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Red Sox Claim Brennan Bernardino From Mariners

By Mark Polishuk | April 16, 2023 at 4:17pm CDT

The Red Sox announced that left-hander Brennan Bernardino has been claimed off waivers from the Mariners.  Bernardino was designated for assignment earlier this week.  To create 40-man roster space, the Sox moved righty Zack Kelly to the 60-day injured list.

Beginning his pro career as a 26th-round pick for the Reds in the 2014 draft, Bernardino finally made it to the big leagues last season, appearing in two games for Seattle and posting 2 1/3 innings of work.  Some nice numbers with Triple-A Tacoma in 2022 helped pave the way for Bernardino’s MLB debut, but the results haven’t been there in a small sample size this year, as the southpaw had a 12.00 ERA in six innings for Tacoma this season.

Bernardino’s career has taken him through the affiliated minors (with Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Seattle) and also to the Mexican League for parts of three seasons.  He’ll now add Boston to his resume, giving the Red Sox some extra left-handed relief depth.  Richard Bleier is the only lefty in Boston’s Major League bullpen, as Joely Rodriguez is on the injured list and Ryan Sherriff is at Triple-A.  In all likelihood, Bernardino will join Sherriff as the top left-handed options in Worcester should the Sox feel the need for more southpaw help in the Show.

Kelly was placed on the 15-day IL three days ago due to elbow inflammation, though Kelly was so obviously distraught while leaving the mound that it certainly seemed like he had suffered a more serious injury.  Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) yesterday that Kelly’s MRI results were going to be viewed by the doctor who performed Kelly’s internal bracing procedure in 2020.  No official word has come about Kelly’s status, though the 60-day IL placement will keep the right-hander on the shelf until at least mid-June.

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Boston Red Sox Seattle Mariners Transactions Brennan Bernardino Zack Kelly

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Pirates Place Rob Zastryzny On 15-Day Injured List

By Mark Polishuk | April 16, 2023 at 3:34pm CDT

Prior to today’s game, the Pirates placed left-hander Rob Zastryzny on the 15-day injured list due to discomfort in his throwing elbow.  Righty Yohan Ramirez was called up from Triple-A to take Zastryzny’s spot on the active roster.

Zastryzny pitched just yesterday, facing four batters and recording one out in an appearance against the Cardinals.  With a hit and two walks amidst those four batters faced, Zastryzny clearly wasn’t sharp, and it’s safe to assume that his elbow issue impacted his performance.  The concern now is whether or not Zastryzny might be facing a more serious injury, as Pirates senior VP of baseball operations Bryan Stroh said today in a radio appearance that Zastryzny will be visiting a specialist when the club returns to Pittsburgh on Monday.

After being non-tendered by the Angels during the offseason, Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the Pirates and broke camp with the club.  Even before Saturday’s outing against St. Louis, it hadn’t been smooth sailing for Zastryzny, as he has a 7.94 ERA over 5 2/3 total innings this season.  Control has been the biggest problem, as the lefty has almost as many walks (five) as strikeouts (six).

This is Zastryzny’s fifth MLB season, as he returned to the Show in 2022 after not getting any big league action in any of the previous three years.  The southpaw pitched for the Cubs in 2016-18, then spent the next three seasons pitching on minor league deals (with the Dodgers, Orioles, and Marlins) and with the independent Long Island Ducks.

With Zastryzny now sidelined, Jose Hernandez is the only left-hander in Pittsburgh’s bullpen, as Jarlin Garcia is on the 60-day IL due to a nerve injury in his biceps area.  Caleb Smith, Angel Perdomo, and Daniel Zamora are lefties with MLB experience who are pitching at Triple-A, but the Pirates would first have to make a 40-man roster move to add any of the three southpaws to their active roster.

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Pittsburgh Pirates Transactions Rob Zastryzny Yohan Ramirez

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West Notes: Tepera, Davis, Davies, Gray

By Mark Polishuk | April 15, 2023 at 11:09pm CDT

Ryan Tepera left today’s game with a shoulder issue and will receive further examination, Angels manager Phil Nevin told MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger and other reporters.  Tepera needed 33 pitches to get through two-thirds of an inning against the Red Sox today, with two hits, a walk, and two catcher’s interference calls on Matt Thaiss resulting in three runs (one earned).

