Daily Dose: Nasty Carrasco
The Indians are five games back of the second American League Wild Card spot with only 11 games left on their regular season schedule, so they’re basically playing out the string here in late September. But there is a silver lining in this disappointing end to the 2014 campaign, because the Tribe may have found another ace to pair with Corey Kluber in 2015 and beyond.
Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco tossed the first shutout of his major league career on Wednesday night against the Astros, yielding just two hits and one walk while striking out 12 batters over his nine scoreless frames.
Houston second baseman Jose Altuve, who has set a new Astros franchise record with a whopping 213 hits this season, offered high praise for Carrasco after Wednesday’s game: "I knew I was in trouble with him since my first at-bat,” Altuve told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, “because he threw fastballs in the middle and I couldn’t hit it.”
Carrasco now boasts a 1.67 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 98/16 K/BB over his last 97 innings. That’s a run of dominance that dates back to April 30, when the Indians demoted him temporarily from the rotation to the bullpen. He has his starting job back now and has been a front-line starter down the stretch in fantasy leagues.
Carrasco had a place on Baseball America‘s Top 100 Prospects rankings in his age 20, 21, and 22 seasons, and he was a major part of the package that the Phillies gave to the Indians for Cliff Lee in July 2009. Talent has never been the issue for the native of Venezuela.
Perkins Out, Burton In For Twins
Twins closer Glen Perkins has been dealing with discomfort in his neck all month and gave up a three-run homer in a blown save opportunity Tuesday night against the Tigers. Now comes word from Tyler Mason of FOX Sports North that Perkins is going to have a full exam on his left elbow and biceps on Thursday. No matter what turns up in the scans, it’s a good bet that the Twins are going to shut him down for the remainder of the season.
Jared Burton was used in the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s 8-4 defeat of the Tigers -- a non-save opportunity -- and looks to be the likely choice to function as the Twins’ fill-in closer for their final 10 games.
Burton owns an ugly 4.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 43/24 K/BB ratio in 61 1/3 innings this season, but saves are saves and he makes sense as a waiver claim for those still battling for 2014 fantasy championships.
Stanton Done For The Season
The Marlins officially announced Wednesday that slugger Giancarlo Stanton will not play in another game this season despite his stated desire to return to the field. Stanton suffered multiple facial fractures, gruesome lacerations, and even lost some teeth when he was struck in the jaw by a Mike Fiers fastball last Thursday night. He has posted pictures of his progress online and seems to be in great spirits, but Miami is three games below .500 (74-77) with just 11 days left in the regular season so there’s no point in rushing him back.
Stanton finishes the 2014 campaign with a .288/.395/.555 batting line, 37 home runs, and 105 RBI in 145 games. He was a consensus first-round pick this spring and the 24-year-old should climb even higher on draft boards heading into 2015.
National League Quick Hits: Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez remains day-to-day with a right elbow strain … Adam Wainwright threw his third shutout of the season in Wednesday's victory over the Brewers … Ryan Zimmerman (hamstring) played five innings of defense in a simulated game Wednesday at the Nationals' spring training complex in Viera, Florida … Phillies ace Cliff Lee struck out nine batters and held the Padres to one earned run over seven innings Wednesday in a win … Michael Wacha (shoulder) will return to the Cardinals' rotation Saturday against the Reds … Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau finished 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBI in Wednesday’s rout of the Dodgers … Evan Gattis has been diagnosed with a kidney stone but wants to return to the Braves’ starting lineup within the next few days … Angel Pagan (back) is aiming to return to the Giants’ starting lineup on Friday … Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta (back) is not expected to return before Friday … Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons left Wednesday's game after tweaking his ankle and Achilles … Marlins closer Steve Cishek tallied his 37th save of 2014 in Wednesday’s defeat of the Mets … Alex Wood picked up his 11th win of the season, limiting the Nationals to one run over six innings on Wednesday … Michael Morse remains out indefinitely with a left oblique strain … Ike Davis doubled and hit a three-run home run Wednesday as the Pirates routed the Red Sox … Mets outfielder Juan Lagares is out indefinitely with a sprained right elbow … Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks limited the Reds to one run in seven innings Wednesday to improve to 7-2 on the season … Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer is day-to-day because of tightness in his back … Arismendy Alcantara (wrist) hopes to return to the Cubs' starting lineup on Thursday … John Lackey (arm) is scheduled to start for the Cardinals in Friday's series-opener against the Reds … Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa fired six scoreless innings Wednesday in a defeat of the Dodgers.
American League Quick Hits: Tigers catcher Alex Avila hasn’t played since taking a foul tip off his mask on Sunday … Royals starter Yordano Ventura outdueled Chris Sale on Wednesday, holding the White Sox to one run and three hits over seven innings … Steve Pearce swatted a pair of home runs and knocked in four runs in Wednesday's victory against the Blue Jays … Carlos Beltran has been excused from the Yankees and revealed Wednesday on his personal Facebook page that his wife recently had a miscarriage … John Jaso (concussion) will not return this season … Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in Wednesday’s defeat of the White Sox … Brandon McCarthy picked up his eighth win as a Yankee, holding the Rays to two runs over seven innings on Wednesday … Brad Peacock (back) will rejoin the Astros' rotation on Friday against the Mariners … Jeff Samardzija struck out 10 batters over eight scoreless innings Wednesday in a no-decision against the Rangers … Major League Baseball suspended Marcus Stroman six games for intentionally throwing at the Orioles' Caleb Joseph on Monday … C.J. Wilson fired seven shutout innings and yielded only one hit in Wednesday's win over the Mariners … Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar is day-to-day with a jammed right shoulder … Dioner Navarro was out of the Blue Jays’ lineup on Wednesday due to dizziness … Bud Norris notched his 14th win of the season with 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Wednesday … Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo had torn cartilage and a small bone spur removed from his left ankle Wednesday … Miguel Cabrera finished 4-for-5 with two doubles in Wednesday’s loss to the Twins … Ryan Raburn needs surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee … Yankees closer David Robertson picked up his 37th save of the season Wednesday against the Rays … Danny Santana went 3-for-5 with a triple, a double, a steal, and three runs scored Wednesday as the Twins topped the Tigers.
