Zachary Engberg
2 min read • May 09, 2022
Posted in
The AL-Central leading Twins lost three key players in the last four days despite completing a sweep on the Athletics.
Shortstop Carlos Correa took a pitch to his left middle finger last Thursday, but tests revealed he avoided a fracture and could return as soon as Tuesday night against the Astros, according to the ProBaseballDocs.
Star centerfield Byron Buxton left Saturday’s game with right hip soreness and was left out of Sunday’s lineup. Manager Jayce Tingler said Buxton tweaked his hip while running out a passed ball strikeout in the first inning and it progressively tightened throughout the game until he pulled the 28-year-old in the eighth frame.
Right-hander Chris Paddack was pulled from Sunday’s win after 2.1 three-run innings with right elbow inflammation. Elbow soreness or inflammation is always a scary term for pitchers, but Paddack is likely to take a trip to the IL while he undergoes further tests.
Minnesota, 18-11, will play a three-game set with the Astros, also 18-11, and the Indians, 14-14.
Rockies’ star leftfielder Kris Bryant said that he will take a cortisone injection in an attempt to heal his sore back.
Bryant hasn’t played since April 25 and was placed on the 10-day IL on April 29. He was eligible to return on May 6.
Before the injury, the 30-year-old had two hits and four strikeouts in his previous 18 at-bats.
The Rockies are 16-12 this season and 6-6 since Bryant left the lineup, but are stuck at 3rd in the competitive NL West.
The White Sox have won six games in a row and should be receiving an even bigger boost soon in the form of third baseman Yoán Moncada.
Moncada will be activated from the 10-day IL on Monday for Chicago’s series opener against the Guardians.
Moncada has yet to play this season after suffering a strained oblique during spring training. The 26-year-old hit 14 home runs and 33 doubles while driving in 61 runs and scoring another 74 on a .263 batting average last season.
Joining him back on the active roster is Joe Kelly, who is also expected to be activated after completing another rehab appearance in AAA last weekend. The right-handed reliever suffered a biceps injury in March and will jump into a bullpen headlined by resurgent closer Liam Hendriks.
The Phillies placed the 2021 NL strikeout leader Zack Wheeler and right-handed starter Zack Elfin on the Covid-19 IL for undisclosed reasons on Sunday.
The Cubs followed suit, adding Marcus Stroman to the Covid-19 IL without designation later in the afternoon ahead of his scheduled start against the Dodgers.
Both Philadelphia, 12-16, and Chicago, 9-18, have performed below expectations and will now likely miss key right-handed starters for at least their next passes through the rotation. Wheeler and Elfin were set to take the hill on Wednesday against the Mariners and Thursday against the Dodgers, respectively.
The A’s are authors of MLB’s longest losing streak at nine games and suffered three more losses this weekend in the form of injuries to key players.
Left-handed starter Cole Irvin was placed on the 15-day IL with left shoulder tendonitis on May 5, retroactive to May 2, that he began feeling after his start on April 30. Irvin hosts a 2.93 ERA in five starts this season and allowed only two runs in 16.1 IP over his last three appearances.
Rightfielder Stephen Piscotty joined him on the 10-day IL after suffering a left calf strain on Friday night, and veteran infielder Jed Lowrie was scratched from Sunday’s lineup with back soreness.
Ramon Laureano took Piscotty’s place in right after returning from an 80-game PED suspension while Sheldon Neuse started at second base. Neuse leds the A’s with a .304 batting average and is second on the team with 14 RBI as one of the few bright spots this season.
Written by Zachary Engberg
