Twins’ starter Sonny Gray left today’s game after being visited by team trainers. The team announced to reporters, including Dan Hayes of The Athletic, that Gray has right pectoral tightness. The severity isn’t known at this time, but it’s no doubt worrying for the Twins and their fans. Gray already missed about three weeks on the IL this season, although that was a hamstring strain.
Still, the Twins are in a bit of a squeeze when it comes to their rotation. Chris Paddack, Josh Winder and Joe Ryan have all landed on the IL in the past couple of weeks, which has thinned out their depth. The rotation at the moment consists of Gray, Dylan Bundy, Bailey Ober, Chris Archer and Devin Smeltzer. The club is currently in the middle of a stretch where they play 18 games in 17 days, thanks to a doubleheader that’s coming up on Tuesday. Even if Gray can make his next start, it’s going to be a challenge to get through the next chunk of their schedule.
Perhaps adding to that challenge will be the subtraction of some unknown players when the Twins head to Toronto next week to face the Blue Jays. Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune relays word from president of baseball operations Derek Falvey that “a few” of the players on the roster won’t be making the journey. Current Canadian health restrictions don’t allow for those not vaccinated against COVID-19 to cross the border into the country. (Canada is not exceptional in this regard. The same restrictions apply in reverse, as unvaccinated Canadians are not currently allowed to enter the United States.)
Other notes from the division…
- Robbie Grossman started today’s game as the designated hitter for the Tigers but was replaced by Jeimer Candelario. Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters after the game, including Jason Beck of MLB.com, that Grossman was experiencing neck spasms. While it doesn’t appear Grossman is headed for a lengthy absence, it’s surely frustrating for a Detroit team that has been heavily snakebit this season. Though the club entered the season with hopes of competing for a playoff spot, they’ve been hit by a large number of injuries, most notably in the starting rotation. The club’s record is currently 17-29, putting them second-last in the American League, ahead of only the Royals. That has the club trending towards being sellers at the deadline this year, with short-term assets the most likely to go. Grossman fits that bill, as he’s in the second season of the two-year deal he signed with Detroit in 2021. Unfortunately, his trade value is likely at a low ebb, due to his slow start to the year. After hitting .239/.357/.415 last year for a wRC+ of 114, he’s currently slashing .199/.311/.241 this year for a 71 wRC+. Last year’s 23.1% strikeout rate has also shot up to 30.7% this year. He and the Tigers will both surely be hoping that this current issue can be quickly left behind so that Grossman can get back on track. The Blue Jays tried to acquire Grossman at last year’s deadline, though they may not have as much interest now, based on his campaign so far.
- Royals manager Mike Matheny tells reporters, including Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star, that Zack Greinke is dealing with a forearm/flexor issue. Greinke himself spoke to reporters about the issue, including Worthy, describing his arm as “sore and tight.” Like the Tigers, there was some hope of the Royals coming out of their rebuild and competing his year, though that hasn’t happened. The club’s 16-30 record is worse than every team in the majors except for the 16-31 Reds, thanks in no small part to the starting rotation. Royals’ starters had an ERA of 5.07 coming into today, which was better than only the Reds and Nationals. That’s going to go up once today’s game is factored in, as Greinke allowed five earned runs in four innings today. His personal ERA on the season climbed to 5.05 from that start, which would be his highest since the 5.80 he put up back in 2005, his age-21 season. While the severity of the injury isn’t known, it’s never a good sign for a pitcher to have an arm issue, though he and the club will surely hope he can get past it and onto a better track going forward.
Are MLB Teams allowed to add minor leaguers NOT on the 40-man roster to replace non-vaccinated players–in much the same way as they can add players for players who go on the IL for COVID?
Maybe
Extremely informative response. The insight is appreciated by all
@ The Einhirei – Teams are not allowed to replace the unvaccinated players; they have to play shorthanded. Even if they wanted to use other players who ARE on the 40-man roster, it will require them to make an official transaction to call them up to the majors. And to make things worse, said unvaccinated players do not get paid for the games they miss in Canada, so with the amount of greed the MLBPA and its players have most of the time, you have to respect the players who choose not to get vaccinated and are willing to forfeit game checks over it. Personally, I don’t understand the non-vax decision but I support everyone’s right to choose whether or not they get the shot.
Or they get put on the covid list because they “feel symptoms”
I have zero respect for those who are selfish enough to not make any effort to avoid infecting others.
Grow up and get the shots.
Does that apply to a woman’s right to choose, also?
@Dorothy_Mantooth that is incorrect. Teams are allowed to replace players placed on the restricted list. My understanding is it doesn’t use up one of the called-up players options, but I’m not sure about the 40-man requirements as asked by the OP.
Dorothy, they can replace the players on the restricted list. One exception is that you can’t replace a starting pitcher not on turn for the series (worded differently in the official rules but that’s essentially the spirit of it). For instance, when Robbie Ray didn’t come to Toronto, he had started the day before the series, so Seattle couldn’t replace him with an extra player. Curiously though, they also didn’t place him on the restricted list so he just got a paid holiday.
@KamKid, that’s how I understood the rules regarding starting pitchers too, however, the Reds put Mahle on the Restricted list when they went to Toronto when he wasn’t on schedule to start. He started May 19th and the series in Toronto was the 20th to the 22nd. So I’m not sure what the rules really are.
