Injuries continue to mount for the Athletics, who could now face an absence for right fielder Stephen Piscotty. Per Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News, manager Bob Melvin revealed after Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader that Piscotty suffered a knee sprain when leaping in an attempt to rob a Jose Marmolejos home run. Piscotty will be further evaluated today, but Melvin added that Piscotty “had a pop” when he jumped. The 29-year-old Piscotty’s bat has gone cold this month, but he was one of Oakland’s best hitters in August, when he posted a .289/.323/.511 slash with five homers and five doubles on the month. His recent slump has dropped his season slash to .248/.289/.406, however. Mark Canha, who has already been spending time in right field, would likely be in line for more playing time should Piscotty require an IL stint.
A few more injury notes from around the game…
- Blue Jays righties Nate Pearson and Matt Shoemaker will throw live batting practice this week and could return to the roster before season’s end, writes Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith. Neither can be expected to build back up to a full starter’s workload at this point, however, so their likeliest roles would be shorter stints out of the ’pen. Putting Pearson in a short, multi-inning relief role or even an inning-at-a-time relief role would give Toronto a potentially formidable postseason weapon if he is indeed able to make it back from his current flexor strain. Shoemaker, meanwhile, is working back from shoulder inflammation that has sidelined him since Aug. 23.
- The Cardinals placed outfielder Austin Dean on the 10-day injured list due to a right elbow strain, per a club announcement. His injury comes just three days after returning from the Covid-19 injured list. The three games in which the 26-year-old Dean were his only appearances on the season. He went 1-for-4 with a double and three walks in that short time. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Dean might have avoided the IL were the club not pressed for bullpen arms, so it seems there’s a chance Dean will return before season’s end. Acquired in a January trade with the Marlins, Dean hasn’t yet had the opportunity to prove himself with his new club. He’s just a .224/.274/.390 hitter in 318 MLB plate appearances, but he carries a much more robust .331/.398/.546 line in 640 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.
- Pirates righty Jameson Taillon chatted with reporters about the rehab of his second career Tommy John surgery and offered an optimistic outlook (link via MLB.com’s Adam Berry). Taillon is facing live hitters and said his elbow feels “amazing” at this point in the process. He’s worked with senior rehab coordinator A.J. Patrick, pitching coach Oscar Marin and bullpen coach Justin Meccage on what he believes to be a more mechanically sound delivery, Berry notes. Taillon acknowledged that changing the way he’s thrown since childhood is “tricky… But I came to the realization that two Tommy Johns kind of lets you know that what you’re doing isn’t working.” He also added that he’s seen his spin rate and spin efficiency increase — a reminder that pitchers are more data-focused than ever before in today’s game.
- The Pirates placed righty Kyle Crick on the 10-day injured list with a lat strain, manager Derek Shelton announced to reporters yesterday (Twitter link via Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). The 27-year-old missed more than a month due to shoulder and lat discomfort earlier this season as well. Crick has pitched just 5 2/3 innings in 2020, and while he’s only surrendered one earned run with seven strikeouts, he’s given up another five unearned runs on seven hits and four walks. Crick hasn’t looked right in 2020, as he’s averaged just 91.3 mph on his four-seamer — a pitch that averaged 95.4 mph in 2019 and 96.4 mph in 2018. Crick was lights-out in 2018, but he’s struggled with control issues and now a velocity dip since that time. He still carries a 3.44 ERA and 4.32 FIP with 10.4 K/9 in 115 frames since coming over from the Giants in the Andrew McCutchen deal, but there are some visible red flags at the moment. Crick is controlled through 2023 and will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.
Ok now don’t wait 8 days to put him on the IL
Piscotty that is
Shoemaker is about done. He has been since the year started. I am looking forward to Pearson in the bullpen. He needs to learn to calm his emotions at the big league level and be consistent. Good move by the BlueJays.
Shoe was good in 4 of 5 starts last year, and 3 out of his 5 this year. But 2 bad starts means he can’t pitch anymore, sure.
If he can’t stay healthy that means he is done.
The Andrew McCutchen trade isn’t looking quite as good for the Pirates this year as it did last year. I still have faith in the long-term success of both Crick and Brian Reynolds, but both have had seasons to forget.
….and what did Cutch do in SF? That trade was CLEARLY won by the Pirates. Its not even a debate.
I’m not a Pirates fan but Taillon is a guy who I really want to root for… he just seems like he’s so talented and has just had awful luck having injuries decimate his career thus far. I wish him luck and for his sake hope he makes it back and can reestablish himself as a dominant SP along the lines of what was expected of him when he was one of the top prospects in baseball years ago after going second in the Draft!
I wonder if Seth brown, skye bolt, Dustin Fowler get any chances as piscotty replacement. Although grossman, laureano, canha would get majority of playing time unless another injury pops up
I love watching Taillon pitch. He has great stuff, but injuries deterred his greatness till later. Hope he comes back even better next season.
Cole had the talent but Taillon has the leadership.
Will be interesting to see how things go if/when Shoemaker and Pearson are ready, and who the Blue Jays will drop. If all are healthy they will be making a very hard decision. Anderson is showing he’s not great. Kay is showing he can’t stop walking guys. Stripling theoretically should be the first guy dropped….there are others. Many bullpen arms are performing. An injury would get them off the hook.
Something must be up with Romano. Haven’t heard much since he went on the IL.
A fake injury would get them off the hook. It wouldn’t be the first time.
The BlueJays should just cut Shoemaker and be done with him. Add Andersen too to the DFA list..
They can’t cut Shoemaker at this time. The SP has been weak and they need a guy to go 3-5 innings. The guy to drop is Anderson because Roark isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Kay.
Option 2 is to drop Fisher like he’s dropped fly balls tonight. He is useless. Can’t win with the timid. Glad the Jays dropped two OFs the last few weeks for this guy.
Hard to imagine they released Alford and Mckinney over Derek Fisher..
Oh but they did. All for the great Derek Fisher.
If we think about it, the BlueJays gave up Alford, Mckinney, a healthy Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini and Cal Stevenson all for Derek Fisher.
Tell me how Shapiro keeps his job?
Knows how to play that fake injury juggle game?
Fisher joining Font finally.
That whole list of names is nothing. Sanchez had one good start for the Astros and was one of the worst pitchers in MLB at the time of trade, remember?
The value of freeing up a roster spot is understated
How can you ignore what has been done with those openings?
On the whole, the roster has improved again this year. Results vs expectations at least.
Lot of guys playing for their jobs right now, on the field, in the dugout, and upstairs.
Mega collapse means clean house?
Another of these comebacks we grew to expect would be nice in the next couple days. Gotta steal one of these next 2.
Return of Teoscar, and Bo seems back on that XBH game, so there’s some hope of holding on here.
cardinals place lane thomas on il for failing eyesight