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NL Notes: Lindor, Blackburn, Barnes, Payamps

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After exiting early on Friday and sitting out on Saturday, Mets superstar Francisco Lindor was pulled in the second inning of today’s series finale against the Phillies. Back discomfort has been a problem for the NL MVP candidate all weekend, and as it turns out, significantly longer. Lindor told reporters, including Tim Britton of The Athletic, that he has been playing through back pain for the past two weeks. Ever since he further irritated the injury on Friday, it has become too difficult to ignore.

Lindor will go for an MRI tomorrow, after which the Mets will have a better sense of the severity of his condition. Needless to say, they’ll be hoping it’s nothing serious and the star shortstop can get back on the field as soon as possible. The Mets are in a dead heat with the Braves in the race to secure the third and final NL Wild Card berth.

In further injury news out of Queens, starting pitcher Paul Blackburn is dealing with a spinal fluid leak in his back (per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). President of baseball operations David Stearns suggests the injury isn’t quite as bad as it might sound, but nonetheless, the team does not know when Blackburn will be able to return. The right-hander has not pitched since August 23. Thankfully for the Mets, their pitching staff, and particularly their starting rotation, has been a strength as of late. Their starters rank third in MLB with a 2.32 ERA since Blackburn landed on the IL. Meanwhile, Blackburn had a 5.18 ERA in five starts after joining the Mets at the trade deadline.

More from around the National League:

  • Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he would be “shocked” if catcher Austin Barnes doesn’t wind up on the injured list tomorrow, according to Juan Toribio of MLB.com. The veteran backstop got hit by a foul ball on his left big toe and was forced to make an early exit from today’s game against the Braves. Barnes spent time on the IL with a fracture in the same toe in August, and while Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic points out that today’s contusion is in a “different spot,” it’s quite possible Barnes re-aggravated his old injury. Ardaya notes that Hunter Feduccia – one of four catchers on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster – is already on his way to join the big league club.
  • Brewers reliever Joel Payamps felt discomfort in his forearm during his appearance today against the Diamondbacks, manager Pat Murphy told reporters (including Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). The right-hander recorded one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and did not return for the eighth. The Brewers have not yet provided any further details about Payamps, who has been one of the team’s most trusted and dependable relievers over the past two seasons. Across 130 games with Milwaukee, he has a 2.90 ERA and a 3.45 SIERA in 124 innings pitched. He has not looked quite as sharp in 2024 as he did the year before. Still, his 3.38 ERA and 3.73 SIERA are respectable numbers, while his six saves, 18 holds, and high average leverage index are proof that the Brewers continue to rely on him in plenty of important spots.

NL Central Notes: Hudson, Steele, Cruz

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For most of the 2024 season, Bryan Hudson was one of the most effective relievers in the major leagues. Out of 58 relievers who have thrown at least 60 innings this year, his 1.73 ERA ranks fifth. However, since September 3, Hudson has been pitching not for the Milwaukee Brewers but for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

According to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers decided to option Hudson to Triple-A due to concerns about his velocity and durability. The left-hander suffered a minor oblique strain at the of July and came back in mid-August. While his surface-level numbers remained impressive upon his return (2.13 ERA in 12 2/3 IP), his velocity was noticeably lower on all three of his pitches. What’s more, his strikeout rate dropped, his walk rate rose, and his 4.38 SIERA was significantly higher than his 2.98 SIERA pre-injury.

Thus, with the Brewers sitting comfortably atop the NL Central standings, it made sense to send Hudson to the minors, where he could rest up and work on his stuff away from the pressure of the show. He has made just two outings so far for the Sounds, tossing a couple of scoreless innings with four strikeouts, two hits, and no walks allowed. His fastball velocity is still down compared to where it was earlier in the season, but it’s been a little better than it was in his last few outings before his demotion. Perhaps more importantly, his fastball velocity was higher in his second Triple-A outing this month than it was in his first.

It’s unclear if the Brewers are planning to recall Hudson anytime soon, but manager Pat Murphy suggested the 27-year-old will be back in Milwaukee eventually. As Hogg reports, Murphy is “pleased” with what Hudson has accomplished in Nashville, and there’s nothing more he needs to prove. The skipper didn’t provide a timeline for Hudson to get back in the Brewers’ bullpen, but he implied that a return was on the horizon, saying  “I think you’ll see him again.”

The Nashville Sounds’ season ends next Sunday. If the Brewers are hoping to have Hudson for the postseason, it would make sense to call him up once the Triple-A campaign comes to a close. That would give him a week to reacclimate to big league competition before October.