Losing Tepera to injury wouldn’t help an Anaheim bullpen that has already had its share of struggles in the early going, though Tepera has been part of those struggles with a 13.50 ERA over 3 1/3 innings of work.  The veteran reliever signed a two-year, $14MM free agent deal with Los Angeles during the 2021-22 offseason and was pretty solid in 2022, posting a 3.61 ERA over 57 1/3 innings with some elite soft-contact rates. [UPDATE: the Angels placed Tepera on the 15-day IL due to shoulder inflammation on Sunday. Tepera doesn’t think the injury is too serious, as he told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register and other reporters that he plans to start throwing again after a few days off.]

More from around both the AL and NL West divisions as Jackie Robinson Day comes to a close….

  • The Rockies will call up right-hander Noah Davis from Triple-A to start Sunday’s game against the Mariners.  (The Denver Gazette’s Danielle Allentuck was among those who reported the news.)  With German Marquez now on the 15-day IL, Davis was seen as a logical candidate to take Marquez’s spot in the rotation, as Davis is already on Colorado’s 40-man roster and has plenty of experience as a starter during his time in the Rockies’ and Reds’ farm systems.  Davis is just a week away from his 26th birthday, and he made his MLB debut in the form of one inning of relief work with the Rockies last season.
  • Zach Davies was placed on the 15-day injured list due a strained left oblique last weekend, and Diamondbacks Torey Lovullo told reporters (including the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro) that Davies will need “several weeks” to recover.  Lovullo was a little vague about the nature of Davies’ injury, stopping short of calling it a Grade 2 oblique strain, but also saying it was “more than” a Grade 1 strain.  Regardless, Davies now looks to miss some significant time, so Drey Jameson might get a long look at the replacement in Arizona’s rotation.
  • X-rays were negative on Rangers right-hander Jon Gray after Gray was hit on the elbow by a Yanier Diaz line drive in tonight’s game.  Texas manager Bruce Bochy even told MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry and other reporters that Gray isn’t expected to miss his next turn in the rotation.  An upcoming off-day on Thursday will give Gray an extra day to rest and recover, and while plans could change if his elbow/forearm area continues to be sore, it still counts as some real good fortune for Gray in avoiding what looked like a potentially serious injury.  Counting today’s abbreviated two-inning outing, Gray has a 3.21 ERA over three starts and 14 innings thus far in 2023.
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Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Angels Texas Rangers Jon Gray Noah Davis Ryan Tepera Zach Davies

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AL Notes: Urias, Ortiz, Romano, Red Sox, Springs

By Mark Polishuk | April 15, 2023 at 9:00pm CDT

Ramon Urias is in concussion protocol after a scary incident in the Orioles’ 7-6 loss to the White Sox today.  Urias was hit in the head by a Kendall Graveman fastball in the seventh inning of the game, but fortunately the infielder was able to leave the field under his own power.  At the very least, Urias certainly doesn’t look like he’ll be playing in Sunday’ game, and it remains to be seen if a stint on the seven-day concussion-related injury list is necessary.  Urias had a single and two walks prior to his HBP today, boosting the Gold Glover’s slash line to a productive .250./.388/.400 over his first 49 plate appearances of the season.

Infielder Joey Ortiz would be the roster replacement if Urias is sidelined, as MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko was among the reporters who noted that Ortiz was removed from the lineup for Triple-A Norfolk tonight.  Since the Orioles don’t play on Monday, it’s possible the club might not make a roster move prior to Sunday’s game, in order to give Urias more time to recover and undergo further examination in the hopes that an IL stint could be avoided.  Ortiz has yet to make his MLB debut, and is yet another talented youngster from Baltimore’s farm system — both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America included Ortiz near the end of their preseason top-100 prospect lists.

