The latest on several notable injury situations from around the league…
- Lorenzo Cain was forced out of the Brewers’ game Thursday afternoon due to left ankle discomfort, the team announced. Cain hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, but was replaced by Trent Grisham in center field in the top of the fifth. Injuries have plagued Cain all season, as thumb, wrist, and oblique problems have contributed to his career-worst 76 wRC+ (from a .251/.316/.357 slash line and 10 homers) over 592 plate appearances. He’s “greatly wobbled,” per Tom Haudricourt of the Miilwaukee Journal, who adds that Cain could undergo more tests.
- Phillies shortstop Jean Segura exited the team’s loss to Atlanta with a left hamstring cramp, Matt Gelb of The Athletic relays. The severity’s unknown as of now, Gelb notes. One of many big-ticket offseason acquisitions for the Phillies, Segura has produced a respectable 2.6 fWAR in 593 plate appearances, but he hasn’t been as effective as he was with the Diamondbacks and Mariners from 2016-18.
- Indians closer Brad Hand threw a “really good” bullpen session Wednesday, manager Terry Francona said, though it’s still unclear when he’ll be able to return (via Mandy Bell of MLB.com). It was the first bullpen for Hand during his absence from a fatigued arm, which dates back to Sept. 8. Things have gone well to this point for the Hand-less Indians, as they’ve gone 7-2 since he last pitched and only needed saves in two of those wins (one apiece from Adam Cimber and Oliver Perez).
- There’s nothing meaningful left to play for this year for the Red Sox, though banged up right fielder Mookie Betts still doesn’t plan to shut it down, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe writes. The reigning AL MVP, who hasn’t played since Sept. 12 on account of left foot inflammation, is aiming to come back during a four-game series in Tampa Bay that begins Friday. Betts wouldn’t line up in the field during that set, though, as the Red Sox don’t want to risk running him out there on turf. Meanwhile, reliever Heath Hembree is progressing from elbow problems and could come off the IL next week. Hembree’s balky elbow has forced him to the shelf twice this year and stopped him from pitching since Aug. 1.
- Angels left fielder Justin Upton will undergo a platelet-rich plasma injection Friday, per Bill Ladson of MLB.com. The hope is that it’ll aid Upton in overcoming the pain in his right knee – a joint that has bothered him since spring training. The eliminated Angels shut Upton down for the season last week after injuries helped limit the normally terrific hitter to a .215/.309/.416 line with 12 home runs in 256 plate appearances.
If Hembree is still sitting 91-92, he might as well shut down rest of the season since when he was pitching last cpl weeks, that’s all he had. Something was wrong since wasn’t sitting 95 like normal and was getting hammered.
Jesus! They actually “forced” Lorenzo Cain to leave the game? I have never heard of anything like that in baseball or any other sport. Is this common?
In basketball, see Klay Thompson, Warriors. He tore his ACL on a play, and he started to run back out to the court after being examined in the locker room.
His general manager stopped him and said a few words that folks quoted as something like, “if you go out there you kiss your max contract goodbye.”
Betts will be traded of no extension in the works & if I’m wrong then the sox need to seek reality.
Traded to who? Not many teams are spending these days on big ticket players so he would be a one year rental.
Plus the Red Sox expect to compete and win every year so I don’t see them tearing down while they are still paying Price, Sale, and JD big bucks. The haul for Betts would have to astronomical for a move to happen. And who does that for a rental?
I agree they will probably trade him to rebuild the farm/depth. They could still compete for a title if things break right. Tampa, San Diego, St. Louis? A problem is how darned much money he will get through arb, like $30m. Not every team can take that on while giving up a lot, not even for a great player.
Tampa? San Diego? Those teams are in no way giving up those type of assets for a 1 year run with Betts. Unless we’re talking about those clubs shedding depth. It’s pretty clear Betts is going to test the market. So if you’re trading for him you have to be in that clear cut window to win the WS, because it’s 1 & done. You’re trading him knowing you’re not going to get what he’s worth, because of the arb price and lack of control. You might obtain lesser ceiling players that may be ready to go or an intriguing A ball guy that is blocked Just walking through it idk, I can’t see it unless the demands are lower than what they should be. You not only have to be a team in that window, but you also have to have space to add Betts( which quite honestly on a 1 year run isn’t crazy), and a loaded roster with a set core and depth that doesn’t fit. Could I see Stl sure? Atl, maybe. But not a clean fit roster with a somewhat intriguing prospect pact. I think Boston listens, but has to get creative to shave elsewhere.
Climber 2 consecutive seasons with almost 70 relief appearances.
Hand has pitched significantly more innings previously at least 4 times. The arm trouble should be concerning.
You mean those innings Hand threw as a starter? Until he was shut down this year he’d have been right where he was the past couple of years after those previous years being in the of a starter.
Hey! How about them cubbies?