More from around the NL Central:

  • After completing a 40-pitch bullpen session yesterday, Cubs starter Justin Steele described it as “a really good day” (per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times). The All-Star hurler landed on the injured list earlier this month with left elbow tendinitis, but he says he is no longer feeling any symptoms of the injury (per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic). As Lee adds, the Cubs still need to monitor Steele’s recovery over the next few days, but as long as he remains healthy, he should be able to return sometime soon, potentially for the four-game series against the Nationals at the end of this coming week. Sitting 5.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, the Cubs are still clinging onto their slim playoff hopes. This late in the season, their fate is probably out of their hands, but it certainly won’t hurt to have their co-ace back for a couple more turns through the rotation.
  • Oneil Cruz exited the Pirates game this afternoon with discomfort in his left ankle, manager Derek Shelton told reporters (including Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). He suffered the injury slipping in the outfield. The 25-year-old recently began playing center field for the first time in his professional career, and it will surely take him some time to get used to the new position. Cruz has started 13 games in center over the past three weeks, and he already has two errors and -3 defensive runs saved. Thankfully for Cruz and the Pirates, this injury doesn’t appear particularly serious. Indeed, he was able to stay in the game initially, but, as Shelton puts it, the ankle later “stiffened up.” Cruz is day-to-day for now, but the Pirates certainly aren’t going to take any chances with the young star over the final two weeks of another lost season.

AL Central Notes: Moncada, Lorenzen, Larnach

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The White Sox told reporters (including James Fegan of Sox Machine) that third baseman Yoán Moncada will be activated for tomorrow’s game against the Angels. Moncada has been out with a left adductor strain since April 9. Prior to his injury, he was off to a relatively strong start in 2024, going 11-for-39 (.282) with a 122 wRC+ in 11 games.

Moncada has dealt with injuries in almost every season of his career, and outside of a phenomenal performance in 2019, he has struggled to live up to his top prospect billing. However, if he can be just a league-average hitter and a capable defender at third base, the 29-year-old will represent a huge upgrade for the White Sox lineup over the final two weeks of the season. Miguel Vargas, who has been starting for the club at third base since the trade deadline, is batting .112 with a .395 OPS so far in his brief tenure on the South Side. He has made four errors in just 27 games at third base, accruing -2 OAA and -2 DRS. The White Sox aren’t going to give up Vargas (himself a former top prospect) just yet, but there is no denying that Moncada should make for a significant improvement.

Chicago doesn’t have much to play for this year, but the club is still hoping to avoid setting a new modern-day record for most losses in a season. Meanwhile, Moncada is looking to make a strong impression before most likely entering free agency in the offseason; the White Sox are all but certain to turn down his $25MM club option for 2025 in favor of a $5MM buyout.

More from around the AL Central:

  • Michael Lorenzen was dominant over his first five starts with the Royals after the trade deadline (1.85 ERA in 24 1/3 IP) before a left hamstring strain forced him to the 15-day IL. He has not pitched since August 27. Lorenzen made his second rehab appearance this past Friday, and prior to the game, Anne Rogers of MLB.com noted the right-hander was likely to rejoin the team this coming week.  However, Rogers reported today that he was “more sore than normal” following his rehab outing, so the Royals will need to wait and see how he feels in the coming days before determining his next steps. The phrasing “more sore than normal” doesn’t necessarily suggest a serious setback, but it’s far less likely Lorenzen will be pitching in Kansas City this week.
  • Twins manager Rocco Baldelli revealed that outfielder/DH Trevor Larnach is playing through a hamstring injury (per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic). That explains why he hasn’t played the field since last Tuesday. It also explains why, in Gleeman’s words, he’s running “at way less than full speed.” It’s surely concerning for the Twins that their cleanup hitter is nursing an injury, but Baldelli suggests the hamstring issue hasn’t had an impact on Larnach’s swing. That’s certainly a relief for Twins fans, considering how important Larnach has been to this offense. He rarely plays against left-handed pitching, but he has been one of Minnesota’s better bats when he has the platoon advantage. He boasts a team-leading 15 home runs and 47 RBI against right-handed pitching, with a .792 OPS and a 125 wRC+. The Twins will have to hope his hamstring injury doesn’t turn into anything more serious.

Rangers Place José Ureña On 15-Day Injured List

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José Ureña is almost certainly done for the year. The Rangers placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list today with shoulder fatigue, recalling fellow righty Gerson Garabito in his place. Presuming the IL placement is retroactive to September 14, Ureña will not be eligible to return until September 29, the final day of the regular season. Thus, it’s more than likely he has already thrown his final pitch of the 2024 campaign.

