After the worst start of his year (4+ IP, 7 ER) Matt Strahm was placed on the DL with a rib strain. This seems to be a minor injury and might just be an easy, smart way to manage his innings. The most innings he’s thrown in a single season was 102 way back in 2016. Last year he threw 61.1 innings and he’s already sitting at 60.1 this year. Ruh-roh. The Padres are only 2.5 games back in the NL Wild Card so managing the innings of Strahm, Cal Quantrill, Chris Paddack, and Dinelson Lamet is going to be key for their playoff hopes. Replacement: The award for most unlikely, unexpected and unbelievable late-career resurgence has to go to Anibal Sanchez (6.6%.) The 35-year-old, 14 year veteran inexplicably and probably accidentally had one of the best seasons of his career last year with a 2.83 ERA and 1.083 WHIP (lowest of his career!) In his first 5 starts of the season Sanchez returned to the rotten pumpkin we knew him as: 27 IP, 18 ER (6.00 ERA.) However, things have improved in his 6 most recent starts. He’s allowed only 7 ERs in 21.2 IP (2.91 ERA.)
Carlos Carrasco, SP, Blood: Well this is scary. No amount of Tommy Johns can fix your blood. There’s no timeline for something like this, but I’d imagine Carrasco will be sidelined for a few weeks, unfortunately. Replacement: Eric Lauer (12.3%.) Let’s play my favorite starting pitcher game: IGNORE THE WARTS! Today on Ignore the Warts we’re going to look at Eric Lauer’s last 9 starts, but ignore the 3 IP, 8 ER wart that he put up in Colorado. In those 44.2 wartless innings, he has a 2.42 ERA. His strikeouts are inconsistent, but not awful. He’s also allowed only 1 ER in his last each of his last 4 games. Go grab this guy. Pause.
Joey Gallo, OF, Oblique: Ob-la-di ob-li-que! Life goes on! Nanana life goes on! Can’t seem to find many reports about his timeline, but oblique injuries always suck for hitters especially for someone with such a strong trunk rotation like Gallo. Gallo’s performance should have him strongly in the AL MVP conversation because without him I can guarantee you that the Rangers wouldn’t be tied for an AL Wild Card slot right now. Replacement: Are you like me? Are you seeing Harold Ramirez on the Marlins and just immediately assuming it’s just a Hanley Ramirez typo from 10 years ago? Don’t be like me. In his last 14 games, HarRam (just workshopping that nickname) is hitting .407 with 12 runs, 1 HR, and 12 RBI. HarRam actually had a pretty nice minor league career hitting over .300 throughout 8 seasons. He has the potential for so-so power and so-so speed and the Marlins still need to field a legal lineup. You could do worse in your crazy 18 team league. You could also stop accepting new managers to your league.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, Knee: PICKLE! McCutchen got caught in the rundown of his life on Monday and unfortunately, he lost. His season is over — but hopefully, he can return to full strength in 2020. Replacement: Scott Kingery (8.0%) just earned his OF eligibility card and he’s been living up to everything we thought he’d be last year. In the 15 games since he returned from the IL he’s had a solid performance: 7 runs, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, and a .291 AVG. He’s not even further guaranteed ABs with McCutchen done for the year and Odubel Herrera being a garbage person.
Yadier Molina, C, Thumb: There is actually a slight tear in Molina’s thumb ligament which is a major league whomp whomp for his season. Molina wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire (18/4/33/4/.265,) but still a bummer nonetheless. Replacement: For my first catcher recommendation I’ll just go with one of the hottest hands, Jorge Alfaro (32.9%.) Over his last 14 games, he has 9 runs, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB and a .377 AVG.
Buster Posey, C, Hamstring: “Mild” injury here for Posey. All expectations are for him to only miss maybe one or two more days than the minimum ten. Replacement: See Jorge Alfaro above — there is no such thing as a good waiver catcher.
