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X-rays were negative on Yadier Molina’s left wrist after the catcher was hit by a pitch during the seventh inning of the Cardinals’ 5-4 win over the Pirates last night. Molina was behind the plate for the bottom half of the seventh before being replaced by pinch-hitter Matt Wieters in the top of the eighth. Cards manager Mike Shildt told MLB.com’s Anne Rogers and other reporters that Molina “got hit in the same spot, pretty much” that Ryan Braun also made contact with Molina’s wrist earlier this week on a swing that drew a catcher’s interference call on Molina.
It isn’t yet known if Molina will require any time off, though missing any games will be a blow to a Cardinals team that needs all hands on deck as it tries to lock up a playoff spot. Molina has hit .256/.296/.342 over 126 PA this season and spent three weeks on the injured list after a positive COVID-19 test.
More injury notes from around the National League…
- The Brewers placed Ben Gamel on the 10-day IL due to a left quad strain, so the outfielder’s 2020 season is over. Lorenzo Cain’s decision to opt out of the 2020 campaign left Gamel with a larger workload, and he assumed regular duty between center field and right field for much of the season. The result was a .237/.315/.404 slash line and three home runs over 127 PA, working out to a 91 OPS+ and 92 wRC+. It wasn’t a bad showing for a player who is probably best suited for fourth outfielder duty, though it remains to be seen if Gamel has done enough for the Brewers to exercise their $2.55MM club option on his services for the 2021 season.
- Walker Buehler threw a 90-pitch simulated game yesterday and is slated to be activated off the 10-day IL for a Thursday start. (MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick was among those to report the news.) Buehler has made two trips to the injured list due to blister problems, resulting in just seven innings pitched since August 21. Thursday’s start against the Athletics will therefore serve as an opportunity for Buehler to warm up prior to the Dodgers’ postseason run. Buehler is still expected to be a big factor for Los Angeles during the playoffs, though he hasn’t quite matched his 2019 form in this shortened season. Thanks in large part to a 1.9 HR/9, Buehler has a 3.86 ERA over 32 2/3 innings in 2020, though with a 3.60 K/BB rate, 9.9 K/9, and generally above-average Statcast numbers.
- Sonny Gray is tentatively scheduled to return during the Reds’ upcoming series with the Brewers, perhaps as early as Tuesday. However, Reds manager David Bell told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer and other reporters that no “final, final call” will be made until the team sees how Gray is feeling following a side session on Saturday. Gray has been on the injured list (retroactively) since September 11 due to a back strain, and his return would be a major boost as the Reds chase a postseason berth.
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One more week of action til playoffs.Comment -
Yankees and Dodgers both loseComment -
Jays snap 6 game losing streak. Rotation is a mess aside from Ryu and Walker.Comment -
The SD Padres clinch a playoff spot.
Would love to see them make a deep post season run.
They are an easy team to root for.Comment -
Chicago Cubs will activate lefty Jose Quintana in time to start Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago Cubs lefty Jose Quintana will be activated from the injured list on Tuesday and start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager David Ross announced Monday.
Quintana, 31, has been out with a lat injury after missing time to start the season with a cut on his hand.Comment -
The Jays are hanging on to a wildcard spot. They are beating the Yankees right now
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9:34pm: Bryant is day-to-day for now, though manager David Ross said he’s “worried” about the injury, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com tweets.
8:07pm: Cubs third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant left their game against the Pirates on Monday with right oblique tightness, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic was among those to report. The Cubs replaced Bryant with David Bote.
Any oblique issue to a regular is a red flag for a team, especially for a 31-22 Cubs club leading the NL Central by 3 1/2 games and nearing a playoff berth. It remains to be seen whether Bryant will play again this year, but it’s especially troubling that the three-time All-Star and former MVP hasn’t come anywhere close to his usual form this season. Bryant is hitting a woeful .195/.283/.301 with two home runs and a career-worst .106 ISO in 138 plate appearances.
Despite his uncharacteristic struggles this year, the Cubs obviously still want Bryant in their lineup on a daily basis. They’re on their way to the playoffs, after all, but however the postseason goes, the Cubs will have to decide in the offseason whether to keep Bryant, who was the subject of trade rumors last winter. He’s making a prorated $18.6MM in 2020 and won’t be eligible for free agency until after the ’21 campaignComment -
they need Bryant healthy and to start hittingComment -
A,s dodgers should be a fun series to watchComment -
Cub actually better without KB right now sad to say.Comment -
So Colorado and Giants may still have a chance?Comment -
I'll say.