More from around the AL East…

  • Jordan Romano earned a save in painful fashion today, as the Blue Jays closer was hit by a hard Wander Franco comebacker to the mound in the final out of a 5-2 win over the Rays.  The Jays told reporters (including The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath) that Romano suffered a right rib contusion on the play, though x-rays were negative.  After pitching on three of the last four days, Romano was probably already going to be unavailable for Sunday’s game, but it remains to be seen if the closer will have to miss any more time.  Romano has five saves and a 3.86 ERA over seven innings this season, with all three of his runs allowed during a disastrous outing against the Angels last Sunday.
  • With the Red Sox shorthanded in the middle infield, assistant GM Brian O’Halloran told MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo that the Sox are “comfortable with the group we have,” though the team is “always looking to find ways to improve the roster. Especially when you have injuries, and significant injuries.  That’s even more heightened.”  Enrique Hernandez has had to move from shortstop to center field to fill in for the injured Adam Duvall, subtracting from a middle infield mix that was already thin with Trevor Story and Adalberto Mondesi on the 60-day IL.  Cotillo notes that it’s pretty early in the season for any significant trade to take place, though a lower-level swap or even a waiver claim could help the Red Sox fill some holes.
  • Jeffrey Springs struggled to a 7.08 ERA over 20 1/3 innings with the Red Sox in 2020, and Springs told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that he regretting having “severely underperformed” during his lone season in a Sox uniform.  “I think I put too much pressure on myself there,” Springs said.  “I felt like I had to put up a zero every time and that made it harder on myself.  That’s a bad mentality to have.”  The Sox pivoted by dealing Springs to the Rays as part of a four-player trade during the 2020-21 offseason, yet now that deal is looking like a regret on Boston’s part, as Springs has become the latest pitcher to blossom in Tampa Bay.  Springs has an outstanding 2.53 ERA in 196 innings in a Rays uniform, but his great start to the 2023 season has now been interrupted by ulnar neuritis in his left arm, resulting in what will be a lengthy IL visit.
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Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Notes Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays Jeffrey Springs Joey Ortiz Jordan Romano Ramon Urias

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NL East Notes: Scherzer, Arcia, Sosa, Suarez, Harper

By Mark Polishuk | April 15, 2023 at 7:16pm CDT

Max Scherzer was scheduled to start for the Mets on Sunday against the Athletics, but Jose Butto will now take the hill tomorrow and Scherzer will be pushed to Wednesday.  Mets manager Buck Showalter told the New York Post’s Mike Puma (Twitter links) and other reporters that Scherzer has some “lingering soreness” in his side, though Scherzer said that scans of the area below his scapula didn’t reveal any structural damage.

Butto was tentatively expected to receive a spot start at some point during the Mets’ road trip, so today’s news seems mostly precautionary in nature, notwithstanding Scherzer’s injury history.  There might also be a bit of gamesmanship at play, since rather than face the struggling A’s, Scherzer is now lined up to face the Dodgers on Wednesday in a game with more implications on the NL playoff race.

More from around the NL East…

  • Orlando Arcia’s microfracture in his left wrist will be re-evaluated in 10-14 days, the Braves told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman).  Arcia was placed on the 10-day injured list yesterday and will obviously miss more than the minimum number of days, but a more thorough timeline won’t be known until Arcia is next examined by doctors.  Arcia entered the season with the twin momentum of a new contract extension and a role as Atlanta’s starting shortstop, and he was hitting a hefty .333/.400/.511 over 50 plate appearances prior to his injury.
  • Edmundo Sosa left today’s game due to discomfort in his lower back, according to the Phillies.  Since Philadelphia was trailing 8-0 to the Reds at the time of Sosa’s departure in the bottom of the sixth, it could be that Sosa was just being given a rest from the last few innings of what ended up as a 13-0 rout.  If Sosa did have to miss any time, it would further stretch the depth of a Phillies infield that is already missing Rhys Hoskins and Darick Hall, as Sosa was seeing more action at third base while Alec Bohm had moved to first base.
  • In other Phillies injury news, Ranger Suarez will throw to live hitters during a simulated game on Tuesday, Scott Lauper of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes.  Suarez has yet to pitch this season due to forearm inflammation, and he’ll be facing at least prominent batter during that sim game in the form of Bryce Harper, who will face live pitching for the first time in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.  Initially given a return timeline of around the All-Star break, there continue to be hints that Harper might be back sooner, including the fact that both Harper and manager Rob Thomson don’t feel Harper will need a minor league rehab assignment before re-entering Philadelphia’s lineup.  Given the Trajekt Arc video projection system installed at Citizens Bank Park, Harper can somewhat replicate facing MLB-level pitching during his batting cage work, rather than face live minor league pitching during a rehab assignment.
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Atlanta Braves New York Mets Notes Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper Edmundo Sosa Jose Butto Max Scherzer Orlando Arcia Ranger Suarez

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IL Activations: Hughes, Nootbaar, Kepler, Lorenzen

By Mark Polishuk | April 15, 2023 at 6:11pm CDT

Catching up on notable players returning from the injured list today…

LATEST MOVES

  • The Cubs activated left-hander Brandon Hughes from the 15-day IL, and outfielder Nelson Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A to create roster space.  Hughes was bothered by inflammation in his left knee during Spring Training, so Chicago placed him on the IL prior to Opening Day so Hughes could recover and then complete his ramp-up progress.  In an impressive rookie season, Hughes posted a 3.12 ERA and an above-average 28.3% strikeout rate (albeit with a subpar walk rate) over 57 2/3 innings out of the Cubs’ bullpen.

