Greetings to you, Razzball Fam!
Listen, the title is a stretch this week, but I am feeling festive in these latter days of summer.
You know who isn’t feeling festive? A lot of people whose names I will mention in this article. Luckily, it was a pretty light week of injuries, but there are quite a few updates towards the end.
Let’s hop right in.
Notable Injuries
AL Central
Joe Ryan (SP, MIN), teres: Ryan goes on the IL with a grade 2 teres major strain. He is expected to be out for weeks to months according to Rocco Baldelli. Ryan’s absence leaves the door open for his teammate RHP David Festa. Festa dealt with control issues earlier in the season, but over his past 14.3 IP he is throwing 13.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. In his last 5 IP, he threw 9 K with 2 BB.
David Festa has arrived folks!
His last 3 Starts
14.1 IP
9 H
3 ER
22 KsHis Lanky and funky delivery allows for a lot of deception and tons of extension! The kid is sick?pic.twitter.com/H3yZV8qHHv
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) August 6, 2024
AL East
Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL), lat/teres: There he goes again. Rodriguez is back on the IL and dealing with lat/teres discomfort. This news is developing, and Orioles GM Mike Elias will speak with the media today. That’s not ominous.
From Brandon Hyde:
Orioles GM Mike Elias will speak with the media tomorrow to provide injury updates on Grayson Rodriguez (lat) and Jacob Webb (elbow).
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) August 9, 2024
Anyway, it is another week where I will recommend Colin Rea as a replacement. In 7 IP, Rea has 11.6 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9.
Colin Rea tonight:
7 IP
9 strikeouts
0 ER
5 hits
1 walkColin ReACE is very good. pic.twitter.com/5y1z2uD7RU
— Ryan (@BrewPack8) August 7, 2024
AL West
Luis Rengifo (INF/OF, LAA), wrist: A season that started kind of weird comes to a premature end as Rengifo is out for the season to have surgery on his wrist. He is expected to return for spring training in 2025.
The Angels are in a notably tough spot after losing (Trout, Rengifo, Robert Stephenson) and never really having (Rendon) some players. However, Rengifo’s absence makes way for Michael Stefanic. Stefanic is on a little tear at the moment as he went 3-for-4 on Wednesday against the Yankees. Rengifo’s absence also makes way for Angels prospect No. 8 prospect Christian Moore, who is making his way through the minors. In 31 AB, Moore has 17 H, 6 HR, and 13 RBIs.
Michael Stefanic leadoff double#Angels 1 #Yankees 1 ?3rd pic.twitter.com/wkf2lWDJhk
— S????s 24/7? (@Sports_24x7_) August 8, 2024
NL West
Gabriel Moreno (C, ARI), abductor: Moreno will be out until late August or longer with a left abductor strain. He is expected to return this season. In the interim, Jose Herrera will play in Moreno’s place. Rookie Adrian Del Castillo was called up to play catcher as well.
Joey Bart is likely available to fill in Moreno’s spot on your roster if needed. Bart is hitting .316/.381/.684 in his last 19 AB. He’s had 5 HR and 16 RBIs in his last 66 AB.
It really is a Bart summer ?
Joey Bart gives the @Pirates the lead with a 2-run blast! pic.twitter.com/WHuOv4Fi3t
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2024
Injury Updates
Here are your lightning-round injury updates. If a top player is not mentioned below (i.e. Ozzie Albies, Bo Bichette), there are no big or helpful updates. If I missed someone you’re curious about, hit me up in the comments.
- Mookie Betts (2B/SS/OF, LAD), hand: will return to RF on Monday.
- Walker Buehler (SP, LAD), hip: should return next Thursday.
- Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET), back: began rehab assignment; expected to be activated sometime this month.
- Triston Casas (1B, BOS), ribs: began rehab assignment, but Casas is still working through some potential mental struggles from his injury per Greg Dudek of NESN.
- Yu Darvish (SP, SDP), groin: moved to the restricted list for a personal matter; return still uncertain.
- Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX), elbow: facing hitters soon.
- Tommy Edman (SS, LAD), wrist: rehab assignment starts this weekend.
- Jon Gray (SP, TEX), groin: could miss another few weeks per Evan Grant.
- Riley Greene (OF, DET), hamstring: returning to running.
- Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS) elbow: may return this season after successful live BP.
- Reynaldo Lopez (SP, ATL), forearm: officially moved to the IL.
- Lance Lynn (SP, STL), knee: throwing on flat ground and lightly off the mound per Jeff Jones of BND.com.
- Matt McLain (2B/SS, CIN), shoulder: will not begin rehab assignment because of rib injury; timeline for return uncertain.
- Max Muncy (3B, LAD), oblique: rehab assignment starts this weekend.
- Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), shoulder: eligible to return in mid-August but timeline still uncertain.
- Joe Musgrove (SP, SDP), elbow: should start this weekend.
- Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA), ankle: may be activated and used as DH.
- Fernando Tatís Jr. (OF, SDP), leg: not expected to be back in August although he is hitting and doing light running.
- Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU), shin: this update changes wildly from week to week; Tucker is doing light jogging and may return this month.
- Justin Verlander (SP, HOU), neck: starting rehab this weekend.
- Christian Walker (1B, ARI), oblique: dry swings.
- Jordan Westburg (2B/3B, BAL), hand: no timetable for return yet.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD), shoulder: BP sessions with rehab to follow.
Thank you for attending the weekly gathering of the Ambulance Chasers. Join me next week for some generic Kool-Aid and some saltine crackers.
In a feeble attempt to prove I am not an AI, talk shit over on Twitter and post pet pics on BlueSky.