Ok, this is getting just downright silly at this point. While not too many fans around baseball are going to weep for the New York Yankees, it is astonishing the amount of adversity they have had to go through when it comes to the injury bug this season. Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Dellin Bestances, CC Sabathia, Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks, and Didi Gregorious are just a few of the injuries the Yanks have had to work through.
Unfortunately, it appears that they will be without another star as starting pitcher James Paxton was placed on the injured list over the weekend with an injury to his left knee. On Sunday, general manager Brian Cashman said that Paxton will likely be out at least three weeks. On the season, Paxton has gone 3-2 in 7 starts with a 3.11 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and opponents are hitting just .230 against him. In 37.2 innings, he has allowed 13 earned runs and has struck out 52 while walking just 13.
What has been most impressive for the Yankees as an organization is despite the injuries, they remain in the thick of things in the AL East. After Monday’s 7-3 win over the Seattle Mariners, they sit at 20-14, just 2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays and 4 games up on the third-place Boston Red Sox. If the Yankees can be this good when they are injured, just imagine how good they can be when they are healthy.
Rodon Could Need Tommy John Surgery
Unfortunately for the Chicago White Sox, they have been dealt a blow to an already weak starting rotation with the news that Carlos Rodon has been recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery. Rodon is another frustrating case of White Sox prospects who are struggling to pan out. Between Rodon, Lucas Giolito, Carson Fullmer and others, the pitching side of the rebuild has been anything but smooth.
While the offense hasn’t set the world on fire either, at least players like Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada are coming into their own while Eloy Jimenez is getting his feet wet. For Rodon, though, this is another season of injuries. Prior to this setback, Rodon was 3-2 in 7 starts with a 5.19 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and opponents were hitting .239. In 34.2 innings, he had allowed 20 earned runs while striking 46 batters out versus 17 walks.
Again, this is bad news for a pitching staff that already ranks 29th in major league baseball with a 5.70 ERA, only edging out Baltimore and their 5.74 ERA.
Another Top Prospect Gets The Call
In a season that has seen Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Eloy Jimenez all make their debuts, another top-end prospect has made his debut in the Reds’ Nick Senzel. He has not wasted any time in making his name known, either. In 17 at-bats, Senzel has already hit 3 home runs (all solo) and has 4 runs scored.
Through four games, Senzel is hitting .235/.381/.765 while playing the outfield. In fact, in Monday’s 12-4 win over the San Francisco Giants, Senzel went 2 for 6 with 2 home runs (one in the first and one in the second innings) and played a solid centerfield. If this is any indication of what is to come for the youngster, Cincinnati fans have a lot to get excited for.
Price Put On Injured List
The Red Sox have announced that they are putting veteran southpaw David Price on the 10-day injured list with tendinitis in his left elbow. While anything in the pitching elbow immediately sends up red flags, Price doesn’t seem too concerned about it.
On the season, Price is 1-2 in 6 starts with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.139 WHIP. In 36 innings pitched, he has struck out 42 while walking 10. In those 36 innings, he has allowed 15 earned runs.
This is bad news for a Red Sox team that has looked awfully vulnerable this season. They have already lost Nathan Eovaldi to the injured list and now lose Price as well. With Chris Sale having gotten off to a shaky start, their dominant pitching staff from last offseason now looks like a major concern. In Price’s place, Ryan Weber was selected from the organization’s Triple-A team.
Dodgers Sign d’Arnaud
The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a deal with free agent catcher Travis d’Arnaud. He had been released by the New York Mets but did not have to wait on the unemployment line for very long. With the acquisition of d’Arnaud, the Dodgers now have three catchers on their big league roster alongside Austin Barnes and Russell Martin. There is a belief, though, that d’Arnaud was acquired to give the Dodgers another right-handed bat as well as the opportunity to play any of their three catchers in the field.
With A.J. Pollock injured, it leaves a trio of lefties in the outfield. With the three catchers having the versatility to play infield positions (Barnes and Martin more than d’Arnaud), it would allow the Dodgers to shift either Chris Taylor or Kike Hernandez to the outfield if needed. Regardless, it is a low-cost move given that the Mets will be on the hook for his $3.5 million contract while the Dodgers just have to pay league minimum.
