The Mets have been without Max Scherzer for the past ten days, as the three-time Cy Young winner has battled some fatigue in his left oblique. That was a bit of a concern given that a strain in the muscle cost him around two months earlier this season, but Scherzer looks as if he’s on track to be reinstated when first eligible next Monday. He made a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse tonight, tossing 59 pitches over 3 2/3 innings. After the game, Scherzer told reporters he feels “excellent” and would be ready to rejoin the big league rotation at the beginning of next week (via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com).
Scherzer’s prompt return is obviously a boon for a Mets team battling for a division title down the stretch. At 89-55, New York holds a half-game advantage over the Braves in the NL East. They’re a postseason lock, but securing the division is likely to come with a first-round bye as a top-two seed in the National League. New York is five games clear of the third-seeded Cardinals, who lead the NL Central, putting the East winner in good position to join the Dodgers in earning an immediate trip to the NL Division Series.
Some other injury updates around the game:
- The Rays just placed Brandon Lowe on the 10-day injured list yesterday, the second baseman’s third such stint of the 2022 season. Manager Kevin Cash told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that an MRI revealed some inflammation in Lowe’s back. He’s headed for further evaluation to determine treatment possibilities, but Cash indicated the club is still hopeful he’ll return to the diamond this season. The Rays look set to mix-and-match at second base while Lowe’s out, giving the last three starts at the position to Taylor Walls, Jonathan Aranda and Isaac Paredes respectively. Walls is the best defender of the group, but he’s not hit well this year. Paredes has only a .293 on-base percentage but has connected on 18 home runs in 92 games. Aranda has only 15 big league games under his belt, but he’s raked at a .318/.394/.521 clip through 465 plate appearances with Triple-A Durham.
- Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli has been out for the past two weeks after being diagnosed with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. That seems likely to end his season, as manager Dave Martinez told reporters (including Bobby Blanco of MASNsports.com) that Cavalli is unlikely to make it back to game action this year. With three weeks remaining and the Nationals virtual locks for last place, there’s no reason for the club to take any chances with the prized young hurler. Martinez indicated that Cavalli has been cleared to start throwing after a brief shutdown period and the team feels he’ll be able to work from a mound before the season is out, but it seems that’ll be in a bullpen session rather than in-game work. Cavalli, generally regarded as the top pitching prospect in the organization, made his first MLB appearance on August 26. He’s likely to compete for a job in the season-opening rotation as Washington continues their rebuild next year.
- Aaron Ashby returned to a mound for the first time since landing on the injured list three weeks ago, tossing an 18-pitch bullpen session this afternoon (reported by Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). He’s scheduled for another bullpen session over the weekend. The Brewers remain hopeful the southpaw will be able to make it back this season, although he’d work in shorter stints due to the abbreviated ramp-up period. Ashby has started 17 of his 23 appearances this year, but he came out of the bullpen for nine of his 13 outings in 2021. He’s thrived as a reliever in his MLB career, posting a 3.63 ERA with a 36.2% strikeout rate through 34 2/3 innings in that capacity. Ashby has been a bit more erratic when trying to navigate a lineup multiple times as a starter, although he’s still flashed the swing-and-miss and ground-ball combination that made him such a promising pitching prospect. Milwaukee sits two games back of the Padres for the National League’s final Wild Card spot, so they’d surely welcome any contributions they can get from the 24-year-old for the stretch run.
Mets and pitchers…
And?
They have a proclivity for breaking them.
like the yankees and relievers?
Braves used to have this problem too under pitching coach Roger McDowell. Tommy John surgeons were doing well when he was responsible for their pitchers.
I’m sorry but this playoff format is stupid. Why would a division winner play vs wildcard teams, even with Home Field advantage. I thought the idea was to try and get teams to WIN THEIR DIVISION.
It’s no different than the NFL. Giving all 3 a bye is a bit of a weird challenge. What’s your great idea to fixing it since you seem so inclined to criticize the current format?
The difference is that the NFL plays 17 games to the MLB’s 162. This format is ridiculous, too many teams in.
I agree Cosmo.
@MJ. That’s a simple answer. It was just fine last year. Do that.
Because some divisions are weaker than others. This year, the 1st WC is clearly better than the NL/AL central. Division winner still gets home field. Huge advantage.
kremer;
There are 3 divisions and 6 teams that make the playoffs,
How would you run the playoffs?
No wild cards? OK. How do 3 teams play to determine the team to go to the WS? If they cut it to one Wild Card team making the playoffs do you think 4 teams out of 15 in a league going to the playoffs satisfies the fans?
How about no divisions – the top 4 teams in each league go into the playoffs with the top 2 getting home field advantage? Sounds good. But now they have to change the schedule so that all teams play a similar schedule. How do you do that with teams in 3 different time zones when in the last CBA the players and owners agreed that each team must play every other team in MLB at least once each year (granted, that is stupid and is going to cause major problems due to the travel)?
