Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Miller Time Is Over
Follow @Baer_Bill and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.
The Yankees placed closer Andrew Miller on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday. The lefty is dealing with a strained left forearm. Miller had been fantastic closing out ballgames for the Yankees, notching the save in all 17 opportunities with a 1.03 ERA and a 43/10 K/BB ratio over 26 1/3 innings.
Per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch and Grace Raynor, manager Joe Girardi said, “He told us after the game [Tuesday] night. I guess he’s been experiencing it for a little bit and he told us last night, so we had an MRI this morning, we got the results later today. He won’t throw the ball for 10 days to two weeks, and then you go from there.”
For most teams, losing a closer of that caliber is a big blow, but the Yankees are fortunate enough to have Dellin Betances. Betances, 27, has served as Miller’s set-up man this season and pitched remarkably well, owning a 0.28 ERA with a 54/14 K/BB ratio across 32 1/3 innings. This comes a year after finishing with a 1.40 ERA and a 135/24 K/BB ratio in 90 innings. There is no doubt that Betances can thrive in the closer’s role filling in for Miller.
The timetable for Miller’s injury is not yet known. He will abstain from throwing for the next 10-14 days.
Editor’s Note: Play one-day fantasy baseball for cash! FanDuel is hosting a $40,000 league for Thursday’s MLB games. It’s just $5 to join and first place wins $4,000. Starts today at 12:10pm ET. Enter now!
Cubs, Blue Jays Interested in Jonathan Papelbon
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Wednesday that the Phillies have had talks with the Blue Jays and Cubs about closer Jonathan Papelbon. The 34-year-old closer has seen his velocity decline since signing with the Phillies after the 2011 season, but he has continued to rank among the game’s elite closers. Last season, he saved 39 games with a 2.04 ERA; this year, he’s perfect in 12 chances with a 1.13 ERA.
Talks have hit a standstill, according to Rosenthal, though the Phillies are willing to eat a significant portion of his remaining salary. He is earning $13 million for the 2015 season and his ’16 option vests for $13 million if he finishes 26 more games between now and the end of the regular season.
The Jays’ bullpen has converted only six of 16 save opportunities this season, the worst success rate in baseball. Rookie Miguel Castro was given the closer’s role early in the season but struggled and was demoted to Triple-A Buffalo. Brett Cecil regained the role, but has recorded just two saves on the season. There is no doubt that Papelbon would be a significant upgrade for the .500 Jays, playing in a mediocre AL East.
The Cubs have converted 14 saves in 22 opportunities, the seventh-worst success rate in baseball. Hector Rondon has served as the club’s regular closer but manager Joe Maddon isn’t locked in on a specific closer. He said, according to MLB.com’s Jacob Emert, “How’s like, ‘Be ready to pitch in the last three innings’? If you’re keeping score, you know when the seventh, eighth and ninth is popping up. I’ve been through that. I think it’s a product of millennials. It’s that generation that needs definition consistently.”
A move to a contender would boost Papelbon’s fantasy value immensely. He has personally seen 12 save opportunities and the Phillies as a team have only seen 16, tied for the fewest in baseball. The average team has seen 23 save chances at this point.
Editor’s Note: The growth of daily fantasy sports has been astounding. This infographic, compiled by our friends at RotoGrinders, puts the industry’s rise into an entirely new light. Check out “The Growth of Daily Fantasy Sports, Visualized.“
Mets Eyeing Aramis Ramirez
Newsday’s Marc Carig reported Wednesday that the Mets have been considering a trade for Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez. As Carig notes, a trade hinges on the Mets’ willingness to absorb Ramirez’ remaining salary, $14 million prorated.
The Mets have had a hole at third base for most of the season as David Wright has been dealing with back problems. Eric Campbell, Daniel Murphy, and Ruben Tejada have handled the position at various points throughout the season, but without much success. Campbell hasn’t hit, Tejada isn’t a natural third baseman and struggled in eight games there, and Murphy is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quad.
Ramirez, 36, plans to retire after the season, and he hasn’t performed well to this point, batting a meager .213/.257/.390 with seven home runs and 18 RBI. But Ramirez has traditionally been a slow starter, posting an OPS 66 points higher in the second half than in the first half over his career. And while he has lost several steps, Ramirez is still an adequate defender and would certainly be an upgrade in that regard alone.
