MLB Injury Update
By ASA
ORIOLES - Baltimore's top offensive threat, Brian Roberts has been placed on the 15 day D.L. with a strained abdominal muscle. Roberts is the O's leadoff hitter and has stolen at least 30 bases in four straight seasons. He had a slow start to the 2010 season hitting just .143. However, his batting average over the last 5 years for the Orioles is .293.
RED SOX - Starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has no time table set for his return to the Red Sox. He made only a few spring training appearances before he was put on the shelf with a neck strain. Matsuzaka made a rehab start for Triple A Pawtucket on Saturday and threw 73 pitches. His velocity was solid reaching 93 MPH. Boston would like to see him throw at least 95 pitches comfortably before they would consider calling him up. Also left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is day to day after a scary collision on Sunday with teammate Adrian Beltre. Ellsbury was feared to be seriously injured but now it looks like will most likely get back in the line up sometime this week.
DEVIL RAYS - Reliever J.P. Howell will be on the mend until approximately mid May. Howell is a key left handed reliever that sported ERA's of 2.22 and 2.84 the last two seasons for Tampa Bay. Howell noticed he has "lost some strength" in his shoulder this spring and is now rehabbing.
BLUE JAYS - All star second baseman Aaron Hill won't be back in the Jay line up until at least April 23. Hill was put on the D.L. with a strained hamstring. Toronto will definitely miss his bat as Hill hit .286 with 36 homers and 108 RBI in 2009.
INDIANS - Center fielder Grady Sizemore has been in and out of the Cleveland line up since the start of last season. He missed a full two months in 2009 and now his nagging injuries are affecting him in 2010. He was scratched from Sunday's game in Detroit and Monday's home opener vs. the Rangers with back tightness. He hopes to be back in the field on Wednesday. Sizemore struggled last season but hit 30 HR's and stole 30 bases in 2008.
ROYALS - Reliever Kyle Farnsworth (41 appearances last year) left last Friday's game against the Red Sox with tightness in his pitching shoulder. He threw in the bullpen on Sunday and the Royal brass determined he would not need to be placed on the D.L. They hope to have him available at some point during their current 9-game road trip.
RANGERS - Starting second baseman Ian Kinsler has been sidelined since March 12th, however he is making progress. Kinsler, who has a sprained ankle, was in spikes for the first time on Sunday and worked on turning double plays. Texas wants him to be able to run the bases full speed before getting him back in the line up. Speaking of running the bases, Kinsler has 80 stolen bases for the Rangers over the last three seasons.
BRAVES - Keep an eye on Chipper Jones. He has had some back issues and a strained oblique as of late. He was held out of the Braves weekend series vs. San Francisco. He was back in the line up Monday vs. San Diego going 0 for 3 (now hitting just .167 this year). With back and oblique problems, he may be in and out of the line up in the foreseeable future.
MARLINS - Relief pitcher Brian Sanches was big reason tat Florida's bullpen was ranked 12th in MLB last year with an ERA of 3.90. Sanches, however has been sidelined this year after straining his hamstring late in spring training. He is eligible to come off the D.L. on Saturday but that won't happen. At the earliest the Marlins are hoping he has a chance to come back to the bigs late next week. Sanches appeared in 47 games last season and had an ERA of just 2.56.
NATIONALS - The Nats #1 offensive weapon has been out since April 10th. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who hit .292 with 33 homers last year, came out of Washington's game vs. the NY Mets on Saturday with a tight hamstring. He missed Sunday's game vs. the Mets and Monday's game vs. the Phillies. Other than Adam Dunn, Zimmerman is only other power guy on that team. They need him on the field. He will be a day to day proposition this week.
ASTROS - Lance Berkman hopes to return to the field by the time the Astros return from their 6-game road trip on April 20th. Berkman has knee surgery back on March and has yet to play this season. However, first year manager Brad Mills said they will not bring Berkman back until he is 100% and ready to play everyday which could push his return date further into the future. As of this writing, Houston is 0-7 and hitting just .223. They could definitely use Berkman's offense soon.
PIRATES - Starter Ross Ohlendorf was scratched from Monday's start at San Francisco on Monday due to back spasms. The back problem surfaced last Friday and Ohlendorf was unable to throw at all on Monday. He is scheduled to start again on Saturday and the Pirates want him to be able to his "side session" on Wednesday, otherwise a Saturday start might be out of the question.
DIAMONDBACKS - Starting catcher Miguel Montero could be on the mend for awhile after injuring his knee in their game vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday. The DBacks are hoping it's "only" a torn meniscus and not something more serious. Results from an MRI are expected soon. Montero, who hit .294 last season, was put on the 15 day D.L. but it could be a season ender if something more serious shows up.
DODGERS - Key left handed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo had his best bullpen session yet on Sunday as he attempts to return from an elbow injury. Manager Joe Torre said that Kuo is close to starting his minor league rehab assignment. His absence has been a strain on an LA bullpen that is nearly devoid of left handers. George Sherrill is the only other lefty in the pen and he has been shelled with an ERA of 22.50 in three appearances. Kuo's ERA in 2009 was 3.00 in 35 appearances.
CUBS - Starter Ted Lilly (3.10 ERA in 2009) had shoulder surgery in the off-season however that hasn't been the problem. His back has been the biggest issue. He has yet to make a Major League start in 2010 and was scratched from last Friday's Triple A start in Iowa. He threw 25 pitches on Monday and will make a start for the Iowa on Wednesday. Also keep a close watch on first baseman Derek Lee who left Monday's game with the Brewers with a thumb injury.
PHILLIES - All Star second baseman Jimmy Rollins was scratched from Monday's game after straining his right calf in warm ups. Rollins has started the season on a tear hitting .385 with eight runs scored in the first six games. His status is day to day and definitely something to keep a close eye on.
PADRES - San Diego was hoping the oft injured starter Chris Young was back to his dominating days of a few years ago. It looked like that might be the case as Young completely baffled Arizona in his opening day start lasting 6 innings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs. Young was to start again on Monday in the team's home opener, however he was scratched and put on the D.L. with shoulder tightness. Young could be back by April 23.