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Orioles Exploring Market For Rotation Depth

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Although the Orioles are predictably at the bottom of the AL East as they embark on the first full season of their rebuild, the team’s front office is also looking at various ways to add some starting pitching depth, writes MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko. Alex Cobb and Nate Karns were recently moved to the 60-day injured list, while right-hander Dan Straily and David Hess have been hit particularly hard, leaving the club particularly thin at the moment.

Despite the struggles of Straily and Hess, manager Brandon Hyde stated that “this is what we have” in regard to the team’s current mix of starters. Hyde added that there are some pitchers in the minors who are generating some excitement among the team’s decision-makers but stressed the importance of not rushing a player at the expense of his development. Left-hander Keegan Akin, in particular, has had only nine starts in Triple-A (and barely more than 300 innings since being drafted).

Hyde also suggested that first-year GM Mike Elias and his staff are exploring other potential depth adds. “I know our guys are working hard to see what else is out there, also,” said Hyde. “I think we’re always keeping an eye on what’s going on around the league. “

As far as readily available rotation cadidates, though, there’s not much available in the way of players who’ve been designated for assignment. The Orioles themselves designated one potential starter for assignment yesterday in Yefry Ramirez and claimed another in Chandler Shepherd. The free-agent market has a few veterans still eyeing work. Baltimore isn’t in a position to add Dallas Keuchel, but James Shields reportedly threw for teams recently and Ervin Santana was cut loose by the White Sox not long ago.

A few options seem to hit the waiver wire every week, and while the O’s have passed on recently designated arms like Aaron Slegers (Rays) and Andrew Moore (Rays, Giants), Baltimore will still stand out as a decent speculative landing spot whenever a starting pitcher is designated for assignment. As the club with the game’s worst record, they’ll have first crack at any pitcher who hits waivers. For the time being, Straily and Hess will continue to pitch alongside Andrew Cashner, John Means and Dylan Bundy, but Cashner seems like an eventual trade candidate and the O’s will likely need additional arms to safeguard against further injuries.

Mets Place Robinson Cano, Jeff McNeil On Injured List

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The Mets have placed infielder Robinson Cano and infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil on the 10-day injured list due to a quad strain and a hamstring strain, respectively, manager Mickey Callaway said prior to today’s series finale against the Nationals. Taking their place on the active roster will be infielder Luis Guillorme and left-hander Ryan O’Rourke, each of whom has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

Injuries continue to mount in Queens, where the Mets now have Cano, McNeil, Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto all on the injured list (in addition to Jed Lowrie and Yoenis Cespedes — neither of whom has played a game in 2019). The Mets have also been without Jason Vargas for three weeks — though Callaway noted that he is lined up to return this weekend — and recently lost key righty Seth Lugo to a shoulder issue.

With Cano and McNeil hitting the shelf and Lowrie still inactive, the Mets’ top three options at second base are all temporarily out of the picture. Presumably, Adeiny Hechavarria and the aforementioned Guillorme will split time there. Other infield options such as Todd Frazier and J.D. Davis lack any real experience at the position (beyond 38 games from Frazier a decade ago in the minors).

The Mets’ entire Opening Day outfield is now on the injured list with McNeil out of commission for the time being. They’re left with defensive standout Juan Lagares and minor league signees Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis, each of whom returned to the Majors within the past week. Each of that trio can handle all three outfield spots, so while the Mets currently don’t have a conventional fourth outfielder on the roster, they can mix and match between that threesome and J.D. Davis, who has experience in the outfield corners, when filling out the lineup card on a daily basis.

Rockies Notes: Hoffman, Oberg, De La Rosa

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Some notes out of Denver to kick off Thursday morning…

