The Astros have surged ahead of the free-falling Mariners to take control of the AL West after a rough start to the season, and they’ve largely done that without one of their best hitters. Outfielder Kyle Tucker was nothing short of incredible early in the season with a .266/.395/.584 slash line in 60 games that helped to keep Houston afloat in the midst of their early-season struggles, but hasn’t appeared in a game since June 3 after suffering a shin contusion that’s kept him out of action ever since.
Now, it appears the 27-year-old may finally be nearing a return to action after an initial target of a return early in the second half quickly turned into doubt over whether or not he’d contribute in the majors before September. In his latest update regarding the situation, GM Dana Brown suggested that he thinks Tucker will be able to return to the big league lineup during the first week of September. While a specific timeline for Tucker’s return is surely encouraging for Astros fans, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome cautions that Tucker has not yet begun running the bases or sprinting at full speed yet, and that he won’t be able to begin a rehab assignment until those boxes have been checked.
With that being said, Brown seemed to suggest yesterday (as relayed by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) that the club could start pushing Tucker more aggressively in the near future, noting that the outfielder is currently “push[ing] a little harder” to “see where it goes.” Whenever he’s ready to return, Tucker is sure to provide a spark to an Astros lineup that will be looking to create more space between themselves and the Mariners, who currently sit 4.5 games back of them in the AL West race.
More from around MLB’s West divisions…
- Moving over to the NL, the Padres reinstated veteran right-hander Yu Darvish from the restricted list yesterday. Darvish is not yet back on the big league roster, however, as he was placed back on the 15-day injured list. The 38-year-old hurler had been shelved due to hamstring and elbow issues prior to his placement on the restricted list due to an undisclosed family matter in early July. Fortunately, manager Mike Shildt clarified to reporters (including Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union Tribune) earlier today that Darvish is no longer dealing with any physical issues and that his placement on the injured list is instead a mechanism to allow him time to build up toward returning to the club’s rotation. Darvish last threw an official pitch during a minor league rehab assignment back in June and last pitched in the majors on May 29, so it’s hardly a surprise that he’ll need time to build his stamina back up before he can return to the rotation. The veteran was pitching quite well prior to his lengthy layoff, with a 3.20 ERA and 3.52 FIP in 11 starts, and figures to be a major asset for the Padres down the stretch and into the postseason once he’s built up enough stamina to return. The righty will face live hitters tomorrow before the club determines his next steps.
- The Giants optioned longtime closer Camilo Doval to Triple-A earlier this month amid struggles that saw the 27-year-old’s ERA balloon up to 4.70 after sitting at an excellent 2.78 at the end of May and a decent 3.93 as recently as mid-July. With a 6.75 ERA from the month of June onward and a disastrous run of eight appearances prior to his option where he posted an 8.59 ERA and walked 16.7% of opponents, San Francisco sent their star reliever to reset in the minor leagues. As first reported by Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic this morning, however, Doval is now back in the majors after impressing in five appearances at the Triple-A level. The right-hander threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Mariners tonight, during which he struck out two on one hit and no walks. Despite his return to action, however, Doval will not be returning to the closer’s role, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle was among those to note that manager Bob Melvin is planning to keep Ryan Walker as the club’s primary ninth-inning option going forward.
Ryan walker is absolutely filthy. Doval should never be a closer again unless he’s traded
That cross body throwing motion really helps him. His first few outing were more reminiscent of bad doval , Walker seems to have settled since.
There is, or at least had been, a belief that the cross body motion would lead to injury. It was believed that Don Sutton’s career would be shortened since he had a similar delivery. Sutton, after having a 23 year career, probably led to some thinking differently about that motion. But It does make me wonder, if that belief lives on since it’s curious that more pitchers don’t throw that way.
A shin contusion since June 3? Are we sure he didn’t break a bone?
We were talking about that a few weeks ago but even a broken bone doesn’t take 3 months. Extremely bizarre.
Walker is nails
Batters are hammers.
I thought the IL was a list for injured players.
How is his IL placement “a mechanism to allow him time to build up toward returning to the club’s rotation” I believe there are other options available to build him up, they may not like the options but this seems to be skirting the rules, no?
Not sure exactly but I’d assume it would have to do with him being on the 15-day IL before being placed on leave. Under that logic it would mean they never technically activated him from the IL the word “placement” is a bit misleading. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, though
Ive read about teams putting players on the DL/IL in the past with a mysterious injury so the player could “get right”
Essentially Shildt said ” hes not hurt, just needs innings” but that’s not what an IL placement is for even though its obviously been/still done.
Wondering if you are right and was never removed before the restricted list so he can still be on the IL.
Just seems like you wouldn’t want to word it the way Shildt did. Sounds like a case of saying the quite part loud, really loud.
If there’s a potential for a fine for a rule violation he pretty much said they are guilty.
*quiet
BW – like bud light said, Yu was placed on the restricted list from the IL. So his return from restricted list just reverts back to whence he came, the IL. IL rules apply. He will have a period of time to build up just like any other “now healthy” player.
Most players that go on the IL require time to get in game shape before returning. They can’t do that until they are no longer hurt. This is part of the process.
Pitchers (starters) usually take longer to get ready once healthy because they have to be built up especially after a long absence.
But he wasn’t “hurt”.
Lester – he was on the IL at time of going on restricted list. He comes back to IL first.