Michael Wacha will return from the 10-day injured list to start the Rays’ game against the Blue Jays today. As noted by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the plan is for Wacha and Josh Fleming to essentially work in a piggyback capacity today, with Wacha handling the first couple of innings before Fleming takes over for a longer stint. Brent Honeywell Jr. was already optioned to Triple-A yesterday to create roster room for Wacha’s return.
Wacha has been out of action since May 4 due to right hamstring tightness. After signing a one-year, $3MM free agent deal with Tampa this winter, Wacha’s first 28 1/3 innings with the Rays has resulted in a 4.76 ERA/4.06 SIERA. An above-average 6.9% walk rate is just about the only good news for Wacha advanced metric-wise, as his Statcast numbers have been quite underwhelming.
More injury updates from around baseball…
- Taylor Widener has been activated off the 10-day injured list, the Diamondbacks announced. The right-hander will get the start today’s game against the Rockies, and he will take the roster spot left open when Josh VanMeter was optioned to Triple-A yesterday. Widener hasn’t pitched since April 22 due to a right groin strain, after posting some solid bottom-line numbers (a 2.82 ERA in 22 1/3 innings) in four starts for the D’Backs, though Statcast indicates Widener had quite a bit of good fortune in managing that quality ERA. Arizona’s rotation will get a bit closer to full health with Widener back, as Zac Gallen and Luke Weaver are still on the injured list.
- Red Sox infielder Christian Arroyo will likely be activated from the injured list on Tuesday, manager Alex Cora told MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and other reporters. A left hand contusion sent Arroyo to the 10-day IL on May 9 (retroactive to May 7) after he was hit by a pitch. Arroyo cooled down after a strong start to the season, but he still has a respectable .275/.333/.377 slash line in 76 PA, serving as Boston’s regular second baseman.
- Hunter Wood was removed from last night’s game due to what the Rangers termed as right elbow tightness. Wood recorded two outs and issued a walk after entering last night’s game in the seventh inning, but then departed in the midst of an Alex Bregman plate appearance. Wood has a 3.60 ERA in five innings out of the Texas bullpen this season, after signing a minor league deal with the team during the offseason.
- Adam Engel told The Athletic’s James Fegan (Twitter links) and other reporters that his minor league rehab assignment will begin tomorrow. The White Sox outfielder has yet to play this season due to a hamstring strain, as Engel explained that his rehab was slowed by a further injury that tore the muscle off his tendon, increasing his strain from a Grade 2 to a Grade 3.
Welcome back, Adam.
Amen to that! The Sox need some kind of spark in that lineup. Their lineup is fine for beating up on the bottom-feeders in the A.L. Central, but when they face teams like the Yankees, they have to bring more than that, evidenced by this weekend’s sweep.
The offense isn’t horrible, it’s too inconsistent. Granted, Engel isn’t going to turn this lineup into the ’27 Yankees. But it would be nice not to have to start Lamb and Hamilton in the same game. And Engel is a vast upgrade to either player.
This weekend was reality slapping the Sox in the face. They can still hang with teams like the Yankees, but they need a far better showing than what happened this weekend. I can see Cole shutting them down, but 2 scrub SP’s also shut them down. I know, it’s baseball and anything can happen any given series, but they have to play much better than that.
Hopefully, Eaton can provide some different dynamics like you mentioned. The best teams are the ones that can beat you multiple different ways vs. just relying solely on the home run ball, a good bullpen, or situational hitting.
Wow I had no idea was that serious… tearing muscle off the tendon does not sound good. They have not said a lot about his injury, no wonder he was out a couple of months. Just hope it is not a chronic thing and that he can play CF, and play often. Their 3 best outfielders all with serious injuries, covering same time frame… that’s just crazy. Hopefully he can play like he was looking this spring, I think was poised for a very good season. Their offense is terrible right now with very little production from their OF, hope he can help!
The knock on the Sox was the lack of depth, especially in the OF (which is true). But when their 3 best OF’s go out at basically the same time, very few (if any) teams have the depth to overcome that. It’s amazing the Sox have done this well so far, though beating up on the A.L. Central laughing stocks didn’t hurt.
As for Engel, I’m just glad he’s recovered from this injury. Maybe it sounds far worse than it is, but that sounds like that could’ve been a season-ender. Thank goodness for modern medicine, or whatever you want to call it. And no, I am obviously not a doctor LOL.
I agree. However, Billy Hamilton has been somewhat decent. Now, losing the series to NY is one thing but getting swept was disappointing especially with the game Rodon pitched. Also I’m not all that impressed with Liam Hendricks so far.
Really hoping the LaRusssa thing didn’t disrupt the vibe among the test of the team.
I agree you obviously don’t want to get swept in NY, but considering 2/3 were one run games and the other was a Cole/Cease matchup which would never happen in a postseason series, I’m not going to overreact to it.
