The White Sox placed starter Michael Kopech on the 15-day injured list this afternoon due to a left knee strain. The righty seemed to suffer the injury during warm-ups before yesterday’s start against the Royals, and his velocity was well down during the outing. Kopech didn’t record an out, allowing two hits, a walk and a hit batsman before being taken out of an eventual 6-4 loss. Alarming as that showing was, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times relays that the club expects Kopech to return when first eligible two weeks from now (Twitter link).
Even a minimal IL isn’t ideal for a Chicago team that entered play Tuesday three games back of the Guardians in the AL Central. Kopech has been one of the club’s more effective pitchers, carrying a 3.58 ERA through 110 2/3 innings (and a 3.25 mark if one throws out yesterday’s performance as an injury anomaly). Kopech’s strikeout and walk numbers haven’t been as impressive, however, and there are lingering questions about precisely how many innings the 26-year-old may be equipped to throw this year. He worked primarily in relief last season and tallied 69 1/3 frames during his first season back after missing all of 2019-20. He’s already eclipsed that mark by over 40 innings this year.
Catching up on some other injury situations around the game:
- The Royals placed rookie designated hitter/first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino on the 10-day injured list due to right shoulder discomfort this afternoon. Like Kopech, the 24-year-old was injured in yesterday’s contest between Chicago and Kansas City. After a breakout 2021 season in the minors, Pasquantino emerged as one of the game’s top offensive prospects heading into this year. He mashed in Triple-A and has hit the ground running as a big leaguer, carrying a .263/.350/.434 showing with eight home runs and an excellent combination of walks (11%) and strikeouts (13.5%) through his first 200 MLB plate appearances. The left-handed hitter looks like a key long-term piece for a Kansas City team with its attention firmly turned towards 2023. Fellow top prospect Nick Pratto should pick up the first base playing time in Pasquantino’s absence, while Ryan O’Hearn and Hunter Dozier may get the majority of the DH at-bats. Kansas City didn’t specify a timetable on Pasquantino’s return.
- Reds starter Graham Ashcraft landed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 20, with biceps soreness. The rookie right-hander is headed for an MRI, but skipper David Bell indicated the club was optimistic about his ability to return before the end of the season (via Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer). The 24-year-old made his big league debut debut in May and has joined Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene as rookie rotation cogs for the Reds. Through 16 starts, the hard-throwing hurler owns a 3.97 ERA on the strength of an excellent 54.8% ground-ball rate. Ashcraft looks to have made a strong case for a rotation role next season, generally outperforming both Lodolo and Greene — each of whom has been more highly-regarded by most prospect evaluators.
- The Tigers placed second baseman Jonathan Schoop on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 21, with a sprained right ankle. It’s the first IL stint in two years for the veteran infielder, who has played in just under 95% of Detroit’s games since the start of 2021. Schoop posted above-average numbers last year to earn a contract extension in August, but he’s had a dreadful showing offensively this season. Over 447 plate appearances, he’s hitting only .202/.235/.318 with nine home runs. Defensive metrics have been enamored with his glovework at the keystone, but no other qualified hitter is within 19 points of Schoop’s league-worst on-base percentage. He’s likely to exercise a $7.5MM player option this winter to return to the club for 2023.
- Sticking with the Tigers, manager A.J. Hinch cast doubt on the possibility of seeing catcher Jake Rogers this season (via Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic). Rogers underwent Tommy John surgery last September, and he’s spent the entire year on the 60-day injured list while rehabbing. It’s almost been a calendar year since that operation. The 27-year-old Rogers hit .182/.264/.378 in 255 plate appearances between 2019-21.
White Sox aren’t going to the World Series, so it doesn’t matter who goes on the Injured List.
Was watching the White Sox game yesterday. Baffling why Tony Larussa didn’t remove Kopech immediately, as he was clearly favoring his knee. And then you realize, oh it’s Tony Larussa, he’s a senile drunk. But don’t blame him. Blame Jerry Reinsdorf.
Lloyd you beat me to it. Was going to say the same thing. Now it may not matter this year cause Sox are long shot for playoffs But In order to bounce back next year they need to be healthy they should’ve pulled him to protect his long term value. Just another example that tony has got to go after this year.
Why wouldn’t you blame Reinsdorf? He hired him.
Sure him Aswell. Plenty of blame to go around. But as of late la russa not protecting kop yesterday.. all these 1-2 int walks…mismanagement of bp useage… list could go on forever
Schoop going on the IL should have made more playing time for Clemens, or allowed them to take a look at Kreidler. instead, they call up Zack Short. Zack Short is not the answer to any question about the long term future of the Tigers. Disappointing.
He’s a better choice than Kreidler for a callup. Ryan has struggled since returning from his injury.
Not drafting Mayer or Lawlar last year, might be one of Avila’s biggest oops. It seemed so painfully obvious even at the time.
