Red Sox starter Chris Sale left today’s start after being struck by a comebacker off the bat of J.D. Davis. Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald was first to tweet that the club called it a hip contusion. Thankfully for fans in Boston, the X-rays on his hip came back negative (according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe). For his part, Sale himself has said that he feels fine and that it “looked a lot worse than it actually is.” The lack of serious injury to their prized left-hander brings a sigh of relief to the Red Sox, as they need him now more than ever; Alex Cora announced today that both Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz will begin the season on the DL (h/t Sean McAdams of the Boston Sports Journal). With Steven Wright set to face a 15-game suspension, that leaves Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez at the back end of the club’s rotation. With David Price no sure bet to stay healthy, any questions surrounding Sale would have been wildly unsettling for a club hoping to compete with a tough Yankees ballclub for the AL East crown.
Other injury-related news from around the league…
- Luke Gregerson, who was projected to be the Cardinals’ closer on opening day, will instead begin the season on the DL. Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch outlines the news, which comes as a result of a hamstring strain. The usually-durable Gregerson had also dealt with an oblique injury earlier in the spring, and it’s unclear when he’ll be able to return to major-league action. According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the club has said that Dominic Leone or Tyler Lyons will receive closing opportunities. They do not appear close to any sort of deal with free agent closer Greg Holland at this time, Morosi adds.
- Speaking of right-handers who’ll begin the season on the DL, Tim Lincecum’s blister issues will put him in that company as well. Lincecum joined the Rangers on a one-year deal with a $1MM base salary just weeks ago and didn’t pitch competitively in 2017; by his own words, he was unlikely to be ready for opening day anyway. Still, the blister issue will delay The Freak’s comeback bid, which will be an interesting story to watch as the season progresses considering how much he impressed scouts in a February showcase. Lincecum’s last MLB stint was with the Angels in 2016, when he posted a 9.16 ERA across 38 1/3 innings (nine starts).
- Twins right-hander Phil Hughes has a mild oblique strain, according to a tweet from Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press. Berardino adds that a DL stint would give him more time to build up arm strength following surgery, though I’d add that Hughes might simply be utilized in a long relief role anyway. For the time being, the Twins will continue to evaluate Hughes.
Sign Holland to a 1 year deal; no risk besides a veteran (proven) 8th or 9th inning reliever. Great pitching coach in Maddox. Minimal risk, moderate reward.
Holland probably would be signed already if he wanted a 1 year deal.
Does Holland cost a draft pick and signing cap money?
Draft pick yes, I don’t know what you mean by cap money.
He means international bonus pool money.
He does not cost bonus money just a pick. At this point there isn’t any person who can close at this point, except maybe Tuivalala.
Angels need someone like him as well
Is anybody else besides me sick and tired of all the injuries? Is it all the weightlifting? Cardio and flexibility are better, at least according to Bob Boone.
While there are other factors into what’s going on today (some of which you mentioned,) that was also the one true benifits of PEDS (and the reason more pitchers and speedsters used than even sluggers) – accelerated healing
I think many of us are still kind of used to that period when guys could play thru seemingly anything or come back before they were even missed all that much. With today’s today’s testing, its a dramatically different situation
“With today’s testing, its (sic) a dramatically different situation.”
How so, are players on the DL not permitted to take steroids when prescribed by their league-approved doctor? Don’t think a player on the DL would be prohibited from taking therapeutic doses of medications he’d be allowed to take were he not a player.
majorflaw…….Exactly which AAS is legallaly prescribed for injury rehab? Look at what Polanco got busted for, Stanozolol. It is used to treat hereditary angioedema. Marte was busted for Nandrolone which is used for anemia, chronic renal failure, osteoporosis and AIDS. Find one that can be legally (and by legally I mean as designated by the FDA) prescribed for injury rehab. Even hGH is only approved for a few things, none of which are rehab/muscle related unless it’s muscle wasting disease from HIV/AIDS.
The JDA follows fed guidelines and has become more strict over the years even for Theraputic Use Exemptions after a few embarassments like A-Rod getting a TUE in 2007 for testosterone.
You may be able to go to a Dr. that writes scripts willy-nilly for AAS or hGH despite ADA regs but ball players can’t.
You are right. Without flexibility you are bound to get hurt
Holland to be exact
Lincecum needs to pitch through it…this could be his last shot and he’s not helping himself with extra trips to the DL
Pitch thru a blister?!?
No way can you pitch through a blister
How many starts will David Price make in 2018? I’d bet 22 (hope he proves me wrong).
Honestly, I never thought Gregerson closing was a good idea anyway. Let Lyons get a shot or even Bowman.