EARLIER TODAY

  • The Cardinals activated Lars Nootbaar from the 10-day IL, and sent Juan Yepez to Triple-A in the corresponding move.  Nootbaar was in the St. Louis lineup for the first time since Opening Day, when he injured his left thumb diving into a base.  While the Cardinals’ outfield depth chart might prevent Nootbaar from true everyday duty, he is still expected to get a lot of playing time as a left-handed hitter capable of playing all three outfield spots.  Jordan Walker’s emergence has only added to a crowded outfield picture that also includes Nootbaar, Tyler O’Neill, Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson, Yepez, and utilityman Brendan Donovan.
  • The Twins activated outfielder Max Kepler from the 10-day IL, as Kepler returned after missing the minimum 10 days while recovering from right patellar tendinitis.  Minnesota optioned outfielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A in the corresponding move.  Kepler’s return will bring a bit of relief for the injury-plagued Twins, and he’ll look for something of a reset to his season after playing in only four games prior to his IL stint.  Kepler is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, and will be a free agent this winter unless the Twins exercise a $10MM club option for 2024.
  • Michael Lorenzen made his first start of the season today, as the Tigers activated the right-hander from the 15-day IL.  Unsurprisingly, Lorenzen showed some rust, allowing six earned runs over four innings in what ended up being a 7-6 comeback win for Detroit over San Francisco.  A left groin strain has kept Lorenzen on the shelf, but going forward, he is expected to contribute in the Tigers’ rotation after signing a one-year, $8.5MM free agent deal during the offseason.  Along with activating Lorenzen, Detroit also called up southpaw Tyler Holton from Triple-A, and sent righty Garrett Hill and infielder Ryan Kreidler to Triple-A.
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Chicago Cubs Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins St. Louis Cardinals Transactions Brandon Hughes Garrett Hill Juan Yepez Lars Nootbaar Matt Wallner Max Kepler Nelson Velazquez Ryan Kreidler Tyler Holt Tyler Holton

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Brandon Woodruff Diagnosed With Subscapular Strain In Right Shoulder

By Mark Polishuk | April 15, 2023 at 5:39pm CDT

After undergoing an MRI, Brandon Woodruff has been diagnosed with a mild Grade 2 subscapular strain, as Woodruff and Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).  Surgery won’t be required, but Woodruff indicated that he is facing a lengthy stint on the injured list.

“If this was something that happened midseason, All-Star break, right before or after that time, I would probably end up being done, to be honest, for the season,” Woodruff said.  Counsell said that a more definitive timeline and rehab plan won’t be determined until Woodruff is examined by team doctors, which will happen when the Brewers return to Milwaukee after the conclusion of their series in Seattle on April 19.

“I’m not going to rush this, I’m not going to come back too early just for the sake of coming back early,” Woodruff said.  “That’s just not going to do anybody any good.  I’m going to take my time, I’m going to listen to my body and trust the rehab process and just go through that, and hopefully come back at whatever point that is throughout the season and then try to finish up strong.”

Woodruff’s placement on the 15-day IL was retroactive to April 8, and a move to the 60-day IL would also begin on that day, as shifting to the 60-day injured list doesn’t count as a new placement.  The Brewers aren’t going to move Woodruff to the 60-day IL until they know for sure about his recovery timeline or until they need a 40-man roster spot, but it certainly seems like such a move will eventually be necessary if Woodruff is facing a longer absence.

As Counsell simply put it, the Brewers “don’t have coverage for Brandon Woodruff,” referring to the righty’s status as one of baseball’s better pitchers of the last few seasons.  Woodruff is a two-time All-Star who also finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2021, and the pairing of Woodruff and Corbin Burnes (who won the Cy in 2021) has given Milwaukee an outstanding one-two punch at the top of the rotation.

Though the Brew Crew are much deeper in pitching than most teams, Woodruff’s shoulder strain will further stretch that depth, as Milwaukee has had to deal with multiple injuries.  Adrian Houser has yet to pitch this season due to a groin injury, though Houser has started a rehab assignment and could be back in relatively short order.  However, Jason Alexander will be out until at least the end of May while recovering from a shoulder problem of his own, and Aaron Ashby’s season is in jeopardy after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer, and Wade Miley comprise the top four in the rotation, and Counsell said that Colin Rea will continue in the fifth spot for the time being.  Janson Junk, Bryse Wilson, and (when he’s back) Houser are also starting options.

