As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Hendricks slated to return:
After nearly a year away from the major league mound rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Cubs veteran Kyle Hendricks is slated to be activated from the injured list to start tonight’s game against the Mets. A key cog in the rotation during the Cubs’ last competitive window, Hendricks was among the most reliable starters in the game from 2016-2020 as he posted a 3.00 ERA (143 ERA+) and 3.40 FIP. Since the start of the 2021 season, however, Hendricks has managed just 265 1/3 innings of work with severely diminished results. His 4.78 ERA over the past two campaigns is 13% below league average, a far cry the performances that saw him garner Cy Young votes in 2016 and 2020.
The Cubs are surely hoping the last remaining member of the 2016 World Series team will be able to return to form and help solidify a rotation that features a great deal of uncertainty behind Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele, and Drew Smyly. Offseason acquisition Jameson Taillon has struggled to an 8.10 ERA with a 4.93 FIP in 26 2/3 innings, while youngster Hayden Wesneski was recently demoted to Triple-A after posting a 5.03 ERA and 5.92 FIP in eight major league starts. A corresponding move will be required to make room for Hendricks on the active roster before this evening’s game, which will begin at 6:40pm CT.
2. Braves to recall Dodd:
After losing a pair of quality rotation arms in Max Fried and Kyle Wright to long-term injuries, the Braves are set to call up left-hander Dylan Dodd to start tonight’s game against the Phillies. Dodd made his MLB debut earlier this season and has posted a 6.46 ERA in three major league starts with a 5.69 FIP. Dodd has also struggled in Triple-A this season, with a 6.67 ERA in 27 innings of work. Despite those concerning numbers, Dodd and the Braves will hope for a rebound this evening. A corresponding move will be required to make room for Dodd on the active roster.
Should the young lefty continue to struggle, further rotation reinforcements could be just around the corner, as right-hander Michael Soroka continues working his way back to a major league mound for the first time since the 2020 campaign. Of course, Dodd could also follow in the footsteps of young lefty Jared Shuster, who also struggled in his initial call to the big leagues but has posted smoother results in two starts since returning to the Majors earlier this month.
3. Jansen exits with groin issue:
Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen exited yesterday’s game with what the club termed left groin tightness. The injury’s severity is currently unclear, but MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson noted that Tyler Heineman, the only extra catcher on Toronto’s 40-man roster, was removed from a minor league game last night following Jansen’s injury.
In 36 games this season, Jansen has slashed just .207/.273/.413 (86 wRC+), but that includes a dismal 1-for-25 slump to begin the season. Since breaking out of that funk, he’s posted a heartier .250/.314/.510 slash in 105 plate appearances, which lines up reasonably well with last year’s .260/.339/.516 performance. Should Jansen miss time, that would likely mean a return to full-time duties behind the plate for Alejandro Kirk, who has slashed .230/.348/.319 (93 wRC+) in 38 games this season.
Soroka had his best AAA start and is on schedule to pitch in MLB Mon/Tues in OAK. It finally may be time. Until then, step softly, Michael.
Unless they send Dodd back down after the game he’ll be in line to start Tuesday. Elder’s set for Monday on regular rest. Soroka would be on schedule to pitch this Sunday. .
I’d be surprised if ATL recalled Soroka before the ASB. He needs much to find more consistency. String a few starts together, like his most previous start, and he makes a better case. A very soft part of the schedule coming up after a tough past 3 weeks makes it more palatable for Soroka to get more AAA starts.
If its in Oakland, shouldn’t it still count as minor league rehab?
“There are rich teams. There are poor teams. Then there’s 50 feet of crap… (just then the Coliseum plumbing fails again)… 75 feet of crap.”
“Then there’s us.”
Baseball’s Darwinism.
Survival of the Feces.
Only a very cocky fella would answer like that.
Jansen could bat .150 and he’d still be an asset to this team. Feels like a kick to the groin when this team is struggling lately, albeit against top teams in the MLB
Looked pretty good vs. ATL. ATL can’t win north of the border.
I thought Kirk was their number one catcher. Did Jansen beat him out or is Kirk injured?
Kirk simply hasn’t been hitting well at all this season.
No.
Kirk….then Spock….then Scott.
@Hammerin’ Hank
It looks like his swoon in the second half of last season wasn’t due to fatigue. It looks like it’s continuing.
Never heard of them. Wait… that’s not quite true. We were like brothers.
@DCartrow
How do people not know this!?!?!?
1. Should be good to get Hendricks back in the rotation. Should provide stability and at least give them an innings-eater.
2. A 6.67 ERA, 1.667 WHIP in 27 innings and a 2.33 K/BB. Good luck to him but I’m taking the over on the Phillies. Maybe if you play the strikeouts, you could win some cash on him. With that said now, He’ll probably go out there and throw a complete game no-hitter with 22Ks.
3. It seems like Danny Jansen is always having groin issues.
Did Kyle Hendricks have shoulder surgery or not?
Last night’s article stated the following: “He last climbed the hill on July 5 of last year, after which he was placed on the injured list with a shoulder strain. Initial MRIs didn’t reveal any structural damage but he was eventually diagnosed with a capsular tear. The tear was relatively small and didn’t require surgery, but he has nonetheless required a lengthy period of time to get back to full health.” (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/05/cubs-to-reinstate-kyle-hendricks.html)
This morning’s follow up article said: “After nearly a year away from the major league mound rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Cubs veteran Kyle Hendricks is slated to be activated from the injured list to start tonight’s game against the Mets.”
They’ve been getting it wrong all along. Don’t expect them to figure it out anytime soon.
Man Nick Burdi just can’t catch a break. he finally makes the bigs with all the arm problems he’s had and now he has an appendectomy. Brutal luck.
I think the Cubs will be happy if Hendricks can eat innings at the back of the rotation with an ERA in the 4s instead of 7s or 8s like the other guys that have filled the #4 and #5 slots.
It’s quite the shame that they haven’t been able to support Stroman-Steele-Smyly who have been pretty much as good and any combo of three starters in baseball. The fact that these three have pitched as well as they have and the team is four games under .500 is troubling.
Just not much support there…..I guess the regression of the combo of Assad, Thompson, and Sampson (complete disappearance from him) could have and probably was expected compared to their results last year.
But the big difference is that Jed went to the well one time too often and has gotten burned, big time. Over the last couple of years I contend nobody was able to band aid a bullpen together better than the Cubs, hitting gold on a lot of guys–Tepara Chafin, Robertson, Givens, Effross, Weick—(smattered bad choices—Newcomb, et al). They not only pitched well, but helped bring back some potential value.
This year’s guys that were expected to lead the pen—-Fulmer and Boxberger, in particular—have been disasters—-and just three more wins (or non-losses in these cases) would mean a lot.
It would also help if Taillon could stay healthy and start pitching well. He’s been bad so far in the first year of that contract.
Not very likely.