Even when there were 2 leagues and no playoffs – just the winner of each league going to the WS – many years it was clear that the 2nd and sometimes 3rd place finisher in one league was better then the winner in the other league.
It happens.
From 1903-1968, the top team from each league went to the World Series. There were 16 teams in 1903, 2 of 16, 12.5% advanced to the post season. Fast forward 65 years and by 1968 there were 20 teams, 2 of 20, 10% advanced to the post season. Jump forward another 54 years to the present day and 12 of 30 teams, 40%, make the playoffs. If the season ended today, there would only be 4 teams playing better than .500 ball that would not make the playoffs. 40% of the teams making the playoffs is too many.
WampumWalloper;
Not arguing.
But pro sports has changed. It’s all about playoffs now in all team sports.
I can’t even keep up with the number of teams making the NHL and NBA (pseudo – i.e. “play in”) playoffs – but I believe both are well over 50%. The NFL has 14 of 32 teams making their playoffs – 43.75%. I expect both the NFL and MLB to add even more teams in the next 5-10 years. (If / when MLB expands to 32 teams I expect 4 divisions with the leader and #2 team making the playoffs – 16 out of 32 teams.)
It pretty much makes a farce of the regular season, as the objective now is to simply make the playoffs and peak going into them. The smart organizations understand that and modify their rosters to fit….which includes resting their older players.
The Mets just got their butts handed to by the Cubs and the Braves just lost a series to the cardinals.
Try again on the “first wild card is better than the nl central”. I hate the Cardinals but they have the top two nl mvp favorites hitting in the middle of their line up and a world class defensive infield. Cardinals will be very difficult to beat in the post season.
I will say, the additional wild card team did not have the desired effect (outside of the extra money), there really isn’t any more teams in the mix for a playoff spot, there isn’t any additional drama and no team adjusted their course at the trade deadline because they were in striking distance to the wildcard.
I’m not sure what mlb can do about “tanking” but it seems more and more teams are not even trying to compete with their rosters. I hate the “salary cap” but I think teams are more willing to tank when the dodgers, Mets and padres are spending nearly 300 million on their rosters. It’s the starve and gorge method of dog feeding.
drasco036;
I don’t think teams are “tanking” – not in MLB or the other pro sports. I consider that nonsense.
Example – The Orioles and Guardians are trying to win. It took them years of drafting, signing young DFA’s and waiver wire players; then putting them in their farm system and having their coaching staffs working to develop them. They made trades for primarily young major league players and had them making mistakes and growing at the ML level for a few years. Currently they’re merging the youngsters from the minors with players on the major league team. And while both are doing far better than most other ‘rebuilding’ teams, it’s only now that they’re to a point that they’ll be spending for veteran / established players to fill their rosters out and hopefully begin to contend in 2023. Some of the money to pay those veteran players was roiled over from previous years as they cut spending. Now……
If they had spent money the past 2 years on veteran FA’s and taking on salary in trades, would they have contended in those years? Would it have been worth undermining their current situation of being on the verge of potential WS contention so they could finish 3rd or 4th in their division instead for 4th or 5th? Did you not see what happened to the Reds the past few years when they bought into this nonsense (which among others MLBTR’s writers and players agents push) of spending to win? The Reds didn’t win anything. No more fans showed up. They lost money, and had to dump those players before they hit bankruptcy (and if you think that’s nonsense, realize that Bob Nutting acquired the Pirates in Bankruptcy Court).
If you want every team to spend to win each year here’s what needs to be done – make it a rotisserie league….
Take all revenues MLB franchises acquire, put them it in a pot and distribute them equally to all 30 franchises. Make all players Free Agents each year – no multi-year contracts. The players union reps and ownership reps can agree on each players salary for the coming year based on past and projected performance. Hold a draft and all 30 teams must spend all money allotted to them. That will eliminate tanking and all teams will be “trying to win”. Now…..
I have no idea how young players will develop the skills to reach the major league level.
don’t think teams are “tanking”
=========================
That’s just something writers make up. They equate all bad records with tanking. Usually, it is simply a combination of the best players becoming FAs, or becoming old.
And, as often as not, bad records happen because teams DO NOT tank. Detroit became because they re-extended Miggy, and signed VMart and Upton and Zimmerman. The Orioles became bad because they refuse to sell off in 2017. when they still had some expiring talent. SF went downhill when they signed Shark & Cueto and traded for McCutchen.
Sometimes you have to accept that you won’t be .500.
Well said, Joe.
I thought it was a reward for winning your division cuz they figure division winner is the better team but we all know that isn’t the case
Max always says he feels good
Until the NLCS (pained dodger fan)
You forgot rowdy being above average but otherwise I agree
But his complaint was that the Dodgers didn’t let him throw enough, not that they had him throw too much.
