Nationals pitcher Austin Voth suffered a broken nose after being hit in the face by a Vince Velasquez pitch. In the third inning of today’s 12-6 Nats loss to the Phillies, Voth squared to bunt but couldn’t avoid Velasquez’s off-target fastball in time. Voth did walk off the field under his own power, and Washington manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com) that the right-hander would have his nose reset tonight.
Today was Voth’s first official start of the season, though it was intended as something of a glorified opener/piggyback outing since Voth has worked out of the bullpen all season. After inconsistent results as a starter over his first three seasons, Voth has delivered strong bottom-line results in the form of a 2.73 ERA over 29 2/3 innings in his multi-inning reliever role, though advanced metrics (like a 92.3% strand rate and a .239 BABIP) indicate some good fortune.
Martinez also related the incident to the league’s efforts to crack down on pitchers’ use of foreign substances on the ball, saying that “you’ll see more [hit by pitches] if we keep messing around with the stuff about the balls. I understand them trying to clean some stuff up. But it’s hot, it’s slippery, it’s sweaty. I know Velasquez didn’t throw in there intentionally, but I’m afraid that if we don’t come up with something unified for everybody, you’ll see a lot more of that. And that’s a scary feeling.”
More injury updates from the Senior Circuit…
- Tyler Naquin left Sunday’s 8-7 Reds victory over the Cardinals due to left hamstring tightness. Naquin took something of an awkward slide into second base in the first inning, and was replaced by a pinch-hitter for his next plate appearance in the top of the third. Naquin has cooled down after a scorching-hot opening month of the season, but the outfielder still has an impressive .257/.333/.509 slash line and 11 homers over 189 plate appearances while emerging as Cincinnati’s everyday center fielder. Reds manager David Bell told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and other reporters that the removal was precautionary in nature, and Naquin could be back as early as Tuesday for the Reds’ next game.
- Yadier Molina left yesterday’s game after taking a foul tip off his kneecap, and the veteran catcher wasn’t in today’s Cardinals lineup. However, manager Mike Shildt told reporters (including Stu Durando of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) that “it looks like a little-bit-of-rest situation” and that Molina might have been able to play today in the event of an emergency. The Cards have off-days both tomorrow and Thursday, so Molina might not miss much time even if he does need more than a day to recover.
- There isn’t much new progress with the status of either Brandon Nimmo or J.D. Davis, as neither Mets regular seems close to a return. As Mets manager Luis Rojas told The New York Daily News’ Deesha Thosar and other reporters, Nimmo is taking swings but not off a tee or against actual pitches, as he continues to recover from a nerve problem in his left index finger. Davis isn’t swinging whatsoever, as his sprained left hand will be in a splint for the next few days. Jonathan Villar is battling a tight hamstring and wasn’t in today’s starting lineup, as Rojas said the team is being cautious with Villar after he was able to come off the bench on both Friday and Saturday.
What could a realistic price for procuring Naquin look like? Castellanos?
Castellanos’s price is dependent on whether or not the team thinks he will opt out. Given he is the best hitter in the NL right now, he most likely will, which lowers the return, but also make the Reds more likely to move him.
Jesse Winker might have something to say about that after his 3 HR game today
And tomorrow Casty will hit a couple. Both dudes are just elite hitters. It’s sad how the Reds have two MVP candidates hitting 2-3, but still suck.
If you take the Mets pitching and the Reds lineup, you have a perfect team.
Only take the Mets 1-3 and their relievers, though, at least until Syndergaard and Carrasco come back.
A universal DH would all but guarantee Castellanos opts out after this season as teams who may be worried about his Defense certainly wouldn’t have that problem anymore. Makes also wonder if J.D. Martinez opts out or finishes his contract in Boston next year
Naquin’s price would look like a couple solid relievers. The Reds are deep in outfielders, need lots of help in the bullpen. The starting pitching is coming around. Just 4 games out. Roll the dice, Krall.
I doubt either would be traded, Castellanos will likely get a qualifying offer which he’ll turn down, but the pick will be better than the prospect the Reds would get in trade. Naquin would slot into RF next year in Castellanos absence.
The only thing likeable about the Mets is degrom.
The narcissism displayed by Stroman and Lindor otherwise makes you wish they fail.
Ya do love to hate them. Unless, of course, they’re on your team.
When Lindor was on my team, I couldn’t stand him anymore and hoped he would get traded.
I liked Lindor for a while and he’s never been on my team. I think he used to be more likeable. And I don’t even have an issue with outspoken type of players I like Harper and Bauer and I always loved Sheff and Manny when they were playing.
Can you blame them? What do either of them know about winning?
You’re mad that we’ve been in first for the last 31 days and most of the year…. it’s ok.
Or maybe you are just a Braves fan
Why would being a Braves’ fan matter? Lindor has been an average player this year that the mets gave up talent to acquire and are going to be stuck paying 30m/yr for. If anything, Braves’ fans should like him.
The contract was a bad move, but what ‘talent’ did the Mets give up? Gimenez and Rosario have been awful (especially Gimenez) and only one of the two minor leaguers they gave up has set foot on the field this year (and he’s also been awful).
So far, despite the blockbuster nature of the trade when it happened, it’s been a big dud for both sides (not to mention Carrasco’s injury).
