The Rays activated Kevin Kiermaier off the 10-day injured list today, and he played two innings as defensive sub in Tampa Bay’s 6-3 victory over the Yankees. It was Kiermaier’s first appearance since April 5, as a left quad strain sent the three-time Gold Glover to the IL only four games into the new season. While still one of the sport’s best defenders when he is able to play, Kiermaier has been a frequent IL visitor over the years due to a wide variety of injuries, which is why the Rays have fortified their center field depth in the form of Manuel Margot and Brett Phillips.
More injury-related notes from around the AL East and NL East…
- Bryce Harper is day-to-day with lower back soreness, the Phillies announced. Harper isn’t in today’s lineup against the Cardinals, and manager Joe Girardi suggested to reporters (including MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki) that the problem may have occurred when Harper slid into second base after hitting a double in Friday’s game. It’s something of a precautionary measure for the Phillies since Harper was bothered by back issues last season, though Zolecki noted that Harper still hit .230/.392/.467 over 158 plate appearances after August 21, when Harper’s back problems developed. This year, of course, the Phils don’t have the luxury of periodically using Harper as a designated hitter to give him a partial rest day.
- Wander Suero will undergo an MRI after leaving today’s game after one batter, Nationals manager Davey Martinez told The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty and other reporters. Suero was removed from the game while facing his second batter, after initially walking Eduardo Escobar. Now in his fourth season, Suero has been a solid member of the Nats’ bullpen, with a career 3.99 ERA and 25.9% strikeout rate over 149 career innings heading into today’s action. The D.C. relief corps has already been thinned by injuries to Luis Avilan and Will Harris.
- Cavan Biggio could potentially return to the Blue Jays’ lineup on Sunday, manager Charlie Montoyo told MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson and other reporters. Biggio left Thursday’s game after being hit in the right hand by a line drive, though x-rays were negative and Biggio was slated to participate in batting practice and a game of catch today.
Keith Law really hates Cavan Biggio.
Cavan would’ve been Keith’s best draft pick if he was still ruining baseball teams as an exec.
Now the Jays have Atkins/Shapiro ruining the MLB baseball team.
Oh, Jimmertree. Still seeing things no one else sees. Your special talent!
#psychic007scoutseyes
For all we know Cavan Biggie might hate Keith Law right back.
Biggio, and Google does NOT know what I meant to type.
Biggie made it funny. Not as funny as Keith Law’s executive career but funny nonetheless.
Who cares about what Keith Law hates or says.
Need Harper back in there today. He scorched three balls on Friday night, and were it not for the wind, would have had two home runs.
More importantly for the Phillies, they need a CFer, and quickly. Roman Quinn is hitting 160 points below the Mendoza line, and thus far, Mickey Moniak looks completely overmatched, albeit in a small sample.
While they are in town, I would love to see the Phillies talk to the Cardinals about acquiring Lane Thomas. Cardinals just don’t seem to have much use for Thomas even with the struggles of Bader and O’Neill the past two years. Defensively, he’s better than any CF option we have. And since the bar has been set comically low, Thomas would be an improvement on offense, too. Gotta hope Dombro and Sam Fuld address this CF problem soon.