  • The Rockies are likely to promote right-hander Jeff Hoffman to start Friday’s game, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. It’s been a rough start to the season for the once-premium pitching prospect, as Hoffman will lug a 7.57 ERA with him from Triple-A to the Majors if he does indeed get the call. It’s been a boom or bust year for Hoffman so far, as he’s had two absolutely disastrous starts but also mixed in a series of impressive outings; Hoffman yielded 10 earned runs in four innings on April 16 and another eight earned runs in his most recent start, but he was quite good in the interim (1.96 ERA, 27-to-5 K/BB ratio in 18 1/3 innings of Triple-A ball, plus a respectable outing at the MLB level). This is a make or break year for Hoffman in many regards, as it’s his final option season. Tyler Anderson’s knee injury could create a long-term opening in the rotation for him, but Hoffman will obviously need to earn that spot moving forward rather than have it handed to him.
  • Colorado plans to use Scott Oberg as the primary closer while Wade Davis is sidelined by an oblique injury, manager Bud Black told reporters last night (Twitter link via Nick Groke of The Athletic). Oberg’s 1.77 ERA makes him a logical first candidate for ninth-inning gig, but the numbers beyond that point are far more questionable. He’s punched out just 13 hitters against 11 walks in 20 1/3 innings so far this season while benefiting immensely from a .196 average on balls in play and a sky-high 89.6 percent strand rate. Those red flags lead metrics like FIP (4.70), xFIP (4.91) and SIERA (5.31) to forecast some substantial regression for Oberg over the long haul if he can’t rebound to his 2018 form. Last season, Oberg averaged 8.7 K/9 against just 1.8 BB/9 with a 56 percent grounder rate, so there’s certainly hope for improved peripherals moving forward, but it should be noted that his average fastball has dipped from 95.3 mph last year to 94.0 mph in 2019.
  • Groke also tweeted yesterday that veteran lefty Jorge De La Rosa could pitch in a minor league game in the near future after being sidelined by an oblique issue early this season. Colorado inked the 38-year-old to a minor league contract last month on the heels of a solid 2018 campaign split between the D-backs and the Cubs. Left-handed relief has been a tough area for the Rockies all season, as Harrison Musgrave has struggled, Jake McGee has been injured and Mike Dunn has pitched to a 5.02 ERA (despite more encouraging K/BB numbers). De La Rosa would likely need at least a few weeks to build up before he’s a viable option, but a return could be a possibility at some point next month if he shows well in the minors.

Yankees Place CC Sabathia On Injured List

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May 23: The Yankees announced this morning that Sabathia has indeed been placed on the 10-day injured list due to right knee inflammation.

May 22: CC Sabathia has been dealing with discomfort in his right knee, and the veteran southpaw told reporters that he expects that he’ll need an injured list stint to get back on track, (Twitter links via MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch).  Rather than travel with the Yankees to begin their series in Kansas City on Friday, Sabathia will instead likely head to New York for treatment and an injection in his bothersome knee.

Sabathia has undergone multiple knee surgeries throughout his career, and this latest issue seems relatively minor, more akin to one of several routine maintenance-type procedures Sabathia has undergone over the years.  More serious persistent knee troubles threatened to prematurely Sabathia’s career in the middle of the decade, though since that time, the left-handed has enjoyed a career revival as an anchor at the back end of the Yankees’ rotation, posting a 3.70 ERA, 7.6 K/9, and 2.43 K/BB rate over 517 2/3 innings since the start of the 2016 season.

The veteran southpaw has already announced that 2019 will the last season of what could very well end up as a Hall Of Fame career, and he is hoping to go out with another World Series ring for a Yankees team that currently leads the AL East.  The Yankees achieved this success despite a staggering number of injuries, so it doesn’t seem the club should have much trouble managing what should be a relatively brief IL stay for Sabathia.  James Paxton may be back in the rotation before May is over, and New York could also deploy openers or bullpen games to fill any other holes in the starting five.

Minor MLB Transactions: 5/22/19

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The latest minor moves from around baseball…

  • The Mariners have outrighted Nick Rumbelow and Mike Wright to Triple-A after both relievers cleared waivers, as per a team announcement.  The two right-handers were each designated for assignment last week.  Wright was acquired from the Orioles last month and made seven appearances (a 9.00 ERA over 11 innings) before being designated, while Rumbelow tossed 1 1/3 innings for Seattle over three appearances.
  • The Reds have released third baseman Taylor Sparks, according to Roster Roundup (Twitter link).  Sparks was a second-round draft pick for Cincinnati in 2014, selected 58th overall out of UC Irvine.  Heralded for his speed, athleticism, and third base glovework, Sparks didn’t generate consistent results at the plate over six seasons in the Reds’ farm system, with just a .217/.291/.389 slash line over 1940 career plate appearances in the minors.

