Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Maeda, Man
Kenta Maeda was unfazed by his environment, the way he’s been all year.
This environment — Coors Field — was different, but the result was the same as Maeda carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with 6 1/3 shutout innings in a win over the Rockies. Maeda allowed three hits in total while striking out eight to move to 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 23/5 K/BB ratio over 25 1/3 innings.
Maeda threw five pitches for strikes in the high altitude, keeping the Rockies hitters off balance from the jump.
“He doesn’t miss much,” Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez said. “You have to paint in the big leagues. And he painted all night.”
As with most players from the Japanese and Korean leagues, it was hard to know how the 28-year-old’s game would translate to MLB. After allowing a lone run over his first four starts, it’s clear that he’s adjusted just fine.
That includes at Coors, where he’ll undoubtedly pitch many times over the duration of his eight-year contract. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his pitcher’s success isn’t just limited to Planet Earth, either.
“He can pitch on the moon,” Roberts said.
That’s for next week.
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Gallardo Shelved By Biceps Injury
Yovani Gallardo experienced a first Friday, and not in a good way.
The right-hander was removed from Friday’s start against the Royals after two innings with a right biceps injury, and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with biceps tendinitis. He allowed four runs over his two innings before exiting, topping out at 88 mph.
“My shoulder just didn’t feel right,” Gallardo said after the game. “To be honest, it was one of those feelings that I’ve never had my whole career.”
Where things go next is unclear. Gallardo flew back to Baltimore on Saturday and will undergo an MRI and see team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs on Sunday.
“Nobody really knows,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Until we get the MRI and Dr. Jacobs sees him, you don’t know exactly what it is. … I don’t think anybody knows exactly what’s causing the symptoms he has. It’s not acute pain or anything. He just felt, I know how he described it to me down the runway, but it wasn’t like he was feeling acute pain or anything.
“It was just general weakness there. You kind of think of when you’re trying to shoot a bow and arrow. When you draw back the bow, there’s some tautness there and you feel like there’s a good strong base to throw off of, he just didn’t feel strong there (Friday) night.”
The O’s should know more about Gallardo’s outlook Sunday.
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Roark Roars Past Twins
Among the Nationals rotation, Tanner Roark may be the least recognized by most baseball fans. But he made a name for himself Saturday.
Roark struck out 15 over seven scoreless innings in a win over the Twins. He allowed just two hits while walking three, moving to 2-2 with the win.
Roark cut through a Twins lineup that has been strikeout-prone this season, but that does little to diminish the brilliance of the start. Roark, who throws a sinker, slider, curve and changeup, said he can’t remember a time all four pitches worked so well.
“I don’t think I ever have,” he said. “I was throwing four pitches to lefties and righties. Keeping them guessing, keeping them uncomfortable up at the plate, trying to get ahead with strike one.”
Roark gets overlooked sharing a rotation with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Joe Ross, but the right-hander won 15 games in 2014 and has a 2.63 ERA through four starts this season. He should be owned in mixed leagues for his win potential, with any more games like Saturday an added bonus.
National League Quick Hits: Mets manager Terry Collins doesn’t expect Yoenis Cespedes (leg) to play the rest of the weekend. Cespedes bruised his upper right leg earlier this month and aggravated the injury late in Friday’s victory over Atlanta. No MRI is scheduled but Collins said Cespedes is “limping pretty bad” … Braves prospect Aaron Blair was recalled Saturday in advance of making his MLB debut on Sunday. Blair threw seven hitless innings at Triple-A on Tuesday, but the Mets should provide more of a test for the right-hander … Charlie Blackmon (toe) is hoping to begin a rehab assignment next week. He’s been out with turf toe since April 13. Rockies manager Walt Weiss suggested Blackmon might only need a couple games to get ready … Scott Kazmir said he’s felt discomfort in the area between his left wrist and thumb since spring training. The left-hander isn’t expected to miss any starts, but the injury could explain his disappointing 6.63 ERA over four outings … Charlie Morton left Saturday’s game against the Brewers with a strained left hamstring. It’s hard to see how he avoids at least a short trip to the disabled list … Reds manager Bryan Price said Adam Duvall will be the team’s primary left fielder going forward. He opened the season in a platoon with Scott Schebler but has outperformed him by hitting .279 with a .558 slugging percentage in his first 43 at-bats … Eugenio Suarez had a huge day Saturday, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and three runs scored against the Cubs. The 24-year-old has followed up on a promising 2015 showing with a .303/.361/.545 slash line through 17 games … Odubel Herrera terrorized the Brewers in Saturday night’s win, as he went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, two walks, two stolen bases and four runs scored. He’s now hitting .283/.442/.433 and has 17 walks with just 16 strikeouts on the year.
American League Quick Hits: Xander Bogaerts is considered day-to-day after X-rays on his right wrist came back negative on Friday. He was out of the Sox lineup Saturday, but he should be back in a day or two … Ervin Santana was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday due to back stiffness. Tyler Duffey will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to start in his place … An MRI of Aaron Hicks‘ left shoulder revealed traumatic bursitis in the shoulder. Hicks was given a cortisone shot and won’t resume baseball activities for at least 4-5 days, but he could be headed to the disabled list … Brett Gardner went 3-for-5 with a walk-off home run Saturday. He also stole a base, his third of the season, in the all-around effort … The White Sox also won in walk-off fashion, with Jose Abreu singling in the 11th inning to end it. Abreu had been 0-for-5 to that point … Colby Rasmus clubbed a grand slam Saturday in a win over the Red Sox. The 29-year-old has been a pleasant surprise this year with 16 RBI and a .449 on base percentage … Chris Davis went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored on Saturday. His 17 runs scored are second-most in the American League.
