 | Mets Missing Wright - 05/17/2011
BY D.J. Short The Mets were dealt an unexpected blow Monday, as David Wright was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back. He is slated to receive a second opinion, but will almost certainly be placed on the disabled list for the second time in his career.
Wright's injury dates back to when he made a diving tag of Astros' outfielder Carlos Lee at third base on April 19. While his struggles at the plate pre-date the injury, he's batting just .205 with five extra-base hits over 89 at-bats since the date in question. The 28-year-old third baseman has a disappointing 226/.337/.404 triple-slash with six home runs, 18 RBI and 43 strikeouts over his first 172 plate appearances this season.
While treatment will be non-surgical, Wright is expected to rest for about two weeks before being r! eevaluated. There's always the chance that he'll need even more time or that he could be at risk for long-term back problems moving forward.
The Mets haven't made an official move yet, but Nick Evans is expected to take Wright's place on the roster. Ruben Tejada has been called up from Triple-A Buffalo and should play everyday at second base while Justin Turner will get most of the looks at the hot corner. The latter is batting .318/.362/.455 with one homer, three doubles and 10 RBI over his first 44 at-bats this season and should be owned in most NL-only leagues by now.
While the Mets and fantasy owners wish Wright a speedy recovery, here are some more news and notes from around baseball.
- After wa! iting it out for over a week, the Blue Jays finally placed Adam Lind on the disabled list with a sore lower back following Monday's game. Lind's condition has improved, but he'll head to the team's minor league complex in Dunedin, Florida in order to continue his rehab. The good news is that if he makes progress, he will be eligible to return from the disabled list next Monday against the Yankees.
In a corresponding roster move, the Jays purchased the contract of prospect outfielder Eric Thames from Triple-A Las Vegas. The 24-year-old has legitimate power from the left side of the plate, as evidenced by his 27 homers with Double-A New Hampshire last season. He was batting .342/.419/.610 with six homers, 30 RBI and a 1.029 OPS over his first 167 plate appearances with Triple-A Las Vegas this season.
We should always take production in the Pacific Coast League with! a grain of salt, especially at hitter-friendly Cashman Field, but Thames is worth consideration in AL-only formats. He is expected to see time in left field and designated hitter with the big club.
- If you kept Vin Mazzaro active in an AL-only league this week, perhaps with an eye on his scheduled Tuesday start against the Indians, you have my deepest sympathy.
Mazzaro entered Monday's game in relief of the injured Kyle Davies and an ineffective Nate Adcock and became just the third pitcher since 1947 to allow 14 runs in a game. Your ERA if you left him active this week? Toast. Mazzaro? Got the boot to the minors following the game.
- The early returns on Grady Sizemore have been positive for fan! tasy owners, as he is batting .282/.333/.641 with six homers, 10 doubl es and 11 RBI over 18 games. However, he was placed on the disabled list Monday with a right knee contusion.
Sizemore injured his right knee on a slide into second base against the Rays on May 10. Of course, the good news is that this is not the same knee that required microfracture surgery last year, so the belief is that the injury is relatively minor and that his stay on the disabled list should be a short one.
- One interesting situation to monitor in fantasy leagues is whether Albert Pujols will continue to see time at third base. He started at the hot corner Monday for the first time since September 23, 2002 and didn't dismiss the possibility that he could play there again in the near future.
Most leagues have a threshold of five or 10 games before qualifying at a new position, so the likelihood of this actually happening is still pretty small, but Tony La R! ussa doesn't exactly do things by the book, now does he? Having Pujols eligible at third base would obviously be huge in fantasy leagues.
National League Quick Hits: Josh Johnson was diagnosed with a right forearm contusion after being struck by a comebacker in the fifth inning Monday against the Mets . Cliff Lee issued a career-high six walks in Monday's loss to the Cardinals . Chase Utley (knee) singled and played eight innings Monday in a minor league rehab game with High-A Clearwater . The Reds placed struggling left-hander Aroldis Chapman on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation . Hanley Ramirez batted second Monday for the first time since 2006 . Chipper Jones (knee) is scheduled to take batting practice Tuesday . The Phillies activated Roy Oswalt (back) from the disabled in advance of Tuesday's start against the Cardinals . Tommy Hanson matched a season-high with 10 strikeouts in Monday's win over the Astros . Drew Storen hasn't allowed a run over his last 21 innings, the longest active scoreless streak in MLB . Andrew Cashner is scheduled to undergo another MRI after having a setback with his shoulder . Rafael Furcal (thumb) is on track to return from the disabled list next Monday . Colby Rasmus missed a second straight game Monday with abdominal discomfort . Jason Heyward (shoulder) is expected to return to the starting lineup Tuesday . Julio Teheran will be recalled from the minors to make a spot start Wednesday against the Diamondbacks . Leo Nunez notched his major-league leading 15th save in a wild extra-inning win over the Mets on Monday . Jonathan Broxton (elbow) played catch Monday, but is still several weeks away fr! om returning . Jose Contreras (elbow) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with High-A Clearwater . Carlos Pena homered for the fourth time in his last 11 games Monday . Cameron Maybin exited Monday's game against the Diamondbacks for precautionary reasons due to tendinitis in his right knee . Orlando Hudson (hamstring) is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday . The Cubs optioned Tyler Colvin to Triple-A Iowa following Monday's game . Rick Ankiel (wrist) took batting practice and should be cleared for a minor l! eague rehab assignment this week .
American League Quick Hits: Adrian Gonzalez drove in three runs Monday and leads the American League with 37 RBI . Rafael Soriano (elbow) felt tightness during a bullpen session Monday and is scheduled to be examined Tuesday in New York . Curtis Granderson hit his 14th home run of the season in Monday's loss to the Rays . Nelson Cruz (quad) doubled in his first minor league rehab game Monday and is expected to return from the disabled list this weekend . Max Scherzer allowed just one unear ned run over seven innings Monday, but Joaquin Benoit blew his chance at his seventh victory. Joe Mauer (bilateral leg weakness) is scheduled to travel Tuesday to extended spring training in Fort Myers, Florida . Michael Pineda tossed seven scoreless innings Monday against the Twins and now has a 2.45 ERA and 52/13 K/BB ratio across his first eight major league starts . Jhonny Peralta homered Monday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games . Colby Lewis tossed his first career complete game shutout Monday against the White Sox and now has a 1.67 ERA over his la! st four starts . Andrew Bailey (forearm) will pitch again Tuesday in extended spring training . Justin Smoak left Monday's game for precautionary reasons after rolling his ankle . Derrek Lee exited Monday's game with a strained left oblique . Tim Wakefield will start Tuesday against the Orioles in place of John Lackey, who was placed on the disabled list Monday with a strained elbow . Chris Tillman tossed five scoreless innings Monday against the Red Sox before leaving with back ! stiffness . Brian Matusz (intercostal strain) allowed one run on two hits over four innings Monday in his first minor league rehab start with High-A Frederick . Mitch Moreland was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Monday with a tight left hamstring . Jordan Walden blew his third save in his last five tries Monday night against the Athletics . Matt LaPorta had four hits and four RBI in Monday's thrashing of the Royals . J.P. Howell (shoulder) is now expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday . Marco Scutaro (obliqu! e) was scheduled to swing a bat Monday for the first time since going on the disabled list . Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik strongly hinted Monday that prospect second baseman Dustin Ackley will be promoted to the majors soon . The Mariners officially released Milton Bradley . Royals prospect outfielder Wil Myers was placed on the minor league disabled list with a knee infection . | | This e-mail is being sent at your request. To stop receiving these e-mails, click here. | |
