, thus limiting him to a .184/.244/.289 line (42 wRC+). With no minor league options left, both the Mets and Orioles have given up on the once-promising Broxton this season.
- The Reds put right-hander Tyler Mahle on the injured list Monday with a left hamstring strain and recalled fellow righty Sal Romano from Triple-A Louisville. The 24-year-old Mahle’s IL placement came after a pair of rough starts that saw him allow a combined 14 runs (10 earned) in 9 2/3 innings in losses to Colorado and St. Louis. Mahle has now mustered a 4.93 ERA in 102 1/3 innings, though he has also logged a much better 4.32 FIP, posted 9.32 K/9 against 2.29 BB/9 and notched a 45.6 percent groundball rate.
Max Scherzer will start Friday. If he goes Friday, he faces both the Dodgers and the Braves in his next two starts. Two massive games
So weird no one lists wins as a primary starter stat anymore.
Scherzer is valuable because Nats win with him.
That would be because a pitcher has zero ability to control if his team wins or not aha.
In the AL, maybe.
Complete game shutout with a solo homer. #BanTheDH
What a terrible take…. a pitcher has no control over if his team wins or loses?
If goes and gives up a five spot in the first inning, he certainly sets that team back. Why you think so many teams want pitchers?
If the pitcher goes 8 innings and gives up 1 run, he can lose. that’s why w-l doesn’t matter
Shouldn’t have given up that 1
Terrible take? Except, it’s true…. A pitcher on a bad offensive team could have the year of his life and still have a losing record. You actually think they can control whether they win or lose? And don’t say they throw a 150 pitch complete game shutout every time lol.
Last year Jacob Degrom went 10-9 with a 1.70 ERA. He had one of the best seasons from a SP ever and only had one more with than losses. I get that pitchers certainly can LOSE games, but they alone can’t WIN them.
*win
In some cases you are correct. Especially, if the pitcher throws a good game leaves and the bullpen blows the lead. For example, sonny pitched a great game against the brewers, left the game with a 3 run lead. Iglesias gave up a grand slam. The reds came back and won. The point is sometimes true.
Don’t win 0-0
He’ll beat the Braves. Always does!
He’s 9-7 with a 3.76 ERA against the Braves.
Mahle is not hurt he stinks so they putting him on the “IL”
He had a noticeable hamstring issue in the top of the 6th on 7/19 (his last start). He actually had a shutout going through 5 innings but did struggle in the 6th prior to limping off the mound.
Incompetent List?
When will GM’s and coaches realize that Keon Broxton is the perfect 4th OF. Meaning that he shouldn’t start or ever get 3 AB’s in a game. Bring him in everyday in the 7th inning. Being a starter on bad teams exposes him but being a role player on a contender could pay big dividends for the minor investment.
Fourth outfielders start games to give guys rest, or during IL stints. Maybe a team could carry a player like Broxton as a fifth outfielder/25th man, but he’s been let go by the Mets and Orioles this season (bad teams) and has a 42 wRC+.
give me Gore over Broxton
4th outfielders start often
If someone wants to overpay with near MLB ready prospects at key positions, then sure trade Vazquez. But, unless it alters your franchise, no.
Keep him, Marte and Bell, cross your fingers on Hayes and Tucker and get back to the pitching reclamation projects.
Building around the elite players they do have is their best path to winning unless people are prepared to completely overpay.
I still think a Verdugo for Vazquez deal pretty much straight up makes the most sense. The Dodgers cement themselves as the top team in the league and still have a slew of lefty mashers to make up for his loss. The Pirates gets their valuable control of a potential star who plays everyday rather than 60-70 innings.
Dodgers aren’t trading Verdugo.
I don’t think they’ll trade Verdugo either. I do think they should though. They are in a position that they need to win the World Series. Not get there. Win. And if Atlanta or Chicago or Milwaukee ponies up and adds Vazquez, those chances take a large hit. Muncy is neutralized. Bellinger is neutralized. Seager is neutralized. Not to mention he’s pretty damn good against righties as well. And you know what. Whatever team picks him up gets to do the same thing in 2020. And 2021. And 2022. The Dodgers need to bury them before anyone has a chance. Nobody is beating their best offer.
Atlanta could beat the Dodgers best offer.
