Astros right-hander Kendall Graveman was unavailable for the ALDS due to discomfort in his right shoulder, and MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart relays that, per manager Dusty Baker, Graveman’s injury hasn’t improved enough to join the club for the ALCS against the Rangers. The news is a significant blow to the club’s bullpen depth, as Graveman posted a fantastic 2.42 ERA in 23 appearances with the Astros down the stretch after being acquired from the White Sox at the trade deadline this year. That brought his season-long ERA down to an impressive 3.12 figure in 66 1/3 innings of work, though his 4.88 FIP leaves something to be desired thanks to an elevated 12.8% walk rate.
Even without Graveman, Houston is set up fairly well in the bullpen thanks to a trio of Ryan Pressly, Bryan Abreu, and Hector Neris with whom they can close out games. This is Graveman’s second stint with the Astros, as the club previously acquired him from the Mariners in a deal ahead of the trade deadline back in 2021. He was dominant in the postseason for the club that year, posting a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings of work. Graveman is under contract in Houston for 2024 on an $8MM salary.
More injury notes from around the majors…
- Braves left-hander Tyler Matzek missed the entire 2023 campaign while rehabbing Tommy John surgery, but David O’Brien of The Athletic relayed that the southpaw should be ready to go for Spring Training in February, according to president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulous. Matzek, who is under contract for 2024 with a 2025 club option, was a first-round pick by the Rockies back in 2009, debuted with Colorado as a starting pitcher in 2014 but pitched just 63 2/3 innings in affiliated ball from 2015-2019. He returned to the majors with the Braves in 2020 as a reliever and hasn’t looked back since, with a 2.92 ERA and 3.34 FIP in 135 2/3 innings of work with Atlanta. He figures to feature prominently in the club’s late-inning mix next year alongside closer Raisel Iglesias and fellow southpaw A.J. Minter.
- Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins is still hoping to return to the Phillies in time for the World Series after suffering a torn ACL during Spring Training this year. While Rob Thomson told reporters (per MLB.com) that Hoskins has been “moving forward” in his rehab, it seems as though Hoskins’s role will be fairly limited with the club even in the event he’s able to return to the postseason roster. Per Thomson, Hoskins will be used “almost exclusively” as a pinch-hitter if on the roster, as playing him at DH would require the club to move Kyle Schwarber back into the outfield, a move the club isn’t inclined to make. That said, a healthy Hoskins could be a factor in the club’s starting lineup if another injury elsewhere on the roster opened up playing time at DH for him.
It would be cool if Hoskins makes the WS roster, but still on the side of what’s best for the team. Be great to bring home the trophy fora 3rd time….
Graveman was somehow worse for the Astros going by his underlying numbers, despite his ERA being better than his time with the White Sox. Was really hoping he’d be on the roster so he could get lit up by the Rangers, but oh well.
Yeah right
coolstorybro
lol
Hoskins being ready for the WS would be a feel-good story, for sure. Would much prefer him as a PH than Pache.
I love my Phillies, but we gotta improve the bench in the off-season.
Also, I gotta wonder just how little the Phillies must think of Scott Kingery. The guy didn’t get a shot all year despite some decent pop and speed numbers at AAA. That, and he could play pretty much anywhere he’s needed.
Bringing Rhys Hoskins back as a pinch hitter for the WS would be detrimental to the team. Taking up a spot on the roster of a fully healthy productive hitter or pitcher. That would be a bad move.
It would mean he would have to come back with no live game pitching rehab.
Players are not capable of coming back from a season long injury, and coming out immediately and hitting HRs or even getting hits. And even if he does manage to get a hit, they will have to immediately take him out for a pinch runner.
Is that wise to use up a roster spot for one or two at bats and be immediately pulled for a pinch runner IF he does get a hit? No.
This would not be a wise decision.
The Phillies have to look at reality. Look how long it took Superman Harper to get back into his HR hitting swing from his recovery. And his recovery was only a couple of months. Which was from an elbow repair. Yes, Hoskins ACL injury is the same as Schwarber’s. But it is an injury in the legs part of the body, not the upper arm part of the body. The legs area is used by hitters for power batting. Look at how that lower part of the body injury to Howard’s (Achilles injury) affected his hitting. Now look at what Schwarber did in his return from ACL injury in time for the WS? 0 for 4. Will an 0 for X by Hoskins help us (the Phillies) win it all? No.
We all love Hoskins, but the Phillies, can’t waste a roster spot for Hoskins to go 0 for X. Or at a miracle best case scenario of getting one hit and immediately be taking out of the game for a pinch runner. It could cost us the WS.
What if he gets the series clinching hit in a big spot though?
As said, players coming back with no live pitching rehab and getting a hit is extremely slim. It’s about as possible as the Mets or the Braves winning the WS this year. Not going to happen.
I find Hoskins unlikely, but there are 11 days until the WS – should be enough time that the Phillies can match him up with one of the emergency arms for simulated games. It’s not perfect, but it’s not completely coming in from the cold.
@ kje76, Matching him up with an emergency arm is not going to help.
Look at Harper. He came back early this year and faced how many live true arms in live games and went without hitting a homer. Again, his injury was the arms, not the legs. Remember, Hoskins hit HAS to be a homer. Anything less, he immediately comes out of the game for a second player to run the bases for him. So, using him turns into an automatic one time per game use and an automatic two players used per game. It’s not a wise decision.
Schwarber was a 23 yo at the time. Hoskins is a 30 yo. Schwarber’s body was able heal faster. He could push it. Hoskins is 7 years older.
It would be wasted spot used on the roster for the WS roster.