The Brewers are off to an impressive 10-4 start this season, and certainly have hopes of making a return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2022 campaign.  Continuing that success will be more difficult without Woodruff for an extended period of time, but if the Brewers can stay in the race, it should quiet at least some of the speculation that any of Woodruff, Burnes, or Willy Adames (all free agents after the 2024 season) could be traded in order to save payroll space and reload on young talent.  Woodruff’s injury would now almost surely take him off the table as a potential trade candidate this summer, and Burnes or Adames might only be moved if Milwaukee was out of the running by the deadline.  Last year’s Josh Hader trade is a sign that the Brewers are willing to move prominent talent even while still contending for a playoff berth, but it’s difficult to imagine the team making a similar deal this year given how clubhouse morale was so heavily impacted by the Hader swap.

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Milwaukee Brewers Brandon Woodruff

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Mariners Designate Tommy Milone, Select Jose Caballero

By Mark Polishuk | April 15, 2023 at 5:01pm CDT

The Mariners announced that left-hander Tommy Milone has been designated for assignment.  In a corresponding move, Seattle selected the contract of infielder Jose Caballero from Triple-A.

After originally signing a minor league deal with the Mariners prior to the 2022 season, Milone rejoined the club on a new minors deal this past winter, and was then selected to the MLB roster just yesterday.  Milone got the spot start and was solid (one ER on three hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings) in Seattle’s 5-3 win over the Rockies, and that game officially put Milone on the books for 13 Major League seasons.

Depending on what happens on DFA waivers, however, this cup of coffee could potentially be the end of Milone’s tenure with the Mariners, if another team in need of starting depth made a claim or worked out a trade with the M’s.  It perhaps seems more likely that Milone will clear waivers and then remain in the organization as a swingman or depth option, ready to be called back up to Seattle if another need arises in the rotation or bullpen.

Milone’s long career has seen him suit up with nine different teams at the big league level, and he has posted a 4.59 ERA over 949 career innings.  Between injuries and time in the minors, Milone has seen limited action over the last three seasons, with only 35 1/3 total innings pitched in the majors since the start of the 2021 season.

As Milone’s career takes its latest turn, Caballero may be on the verge of his MLB debut.  A seventh-round pick for the Diamondbacks in the 2017 draft, the M’s acquired Caballero in exchange for Mike Leake at the 2019 trade deadline.  Caballero has some solid numbers over his minor league career but he had trouble staying healthy, with only 53 total games played over the 2021-22 seasons.  He is off to a very nice start in his first taste of Triple-A ball this season, as Caballero has hit .333/.550/.593 with two homers over his first 40 plate appearances of the 2023 campaign.

It might be a short-lived stint in the bigs for Caballero, as Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times notes that the Mariners made the call-up since Sam Haggerty was shaken up after a dive in yesterday’s game.  If Haggerty ends up being okay, Caballero might end up back at Triple-A when Marco Gonzales returns from the paternity list later in the week.  In the meantime, Caballero’s ability to play shortstop, second base, and third base will help fill Haggerty’s utility role.

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Seattle Mariners Transactions Jose Caballero Tommy Milone

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Oneil Cruz Leaves Game Due To Leg Injury

By Mark Polishuk | April 9, 2023 at 10:59pm CDT

3:09pm: Manager Derek Shelton tells reporters (including The Athletic’s Rob Biertempfel) that Cruz suffered a left ankle fracture.

2:39pm: Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz left today’s game with an apparent injury to his left leg after a collision at the plate.  In the bottom of the sixth, Cruz was trying to score from third on a Ke’Bryan Hayes grounder, and was called out after running into White Sox catcher Seby Zavala.  Cruz was on the ground in obvious pain afterwards and had to be helped off the field.  The play also sparked a benches-clearing brawl between the Pirates and White Sox, as on-deck hitter Carlos Santana exchanged heated words with Zavala in the aftermath.

The brawl might result in some discipline from the league in the coming days, but the bigger story is Cruz, whose left foot jammed awkwardly into the ground on his slide attempt.  More will be known on Cruz’s injury after the game, yet it would seem like a trip to the injured list will be the minimum result, and the shortstop and the Pirates can only hope a more serious injury has been avoided.