Injury Notes: Tatis, Flores, Duffy, Wendle, Volquez

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The Padres were hoping that star prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. would return from the injured list as early as Friday, though manager Andy Green told reporters (including The Athletic’s Dennis Lin) that Tatis won’t play during San Diego’s upcoming six-game road trip.  Tatis has been out of action since April 30 due to a hamstring strain, so he projects to miss a full month of games if he indeed won’t be back until May 31 (when the Padres host the Yankees) at the earliest.

Some updates on other injury situations from around the game…

  • Wilmer Flores was placed on the 10-day IL with a right foot contusion on Tuesday, though Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told media (including Arizona Sports 98.7 radio) that an MRI revealed Flores suffered a fracture.  Ildemaro Vargas was called up from Triple-A to take Flores’ spot on the roster, and he’ll provide utility depth in the middle infield as second baseman/center fielder Ketel Marte now looks like he could receive more time at the keystone.  Flores signed a one-year deal worth $4.25MM in guaranteed money last winter and has hit .281/.326/.398 over 138 PA for the Snakes, with much of that production coming in the last few weeks following an ice-cold start at the plate.
  • While on a minor league rehab assignment, Rays infielder Matt Duffy re-aggravated the hamstring injury that has kept him on the IL all season. (Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times was among those to report the news.)  Duffy will be re-evaluated tomorrow.  The infielder has been solid (.292/.354/.364 over 640 PA) since joining the Rays in August 2016, though he has appeared in just 153 games since that time, largely due to an Achilles injury that cost him the entire 2017 season.
  • In more positive news for the Rays, Joey Wendle told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that is no longer wearing a cast on his fractured right wrist.  Wendle said he is “free to move forward as I can tolerate” any discomfort while beginning baseball activities, though he said he will be cautious in his process to try and avoid any setbacks.  One can’t fault Wendle for wanting to be entirely ready in the wake of two lost months for the utilityman, as Wendle has played in only eight games this season due to his wrist fracture and an earlier hamstring injury.
  • Veteran righty Edinson Volquez has begun to play catch, Rangers manager Chris Woodward told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Jeff Wilson and other reporters, as Volquez continues to make his way back from an elbow sprain.  Volquez made just two starts for Texas before being placed on the injured list, and he even hinted at retirement should his injury be another UCL tear (Volquez has already undergone two Tommy John surgeries).  Playing catch is a preliminary step, but nevertheless a good sign that Volquez may have avoided a more serious injury.

Robinson Cano Leaves Game Due To Left Quad Tightness

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Mets second baseman Robinson Cano made an early exit from Wednesday’s game due to what the team described as left quad tightness, according to multiple reports.  After grounding out to end the third inning, Cano seemed pained after running to first base, and Adeiny Hechavarria took Cano’s spot at second base to begin the top of the fourth.  According to The Athletic’s Tim Britton (Twitter link), infielder Luis Guillorme has been removed from Triple-A Syracuse’s game tonight, so the Mets could already be planning an injured list stint for Cano.

Losing Cano would represent the latest in a lengthy series of notable injuries for the Mets this season.  The position-player side is particularly short-handed at the moment, with Michael Conforto (concussion), Brandon Nimmo (stiff neck), and Jed Lowrie (hamstring) all currently on the injured list, and Jeff McNeil was also out of tonight’s lineup with what appears to be a fairly minor hamstring issue.

McNeil’s status is of particular import if the Mets are looking at an IL absence for Cano, as McNeil would seem to be the most obvious candidate to slide over to second base.  Neither Hechavarria or Guillorme offer much at the plate in regular second base duty, and while the outfield mix also isn’t exactly solid with Conforto and Nimmo sidelined, the Mets at least have some numbers in the form of converted infielders J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith, plus veterans Rajai Davis and Carlos Gomez.

An IL stint would be another disappointing turn in what has thus far been a rough return to New York for Cano.  The 36-year-old has hit only .241/.287/.371 in his first 181 plate appearances as a Met, with an 82 wRC+ that would stand the worst of his distinguished career.

Yankees Return Giancarlo Stanton To Injured List Due To Left Calf Tightness

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7:14pm: Stanton will be shut down for 7-10 days before being re-evaluated, manager Aaron Boone told media (including the New York Post).

3:26pm: Just two days after Giancarlo Stanton began a minor league rehab assignment, the Yankees announced that Stanton has been returned to the injured list since the slugger is experiencing left calf tightness.

