Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Battered Birds
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The Cardinals have been able to compile the league’s best record despite a number of significant injuries this season, as Adam Wainwright, Matt Adams, Matt Holliday, Jaime Garcia, Jon Jay and Jordan Walden have all missed ample time.
They’re now going to have to do without at least one more integral player for a while.
Randal Grichuk injured his right elbow on a throw during Sunday’s loss to the Marlins, and on Monday an MRI revealed that he had a muscle strain and low-grade ligament sprain. It doesn’t look to be a long-term injury, but the Cards will be without Grichuk’s bat until September.
“The overall ligament probably looks like a lot of pitcher and position player elbows, so we’re not overly concerned with that,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “But short-term, you’ve got to let the muscle heal. Otherwise, I do think you expose the ligament to possible greater risk.”
Grichuk has been one of the better rookies in the National League this season, sporting a .284/.333/.561 batting line with 15 homers, 21 doubles, seven triples and 44 RBI. Of players with at least 300 plate appearances, he ranks fourth in the NL with his .561 slugging percentage. A St. Louis club that’s struggled at times offensively this season is going to miss his thump in the lineup.
The guy who took Grichuk’s spot in center field Monday was Jason Heyward, who shifted over from his normal position in right. Unfortunately, he lasted just two innings before being lifted because of left hamstring tightness. He’ll be re-evaluated Tuesday before more is known, but Heyward would figure to at least miss a few days of action.
Brandon Moss, who had started just one of the previous six games, was in the lineup Monday in left field, with Stephen Piscotty in right. Moss would figure to play regularly against righties while Grichuk is out if the Cards aim to use Heyward in center. Although it’s possible they now might want to protect Heyward’s hamstring by having him do a little less running in right.
Tommy Pham was promoted to replace Grichuk on the roster and should see time in center field along with Peter Bourjos. The Cards have also mentioned Stephen Piscotty as a possibility to play some in center.
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Hicks Red-Hot for Twins
Just last month, Aaron Hicks was still looking like a bust as a former top prospect. He’s doing his best of late to change that label.
Hicks launched his eighth home run of the season in Monday’s extra-innings loss to the Yankees. The 25-year-old is now batting .295 with seven longballs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored and three stolen bases over 39 games since returning from the disabled list in early July. Not bad for a guy who was hitting .201/.293/.313 for his career coming into the season and .247/.293/.301 batter this year before going on the DL.
So what’s changed for Hicks these last six weeks? 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson hears that the outfielder is doing way more preparation now than he was doing while he was struggling. Hicks has always had the raw ability to be a real contributor for fantasy owners with some pop and plenty of speed. If his level of commitment is now on the rise, that could be a good combo.
Byron Buxton remains the Twins’ center fielder of the future and will likely be back in the majors soon. However, Hicks has earned a spot in the everyday lineup, whether it is in left or right field. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the club shift Torii Hunter into a backup role if they fall out of the playoff hunt. The veteran outfielder is batting just .167 since the beginning of July.
Kemp Surging
Don’t look now, but Matt Kemp is up to his second-half tricks again.
Kemp slugged a solo home run while also adding a single and a walk in Monday’s win over the Braves. It was his third longball in his last five games and his sixth in 29 contests since the All-Star break. Kemp is batting .314 with 22 RBI to go along with his six homers in the second half.
In reality, Kemp’s power turnaround began a few weeks before the All-Star break. He’s smacked 12 over the boards in his last 53 games after hitting just two homers in his first 65 contests. You might recall that Kemp took a while to get going last season, as well, hitting only .269/.330/.430 before the break before catching fire with a .309/.365/.606 line with 17 dingers after it.
Kemp still has his work cut out for him if he wants to avoid being called a disappointment in his first season in San Diego. After all, he’s still sporting a rather pedestrian .265/.313/.422 batting line with 14 home runs. But, the 30-year-old certainly showed last season that he’s still capable of being one of the better hitters on the planet when he gets hot, and he’s certainly heating up now.
National League Quick Hits: Giancarlo Stanton (hand) hit off a pitching machine and against live pitching on Monday … David Wright (shoulder) is on track to be activated from the disabled list on August 24 … Mike Leake (hamstring) will not return from the disabled list on Tuesday as initially expected, instead likely being pushed back until later this week … Cameron Maybin singled and belted a solo homer in Monday’s loss to the Padres … Michael Wacha limited the Giants to a lone run over seven innings in the Cardinals’ win over the Giants Monday … Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that Nori Aoki (concussion) will be activated from the disabled list when first eligible on Thursday … Justin Nicolino picked up a victory Monday after giving up two runs in 6 2/3 innings versus the Brewers … Dee Gordon went 2-for-5 with a double, a two-run single, and a stolen base in Monday’s victory against the Brewers … Matt Holliday (quad) could resume running this week, while Matt Adams (quad) ramped up his running Monday and will continue his rehab later this week at the Cardinals’ spring training complex … FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Dodgers have discussed a trade involving Alejandro De Aza with the Red Sox …
American League Quick Hits: Matt Wieters (hamstring) is expected back in the Orioles’ lineup on Tuesday … Derek Holland (shoulder) has officially been cleared to rejoin the Rangers’ rotation on Wednesday … Dustin Pedroia (hamstring) took batting practice Monday for the first time since landing back on the disabled list in late July … Carlos Rodon notched his first complete game but took a loss Monday, yielding two runs over eight frames versus the Angels … Andrew Heaney went six innings of one-run ball against the White Sox … Miguel Sano clubbed his eighth home run in a 3-for-5 effort as the Twins lost in 10 innings to the Yankees on Monday … Brian McCann went 3-for-5 with a two-run single and a three-run home run as the Yankees beat the Twins … Danny Salazar held the Red Sox to one run in seven innings in Monday’s victory … Adrian Beltre went 3-for-4 with two doubles and worked a walk-off walk on Monday against the Mariners … Mark Teixeira exited Monday’s game after fouling a ball off his leg, but X-rays came back negative … Lonnie Chisenhall doubled, homered, and knocked in three runs across four at-bats in Monday’s win against the Red Sox … Bryan Mitchell was diagnosed with a small nasal fracture after being hit with a comebacker during Monday’s start … Rick Porcello (triceps) is on track to rejoin the Red Sox’ rotation on August 26 … The Blue Jays optioned Drew Hutchison to Triple-A, as the schedule allows them to go with four starters for a while …
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