The Rays announced today that outfielder Jake Mangum has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left groin strain. Infielder Coco Montes has been recalled from Triple-A Durham as the corresponding move.
It’s an unfortunate blow for the Rays. Mangum came into this season with no major league experience but is currently sporting a strong line of .338/.384/.397 in his first 73 plate appearances. Losing that production would be unwelcome at any time but it’s especially tough for the Rays given their other outfield injuries. Mangum joins Josh Lowe, Jonny DeLuca and Richie Palacios on the IL.
For now, the Rays are left with an outfield mix consisting of Chandler Simpson, Kameron Misner, Christopher Morel and José Caballero. Simpson and Misner each have less than 30 games of major league experience while Morel and Caballero have more experience in the outfield than the infield.
Some more notes from around the American League…
- Twins infielder Royce Lewis is on the IL with a hamstring strain but will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Saint Paul tomorrow, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. That’s good news for the Twins since they’ve been hit hard by injuries, particularly on the infield. Willi Castro joined Lewis on the IL earlier today. José Miranda and Austin Martin are both injured in the minors. Carlos Correa has also been dealing with a wrist issue, though he has not landed on the IL. Getting Lewis back into the mix would be a nice boost for a club that is floundering. They lost today’s game to the White Sox to fall to 9-16.
- Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase hasn’t quite been himself lately and it might be because he’s not 100% healthy. Manager Stephen Vogt recently told Zack Meisel of The Athletic that Clase had some shoulder discomfort on Sunday. He has a 7.84 earned run average this year, which is miles away from the 0.61 ERA he posted last year. His strikeout, walk and ground ball rates have all moved in the wrong direction. The shoulder issue perhaps provides an explanation for his struggles but obviously raises the question of what comes next and whether he can get back on track.
Wow Mariners first series win in Boston since 2014. I should drink to that, what’s the favorite beer in Beantown? (Don’t say Sam Adams).
Any “sour” beer will do.
The way they drive in Boston, I suspect they’re all drinking meth.
It’s a Narragansett at the game.
It’s a Harpoon if you’re in Southie.
It’s a Trillium if cost is no concern.
Make sure to get your lobster roll Connecticut style with clarified butter.
Sam Adams
I probably should add Guinness/Harp to the Sam Adam’s as stereotypical Boston beers that don’t count lol
Wachusett Blueberry Ale is a favorite of mine.
Question: “…Francis made an adjustment to improve his arm-side fastball command…” I know this is a stupid question but I have horrible visualization skills…when they refer to anything “glove-side” or “arm-side” they are referring to the pitcher missing, but in what position are they talking about? Because depending on where he is on the mound or in his windup, his “arm-side” and “glove-side” can be in vastly different positions??? I just find this characterization unhelpful but then again I’m obtuse.
*it just dawned on me they could be referring to the catcher and not the pitcher (missing glove-side/arm-side)**
It’s viewed from the pitcher facing home plate.
A right handed pitcher has his glove on his left hand, so a pitch tailing glove side is going to the left as it goes to home plate and a pitch tailing to the arm side is going to the right.
“while Morel and Caballero have more experience in the outfield than the infield.”
Should be the opposite… Morel and Caballero have been infielders primarily until this season.
Another tough injury for the Rays…it’s shaping up to be a very long year for them.
the emergence of Misner, Mangum, Caminero, Aranda and Cabalerro have the Rays looking as stacked as any team in MLB. And they could add Eloy Jimenez to the mix at some point. They have the pitching too, they are looking like contenders.
I can’t tell if this comment was conveyed in an ironic, sarcastic, or “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” sorta style or whether it was meant to be taken at face value.
Clase was overused last year. will cost them in September
Great to see Mangum get a shot at 29. I was a little surprised he hadn’t gotten a a chance before, but in college until 2019 at 23, bitten by the Covid year, and only made AAA at 26, at which point you’re pretty much dismissed as being remotely viable in MLB. Not getting even one PA in the Marlins 2023 outfield (1.8 bWAR combined from their starters), though, was just wrong.
That he can handle CF without embarrassment should keep him in the Rays OF mix, though Kameron Misner is a ROY dark horse and once Mangum’s bat settles down he may not hit enough for a corner..
—Correa with 4/133-ish left on his deal, and a .514 OPS in late April? What made Minnesota figure they needed to lock down an often injured SS at 33m+ a year until he’s at least 33 when they’d already been lucky enough to get a nice bite out of the heart of his career?