The only thing I dislike about Lindor is how he’s hitting this year. Seems like a fun personality IMO. Syndergaard and Stroman definitely strike me as guys you’d love if they were on your team and guys you hate if they’re not. I will say Stro has backed up all his talk this year and he’s pitching himself into a huge contract.
BAN EVERY PITCH EXCEPT THE EEPHUS FOR PLAYERS’ SAFETY!
Don’t give Manfred any ideas l
All pitches above 99 mph should be automatic balls. That’ll make things interesting.
Or make it 89mph and make it REALLY interesting.
Or with robo-umps you could shrink the strike zone a little bit for each MPH over 90. Which would probably produce more breaking balls which might be counterproductive.
I remember saying the Mets would be 29-23 after taking the next two from the Padres and people were telling me that I was delusional and had a delusional pathetic crystal ball… I say stuff bc Ik how matchups work…. we had Degrom and stro back to back../ like I said. Mets being 29-23 shows how elite the team truly is… Padres not beating us is the reason why I’m not scared of facing them in the playoffs…. they could definitely beat us. But I’ll be we win.
Have you ever been tested for NPD?
I remember saying a lot of things too
It’s way to early to speculate about who can beat who in the playoffs, especially for the Mets, considering it’s likely the only way they get in is by winning the division, and that division is so close.
MetsFan22:
So, since deGrom, and Stroman were pitching, you think that means the Mets were guaranteed victories? Like neither one can ever be beaten by a team starting a statistically inferior pitcher?
In all my decades of following baseball, what I do know about the game is there is never a sure win. I’ve seen the best pitchers, HoF pitchers, lose to inferior pitchers. One guarantee I can make, at some point in time, both deGrom and Stroman will lose, when you expect them to win.
29-23 means elite?
20-23 with 19 guys hitting the il this year means the team is elite
In MetsFan22’s defense that was a huge series split. Mets are now 4-12 against teams above .500. They took 2 out of 4 from the Pads in San Diego. I give them props.
Haha, they showed a graphic the other night during the deGrom game (ie, prior to their win) that showed the entire NL East with losing records against teams with a .500+ record. When I saw the 2-12 record for the Mets, I had to laugh. Winning these last two games was indeed huge.
@rct It’s so crazy how much every team is underperforming. Injuries are of course a big part of it. Just for funsies here are the records against winning teams:
Mets: 4-12
Braves: 12-15
Phillies: 14-17
Marlins: 11-20
Nats: 8-16
That’s just bad all around. It also tells you that the Mets absolutely trounce bad teams, which includes their division rivals. And honestly, that’s all they need to do at this point.
@von: I expect at least the Braves and possibly your Phillies to put together a few runs and tighten the division up. Maybe the Braves series they just finished against the Dodgers can light a fire under them.
I’m just happy the Mets are above .500 when they don’t have any right to be, considering some of the lineups they’ve put out there.
@rct Absolutely. I think the Braves will get it together,but the thing is, the Mets are going to hit more eventually. So to your point, the fact that they have a winning record now is pretty huge.
I mean do you expect a aaa team to beat good teams.. their record is so impressive rn. Also the Braves and Phillies will probably be over 500 soon so that stat is flawed.
@MetsFan22 Most of the .500 teams they played happened before the injuries. The scheduling and injury timing sort of worked out in the Mets favor. Not that injuries are ever good, but if you have them, the Mets picked a good time. The Padres were the first above .500 team the Mets played in a long time, and luckily they got Alonso and Pillar back for that series. Mets are in a good place right now. Which is a testament to their backup players and the next-man-up mentality.
You sound like the most annoying kid in every class from K-12
The Padres lead the league (by a WIDE margin) in total innings lost to injuries this year. I keep hearing how amazing this Mets team is despite all of their injuries. Where is the credit for the Padres? Sure the Mets beat them this weekend but the Padres still have a much better record and are ravaged by injuries; much more than the Mets. Come October, should both teams make the playoffs and get reasonably healthy, I’ll take the Padres in that series all day long. DeGrom can’t pitch every game.
It’s about who had more injuries and ( more important injuries too) they both tie in. The Mets have definitely been more effected by injures than the Padres
The Mets are currently missing half their starting lineup and rotation plus most of their best backups. And this is after getting several players back in the last week. The Padres are missing Trent Grishman and a couple of bullpen arms. Not the same bro.
Vinny Velo’s one heck of a roller coaster on the mound…
As far as Martinez’s take, it’s baseballs own fault for letting it get to the point where he feels it’s needed to allow doctoring of some point to aid the throwers, er I mean pitchers, in doing their job. He is in the dugout and it is sad he’s got to have that as his great idea, instead of actual coaching as to the mental side of setting batters up by putting the ball where you want. Control use to mean something and kept a lot of guys in the pros. It’s so far beyond that at this point. I dont need to see someone hurt but a readjustment is necessary and if that means re-teaching these guys how to actually pitch, im all for it
Some positive Mets injury news not posted here, Jeff McNeil took live BP at citi field over the weekend. Mets fans will take any good news at this point when it comes to injuries.
Some of these pitchers wouldn’t be throwing as hard if they changed the weight of the ball back to a normal weight or at least move the mound back a little.
These dudes throw so hard then they drop like flies and never pitch the same again.
moving the mound back would only make them try to throw harder. patience needs to be taught to weather the storm and compete games, not blow yourself out in 4-5 innings.
complete, not compete
did you see the play knizner made on the double play today?
One must ask how soft is Nimmo. He’s made of glass! Crack!