Zachary Engberg
2 min read • June 06, 2022
Posted in
Mets’ star shortstop Francisco Lindor missed Thursday’s game after suffering what may be the strangest injury this season: Lindor reportedly fractured his right middle finger when it was trapped in his hotel room’s double doors.
Lindor suffered a tuft fracture, according to the ProBaseballDocs, one that does not require surgery. He will have to manage the pain and potentially adjust how he grips his bat and the ball, but Lindor can play through the injury.
Lindor returned on Friday against the Dodgers and ended the weekend with three hits, including one home run and one double.
Aces On The Mend
Two separate star NL starting pitchers are progressing towards returning sometime in the next week.
Clayton Kershaw, who has been on the IL with right pelvic inflammation since May 13, recently completed another rehab start and is going to throw a bullpen session this week with the team in Chicago . If that goes well, according to Dave Roberts, the Dodgers have a “couple of dates in mind” for his return, a list that includes their series in San Francisco next weekend.
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., Stephen Strasburg threw six scoreless innings for AAA Rochester Red Wings on Friday and is reportedly on the doorstep of making his first start in over a year. The 2019 World Series MVP underwent Thoracic Outlet Surgery last summer to address chronic nerve and muscle injuries caused by a compression of nerves and blood vessels in his upper chest.
The Blue Jays had to place veteran southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu on the IL for the second time this season with a left forearm injury. Ryu reportedly experienced tightness after a start last weekend but powered through and was placed on the 15-day list after leaving Wednesday’s start in the fourth inning with a forearm strain.
Lingering and repeated forearm and/or elbow tightness and inflammation is always concerning, as it signals potential UCL damage. He will likely undergo further testing to ensure the integrity of his elbow is solid before returning from the IL.
Ryu has started six games this year but has only left the game naturally in half of those, as he has now left three starts with an injury. The 35-year-old has a 5.33 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 27 IP, but was excellent in his three starts in May, going 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA.
The Twins have been mostly lucky this season, avoiding major injuries to their key players, but have been without rookie ace Joe Ryan and shortstop Carlos Correa for the last several series.
Both players are on the COVID-19 restricted list, but are expected to return to the Twins within the next week. Correa is projected to be back in the middle of the week, while Ryan will likely need a rehab start before his next start for the AL central leaders.
Minnesota placed four players – including right fielder Max Kepler – on the restricted list ahead of its weekend series in Toronto, ostensibly because the quartet are unvaccinated, but will be reinstated for Tuesday’s home matchup with the Yankees.
The Brewers have lost three in a row and five of their last six as they fight through a rash of injuries to multiple key pitchers and position players.
While Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, and Luis Perdomo are all expected to be out for an extended period with shoulder, ankle, and elbow issues, respectively, Milwaukee is close to getting back ⅓ of its everyday starting lineup.
Willy Adames is reportedly expected to be activated from the IL early this week, right fielder Hunter Renfroe will be activated around the same time, and Luis Urias said he will be available after missing this weekend’s slate with a jammed thumb.
Adames suffered a high ankle sprain on May 15, while Renfroe has missed 14 days with a hamstring issue.
The Brewers have scored five-or-more runs only four times over their last 15 games since Renfroe suffered his hamstring strain on May 23.
Written by Zachary Engberg