See that negative five number under offensive WAR?
That's about as bad as it get.
Unless you are Javy Baez.
And that .301 slugging, brutal.
Name G PA HR R RBI AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off WAR Anthony Rizzo 53 224 9 24 21 0.213 0.33 0.383 0.31 -2.4 0.7 Ian Happ 53 214 12 25 28 0.262 0.366 0.53 0.38 10.8 1.8 Javier Baez 53 211 7 26 22 0.206 0.242 0.362 0.258 -10.6 0.2 Willson Contreras 52 205 5 32 22 0.243 0.351 0.387 0.327 -0.3 1.3 Kyle Schwarber 53 200 10 28 23 0.198 0.31 0.407 0.312 -1.5 0.4 Jason Heyward 46 165 6 20 22 0.291 0.412 0.5 0.391 11.5 1.7 Kris Bryant 32 138 2 16 5 0.195 0.283 0.301 0.264 -5.7 0.1 David Bote 40 127 6 14 27 0.211 0.315 0.422 0.32 -0.5 0.4 Victor Caratini 40 118 0 6 14 0.24 0.331 0.308 0.289 -5 0 Jason Kipnis 38 117 3 12 16 0.255 0.359 0.439 0.346 2.9 0.8 Nico Hoerner 43 115 0 17 13 0.23 0.307 0.27 0.265 -4.4 0.2
Another thing about the Cubs they have virtually no team speed.
I can't see them making any kind of deep run in October.Comment -
Giants yes, 55 percent chance.
Rockies next to impossible chance, 6 percent.
12 spots for all intents and purposes are claimed.
Here's the teams left in contention.
Tm Lg D W L W L W L Post WC Div LDS LCS Pennant Win WS NL East 1 Atlanta Braves NL E 32 22 3.7 2.3 35.7 24.3 >99.9% 0.30% 99.70% 65.30% 44.80% 25.30% 14.90% 2 Miami Marlins NL E 28 26 2.3 3.7 30.3 29.7 81.10% 80.80% 0.30% 34.10% 12.50% 3.80% 1.50% 3 Philadelphia Phillies NL E 27 27 2.8 3.2 29.8 30.2 66.50% 66.50% <0.1% 34.00% 15.30% 6.00% 3.00% NL Central 1 Chicago Cubs NL C 32 22 3.3 2.7 35.3 24.7 >99.9% 0.30% 99.70% 55.00% 20.90% 8.90% 4.00% 2 Cincinnati Reds NL C 28 27 2.1 2.9 30.1 29.9 74.00% 74.00% <0.1% 23.40% 7.60% 2.40% 0.80% 3 St. Louis Cardinals NL C 26 25 3.9 3.1 29.9 28.1 64.60% 64.40% 0.20% 26.80% 14.40% 7.20% 3.60% 4 Milwaukee Brewers NL C 26 27 3.4 3.6 29.4 30.6 50.70% 50.60% 0.10% 18.70% 10.30% 4.10% 1.90% NL West 1 Los Angeles Dodgers NL W 38 16 3.7 2.3 41.7 18.3 100.00% 0.30% 99.70% 66.90% 45.10% 30.70% 21.00% 2 San Diego Padres NL W 34 20 3.2 2.8 37.2 22.8 100.00% 99.70% 0.30% 51.20% 19.20% 7.40% 3.00% 3 San Francisco Giants NL W 26 27 3.6 3.4 29.6 30.4 55.00% 55.00% 0.00% 21.90% 9.00% 3.80% 2.10% 4 Colorado Rockies NL W 24 29 3.3 3.7 27.3 32.7 6.20% 6.20% 0.00% 1.70% 0.50% 0.10% <0.1% AL East 1 Tampa Bay Rays AL E 36 19 2.6 2.4 38.6 21.4 100.00% 0.30% 99.70% 51.80% 26.70% 14.10% 5.00% 2 New York Yankees AL E 31 23 3.6 2.4 34.6 25.4 100.00% 99.70% 0.30% 52.40% 29.90% 15.70% 7.60% 3 Toronto Blue Jays AL E 28 26 2.7 3.3 30.7 29.3 98.10% 98.10% 0.00% 40.60% 14.80% 6.00% 2.50% AL Central 1 Chicago White Sox AL C 34 20 3 3 37 23 100.00% 30.10% 69.90% 54.20% 25.30% 10.80% 5.20% 2 Minnesota Twins AL C 33 22 3.1 1.9 36.1 23.9 100.00% 71.30% 28.70% 53.30% 26.90% 15.20% 6.90% 3 Cleveland Indians AL C 30 24 3.5 2.5 33.5 26.5 >99.9% 98.60% 1.40% 46.00% 21.70% 10.10% 3.60% AL West 1 Oakland Athletics AL W 33 20 3.7 3.3 36.7 23.3 100.00% <0.1% >99.9% 53.00% 26.70% 13.50% 6.00% 2 Houston Astros AL W 27 27 3.7 2.3 30.7 29.3 98.60% 98.60% <0.1% 47.40% 27.70% 14.50% 7.30% Comment -
I would like to see the Jays make the playoffs as well. I don't think they will make it out of the wild card round though.Comment -
The Giants have a chance but their road will not be easy since they have games against the Rockies and Padres left. I don't think they can afford to lose more than 1 more game this week because they already dropped one to the Rockies last night. Hopefully they can win this Rockies series and get some positive momentum heading into the Padres series because they've really struggled against the Pads this season.Comment -
Mariners outfielder/infielder Dylan Moore is done for the season as a result of a concussion, the team announced. Moore suffered the injury when he took a pitch off the helmet on Monday, ending what was a terrific campaign for the 28-year-old. Moore batted .255/.358/.496 with eight home runs and 12 stolen bases over 159 plate appearances in 2020.
- Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi will “probably” be on their wild-card series roster, per manager Jake Odorizzi (via Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com). Odorizzi has been on the IL since Sept. 19 with a blister on his right middle finger. This is the third IL stint of the year for Odorizzi, who previously dealt with back and chest issues. As a result, the Twins – who gave him a $17.8MM qualifying offer last winter – have only gotten 13 2/3 innings of 6.59 ERA pitching from Odorizzi this season. Nevertheless, they’re on their way to a second straight playoff berth.
- Reds left-hander Wade Miley, on the IL with a shoulder strain since Aug. 28, is “pretty close to 100 percent,” according to manager David Bell (via Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer). The playoff-contending Reds are likely to use Miley out of the bullpen if he is able to return this year, Nightengale relays. Signed to a two-year, $15MM contract last winter, Miley has made four starts and thrown 12 1/3 innings of 6.57 ERA ball in a Cincinnati uniform. Fortunately for the team, its rotation has still been among the league’s best because of the work of Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle.
- The Dodgers scratched third baseman Justin Turner from their game against the Athletics on Tuesday because of left hamstring discomfort, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com tweets. The Dodgers said the move was precautionary, but it’s worth noting that Turner missed a couple weeks earlier this month with a left hamstring strain. So, this latest issue could be a concern for the Dodgers as they approach the playoffs.
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Dodgers clinch NL's top seed, West title with win over A's
LOS ANGELES -- Wrapping up an NL West title has become routine for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but in a year in which no one was sure three months ago if there would be a baseball season, manager Dave Roberts wanted his team to still savor the moment.
The Dodgers clinched the NL's top postseason seed and eighth straight division title Tuesday night with a 7-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. They are third team to win at least eight straight division titles, joining the Atlanta Braves (14 straight from 1991-2005) and New York Yankees (nine straight from 1998-2006).Comment -
Yankees blasted the JaysComment -
Clevinger going down for the Padres could be a big loss. I still think they're a dangerous team and one to look out for in the playoffs but we all know pitching wins in the playoffs so it'll be interesting to see how their staff holds up in the postseason without Clevinger.Comment -
Cubs offense looking historically bad right now.Comment -
Braves southpaw Max Fried exited his start against the Marlins on Wednesday after one inning because of a tweaked left ankle, the team announced. Fried previously missed time with a left-side muscle spasm in his lumbar spine.
With the Braves having clinched yet another NL East title and looking for their first World Series title since 1995, a significant Fried injury could be a catastrophe for a team whose rotation has had to overcome multiple problems during the season. The Braves are already set to enter the playoffs without Mike Soroka (Achilles) and Cole Hamels (shoulder), who haven’t contributed nearly as much as expected this year and won’t pitch again in 2020.
In a rotation devoid of two of its highest-profile arms, Fried has been a saving grace and one of the NL’s premier starters. It took until Wednesday for Fried to allow a home run, when the Marlins teed off on him for two in an inning of work, though he has been brilliant for the most part. The 26-year-old owns a 2.25 ERA/3.09 FIP with 8.04 K/9, 3.05 BB/9 and a 53 percent groundball rate in 56 innings.Comment