Today’s news is the latest setback in what has been a frustrating recovery period for Stanton, who originally sent to the IL after only three games due to a left biceps strain.  While rehabbing that injury, Stanton then suffered a left shoulder strain that required a cortisone injection in early May.

All systems were seemingly go when Stanton took the field for the high A-ball Tampa Tarpons this week, though the former NL MVP has now been sidelined again.  No information is yet known about the nature of Stanton’s calf problem, though such injuries are sometimes difficult to evaluate on a strict timetable.  Since Stanton will now be out of action for an even longer period of time, the Yankees could consider shifting him to the 60-day injured list to create 40-man roster space, should such a need arise.

Despite playing without Stanton and a variety of other injured stars for much of the season, the Yankees are still a remarkable 30-17, and sit atop the AL East standings.  The combination of Brett Gardner, Clint Frazier, and Cameron Maybin will continue to handle corner outfield duties while Stanton and Aaron Judge are sidelined, with Mike Tauchman as the top depth option at Triple-A.

11 Readily Available Relievers For Teams Needing Bullpen Help

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It’s true every season that clubs need bullpen help, but the desperation for quality relief help seems more palpable this season than in years past. Perhaps it’s because one of the best closers in baseball history is still sitting unsigned in late May, which only leads to more fan outcry for bullpen help and more of a spotlight to be placed on teams that are struggling in this regard.

I got more than a few questions about what’s out there in terms of readily available bullpen help in yesterday’s MLBTR chat. While the general answer can be snarkily summed up in brief fashion (“not much!“), it’s also true that the landscape of available arms is in a constant state of change as players opt out of deals, or are designated for assignment/released. So while we all know that Craig Kimbrel is available for the highest bidder, here’s a look at a handful of newly available arms that have hit the market in the past 10 days or so.

Free Agents (or soon-to-be free agents):

Luke Gregerson (released by Cardinals)

  • Why he was cut loose: Hamstring and shoulder injuries limited Gregerson to just 18 1/3 innings dating back to Opening Day 2018, and he hasn’t been effective in that time. Gregerson posted a 7.36 ERA with a 14-to-7 K/BB ratio and 25 hits allowed (including a pair of homers) in parts of two seasons with the Cards, and his fastball/sinker combo dipped to 86.4 mph and 87.4 mph, respectively, in this year’s tiny sample.
  • Why he could hold appeal: Prior to signing with the Cards, Gregerson was a bullpen workhorse. From 2009-17 he averaged 69 appearances and 67 innings per season, logging a collective 3.02 ERA with 9.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and a 50.9 percent ground-ball rate. That grounder rate topped 60 percent in both 2015 and 2016, and he averaged better than 10 strikeouts per nine innings in 2016-17 with Houston.

Addison Reed (released by Twins)

  • Why he was cut loose: Reed’s time with the Twins started well, but his velocity dipped early last summer and he landed on the shelf with triceps soreness and an elbow impingement. A sprained thumb in his non-pitching hand has kept him on the shelf all season to date, and he was reportedly throwing 88-89 mph in recent rehab outings. For context, his average heater in 2017 was 92.3 mph. Reed logged a 4.50 ERA in 56 innings last season, but his ERA over his final 30 games with Minnesota was 6.44. He allowed four homers and a total of eight runs in five Triple-A rehab innings this year.
  • Why he could hold appeal: As with Gregerson, Reed’s appeal is all in his track record. He had a career 3.40 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 at the time he signed with the Twins, including a superb 2015-17 run in which he notched a 2.66 ERA with 218 strikeouts against just 34 unintentional walks in 209 2/3 innings. He won’t turn 30 until December, so unlike the other free agents listed here, he still has age on his side. One year ago, Reed had a 2.49 ERA and 27-to-7 K/BB ratio in 25 1/3 innings with the Twins.

Carlos Torres

  • Why he was cut loose: Torres opted out of a minor league deal after a solid showing in Triple-A, hopeful of finding an easier path to the Majors than he faced in San Diego.
  • Why he could hold appeal: Torres pitched to a 2.49 ERA with a 23-to-10 K/BB ratio and a 50.7 percent ground-ball rate with Triple-A El Paso to open the season. From 2012-17, he recorded  a 3.73 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in a total of 449 innings between the Rockies, Mets and Brewers. During that time, he averaged 75 innings per season. Torres is 36 and struggled in a brief 9 2/3 innings with the Nats last year, though he was very effective for their Triple-A team.

