As I wrote yesterday, Marlins starter Josh Johnson was placed on the DL with shoulder inflammatIon. I worry that he may need shoulder surgery at some point if the shoulder woes continue
Cubs starter Matt Garza was scratched from his Sunday night start due to elbow tightness. The Cubs have been decimated with pitching injuries this season, and along with Ryan Dempster's early struggles, have made things difficult for Mike Quade in his first season as the Cubs manager.
Speaking of scratches, outfielder Jason Heyward was scratched from the Braves lineup last night for the second straight game. I own Heyward in a couple keeper leagues and wonder if he will be an injury prone hitter for awhile. This guy can't stay healthy. And manager Fredi Gonzalez is worried:
"I am a little worried," Gonzalez said. "I am [concerned] for him, because he wants to play. … To play three and then have it hurt again, there’s something in there, something that’s not right."
Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez was placed on the DL with an injured quad on Saturday. Fantasy owners don't know whether to rejoice or be upset, as Alvarez has been a big disappointment this season. His .208-.283-.304 triple slash line is very disappointing and his 42-12 K/BB rate is even worse.
More Roster Noise after the jump:
Mets third baseman David Wright appears willing to come off the DL when he is eligible, but still has not been cleared for baseball activities and is in a holding pattern in his rehab according to Dan Martin at the New York Post.
Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz appear ready to come back, possibly as soon as Monday, but Jeff Wilson from the Star-Telegram says they may not be playing their normal positions in the field:
He has played around with it some, he said Saturday. Michael Young, for instance, won't be the designated
hitter until the Rangers feel comfortable with sticking Hamilton back in the outfield.
Mitch Moreland's bat will be in the mix, though he will likely have to play right field to get most of his at-bats if
Young is at first base. That means that Cruz, a right fielder, will have to play some in left.
Braves starter Tim Hudson may not be able to make his next start due to back stiffness, according to David O'Brien from the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Gonzalez said the Braves would likely turn to a spot starter if Hudson can’t pitch Wednesday, rather than have
Tommy Hanson come back on short rest after his Saturday night start.
"If he we don’t want him to make that start, or he can’t make it, I don’t see anybody [going on short rest],"
Gonzalez said.
Do the Braves bring up Juilo Teheran or Mike Minor if Hudson can't go on Wednesday?
The Diamondbacks released first baseman Russell Branyan on Saturday and as a result Juan Miranda will get most of the starts at first base going forward. When I read the news on Saturday, I wondered if the Diamondbacks will bring up first base prospect Brandon Allen to take his roster spot. That was not the case, but it is something I would monitor. Allen is hitting .322-.435-.544 at AAA Reno with 6 HRs, 33 RBIs and a solid 39-29 K/BB rate.
Athletics rookie starter Tyson Ross was placed on the DL a few days ago with an oblique injury and may be out longer than 15 days. Ross has surprised this year going 3-3 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton has sat out the last few games with a back injury, but there are no plans for an MRI at this point, as this back injury appears different than the back injury he had last year, according to the Denver Post:
For now there are no plans for an MRI. Why? This is not at all related to the back injury that sabotaged last
season.
"He's much stronger than he was a year ago," head trainer Keith Dugger said. "And he has no pain radiating
down his legs."
Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd was hit in the face with a pitch from Alfredo Aceves last night and could miss some time pending the results of test today.
Former Phillies closer Jose Contreras has started his rehab assignment and Brad Lidge is moving closer to a rehab, but it appears Ryan Madson will keep the Phillies closer job when both return. Madson has pitched lights out since taking over the closer role when Contreras and Lidge were placed on the DL. Madson has 9 saves and a 23-7 K/BB rate in his 19 innings of work this season.
Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal is close to returning from the DL, but he has not played at AAA Albuquerque since last Tuesday. He apparently suffered a leg injury while sliding, so his return from the DL is questionable. The Dodgers may just be exercising caution with the injury-prone Furcal.
UPDATE: The Dodgers have activated Furcal from the DL today and placed Juan Uribe on the 15 day DL with a strained left hip flexor. I assume Furcal will take over at SS with Jamey Carroll moving over to second base. TrueBlueLA has more on the Dodgers injury news.
ESPN's Buster Olney is covering Sunday night's Cubs-Red Sox game and was in Boston on Saturday and tweeted the following while watching Saturday's game:
Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
I wonder if Aramis Ramirez is dealing with a leg problem... because he was moving slowly down that line.
16 hours ago
Something to watch going forward.
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts probably will not return from the DL when he is eligible on Tuesday as he is still experiencing concussion symptoms, according to Jeff Zriebiec from the Baltimore Sun:
Roberts is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, but he hasn't done any physical activities since he
started to get headaches Monday, making it very unlikely that he'll be available at that point.