Dose: Fernandez Nears Return
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Marlins starter Jose Fernandez cleared his final hurdle before being cleared to start on Saturday against the Nationals, throwing a bullpen session on Wednesday. Fernandez started the season on the disabled list after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but made it through only seven starts before returning to the shelf with a biceps injury.
Manager Dan Jennings had very positive remarks on Fernandez’s bullpen session. Via MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, Jennings said, "He threw the ball very well, getting in line for Saturday. So it looks like all systems are go there, for him to get ready to toe the rubber and pitch against the Nationals. Every step along the way is a test. Once he passes one test, he moves to the next. He's passed this one, the next one will be Saturday against the Nats."
Fernandez, across his seven starts this season, posted a 2.30 ERA with a 53/10 K/BB ratio in 43 innings. The 23-year-old is looking to make a few strong starts to finish the year before looking towards a healthy and productive 2016 season.
Pence Still Unable to Take Full Swings
Per Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Giants manager Bruce Bochy believes outfielder Hunter Pence will be able to rejoin the team before the end of the season, but his oblique injury is still bothersome and is preventing him from taking full swings. Pence went on the disabled list on August 19 after straining his oblique in his final at-bat on August 17 against the Cardinals.
It’s been an unfortunate 2015 campaign for Pence. He suffered a broken forearm late in spring training, forcing him to the disabled list. He wouldn’t make his season debut until May 16. Two weeks later, Pence was diagnosed with tendinitis in his left wrist and he was placed on the disabled list for a second time on June 12. He returned on July 7 but was only able to make it a month and 10 days before his next injury.
The 32-year-old outfielder has taken 223 plate appearances and is batting .275/.327/.478 with nine home runs and 40 RBI. The Giants have been able to withstand Pence’s absence as they traded with the Reds for Marlon Byrd in mid-August. Left fielder Nori Aoki has been battling post-concussion symptoms and Gregor Blanco has suffered from a stiff neck, so the Giants’ outfield is still in flux. Juan Perez, Alejandro De Aza, and Brandon Belt have started in left field over the last week and a half while Angel Pagan has handled center field and Byrd right field.
Happ Continues to Impress with Bucs
Pirates starter J.A. Happ dominated the Reds in Wednesday’s start, yielding two runs on three hits while walking none and striking out 10 in six-plus innings. The Bucs acquired Happ at the trade deadline from the Mariners in exchange for minor leaguer Adrian Sampson. In seven starts with his new team, the lefty has a 1.79 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 42/7 K/BB ratio over 40 1/3 innings.
As Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported last month, Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage worked with Happ to fix his delivery. Sawchik wrote that Happ “had too much rotational movement in his motion which dropped his arm slot and made the ball easier to track for opposing hitters.” Sawchik added that Happ’s control suffered as well.
Happ walked between 7.5 and 12.6 percent of batters he faced for much of his career after debuting in 2007. With the Mariners this season, he walked just under seven percent, but he has lowered that all the way to just over four percent as a Pirate. His aggregate walk rate for the 2015 season is likely to register as a new career-low. Happ is also striking out over 26 percent of batters as a Pirate, which would be a career-high in a full season. That rate is up from 17.5 percent with the Mariners.
Seven starts is, of course, a small sample size, but given Searage’s history of fixing once-broken pitchers – including Edinson Volquez and Francisco Liriano – it wouldn’t be shocking if Happ’s transformation lasts. As he has gotten older, he has improved on his control without losing much in the way of missing bats. Happ has certainly shown the capacity for change.
National League Quick Hits: Mets pitcher Steven Matz (blister) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and has been cleared to start on Friday against the Braves … Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is expected to miss a significant amount of time due to an oblique injury … Marlins reliever Carter Capps threw off a mound without discomfort on Wednesday … Braves starter Manny Banuelos has been scratched from Friday’s outing against the Mets due to an elbow issue … Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (wrist) said he had “no pain at all” during a 20-swing round of batting practice on Wednesday … The Cardinals activated first baseman Matt Adams (quad) from the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday … Pirates starter J.A. Happ struck out 10 over six innings in Wednesday’s win against the Reds … Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber struck out four times in four at-bats in Wednesday’s loss to the Cardinals … Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy was held out of Wednesday’s lineup against the Marlins due to concussion-like symptoms … Reds outfielder Kristopher Negron has been diagnosed with a torn labrum and a fracture in his scapula … Dodgers starter Mat Latos was scratched from Wednesday’s outing against the Angels due to neck stiffness … Giants starter Tim Hudson reiterated after Tuesday’s start against the Diamondbacks that he plans to retire after the season … Diamondbacks infielder Aaron Hill (hamstring) could return to the lineup as soon as Friday … Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso felt continued tightness in his lower back but assistant GM Josh Stein is hoping he’ll only need a few more days … Rockies catcher Dustin Garneau hit his first major league home run in a loss to the Padres on Wednesday.
American League Quick Hits: Outfielder Ben Revere had two hits in three at-bats in Wednesday’s loss to the Red Sox, and is now hitting .323 since joining the Blue Jays … CC Sabathia took a no-decision in his return to the Yankees’ rotation on Wednesday, allowing three runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings against the Orioles … Rays catcher J.P. Arencibia hit his fourth September home run in Wednesday’s shutout of the Tigers … Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce homered in the eighth inning to break a tie and defeat the Yankees on Wednesday … The Red Sox have tabbed lefty Rich Hill to start on Sunday against the Rays … Royals second baseman Ben Zobrist tripled and hit a solo home run in a loss to the Twins on Wednesday … Twins starter Phil Hughes (back) tossed a 45-pitch simulated game on Wednesday and reported feeling great … Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor tripled and hit a solo home run in Wednesday’s win against the White Sox … White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu hit his 27th home run in a loss to the Indians on Wednesday … Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez successfully threw a 40-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday … Astros catcher Jason Castro (quad) is expected to rejoin the Astros over the weekend against the Angels … According to a report, the Rangers are debating pushing back Cole Hamels’ next start to Monday … Angels starter Matt Shoemaker (forearm) played catch from 120 feet on Wednesday … Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz (quad) was again held out of Wednesday’s lineup against the Rangers … The Athletics signed manager Bob Melvin to a two-year extension on Wednesday, keeping him in Oakland through the 2018 season.