Jonny Venters

  • Why he was cut loose: Venters’ 2018 comeback was a feelgood story, but he was rocked for nine runs on nine hits and eight walks in 4 2/3 innings with the Braves this season. Atlanta’s bullpen has been a revolving door this season, and keeping the struggling Venters aboard limited the club’s flexibility.
  • Why he could hold appeal: Venters’ sinker still checked in at a healthy average of 93.6 mph in 2019, and he’s a year removed from holding left-handed opponents to a comically bad .133/.200/.200 batting line through 66 plate appearances. Even through this season’s struggles, his grounder rate checked in at 50 percent, and it was nearly 70 percent last year.

Dan Jennings (opted for free agency after being DFA’ed by Nationals)

  • Why he was cut loose: Jennings struggled in Spring Training with the Angels and didn’t fare any better with the Nats. He walked seven batters (two intentional), hit another and threw a wild pitch in his 4 2/3 innings with Washington. As with the Braves and Mariners, the Nationals’ bullpen has been rife with turnover, and it seems that nearly every member of those clubs’ relief units is on a short leash.
  • Why he could hold appeal: In parts of seven MLB seasons prior to 2019, Jennings never logged an ERA of 4.00 or higher, and he was solid with the Brewers in 2018 (3.22 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 6.3 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 56.1 percent ground-ball rate). He’s not a prolific strikeout arm but has typically been a ground-ball machine who can hold his own against lefties and righties alike (2018 struggles against righties notwithstanding). His velocity held steady in 2019 as well.

DFA Limbo:

Ryan Garton (DFA by Mariners)

  • Why he was cut loose: The Mariners have used 22 different relievers already in 2019. (Heck, four of them are listed in this section!) Garton’s selection to the big league roster, like many of the names being cycled through the Seattle ’pen, seemed almost destined to be short. He allowed four runs in three innings and was designated when the Mariners signed Anthony Bass.
  • Why he could hold appeal: Garton has pitched reasonably well in Triple-A over the past two seasons, though his FIP is roughly a full run higher than the 3.28 ERA. Still, Garton has fanned 71 hitters in 68 2/3 Triple-A frames in that time. He walked too many in 2018, but he has some experience, some Triple-A success and a minor league option remaining. There’s a solid chance Garton clears waivers, but less intriguing guys have been claimed in the past.

Neil Ramirez (DFA by Indians)

  • Why he was cut loose: Surrendering five home runs and issuing nine walks in 16 1/3 innings isn’t a great way to hold onto a roster spot, and Ramirez is out of minor league options, which put the Indians in a particularly tough spot. He’s never enjoyed consistent success at the MLB level, but teams continue to be intrigued by his raw ability.
  • Why he could hold appeal: The fact that six teams have given Ramirez a big league look as he’s struggled to a 5.70 ERA in 113 2/3 innings over the past four seasons speaks both to his potential upside and his frustrating level of inconsistency. Ramirez averages 95 mph on his heater and has turned in a 15 percent swinging-strike rate across the past two seasons. His fastball spin is elite, and his curveball spin isn’t far behind. If anyone could coax some consistency out of him, he’d be controlled through 2020.

Yefry Ramirez (DFA by Orioles)

  • Why he was cut loose: Ramirez has been more of a starter than a reliever, but what the heck, let’s add him here anyway. The 25-year-old has an ERA north of 6.00 and 5.4 BB/9 over the past two seasons in the Majors, but it’s frankly still a bit surprising to see the Orioles cut him loose not 24 hours after their manager lamented a lack of rotation depth. The front office has apparently seen enough of Ramirez, though.
  • Why he could hold appeal: Ramirez has a 3.40 ERA and a 96-to-31 K/BB ratio in 90 Triple-A innings. He averaged 93.2 mph on his fastball and has a 10.7 percent swinging-strike rate in addition to 73 punchouts in 75 2/3 innings working primarily as a starter in the Majors. It’d be interesting to see what Ramirez could do in shorter stints; in 19 career relief frames, opponents have batted .206/.320/.270 against him. His slider was an effective pitch for him in 2018 while his changeup has gotten good results in 2019. He’s 25 years old and has a minor league option remaining.