LOL on “neutralizing” Bellinger.
Hey, I’m sure Bellinger beats up on lefties. But Vazquez isn’t exactly your typical “crafty lefty” who an elite player can turn around on.
If I’m the Pirates I would need more. Give me him and one of ur top pitching prospects. Dodged need a big time arm and ur wanting the best relief pitcher in the game. Lefties hit under 100 against him. 22 hr hitter that hits 280 is not enough.
Add Verdugo and remove Vazquez and the Pirates are a worse team that loses more games than they do now.
Ruiz, Lux, May and another piece (maybe two) or else “click”.
It has to be something so overwhelming that the Pirates can’t sanely so no or else they will say no. This isn’t Cole or Cutch. They don’t have to deal him and he wants to stay.
Ruiz, Lux and May? What in the world. Lol ADD MORE HE SAYS
What kinda fantasy land are you living in
Overpay or go away. Zero interest in trading Vazquez.
Love reading your comments. A fellow Pirate fan that talks sensible, hard to come by these days. Agree with you 100% also, overpay or forget it. Playoffs are fading quick since the break for us, but with a couple pieces I really believe we could make the playoffs next season. Either that, OR…we’ve totally overachieved this year beyond belief.
Thanks. I find the misinformation around this team to be so bizarre and try to inject some reality into the conversation.
The fans get mushroom managed by media with agendas like MM, DK, Tim Benz trying so hard to be like them, etc.
I literally heard Huntingdon on his Sunday show APOLOGIZE for making the Melancon trade. Said it was “his fault”. It was one of, if not, the best trade in recent MLB history and he feels the need to apologize for it because the media has so mind warped the fans here.
Unbelievable, that he would apologize for that trade.
What is their aversion to the sacrifice bunt? I can’t stand seeing 2 on 0 out down 1, late in the game, and guys swinging away. Their analytics need tweaked.
Yes, but the problem with the Pirates is they NEVER add those couple pieces.
Not sure what else the dodgers need but a Felipe and Dickerson/Melky for Verdugo and some sort of relief pitching or catching prospect (not a top) Would be a fair trade.
But won’t happen, Pirates would need a bigger over pay and the dodgers wouldn’t give’m up.
I would give u those two for Verdugo and any one you top prospects we wanted. Plus a 10-15 prospect.
Tucker has some work to do to unseat Newman. Of course Newman could shift over to second and keep Frazier at utility where he was best anyway. Then there’s Kramer. Nice problem to have.
Next year, I’d have Bell Newman Tucker Hayes with Moran and Frazier as utility men. Maybe Kramer if you can trade one of the other two for something interesting.
Personally, I’ll be shocked if we see Hayes in the Burgh in 2020.
Years of control!
The problem is that the Bucs do not have any elite players–Marte is their best player, and while he is an excellent player, there hasn’t been a pennant winner since I don’t know when whose best everyday player wasn’t better than Marte. Likewise, the pitching staff doesn’t have a Scherzer or Verlander or anyone remotely in that neighborhood. They don’t have any star-level talent at the moment, and they certainly aren’t going to get any in free agency. The only way the Pirates are going to get that type of player is to develop it or trade for it. The Pirates, frankly, need to blow the current roster up, and they should start the process with Vasquez.
Mr. Bell on line 1, sir
Mr Bell is not elite. He had a hot first half. Plus, he is still poor defensively. Let him do it for a couple more seasons.
Tell him to call me back when he’s put together more than a half-year of outstanding play.
Huntington is delusional if he thinks this club will contend in 2020. They will have one VG SP (if healthy in Taillon). The rest are #4 or #5 SPs. Their middle relief is still in tatters, their defense is at the bottom of the league and the lineup, outside of Bell lacks power.
Anyone think Vazquez to the Twins for Gordon, Larnach, Thorpe, Gonsalves, and Jeffers would be enough?? It seems like too much, but you never know considering that Huntington’s trying to market Vazquez like a frontline starter.
Anyone who doesn’t like the price for Vazquez is more than welcome to bid on Keone Kela.
Or clay homes
Or Nick King… Wait, never mind.
Y’all Pirates fans are unhinged
Huntington is a joke! The Pirates are going nowhere this year and in any near future years!