Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Kang's Season Over
A big loss compounded a bigger loss for the Pirates on Thursday.
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The Pirates lost 9-6 to the Cubs on Thursday afternoon, pulling the Cubs to within two games in the standings, and they also lost shortstop Jung Ho Kang to a torn meniscus in his left knee and a fractured left tibia in the process. Kang will miss the rest of the regular season and postseason as a result of his injuries, which required surgery to repair a displaced lateral tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus, the team announced late Thursday. Kang is expected to miss 6-8 months and may not be ready for the start of the 2016 season.
Kang suffered the injuries in the top of the first inning after a takeout slide by Chris Coghlan. The shortstop couldn’t avoid the slide, getting his left leg caught in the ground.
Some denounced the play as dirty, but Kang, through his agent, Alan Nero, said he had no hard feelings towards Coghlan.
“It is unfortunate that what would be considered heads up baseball would cause such a serious injury,” Kang said. “That said, Coghlan was playing the game the way it should be played. I’m confident he meant me no harm. I appreciate everyone’s support.”
It’s a devastating blow to the Pirates, who have virtually guaranteed at least a spot in the one-game playoff. After a slow start, Kang had come on strong in recent months, taking the starting gig from Jordy Mercer and batting in the middle of the Bucs’ lineup. Kang was batting .287/.355/.461 with 15 homers, 58 RBI and 60 runs at the time of his injury.
With Kang out, Mercer immediately becomes vital to the Pirates’ postseason aspirations. The same can’t be said for Kang’s fantasy owners — Mercer is hitting just .239./289/.304 on the season. Kang owners will be forced to look outside Pittsburgh for replacement options down the stretch.
What’s Good, Pham
The Cardinals have relied on different offensive heroes all season, and the past two nights that hero has been Tommy Pham.
The 27-year-old, who has just 43 major league games played due to a litany of injuries at the minor league level, homered twice and added a triple for good measure on Wednesday, and Pham was back at it again Thursday in the Cardinals’ win over the Brewers. Pham, batting second and playing center field, went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, two RBI and two runs scored as the Cardinals romped 6-0.
“We’re real happy we’re able to put a young player in and watch him make the adjustments,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Pham after Wednesday’s performance. “He’s been doing some work trying to figure out some holes and figure out the league. He has obvious power. He’s just an exciting player.”
And he should continue to get chances to show what he can do in the coming weeks. The man who the team hoped would be its starting center fielder at this point, Randal Grichuk, is still unable to throw long distances following a right elbow strain, and the center fielder of years past, Jon Jay, is hitting just .219/.305/.270 in 68 games this year.
Pham, meanwhile, is now batting .272/.352/.500 with four homers, four triples, 14 RBI and 21 runs scored through 38 games. Although he has just one stolen base, Pham also possesses some speed as well, stealing 122 bases in the minors.
Stanton Return Looking Doubtful
Giancarlo Stanton has held out hope that he’ll still be able to return this season, but those hopes continue to get bleaker by the day.
Stanton hasn’t taken batting practice since Monday after tests showed the slugger has an “abnormal amount” of internal scar tissue in his surgically repaired left hand. Stanton said the New York doctors performing the tests said “the strength’s not there. Don’t overdo it. Do what’s manageable.”
Stanton said the scar tissue won’t go away before the end of the season, and may not go away naturally at all.
“Not in a couple of weeks,” Stanton said, understanding it might require the entire offseason for the hand to completely heal. “That’s kind of the big speed bump as far as getting the strength back. That has altered the anatomy of my tendons. So that’s what’s going on.”
National League Quick Hits: Adam Wainwright (heel) will find out Monday whether he will be allowed to return this season. Wainwright has been throwing regular bullpen sessions over the last two weeks without issue, but the Cardinals’ medical staff will decide his fate … the Cubs activated Jorge Soler (oblique) from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday. Soler missed roughly four weeks with a strained left oblique … what a long, strange year it’s been for Mat Latos, who was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Thursday. Latos has a 4.95 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 112 2/3 innings overall this season … Matt Holliday, who was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday, struck out as a pinch-hitter in Thursday’s game. It was Holliday’s first at-bat since July 29 as he works his way back from a quad tear … Jimmy Nelson had a scary moment in Thursday’s game against the Cardinals, leaving after being hit in the head by a line drive. Nelson was able to walk off the field under his own power, fortunately, and the Brewers should have a better idea of his outlook after tests run Thursday night … Ryan Braun (back) returned to the Brewers’ lineup Thursday. He finished 0-for-4 in his return … Manny Banuelos had a bone spur removed from his left elbow on Thursday, a procedure that spells the end of his season. Banuelos, who owned a 5.13 ERA over 26 1/3 innings this year, will be ready for spring training next year.
American League Quick Hits: With Corey Kluber returning Thursday, the Indians moved Trevor Bauer to the bullpen. Bauer has put up a 6.39 ERA with 28 walks in his last 43 2/3 innings since the start of August … in his return, Kluber (hamstring) allowed two earned runs over four innings, striking out five … Carlos Gomez said Thursday that he’s very encouraged by his progress in a return from an intercostal strain. Gomez ran, caught fly balls and threw during the Astros’ batting practice on Thursday, but he’s still yet to swing a bat, so a return isn’t imminent … the Royals will shake up their starting rotation, demoting Danny Duffy to the bullpen while moving Jeremy Guthrie back into a starting role. Duffy has a 4.35 ERA and 1.43 WHIP after struggling Wednesday against the Indians … Devon Travis will undergo exploratory surgery on his left shoulder, officially ending his season. The second baseman put forth a fine offensive season when he was on the field, batting .304/.361/.498 in 62 games … Luke Gregerson will rejoin the Astros on Friday. The closer has been away from the team for the birth of his first child … Asdrubal Cabrera (knee) was out of the Rays’ lineup on Thursday. Cabrera hasn’t played since suffering a left knee strain on Tuesday … Billy Butler hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning against the White Sox on Thursday to pull a victory from the jaws of defeat. Butler has 13 homers and 62 RBI this season … David Robertson was on the other side of Butler’s climactic homer. The White Sox closer has now allowed seven runs over his last two innings of work, raising his ERA to 3.14 … Jason Castro was activated from the 15-day disabled list after missing three weeks with a strained right quad.
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