As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout Memorial Day weekend:
1. Glasnow to return this weekend:
The Rays pitching staff is set to get a significant boost this weekend with the return of oft-injured ace Tyler Glasnow, who has been on the injured list with an oblique issue all season. Glasnow’s return could transform an already-dominant Rays pitching staff, helping to make up for the losses of Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen earlier this season. Since the start of the 2019 season, Glasnow’s 2.87 FIP ranks third among all starters with at least 200 innings of work, only behind Carlos Rodon and Jacob deGrom. Of course, that dominance is coupled with frequent injuries that have limited Glasnow to just 212 2/3 innings during that timeframe. Glasnow figures to return to the mound for the Rays on Saturday against the Dodgers. A corresponding move will be necessary to make room for Glasnow on the active roster.
2. Vasquez to make MLB debut:
The Yankees are expected to call up right-hander Randy Vasquez to start this evening’s game against the Padres. A corresponding move will be necessary before tonight’s game, which begins at 6:05pm CT, to make room for Vasquez on the active roster. The start will be the 24-year-old Vasquez’s MLB debut. The young righty came into the 2023 campaign with an impressive 3.10 ERA in 307 2/3 career minor league innings, including an excellent 2021 season where he pitched to a 2.52 ERA in 107 1/3 innings split between the Single-A, High-A, and Double-A levels. Vasquez has struggled so far in 2023, however, with a 4.85 ERA through nine starts in his first taste of the Triple-A level.
Despite Vasquez’s struggles to open the season, the Yankees will nonetheless lean on their youngster for tonight’s game thanks in part to a lack of options in the rotation. Frankie Montas and Carlos Rodon are both on the injured list, and while the club recently welcomed Luis Severino back from his own injury, right-hander Domingo German is still serving a suspension for violation of the league’s foreign substance policy. That leaves the club in position to turn to Vasquez, who will be tasked with handling a Padres lineup that has under performed in the early going this season, ranking in the bottom ten of both runs scored and team OPS this season despite featuring big names like Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, and Fernando Tatis Jr.
3. Rockies waiting on injury updates:
The Rockies currently have a whopping twelve players on the injured list at the moment, and it appears the injury bug is continuing to haunt the team. Both outfielder Brenton Doyle and right-hander Luis Cessa left games last night (Doyle with the big league club, Cessa at the Triple-A level) with apparent injuries. Doyle is set to undergo further testing to determine the severity of his injury, though slugger Nolan Jones is poised to join the roster in his place if necessary, per MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. The situation regarding Cessa is murkier, though any missed time for the 31-year-old righty would be a blow to the depth of a pitching staff that has already lost German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela, Noah Davis, and Ryan Feltner.
Can’t wait to see how Randy does in person. Go yanks
Yankees are poop, they’re at the bottom of their division and at the bottom of your shoe. Go Dodger Blue!
It must be great to have such a delusional mind?
As a dodger fan we don’t take this man as one of us
@Y2KAK- I was taunted, laughed at, and made fun of about Luis Gil. Saying he would do well, when everyone was saying he was a reliever at best. Unfortunately he had TJ surgery, but is working his way back now. Hopefully Vasquez pitches well again the Friars tonight, enjoy the game! Maybe we’ll see Gil pitching again sometime in September for us.
I liked Gil, didn’t he’d be big but somewhat solid for us. Vasquez pitched well but our offense is dogcrap
1. The Rays made a rare mistake of paying Glasnow ace money for a pitcher who is more of a bullpen guy as he’s injured most seasons and pitches 60 innings per year. I guess everyone has a few purchases that they regret.
2. 4.85 ERA, 5+ runs per 9, 1.57 WHIP through 42 innings? Looks like it will be a good night for the Padres offense.
3. Too bad for the Rockies. They could be dominating the NL West if not for all those injuries. Given the garbage teams like Giants, Padres and DBacks, those are auto wins each time.
Old York: At this point, I wouldn’t question anything the Rays’ organization does.
York,
Generally undeveloped takes this morning?
1. Glasgow has no-hit stuff every time he takes the mound, I think a pricetag lower than Zach Eflin is quite reasonable.
2. Through over 20 innings at AA earlier this year, Mariners SP Bryce Miller had an ERA approaching 7.00. Since his call-up, he’s been the best pitcher in MLB.
3. If their entire roster was healthy and on anabolic steroids with the blessing of the league, the Rockies would still be looking up at the D-Backs and Dodgers. Senzatela, Davis, Feltner, and Cessa are all net-negatives, especially at altitude.
I hope this message finds you well!
Even without the injuries the Rockies would not be dominating the NL West
Rays have no regrets signing Glas to a $25MM extension. When top pitchers sign short term deals averaging over $40MM, getting Glas signed at $25MM is a bargain.
No team would make Glas a reliever. He’s capable of dominating a game like few can. Should Rodon and deGrom be relievers too because they’ve had injuries? For what it’s worth, most of Glas’ injuries have been arm related. First he tried to rehab the injury and avoid surgery. When the injury returned, he opted for TJS. Rays believe his injury days are behind him now. We will see. However it plays out though, every pitcher has injury risk but not every pitcher can pitch like Glas. Rays have no regrets signing him to an extension.
Glassnow making 5.5mm this year lol
Glasnow, Rodon and deGrom have the three lowest FIPs among SPs dating back to the start of the 2019 season. That would be more meaningful if the three workhorses had pitched more than approximately 200, 350 and 450 innings, respectively in that 4+ year period. I’m guessing plenty of RPs have tossed 200+ innings since the start of 2019.
Spot on. Those innings they aren’t pitching due to injury are being filled by guys that aren’t nearly as good.
Of all pitchers with at least 200 innings since 2019, Glasnow is 8th in FIP. Liam Hendricks is first.
40 pitchers with 0 starts and 200+IP in that time (note: while it is 4+ years, it isnt 4+ seasons, given 2020)