Daily Dose: Dustin Is Done
Out-of-contention teams will often shut down ailing players early, and you can add Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia to the growing list. Though for him it was more forced than, say, Yu Darvish.
Pedroia has been suffering from inflammation in his left hand and wrist for a large majority of the 2014 season and will finally have it surgically repaired on Thursday in Boston. No official recovery timetable has been revealed, but this will be the third straight year that Pedroia has required some kind of hand procedure and he has yet to miss an Opening Day. It doesn’t sound like this is going to be a particularly complicated surgery given that an MRI taken earlier this week showed no structural damage.
But we’ll have to wait and see.
Pedroia had a horrible season offensively, posting a career-worst .278/.337/.376 batting line, seven home runs, and six stolen bases in 135 games. He averaged a .303/.371/.459 slash line, 15 homers, and 19 steals between 2008-2013.
Assuming the surgery is successful, Pedroia will be a good bounceback candidate for 2015 fantasy leagues. His poor output in 2014 has to be viewed through the spectrum of this lingering hand injury and he doesn’t turn 32 years old until next August.
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Get With It With Wade
It’s hard to get specific information on injuries in September because rosters have expanded and so there is no need for disabled list filings. The Royals aren’t saying much about the status of closer Greg Holland, who hasn’t pitched in a week due to what’s being termed triceps tightness. Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star suspects that an MRI is coming, and even more days off could follow.
Wade Davis has been filling in at closer for the Royals and collected his third save in as many tries Wednesday night in a big win over the Tigers. Davis owns an outstanding 0.70 ERA and 96/21 K/BB ratio in 64 1/3 innings this season, and he has fanned six of the nine batters that he has faced since Holland went down. The right-hander needs to be owned in all fantasy leagues, and he’s a particularly good pickup in dynasty formats with many suspecting that the Royals will trade either Davis or Holland this winter. They’re both getting expensive.
Down The Stretch With Doolittle
A’s closer Sean Doolittle threw 20 pitches with batters standing in the box on Wednesday afternoon and manager Bob Melvin told reporters afterward that the left-hander is on track to the bullpen on Friday for the opening of a big three-game series in Seattle. The A’s are struggling to remain in contention for a postseason spot and fill-in closer Eric O’Flaherty blew his last save opportunity, so Doolittle should be thrown right back into the fire.
Doolittle owns a dominant 2.28 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and 80/5 K/BB ratio in 551/3 innings this season.
National League Quick Hits: Reds closer Aroldis Chapman tallied his 32nd save of the season in Wednesday’s defeat of the Cardinals … Pedro Alvarez is done for the season due to a stress reaction in the fourth metatarsal of his left foot … Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (concussion) could be cleared for baseball activities on Thursday … Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a walk and an inside-the-park home run Wednesday as the Pirates beat the Phillies … Evan Gattis (strep throat) is expected to DH for the Braves this weekend in Texas … Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez earned his 40th save of the season Wednesday against the Marlins … Aaron Harang dominated the Nationals on Wednesday, striking out nine while allowing only an unearned run over seven innings … Patrick Corbin played catch Tuesday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March … Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is day-to-day with lower back tightness … Dan Haren stayed hot Wednesday, firing seven scoreless innings in a win over the Padres … Rafael Montero earned his first major league win on Wednesday, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings versus the Rockies … Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna homered in a third straight game Monday, giving him 22 bombs for the year … Jason Heyward went 3-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Nationals … Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown left Wednesday's game against the Pirates with a left shoulder contusion … Jorge Soler slugged his fourth major league home run Wednesday in the Cubs’ loss to the Blue Jays … Mets closer Jenrry Mejia collected his 25th save of the season Wednesday versus the Rockies … Wily Peralta finally picked up his 16th win after limiting the Marlins to one run in 6 2/3 innings Wednesday.
American League Quick Hits: Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka (elbow) will appear in an instructional league game Monday in Tampa and could return to the major league rotation after that … James Shields tossed seven shutout innings against the Tigers on Wednesday, helping the Royals move back into first place in the AL Central … Josh Hamilton (shoulder, neck) missed a sixth straight game Wednesday and doesn’t appear close to returning to the Angels’ lineup … White Sox closer Jake Petricka pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save as the White Sox beat the A's on Wednesday … Carlos Beltran (elbow) could soon be shut down for the season … Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen moved to 15-4 after tossing seven innings of one-run ball Wednesday versus the Red Sox … Angels closer Huston Street (hamstring) expects to be available Friday … Drew Hutchison fanned 10 batters and allowed just one run over 6 1/3 innings Wednesday as the Blue Jays finished off a sweep of the Cubs … Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday that Brett Gardner (abdomen) will be sidelined "a few more days at least” … Albert Pujols went 3-for-6 with his first triple since 2010 on Wednesday versus the Rangers … Martin Prado is day-to-day with a lingering left hamstring injury … Tommy Milone (shoulder) will rejoin the Twins' rotation on Sunday in Chicago … Astros second baseman Jose Altuve tallied his 200th hit of the season on Wednesday … Luke Hochevar played catch Wednesday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery … Anibal Sanchez (pectoral) played catch in an indoor batting cage Wednesday but still isn’t close to mound work … Yankees catcher Brian McCann went 2-for-3 with a two-run single and a solo home run Wednesday in a comeback win over the Rays … Jose Iglesias (shins) was cleared for lower-body workouts Wednesday after a follow-up exam and should open the 2015 season as the Tigers’ starting shortstop … Paul Konerko (hand) hopes to return this weekend … A’s starter Jeff Samardzija blanked the White Sox for seven innings Wednesday in a no-decision … Dustin Ackley (ankle) is expected to return to action Friday.
