With just a couple of weeks left in the MLB regular season, teams are in the final stretch as they try to make the postseason. One team (Los Angeles Dodgers) has already clinched its division, while several others (New York Yankees, Houston Astros) are relatively close. Also, the Dodgers, Yankees and Astros will be making bids for 100-win seasons over the next week. With all of that going on, let’s take a look at some of the news from the last week.
Yelich Out For The Season
No one likes to see a player have his season ended due to injury. It is even more heartbreaking when it is a superstar having an MVP-caliber season, and his team is fighting for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for Christian Yelich, that is exactly what has happened.
On Tuesday, Yelich suffered a fractured right kneecap after fouling a ball off his knee in the first inning against the Marlins. On the season, Yelich was hitting an insane .329/.429/.671 with 44 home runs, 97 runs batted in and 100 runs scored. In a fight with Anthony Rendon and Cody Bellinger for MVP, this likely ends his chances.
What the Brewers hope it doesn’t end are their chances at a postseason berth. At the time of this writing, they sit three games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central after winning two of three from St. Louis over the weekend. They also sit just a game behind the Chicago Cubs for the second Wild Card spot.
Ohtani’s Season Ends Prematurely
Two-way player Shohei Ohtani was already shut down from pitching this year after having Tommy John surgery, and now the hitter will be shut down too. Ohtani is having surgery on his left knee, and it will keep him out for the rest of the season, although he is expected to be good to go for the beginning of the 2020 season. In 106 games this season, Ohtani hit .286/.343/.505 with 18 home runs, 62 runs batted in and 51 runs scored.
Also done for the season for the Angels is leftfielder Justin Upton. Upton had an MRI last Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season with patellar tendinitis. It has been a frustrating 2019 campaign for Upton, who played in just 63 games. In those games, he hit .215/.309/.416 with 12 home runs and 40 runs batted in. Like Ohtani, Upton will hope to be ready by the 2020 season.
Buxton Done For Season
Adding to the growing list of stars that will call it a season is Minnesota Twins outfielder Bryon Buxton. Buxton is undergoing surgery on his non-throwing shoulder and will be done for the season. On the year, Buxton was hitting .262/.314/.513 with 10 home runs, 46 runs batted in and 48 runs scored. He also had 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
The Twins are trying to close out the AL Central division title. After a weekend series against the second-place Cleveland Indians, they sit 4.5 games up of the Tribe.
Yankees Could Get Reinforcements Back Soon
For a team that has battled injuries all season long, the New York Yankees are about to get a big shot in the arm as both Luis Severino and Giancarlo Stanton are set to return as early as Tuesday for the Bronx Bombers. It is believed that Severino, who has basically missed the entire season due to shoulder and lat injuries, will be starting on Tuesday against the Angels. He could fill a nice void for the Yankees’ starting rotation if he could show that he is healthy.
Adding another big bat to the lineup will be Stanton. Like Severino, Stanton has essentially missed the entire season as he has been limited to just nine games. In 31 at-bats over those nine games, he had one home run and seven runs batted in.
In addition to those two, the Yankees’ bullpen may get a boost as Jordan Montgomery and Dellin Betances are also set to return this upcoming week.
Correa Could Return Tuesday
The Yankees aren’t the only team that is getting good news on the health front. Dave Brown of MLB.com reports that the Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa is nearing a return, which could be as early as this Tuesday. Correa, who has been on the injured list with back discomfort, has consistently shown that he can be a game-changer on the field but has also shown he is susceptible to injury. Earlier in the season, he was on the injured list for quite some time due to a broken rib sustained while getting a massage. This most recent stint was due to back discomfort which has had him on the shelf since Aug. 20.
Correa has played in just 72 games this season but is hitting .278/.358/.556 in that time. He also has 19 home runs, 56 runs batted in and 39 runs scored. If he can come back and show he is healthy, it would just add one more big bat to an already very potent lineup.
The Astros also have a couple of relievers who could be making their way back to Houston just in time to ramp up for the playoffs. Ryan Pressly, arguably Houston’s best reliever, has worked his way back from knee surgery and should be good to go sooner than later. Brad Peacock is also working his way back from shoulder discomfort.