Ureña, 33, signed a minor league deal with Texas this past offseason, and he made the Opening Day roster after a strong showing in the Cactus League (16 IP, 2.25 ERA). He has thrown 109 innings over 33 games this season, going back and forth between the starting rotation and the bullpen. That’s his highest innings total in a season since 2018, while his 3.80 ERA is the lowest of any season in his career. His 4.36 xERA and 4.66 SIERA aren’t quite as impressive, but they’re perfectly acceptable for a bulk reliever/spot starter. They’re also his best numbers in those categories since 2018. All told, the veteran has been valuable as an innings eater all season; only Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney have thrown more innings for the Rangers in 2024.

Indeed, Ureña has helped this team survive countless pitching injuries throughout the year, and it is bitterly ironic that his own season will most likely end with an injury. The ten-year MLB veteran will re-enter free agency this winter, and perhaps his pre-injury performance in 2024 will be enough to earn him a major league deal for 2025.

Garabito, 29, made his big league debut with the Rangers earlier this season. After eight years in the Royals organization, one season in the Giants system, and two years out of affiliated ball, the right-hander signed a minor league deal with Texas this past winter. He made his debut with a spot start in May, and over a few separate stints in the majors, he has put up a 3.86 ERA in 21 innings of work. He also has a 3.42 ERA over 55 1/3 innings at Triple-A. With a strong showing over the final two weeks of the season, he can hope to avoid the inevitable 40-man roster cuts coming in the offseason.

Mets Promote Luisangel Acuña

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TODAY: The Mets officially announced Acuna’s call-up, and outfielder DJ Stewart was optioned to Triple-A to create space on the 28-man roster.

SEPT. 13: The Mets are planning to promote top prospect Luisangel Acuña, as confirmed by Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase (first reported by X user Jorge L. Seoud H.). Acuña is already on the 40-man, but the Mets will need to make a corresponding move to open a space for him on the active roster.

Acuña, 22, signed with the Rangers as an international free agent in 2018. He joined the Mets at last year’s trade deadline in the deal that sent Max Scherzer back to Texas. Entering the season, Keith Law of The Athletic ranked him as the No. 2 prospect in the Mets system. Kiley McDaniel of ESPN had him at No. 3, as did MLB Pipeline, while Baseball America ranked him at No. 4. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs wasn’t quite as high on Acuña but still ranked him as the No. 6 prospect in the system.

Unfortunately, Acuña has struggled at Triple-A in 2024, putting up a .654 OPS and 69 wRC+ in 131 games. On the bright side, he has 40 stolen bases and the skills to play plus defense at second base and center field. Still, there is no denying that he has been recalled due to the team’s desperation – not his own merit – given the lack of infield options on the Mets’ major league roster. With Jeff McNeil out for the rest of the regular season – and possibly the playoffs, too – Jose Iglesias has moved into the everyday lineup and Eddy Alvarez is the only infielder left on the bench. However, Alvarez joined the Mets organization after September 1, which means he won’t be eligible for the postseason roster. New York will need a new infielder for the bench once October rolls around.

On top of that, Francisco Lindor exited today’s game against the Phillies with back tightness. He’s day-to-day and isn’t particularly concerned about the injury (per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com), but it’s unclear when he’ll be back in the lineup. He told reporters after the game (including DiComo) that all he can do is wake up tomorrow, see how he feels, and go from there. Even if Lindor is only out for a game or two, it makes sense that the Mets would like to have another infielder on the active roster.

Mets Outright Pablo Reyes

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Pablo Reyes has cleared waivers and been seen outright to Triple-A Syracuse, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. The Mets designated Reyes for assignment earlier this week after acquiring Eddy Alvarez from the Red Sox.

This marks the fourth time Reyes has been outrighted in his career, so he has the choice to reject the assignment in favor of free agency. However, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports that Reyes “remains in the organization” following his DFA, which seems to suggest the veteran infielder has accepted the assignment. That would make sense, considering the fact that Reyes will be eligible to play for the Mets in October if they make the postseason. Reyes was a member of the team before the September 1 deadline for postseason eligibility, and as Tim Healey of Newsday Sports points out, he never left the organization. As long as the Mets add him back to the 40-man, they can put him on any potential playoff rosters.

Alvarez, on the other hand, joined the team after the deadline, so he will not be eligible for postseason play. That could clear a path for Reyes to rejoin the club in October. Meanwhile, if Reyes were to elect free agency and latch on elsewhere, he would not be eligible to join his new team in the playoffs.