Zack Cozart to Hit the Disabled List
Reds shortstop Zack Cozart suffered an unfortunate knee injury in Wednesday’s win over the Phillies. The injury occurred when he lunged for the first base bag in an attempt to beat out an infield single. Cozart underwent an MRI but the results are not yet known.
Cozart was in the midst of a career year, batting .259/.311/.461 with nine home runs and 28 RBI. He was on pace to easily surpass his previous career high of 15 home runs and his .772 OPS was well above the marks set in the previous three years since he became an everyday player.
23-year-old Eugenio Suarez could get called up from Triple-A Louisville to take Cozart’s spot on the roster. In 238 plate appearances in the minors, he’s batting .256/.348/.438 with eight home runs and 25 RBI. He made his major league debut last season with the Tigers, but cobbled together a meager .652 OPS over 277 PA.
Hunter Pence to Return to the DL
Giants outfielder Hunter Pence is likely to be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports. Pence, suffering from tendinitis in his right wrist, was unable to do baseball activities prior to Wednesday’s game in New York against the Mets. He hasn’t played since June 2 and has logged just 18 games on the season as he started the season on the disabled list after suffering a broken forearm during spring training.
In Pence’s absence, the Giants should continue to start Justin Maxwell regularly. Maxwell homered in Wednesday’s win, giving him five on the season along with 19 RBI.
National League Quick Hits: The Mets optioned infielder Danny Muno to Triple-A Las Vegas … Nationals outfielder Denard Span went 3-for-6 with a game-winning RBI single on Wednesday against the Yankees … Braves reliever Jim Johnson, giving regular closer Jason Grilli a day of rest, closed out the Padres in Wednesday’s win for his third save … Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna homered in his final at-bat in Wednesday’s loss to the Blue Jays, extending his hitting streak to 11 games … Phillies second baseman Chase Utley went 0-for-3 in Wednesday’s loss to the Reds, leaving him without a hit in his last 19 at-bats … Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez picked up his seventh win, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Rockies on Wednesday … Cubs catching prospect Kyle Schwarber hit his 13th home run on Tuesday with Double-A Tennessee … Pirates closer Mark Melancon moved into a tie for the National League lead with his 19th save, picked up Wednesday as the Pirates topped the Brewers … The Reds released pitcher Jason Marquis on Wednesday … Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun left Wednesday’s game against the pirates due to dizziness … Dodgers infielder Justin Turner (knee) sat out Wednesday’s game against the Diamondbacks … The Giants placed outfielder Gregor Blanco on the seven-day concussion disabled list … The Padres will activate outfielder Wil Myers (wrist) from the disabled list on Thursday … Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson (foot) could be activated from the disabled list on Thursday … Diamondbacks starter Archie Bradley (shoulder) played catch on Tuesday but still isn’t ready to make a rehab start.
American League Quick Hits: The Yankees optioned infielder Jose Pirela to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday and is expected to miss eight weeks … Blue Jays pitcher Scott Copeland, making a spot start, held the Marlins to one run over seven innings, then was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo … The Orioles may place starter Miguel Gonzalez (groin) on the disabled list … Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino (calf) won’t begin a rehab assignment until at least next week … Alex Gordon hit a three-run home run in Wednesday’s win over the Twins, but has just four hits in 34 plate appearances in June … Twins starter Ricky Nolasco (ankle) will throw a light bullpen session on Thursday … Tigers catcher Alex Avila had an MRI on his left knee, which showed no new damage, and he may be able to return by the end of the month … White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu hit his 11th home run in Wednesday’s win against the Astros … Indians starter Trevor Bauer served up a grand slam and couldn’t escape the fourth inning in Wednesday’s loss to the Mariners … Astros pitching prospect Vincent Velasquez pitched five shutout innings in his major league debut on Wednesday against the White Sox … Rangers pitcher Martin Perez (elbow) reported feeling good after making his first rehab start on Wednesday … The Angels designated outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis for assignment on Wednesday … Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz is expected to DH on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday due to back spasms … Athletics reliever Edward Mujica (thumb) will throw a bullpen on Thursday before going out on a rehab assignment.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