Cruz is one of the cornerstones of the Bucs’ rebuilding process, as he went from top prospect to promising rookie in a 2022 season that saw him hit .233/.294/.450 with 17 homers over 361 plate appearances.  It was enough to earn Cruz a sixth-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting, as while his defense and his contact skills are still a work in progress, there’s obviously a very high ceiling of potential given Cruz’s speed, power, and ability to make hard contact.  Entering today’s game, Cruz had a .267/.378/.400 slash line in his first 37 PA of the 2023 season, with one home run and a much more respectable 21.6% strikeout rate.

If Cruz does end up missing time, Rodolfo Castro or Ji Hwan Bae are the likeliest candidates to take over at shortstop.  Since that duo has been splitting time at second base and Bae has also seen some time in center field, Pittsburgh would likely call up a versatile infielder like Mark Mathias, Tucupita Marcano, or Chris Owings to fill the void, though promoting Owings would require added him to the 40-man roster.

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Pittsburgh Pirates Oneil Cruz

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Injury Notes: Duvall, Marte, Marlins

By Mark Polishuk and Nick Deeds | April 9, 2023 at 4:40pm CDT

Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall left his game after suffering an apparent wrist injury while making a diving play in center field, as noted by Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. As noted by Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe, Duvall had x-rays done on his wrist, the same one on which he underwent season-ending surgery in 2022, following his exit from today’s game. No results have been announced regarding Duvall’s x-ray. Duvall signed with the club this past offseason on a one-year, $7MM guarantee.

Should Duvall miss significant time, Boston figures to rely on some combination of Raimel Tapia and Jarren Duran in center field, though the heavily left-handed Red Sox could also give Yu Chang additional starts at shortstop, allowing Enrique Hernandez to move from the infield back into center field, where he spent the majority of the past two seasons. Regardless of who ultimately replaces Duvall in the lineup, any missed time would be a real blow to Boston’s offense early in the season, as Duvall has raked to open the 2023 campaign. In his first 33 plate appearances this season, Duvall has slashed a whopping .483/.545/1.138 with four home runs, five doubles, and a triple while either scoring or knocking in 25 of the club’s 55 runs.

More injury updates…

  • Starling Marte left today’s game against the Marlins after the first inning due to what the Mets described as a neck strain.  Marte suffered the injury while stealing third base in the bottom of the first, as Marte’s slide took him headfirst into the knee of Miami third baseman Jean Segura.  He remained in the game for the remainder of the inning, but Jeff McNeil moved from second base to take Marte’s spot in the right field for the top of the second. Manager Buck Showalter expressed optimism regarding Marte, telling reporters (including Laura Albanese of Newsday) “so far so good” as it pertains to Marte having avoided a concussion. Any missed time by Marte seems likely to benefit outfielder Tommy Pham in terms of playing time, though it’s also possible that the club could call up a player like Danny Mendick to take some starts if Marte requires a trip to the injured list.
  • The Marlins had a pair of players leave today’s game as well, with Avisail Garcia exiting the game with what was termed “left hamstring soreness”, according to the Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson, while J.T. Chargois exited with an apparent injury just three pitches into the seventh inning. Chargois, who the Marlins acquired from the Rays via trade back in November, has been a useful reliever in recent years, recording a 2.36 ERA with a 23.6% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate in 80 innings since the start of the 2021 season. Garcia, on the other hand, is entering the second season of a four-year deal he signed with the Marlins prior to the 2021 season that he has struggled to live up to to this point. Despite entering the contract as a career 104 wRC+ hitter coming off a strong 29-homer season in 2021 where he posted a wRC+ of 116, Garcia has slashed just .216/.259/.310 (62 wRC+) in his first 106 games as a Marlin, with a 28.9% strikeout rate above his career norms and just nine home runs.
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Boston Red Sox Miami Marlins New York Mets Notes Adam Duvall Avisail Garcia J.T. Chargois Starling Marte

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    Yankees Acquire Amed Rosario

    Royals Acquire Randal Grichuk

    Braves To Place Grant Holmes On Injured List With Elbow Tightness

    Rays’ Manuel Rodriguez To Undergo Elbow Surgery

    Angels Place Jorge Soler, Chris Taylor On Injured List

    Mariners Making Dylan Moore Available In Trade Talks

    Aaron Judge To Be Placed On Injured List With Flexor Strain

    Reds’ Carson Spiers To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Tigers Sign Luke Jackson, Designate Geoff Hartlieb

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