Reyes, 31, played just one game for New York this season before his DFA, coming in as a pinch-runner for J.D. Martinez on September 1. Prior to joining the Mets, he appeared in 233 games with the Pirates, Brewers, and Red Sox from 2018-24. He has a pitiful .248/.309/.349 career slash line with eight home runs and a 78 wRC+. With offensive numbers like that, his value comes from the fact that he can play capable defense all around the diamond. Given the Mets’ limited infield depth following Jeff McNeil’s wrist injury, it’s not impossible to imagine Reyes making his way onto the team’s postseason roster should they hold onto an NL Wild Card berth. However, the news that the Mets are promoting top prospect Luisangel Acuña doesn’t exactly bode well for Reyes’s chances.

 

Matt McLain Likely Done For 2024 Season

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It’s highly unlikely that Matt McLain will play again in 2024. The Reds infielder has been on the injured all season after undergoing shoulder surgery in March. He was initially targeting a return sometime in August, but a rib cage stress reaction he suffered about six weeks ago turned out to be a major setback in his rehab.

Still, until recently, the Reds had been holding out hope he could return before the end of the year. Just last week, manager David Bell told members of the media (including Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that McLain was “pain-free” and on his way back to “baseball activities.” Today, however, Bell admitted that it isn’t realistic to expect McLain to return this season, telling reporters (including Mark Sheldon of MLB.com): “It’s probably not going to happen.”

McLain, 25, finished fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting last season after he hit .290/.357/.507 with 23 doubles, 16 home runs, and 14 stolen bases in 89 contests. He also put up 2 OAA and 4 DRS while splitting his time between shortstop and second base. Looking like a legitimate five-tool talent, McLain finished with 3.1 FanGraphs WAR in just over half a season’s worth of games. Hopefully, Cincinnati will finally be able to see what he can do over a full season in 2025.

The Reds entered the 2024 campaign with a glut of talented young hitters, but many of those players have struggled this season for one reason or another. Spencer Steer and Will Benson have each taken a big step back at the plate after their breakout performances in 2023. Noelvi Marte has been a disaster since his return from an 80-game PED suspension earlier this year. Christian Encarnacion-Strand was slumping badly before he underwent surgery on his wrist in May. He has not played since. McLain was the most exciting of all those names in 2023, and his lost 2024 season has been, perhaps, the most disappointing.

Indeed, the word “disappointing” pretty much sums up the Reds in 2024. A year after finishing third in the NL Central and two games back of the final Wild Card spot, they currently sit fourth in their division and 10.5 games back of a postseason berth. They’re on pace to finish 78-84, four games worse than their record in 2023. Their pitching staff ranks 16th with a 4.06 ERA, while their offense ranks 26th with an 89 wRC+. They also rank 26th with a -23 fielding run value, per Baseball Savant.

McLain was hoping to get back on the field before the end of the season. Surely, the Reds would have loved to have his bat and glove back on the roster. However, at this point in the year, it’s not hard to understand why he and the team are putting their efforts toward a stronger and healthier 2025 instead.

Dedniel Núñez Out For Season With Flexor Injury

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Mets reliever Dedniel Núñez will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with a flexor injury, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). The right-hander received a platelet-rich plasma injection today as he seeks to avoid surgery, but he will not have time to make it back to the field in 2024.

Until recently, the Mets had been optimistic they would have Núñez back before the end of the regular season. Earlier this month, DiComo reported that Núñez would be able to “ramp up quickly” once he got back on a mound, and the Mets weren’t even planning to send him for more tests. Just last Monday, Tim Britton of The Athletic wrote that Núñez had “felt better of late” and suggested the Mets were hopeful he could begin a throwing program shortly. Needless to say, that is no longer the case.

Núñez, 28, was enjoying a phenomenal debut season in Queens. From his MLB debut on April 9 to his final appearance on August 24, he threw 35 innings with a 2.31 ERA and 2.13 SIERA. He started as an up-and-down, low-leverage reliever but quickly became one of Mendoza’s most trusted arms. Unfortunately, the righty landed on the IL at the end of July with a pronator strain, and after making his way back for one appearance at the end of August, his forearm troubles came back. The team has not offered a timeline for his return this time, but hopefully, if he can stay off the surgical table, he’ll be ready to go next spring.

Thankfully for the Mets, their relief corps remains a strength, even in Núñez’s absence. Since the trade deadline, the Mets rank eighth in baseball with a 3.28 bullpen ERA. Edwin Díaz, Reed Garrett, Phil Maton, and Danny Young all have ERAs under 3.00 in that time. José Buttó hasn’t been quite as sharp as of late, but he has a 2.70 ERA on the year. Meanwhile, veteran Adam Ottavino has strong underlying numbers in his 14th big league campaign; his 3.18 SIERA is more than a full run better than his 4.29 ERA this season. The Mets have won eight of their last 10 and 19 of their last 30 games, but they’ll still need every advantage they can get as they try to hold off the Braves in the Wild Card race. An effective bullpen will be critical down the stretch and potentially into October.