@IronBallsMcGinty
Hendriks has been OK, but definitely not the best MLB closer this year. He reminds me of many of the past Sox closers, where you get that sinking feeling he is going to blow it every time he comes in, even though the majority of the time he does come through. I want far more confidence in my closer than that.
I hope Franchy gets optioned for Arroyo, but I have a sinking feeling it will be Chavis.
The Red Sox have decided that Chavis is a AAAA player, good for depth only.
If they think Franchy has a better chance of developing into an MLB hitter at AAA, he will be optioned., otherwise he stays up to work through his problems on the 25 man roster.
If they feel an extra pitcher is needed they both will be sent down.
I think they will keep Chavis up, hoping he gets hot so that they can trade him with other pieces at the deadline, the Red Sox have serious redundancy at all of the positions he plays
The White Sox need to trade of a CF.
Engel has a torn hamstring, and they can take months to heal. They are risking further injury by rushing him and they are playing with fire having him patrol center.
Fact is, Eaton is already dealing with nagging injuries, and Garcia is injury prone.
Unless they want to potentially have to role with Billy Hamilton and converted infielders, they need to get real help ASAP.
@maximumvelocity
I agree. Maybe Engel’s OK, maybe he’s not and they are just rushing him. Eaton’s been struggling at the plate, and though Vaughn’s done far better than expected playing LF so far, I’m not all that eager on keeping him in LF.
Plus, teams might be starting to figure out Yermin (which he’s still doing fine, for the most part). If he suddenly nosedives, which is possible (but hopefully doesn’t happen), they will probably want to slot Vaughn in at DH more regularly.
And if Eloy and/or Robert even make it back this year, it will be Sept at the earliest. That’s way too much of a gap between now and Sept to be rolling the dice on Hamilton, Lamb, etc. Hamilton has done better than I expected so far, but much like Vaughn playing LF, I’m not eager for him to continue starting. He’s fine defensively, but I cringe every time he comes to the plate.
They do need real help to fill the OF gap the rest of the year. Even if by some miracle Eloy and Robert both play in Sept, they will be rusty. And if both can shake off the rust, you suddenly have 3 strong OF’s come playoff time, assuming they get an OF who is a strong improvement over Engel. That will quickly tip the scales in their favor. But if neither Eloy nor Robert make it back, a strong OF addition could still be enough of a difference for the Sox this Oct.
Frenchy is way to close to the plate,Simple adjustment but I think Chat if has the better future!
Somebody needs to tell Bloom that sending Arroyo up or down and Chavis up or down is like rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic. You may think you are making things prettier/better/more viable but in the end, the ship’s going down when it hits the iceberg in June. Yankees and Astros back to back!! Somebody get ready to yell man the lifeboats!!
For Sox fans chatting about Engel, speaking of injured players coming back, has anyone heard anything about Jace Fry? He was supposed to return in late May or early June but I have heard nothing on him. Am guessing he will be 2nd half addition… too bad he is not an outfielder!
@jhomeslice
I just thought that the other day. I’ve heard nothing either. The bullpen is another area they could use a jolt.
Kopech and Crochet have been fine (for the most part regarding Crochet), though it wouldn’t be a bad thing for them to struggle a bit so they can make the necessary adjustments to MLB hitters young pitchers need to make. Hendriks has been decent, though not a shutdown closer so far. Bummer and Heuer have both been inconsistent. Ruiz has actually been decent, far better than previous seasons. Foster and Marshall are struggling. So getting Fry back and sending Foster or Marshall down would help the pen.
Plus, I don’t think TLR has done the pen any favors the way he’s handled them so far. If there’s one area where his rust really shows, it’s handling the pen. Hopefully the pen will iron itself out. They’re not a bad pen, but they’re nowhere close to the best pen in MLB, not so far.
You’re right, bullpen has been a disappointment. Certainly Foster has had a huge drop from 2020, and Marshall has not been very good either. If Fry gets healthy, he is probably better than either of them. Hopefully he comes back quickly and we hear something pretty soon. Heuer a disappointment as well, the bullpen is one area that was supposed to be a lot stronger than it has turned out. And you are right, I don’t think TLR has done the pen any favors. Though neither did Renteria a year ago. With all the success Katz seems to have had with their starters, they could use some help with their bullpen arms!
@83 Just heard that Fry starts his rehab assignment at Charlotte today. I don’t know what that means in terms of his timeframe, but surely he will be back for 2nd half if not quite a bit earlier. Good news for them, they could use another reliable arm out of the bullpen.
As long as Jake Lamb is off the team when Engel comes back I’ll be a happy Sox fan. But like always when the Sox have to choose between what players to keep they always do the opposite. Mendick and Hamilton will be gone pissing off the players even more than what they are now.