I mean, both would still be 3 years out. Jobe has been pitching well of late, still a lot of ways that draft could play out.
Couple of responses:
Unless Jobe becomes a HOF candidate, Avila’s mistake turning down those shortstops will be one of the biggest Detroit blunders of all time. I thought it was foolish because we needed position players most of all. Furthermore, high school pitchers are very risky as it is. But, all high school players take longer to develop. Since they needed help asap, that was also foolish because time was of the essence. History may prove me wrong.
Also, Jackson Jobe was recently promoted to high-A West Michigan and will make his debut tonight (Weds).
That’s great if Jobe is starting to pitch better, because his season totals do not look promotion worthy. IMO
Lawlar does not look like he’s 3 years out, by any stretch.
They said something like something good had happened, like a light bulb turning on. His last outing for Lakeland was pretty good.
Franklin Perez, on the other hand, got ROCKED 2 starts ago. His last start wasn’t good either.
Jobe was scratched today from his start for West Michigan due to a sore back.
Lol at this point, go figure
Riiiidiculous
Have you seen the projected “market value” for top notch starting pitching?
Al Avila may have been an idiot but……..he wasn’t stupid……
What is that logic? Chances are slim that any of those 3 make the hall of fame.
I see a lot of Mud Hens games and Kriedler looks lost at the plate this year. In that regard, he’d fit in great with the Tigers. Defensively, he’s still solid. Can’t say I would have trusted the major league coaching staff to unlock anything for him.
Was at yesterdays game. Andre Lipcius looks promising, but this was my first time seeing him. Might have caught him on a good night. Ripped a 406 foot triple off the wall in center (wish they had posted exit velocity) that, sadly would have probably just been an out in Comerica. Had quite good speed—faster than I expected. He was playing second, though he is listed as a third baseman.
Torkleson had an RBI double, but it was just the bloop variety. Only saw two or three hard hit balls from the Hens all evening. On the positive side, Pineda looked pretty good for four innings, and Elvin Rodriguez looks like he could still be a useful swing arm at some point.
Was surprised by this move as well…this is likely Shorts last shot at proving he belongs in the show, but if last nights performance is any indication he has nothing
Avila has completely screwed up the tigers in his7 years, will take twice that to correct that, we were suppose to be in a rebuild by Avila in the past 7. So sad
Not if they hire
……who?
Avila has screwed up the tigers for years
Schoop’s extension is another bad signing by Tigers. They have $80m tied up between Schoop, Baez, Rodriquez and Cabrera with zero production to show for it. And they’re stuck with Baez for 5 more years and Rodriquez for 4. As for Rogers, another zero return for Verlander trade. The guy simply can’t hit so move on. Avila is gone but the damage he caused will last for years.
Reading the Tiger fan posts is absolutely the only thing that makes me feel better about the CWS future….If only the could put TLR on the IR for 15 days we’d probably take the lead in the division.
When this losing organization releases One of their best and most consistent relievers- Wily Peralta, yeah, apparently Tiger nation is all about that self-deprecating humility.
The White Sox are a mess…struggling to finish in 3rd place.
The White Sox farm system has been gutted.
Isn’t Tony La Russa the new spokesperson for Sinclair gasoline?!
Their ownership is in the midst of a 10-15 year rebuild.
The Tigers may also be better than the White Sox in a year or two.
After reading all these posts, I think I’ll start looking for skyscrapers to jump from….
Tiger, Tiger burning bright
In the ballparks of the night.
Your pitching’s fair, your field adroit
So why no pennants for Detroit?
You start out brave with each new year
With stalwart hearts that know no fear.
Then from on high, while sitting pretty
You blow four games to Kansas City.
The Cleveland Indians go to work
They beat you good; so does New York
When Boston adds a mortal blow
All you can shout is “Look out below.”
Amid the heated pennant race
You fight to cling to seventh place.
Tiger, Tiger burning bright
In the ballparks of the night
Someday the fans will get their fill
And ship the team to Louisville.
See I got him, see the size
Stripped and cleaned before your eyes
Sweet meat look, fresh and ready to cook
Crawfish…..
Now take Mr. Crawfish in your hand
He’s gonna look good in your frying pan
If you fry him crisp or you boil him right
He’ll be sweeter than sugar when you take a bite
Crawfish
Crawfish
Well I went to the bayou just last night
There was no moon but the stars were bright
Put a big long hook on a big long pole
And I pulled Mr. Crawfish out of his hole
Crawfish
Twinkle, twinkle……
King Creole
Crawfish….
KingTiger, that was pretty enjoyable. Many thanks for the diversion!!
Still cannot believe that they didn’t take SS Lawler in the Draft.
Many of the young pitchers are over worked on travel teams and require surgery(s).
The Tigers drafts and trades have been below average.
Can Chris Illitch be trusted to hire the right POB and/or GM?!
I have my doubts.