Interesting. This was from an article by Ben Nicholson Smith about the Robbie Ray situation: “Those who have pitched at least four consecutive innings in a game can’t be placed on the restricted list and replaced on the active roster until three days have elapsed.”. That applies to both Ray’s and Mahle’s situation. Ray wasn’t placed on the restricted list. Maybe the team had a choice about that and since they were not able to also replace him on the roster, chose not to. The Reds put 4 on the restricted list but only added 3 designated replacements. But they also reinstated Votto from the COVID IL at the same time. Ross Detwiler went on the bereavement list that day too though so I think it works out that they didn’t actually get to replace Mahle. They just chose to put him on the restricted list anyway. Sort of fits the ’22 Reds narrative that they would take the out on a few days worth of salary if they could. But that all suggests that the team has a choice in the matter and that is interesting.
@KamKid thanks for the explanation! That all makes sense to me now.
Ive never understood the fascination with Robbie Grossman. I saw a lot of Tigers fans being content with there outfield coming into the season, and I never understood it. He is part of the reason why.
Detroit had seven guys in the lineup hitting under .200 today. To say Detroit’s pitching has been phenomenal would be a understatement. If they were hitting like last year with some of the guys, they’d be doing real well. The Tiger’s got a career year out of Grossman last season so that was a good contract. He is standing in the way now of Detroit’s rookie outfielders though.
With no one really hitting all that great the speed in the outfield is fun to watch. I think when Greene comes up, the hitting will take off. The Rookie at first has been fantastic in the field, and making great saves on the throws from everyone. That level of defense is really aiding Detroit’s pitching. Same for Baez making plays at short we’ve not seen in awhile.
The years when Detroit got a shellacking’s every day because of poor pitching an defense is long gone. They have some depth in pitching now, and in speed in the outfield. The hitting has been getting better, while still cold, it’s not completely frozen like it was. There’s a lot to like about the Tiger’s. They have a great farm now, with young guys coming up. They are on the cusp of contending again like the early 2010’s
Both the Tigers and the Royals have been huge disappointments this year (along with the Rangers). Both Detroit and Texas made some rather significant moves to try and push their teams into the playoff mix, or at least a .500 season with 2023 playoff aspirations, but that has backfired for all of them, including KC who didn’t make huge financial commitments like the other 2 teams but they did make moves to try and improve their chances to make the playoffs. I’m not sure that any of these 3 teams have me excited about their immediate future (2023) but I guess out of the 3 of them, Detroit does look like they could improve significantly next season. I’m just not sure it’s enough to push them into the playoffs next season.
Next season there is some big changes, so who knows how it’s all going to break for the Central teams. No more shifting, and less divisional games. Why T.V, even MLBTV don’t show us the batter view before the first pitch is thrown to each batter, so we can see what he sees.
Even with the more playoff spots, it’s going to be winner takes all for any team to make the playoff’s in the Central for awhile. Back around 2010 they had Verlander, got Martinez, then got Peralta,and Guillen. That is what it seems like again for Detroit. The future ace Skubal, and some hot young rookies, with some in the prime years players.
No shifting means more hits again, and speed will matter a lot. With today;s dead or humidor baseballs, that’s a good thing. Barnhart as a catcher will excel. I’ll be scary with Hasse. Tiger’s surplus speedy center fielder’s will be in demand for teams to trade for. If Candy, and he’s heating up now, and Schoop play like their norms, the Tigers chances for wins goes way up. I’ll be a fun bunch of years coming up.
The Giants would like to send out a big thank you to the Royals for Junis, he’s looked great this year.
I am glad he is succeeding. Cal Eldred needs fired and we need a shake up of our entire organizational pitching philosophy. We are in a pitching heaven but we somehow fail to develop pitching. It is abysmal
Junis always looks great in April-May. Beware the calendar turns tomorrow.
Lot of IF’S for the Tigers in the next year and 1/2, but there is a lot of potential.
Injuries haven’t helped
This is Twins Territory!!!
Like to see the tigers give Clemens and Krieder a shot! Clemens is 26, it now or never! With most regulars hitting under .200 I don’t see how it would hurt. Hill needs to play everyday and show why he was a first round pick. A month at Toledo would help for Tork. May turn him around.what about Badoo? Seems to be a forgotten man. Not even playing at Toledo
Baddoo missed a few games due to illness and now has been out with an oblique strain
Clemons was called up today
And, Grossman officially hit the 10-day IL.
Who on earth is Clemons?
Can some Detroit fans explain Grossman to me? How does he walk nearly 13% of the time when he has an .043 ISO and isn’t making contact (sub .200 AVG and 30% K rate)? I think he was even over 15% walk rate at one point.
As a Blue Jay fan watching a very right handed, free swinging lineup struggle and look easy to pitch to early on this year, Grossman was a guy I thought they might revisit and maybe even in an early trade as Detroit’s season seems to have slipped away already. But how does one account for Grossman’s season? He’s been much better than this throughout his career. Has he been playing with the neck issue all year? Deadened ball victim? Age related decline at only 32?
Unknown how long he has been dealing with the neck issue, but close pitches called ball 4 last year are strike 3 this year, and you can see his frustration.
And the power? ISO at .043 down from .176 last season. Exit velocities down too. Can you still see the guy he had been over the past couple of years still in there?
Grossman isn’t the only one available. I’m sure Tucker Barnhard will be shopped around, too.
I don’t know that they have the C depth to move Barnhart, when they have so many young pitchers. Haase has a strong arm and is great blocking balls in the dirt. Just don’t see him as the #1, even for part of the year.
The Tigers may be out of contention. And, they just might get an offer they can’t refuse. Don’t forget, Jake Rogers will be back hopefully this year. And, I really think they might have a hitter in Garneau…..if he sticks around).