Adding an extra wild card team , now there’s no drama all September , only and Mil and SD which no one cares anyways lol one of the most boring Septembers in eons. Got Judge to watch at least
I can see it now: After 2 more weeks of rehab, Ashby makes it back to pitch in the final series of the regular season, and blows out his elbow.
When asked why the team insisted on getting him back this year when they were already eliminated from the playoffs, Counsell will say “um” and “uh” 319 times and something about how the analytics showed it was the right thing to do.
MannyPineappleExpress9;
Your team quit when Hader was traded at the deadline. There is no excuse for that. Those guys are supposed to be professionals. They should easily be going to the playoffs this year. Hader was pitching lousy for them, and Williams was / is a better closer. Did a bunch of old guys think that the Brewers were going to trade what little they had in prospects for some old guys that they couldn’t afford to keep for more then a year or two?…..meaning that a take it down to the studs 4-6 year rebuild would need to be done.
That team – particularly the position players – needs to be overhauled this offseason. Start with getting rid of Yelich even if they have to pay half his salary and don’t get much back – he’s blocking some young OF prospects….you’ve got a potential mini-Chris Davis situation developing.
Samuel- I’m not making excuses. They wilted,but then again I didn’t believe they were really that good this year when they were rolling early in the season.
I’m not against moving Yelich, despite some insisting he’s still underpaid for the production he’s giving. The problem, in addition to the contract, is he has a full no-trade (99% sure on that) and he not only had the knee but even before, and since, he’s had a back problem that from my understanding can’t be fixed.
“I’m not against moving Yelich, despite some insisting he’s still underpaid for the production he’s giving.”
MannyPineappleExpress9;
This is just a general observation, but it’s in the ballpark…..
Yelich’s fWAR is 2.3 based on 590 PA’s. Jurickson Profar of the Padres is one year younger, also plays LF, has had 595 PA’s, and his fWar is 2.4.
Yelich is making $26M this year. Profar is making $7.33m this year (and may feel he’s overpaid).
Yelich should have been a leader in that clubhouse getting that team to focus. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what the situation was/is. But either he didn’t get involved in being leader or he did and it had no effect.
Even if the Brewers agreed to pay half his salary each year for the 7 years remaining on his contract, I don’t know if a team would be willing to take contract on.
But it’s not just Yelich. I give Willy Adames a pass as he was injured badly; Jace Peterson has been decent; and when Hunter Renfroe’s healthy he’s a solid ML OF – but every other position player on that team is questionable. If they have to trade a good starting pitcher to get some young position players, look at the Orioles and Guardians this offseason – both need a veteran starter and have an excess of quality, well trained (i.e. solid, fundamentally schooled) young, controlled position players.
@Sam
I’m not going to argue WAR or any other way of determining player value. I’ll just say this: Yelich was given that contract after 2 great years, and with the expectation he’d continue to be an elite player both offensively..including hitting for a fair amount of power..and defensively for most of the new deal (if not all). He’s morphed from a .320ish hitter with 30+ HR to a high K, weak groundball hitter who probably won’t even hit 15 HR this year. Defensively he doesn’t track the ball well anymore, and now has a noodle arm..when he actually makes an effort to throw the ball in.
As far as being a leader..his body language to me says he’s not interested in that at all. I don’t know how a guy goes from MVP to this in 2 years. While still supposedly in his prime.
Rogers has way out-performed Hader. That’s not quitting; that’s trading damaged goods, imo.
Pretty much every team has troubles with keeping pitchers healthy.
It’s more pronounced when your pitchers affected are top of the rotation, older & considered some of the best in professional baseball but the Mets aren’t exceptionally different than most other MLB clubs.
DeGrom & Scherzer may very well have experienced similar injury issues had they been pitching anywhere else.
It’s the nature of the game, pitching styles and medical analysis.
60-70 years ago many of these injuries would likely have had significantly less short term impact. Pitchers might have missed a few rotational pitching spots, pushed thru and been back pitching in more weeks.
The damage they did to their careers and lifetime health? Who knows?
It might also be that we are overly cautious now. Shut them down for months and put them thru year long and more procedures like Tommy John surgery or Thoracic Outlet surgery that wasn’t available or in use then.
Certainly it’s in prevalent usage now. I’m assuming for better health of the pitchers/players. Fans just have a different perspective. ‘rub some dirt on it, you’ll be ok…’
If I were the Mets, I’d have done the same thing. It’s a fine line between damaging your regular season chances and damaging your chances when you get into the playoffs. But they use to have a 10.5 game lead. You can’t afford to play scared that you might blow the 10.5 game lead (even if they did).
Looks like they either finally fixed the Mute button on the iPhone app or else they banned the MeltingMets troll.
Either way, I’m not complaining.