The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens likes to talk about the “chairs” that are up for grabs in his team, and it’s a bit the same thing within rotations in Major League Baseball.
Major League Baseball has been shaken by a series of injuries to star pitchers which have forced clubs to fall back on plans B and C, which they would undoubtedly have preferred to avoid. Here is a short list of star launchers who have recently fallen in combat — and the solutions being considered to replace them.
Gerrit Cole, Yankees: New York had an extra spot in its rotation because of Cole’s recurring elbow soreness, and Luis Gil — himself returning to the game after Tommy John surgery — took it fulfilled after having had a good training camp. He’s given up three runs in nine innings of work so far, but his seven walks and 14 strikeouts pretty easily explain why he hasn’t been able to get past the fifth inning in his two starts.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves: Strider, who won 20 decisions last year, will miss the remainder of the campaign after undergoing elbow surgery. Allan Winans started Thursday against the New York Mets and allowed six earned runs in five innings on the mound. Prospect AJ Smith-Shawver is currently having trouble in the AAA ranks. Darius Vines, a 25-year-old right-hander, is expected to get a start Monday against the Astros in Houston.
Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians: It’s only been a week since the Ohio club learned that Bieber will have to undergo Tommy John surgery, but due to a rain-postponed game on April 7 and a bye scheduled for Thursday, the Guardians managed to work around the problem with their four other starting pitchers. It will be different in their next series against the Boston Red Sox, as Xzavion Curry and Ben Lively are scheduled to begin their 2024 major league seasons.
Astros’ Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez: Houston will be without Verlander for the entire campaign, and Valdez will be sidelined for some time. Ronel Blanco has been able to do well so far, having notably managed a game without a point or a hit against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, otherwise it has been more difficult for the Texan club. After the Astros scratched Valdez last Monday, starter Blair Henley struck out only one of the nine batters he faced. Prospect Spencer Arrighetti distributed seven runs in three innings Wednesday night on the mound for the Astros.
Texas Rangers’ Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer: DeGrom and Scherzer still haven’t pitched for the defending World Series champions, but Cody Bradford is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA . Obviously, he also ended up in the infirmary, due to a strained back.
Several Miami Marlins gunners: The Floridians had a nightmarish start to the campaign, after being deprived of the services of Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez, who each underwent Tommy John surgery. Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett also remained on the injured list. The Marlins are 3-13, although their rotation isn’t abysmal — Max Meyer is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA.
– With The Canadian Press
2024-04-15 19:23:23
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