Zac Rosscup (DFA by Mariners)

  • Why he was cut loose: Rosscup allowed 14 walks in 14 innings of work as the Mariners’ apparent plan to dramatically increase his slider usage — he ranks fifth among MLB pitchers in slider percentage (min. 10 IP) — didn’t pay off as hoped. He’s out of minor league options, so the Mariners had no way to send him down to try to rediscover last year’s solid control (3.2 BB/9).
  • Why he could hold appeal: In his last 25 1/3 big league innings, Rosscup has racked up 40 strikeouts with an 18.3 percent swinging-strike rate and a 32.6 percent opponents’ chase rate. He falls behind hitters far too often. His slider hasn’t been as effective this season, but in 2018 he threw the pitch 101 times and generated 30 swinging strikes. He’s controllable through 2021.

Nick Rumbelow (DFA by Mariners)

  • Why he was cut loose: Rumbelow has been injured more than he’s been healthy over the past few seasons, and while he’s recovered from 2015 Tommy John surgery and a 2018 neck injury now, the results weren’t there for him in Triple-A. He’s allowed 16 earned runs on 25 hits and 10 walks with 11 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.
  • Why he could hold appeal: Rumbelow will sit 93-94 mph with his fastball and, prior to 2019, had experienced a good bit of success when healthy enough to take the ball in Triple-A. He carried a 2.95 ERA and a 131-to-34 K/BB ratio in 116 career Triple-A innings into the season.

Mike Wright (DFA by Mariners)

  • Why he was cut loose: Wright has had ample big league time in each of the past four big league seasons but has an ERA north of 6.00 to show for it. The Mariners traded a struggling low-level infielder to acquire him, hoping they could help him tap into his potential, but Wright lasted only 11 innings (and 11 earned runs) before being designated for assignment. Like many DFA casualties, he’s out of minor league options.
  • Why he could hold appeal: Both the Orioles and Mariners have seen fit to give Wright a shot at the MLB level, perhaps in part because he’s been a solid starter through nearly 400 innings (70 starts, one relief appearance) of Triple-A ball in his professional career.

It’s easy to be dismissive of the majority of the names on any list like this, but that was also the case when the likes of Kirby Yates and Brad Hand were cut loose a few years ago. Teams are constantly mining the scrap heap, and even the smallest pickup can prove to be consequential down the line.

Andrelton Simmons Diagnosed With Grade 3 Ankle Sprain

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TODAY: Simmons updated Hoornstra (Twitter links) and other reporters on his status today, including the good news that surgery won’t be required.  Once the swelling around the ankle goes down in another week or two, Simmons and the team will have a better sense of how long it will be before the shortstop is able to return to action.

TUESDAY, 6:57pm: Simmons, moving around the clubhouse on crutches, didn’t have a timeline for his return when asked by reporters, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group tweets. MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger tweets that the typical recovery timeline would range from eight to 12 weeks, but the Angels won’t know for certain until tomorrow.

4:42pm: The Angels announced that shortstop Andrelton Simmons has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 ankle sprain and been placed on the 10-day injured list. He’ll see a specialist tomorrow, after which the team will provide more details on his expected timeline. However, a Grade 3 sprain is severe (indicating a ligament tear), so Simmons will quite likely be on the shelf for an extended period of time. Luis Rengifo is up from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his spot on the active roster.

It’s a huge blow for the Angels, who saw both Simmons and Shohei Ohtani exit last night’s game due to injury. Thankfully, there’s better news on Ohtani, who is feeling better today after being hit by a pitch last night. He’s in the lineup for the Angels tonight.

The 29-year-old Simmons, in addition to long being known as perhaps baseball’s premier defensive player, has progressed offensively in recent seasons as well. He’d been out to a .298/.323/.415 start with three home runs, 13 doubles and five steals through his first 195 plate appearances on the year. That’s a tough all-around asset for any team to lose, and Simmons’ absence will be felt all the more by an Angels club that is also still without left fielder Justin Upton in the middle of its lineup.

The Angels entered the season with aspirations of returning to the postseason for the first time since a 2014 trip to the American League Division Series (where they lost to the Royals). But between injuries to key players such as Upton and Andrew Heaney and poor performances from offseason rotation additions like Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill and Chris Stratton (now with the Pirates), the Angels find themselves three games under .500 (22-25) and already nine and a half games back of the Astros in the American League West. The team’s three-and-a-half game deficit in the American League Wild Card race is far more manageable, but the loss of Simmons will obviously further lessen their chances.

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