Cubs Claim Jimmy Herget Off Waivers From Braves

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The Cubs have claimed right-handed pitcher Jimmy Herget off waivers from the Braves, (per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune). He has been optioned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. To make room for Herget on the 40-man roster, Chicago recalled Brennen Davis from Iowa and placed him on the 60-day injured list. The young outfielder suffered a fractured ankle earlier this week.

The Braves designated Herget for assignment on Wednesday to make room for Cavan Biggio on the 40-man roster. The 31-year-old right-hander had appeared in eight games for Atlanta this season, tossing 12 1/3 low-leverage innings with a 4.38 ERA and 3.13 SIERA. He also pitched to a 3.06 ERA and 2.95 FIP over 17 2/3 innings with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett.

Herget has also pitched for the Reds, Rangers, and Angels throughout his six-year MLB tenure, with a career 3.54 ERA across 129 appearances. His best season came with the Angels in 2022; he threw 69 innings with nine saves, six holds, a 2.48 ERA, and a 3.26 SIERA. Unfortunately, he struggled the following year, putting up a 4.66 ERA and 4.33 SIERA over 29 innings, prompting the Angels to option him several times throughout the season. He did not make the Opening Day roster in 2024, and the Angels would DFA him before the end of April and trade him to the Braves in early May.

The journeyman reliever will now have a brief opportunity to prove himself to his new organization before the end of the season. The Iowa Cubs have eight games remaining after today, while the Cubs will have 15 games left on the calendar following their matchup with the Rockies tonight. Herget will be eligible for arbitration this winter and out options in 2025, making him a likely non-tender candidate if he fails to make a strong first impression on the Cubs.

Davis, 24, was selected to the 40-man roster during the 2022-23 offseason but has yet to make an appearance in an MLB game. The young outfielder had an .828 OPS and a 116 wRC+ in 47 games at Triple-A this season. Unfortunately, this is his third time landing on the injured list in 2024. Davis was a consensus top 100 prospect in baseball as recently as 2022, but injuries and poor performance in 2022 and ’23 have raised serious questions about his major league future.

Mariners Recall Emerson Hancock, DFA Seby Zavala

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The Mariners have promoted right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock from Triple-A, the team announced this afternoon. To make room on the active roster, Seattle designated catcher Seby Zavala for assignment.

Hancock will take the ball this evening against the Rangers, filling in for an injured Luis Castillo. Castillo landed on the 15-day IL with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain following his start last Sunday. After officially placing Castillo on the IL on Tuesday, the Mariners did not need to add another starting pitcher to the active roster until today, so they selected Zavala’s contract instead. He did not appear in a game. Presuming Zavala passes through waivers, he will most likely accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Tacoma, considering the Mariners have already outrighted him twice this season. Indeed, this is the second time Seattle has DFA’d Zavala to make room for Hancock on the major league roster.

The 25-year-old Hancock is back for his fourth stint with the big league club this season. Over nine starts, he has pitched to a disappointing 4.76 ERA and 5.14 SIERA in 45 1/3 innings pitched. Unfortunately, the young right-hander hasn’t looked much better at Triple-A. He has a 4.66 ERA and 5.78 FIP in 10 starts (56 IP) since his most recent demotion. As was his biggest problem last year, he has had tremendous difficulty earning strikeouts against Triple-A and MLB competition, and he isn’t limiting walks or hard contact as much as needs to if he’s going to survive with such a low strikeout rate.

Hancock still has all the potential that made him one of the Mariners’ top pitching prospects from the moment he was selected with the sixth overall pick in 2020 to his graduation from prospect status this season. However, he has yet to turn that potential into results. Presumably, he’ll get a couple more chances to prove himself in the majors this season while Castillo is on the IL.

Zavala, 31, came to the Mariners last November as part of the trade that sent Eugenio Suárez to the Diamondbacks. He is a strong defensive catcher thanks to above-average framing and blocking skills, but his career .205/.271/.342 slash line is precisely why he has been unable to hold down a job in the majors this season. It hasn’t helped that he is 19-for-101 (.188) with a 79 wRC+ at Triple-A this year. Presumably, he will finish the season at Triple-A Tacoma, sticking around as additional catching depth in case one of Cal Raleigh or Mitch Garver suffers a late-season injury.

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