The Rays have placed Jeffrey Springs on the IL with a knee sprain, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin also says Springs is relieved that it’s just a sprain and not something involving structural damage. Springs gives his own recovery timeline as 2-4 weeks. Acquired in an offseason deal with the Red Sox, the lefty has become a key contributor in the Rays’ bullpen this year, throwing 44 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.43 with an excellent strikeout rate of 35.2%, though his walk rate is a tad high at 7.8%. Getting him back within that injury timeline will allow him to rejoin the club for what figures to be a tight pennant race. The Rays are now sitting atop the AL East, but just half a game ahead of the Red Sox, whom they are hosting tonight.
More from the Trop…
- Taking Springs’ spot on the active roster is DJ Johnson. He was sent over to Tampa from Cleveland alongside Jordan Luplow in the hours before Friday’s trade deadline. Johnson has a small and scattered major league track record, throwing 33 innings since debuting in 2018. But in 21 2/3 Triple-A innings this year, his strikeout rate is 34%, but with an inflated walk rate of 10.7%, with an ERA of 3.32. If he can duplicate those numbers at the big league level, that could almost match Springs’ production.
- Topkin also provides an update on Collin McHugh, who was placed on the IL July 25th with arm fatigue. McHugh’s recent bullpen session went well and he hopes to be back as soon as Friday. McHugh was been a superb multi-inning contributor for the Rays this year. Over 23 games, he’s pitched 41 2/3 innings, with a miniscule 1.51 ERA, along with excellent strikeout and walk rates of 36.6% and 5%.
- Topkin also has some unfortunate news about Chris Archer. The righty has been rehabbing and trying to build up to a starter’s workload but suffered a setback today. Instead of the planned 75 pitches, he was removed after just 31 because of “left hip soreness.” Archer signed a deal this offseason to return to Tampa but has only been healthy enough to throw 4 1/3 innings at the big league level thus far.
hopefully the rays can get some of these guys back soon so they can continue to compete in the east. From here on out the AL east is going to be hands down the most exciting baseball seen in some time. Think sox will finally come down to earth especially with all the moves the jays and yankees did. The Jays are looking like their about to go on a huge run now that the rotation looks incredible and the pen looks league average instead of basement dwellers.
And they have their home field back.
The pitching situation for the Rays worries me. A lot of young pups to rely on in the rotation. Arch prob not coming back, Glas out until 2023. Ugh. Maybe Jeff Niemann is available?
Maybe wilson Alvarez still has a few bullets left, but all joking aside they are the Ray’s and will be fine and figure things out. You can have Rich Hill back though. For that trade the Ray’s will not be recieving no christmas cards from the Mets fans this year.
Archer is done.
Archer is a waste of oxygen. He either sucks or is injured. Atleast we have not had to listen to one his 20 minute answers to a simple queston as he trys to show everyone hes the smartest person in the room
Re: Springs, a 7.8% walk rate is above average for a pitcher.
RIP Archer
Always liked McHugh. Glad to see he’s doing well again.