This whole Craig Kimbrel thing hasn’t really worked out as hoped so far in Chicago.
Kimbrel hit the injured list for the second time in his brief Cubs tenure on Thursday, this time due to right elbow inflammation. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said that Kimbrel first felt discomfort during an appearance on Sunday against the Brewers, during which he gave up a three-run homer to Christian Yelich. No structural damage was found after an MRI, but he’ll rest for now before resuming a throwing program.
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Fantasy players don’t want to hear this, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon plans to employ a committee approach during Kimbrel’s absence. Brandon Kintzler and Steve Cishek are the leading candidate for save chances, though Rowan Wick and Kyle Ryan could also be in the mix. Pedro Strop has 23 saves over the past two seasons, but he’s put up a 5.73 ERA in 40 appearances this year and likely won’t be trusted to finish out games as the Cubs chase down a playoff berth. Do what you need to do in fantasy leagues.
Kimbrel waited all winter and ultimately held out until after June’s MLB draft before agreeing to a three-year, $43 million contract with the Cubs. The hope was that he would be a difference-maker in the late innings, but he’s scuffled with a 5.68 ERA in 21 appearance while going 13-for-15 in save chances. He missed time last month with right knee inflammation and will now try to work his way back from an elbow issue.
According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Epstein has targeted “the end of next week” for Kimbrel’s return. That’s obviously subject to change depending on how he feels upon throwing.
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Tucker Time?
The Astros are relentless. We saw the ultimate example of that on Thursday night as they completed a monster comeback against the Mariners, ultimately winning 11-9 on a walk-off homer from Michael Brantley in the 13th inning.
Wade Miley just didn’t have it Thursday, giving up five runs in the first inning without recording an out. The Astros actually trailed 7-0 after the top of the second inning before beginning to chip away. While Brantley played the hero — including a game-tying sacrifice fly in the eighth inning — top prospect Kyle Tucker was also featured prominently in the comeback, slugging his first career homer in the sixth inning before delivering a game-tying RBI single in the 12th.
Tucker has been blocked at the major league level, but there’s suddenly an opening for him to make an impact as George Springer makes his way back from what the Astros are calling a “mild concussion.” Springer suffered the injury when he banged the back of his head on the center field fence after making a catch on Tuesday night. He was clearly dazed and had to be removed from the field on a cart. The Astros are optimistic it won’t be a long-term absence, but it’s a day-to-day situation for now.
Tucker, 22, batted .266/.354/.555 with 34 home runs and 30 stolen bases over 125 games with Triple-A Round Rock this season. The Astros have some options in their outfield, as Jake Marisnick can also cover center field duties, but Tucker is worthy of consideration as a short-term add in mixed fantasy leagues.
AL Quick Hits: Mike Trout blasted his 45th homer of the season — trying Pete Alonso for the MLB lead — while going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in Thursday’s loss to the A’s … Mookie Betts homered for the fifth time in his last six games Thursday against the Twins …Bouncing back from a brutal showing against the Braves, Reynaldo Lopez struck out 11 batters in a one-hitter against the Indians on Thursday … Whit Merrifield enjoyed a four-hit day in Thursday’s loss to the Royals … Blue Jays rookie phenom Bo Bichette homered twice and knocked in three runs Thursday against the Rays … Carlos Correa told reporters Thursday that he no longer feels pain in his back and has begun hitting in the cage … Marcus Semien continued his monster finish to the season on Thursday by going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored in a comeback win over the Angels … David Price will not start Friday against the Yankees after feeling some tightness in his wrist … Austin Meadows went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, and two RBI in a win over the Blue Jays on Thursday … Jorge Polanco was held out of the Twins’ lineup Thursday due to a sore right middle finger … Blake Snell (elbow) will make a one-inning rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Sunday … Despite giving up a season-high 10 hits, Matthew Boyd notched the win Thursday against the Royals while allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings … Max Kepler was in the Twins’ lineup Thursday after making an early exit Wednesday due to soreness in his upper chest area … Ramon Laureano (shin) is due to make his return from the injured list on Friday … Rangers rookie Nick Solak slugged a two-run homer and scored two runs in Thursday’s win over the Orioles … Austin Nola went 3-for-6 with two homers and five RBI in Thursday’s extra-inning loss to the Astros … Sean Manaea will make his next start Sunday against the Tigers and makes sense as a quality streaming option for the weekend in fantasy leagues … Kolby Allard stayed hot for the Rangers on Thursday, holding the Orioles to one run over 6 1/3 innings for the win … Tommy Pham was removed from Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays due to right forearm tightness … Tyler Glasnow (forearm) made it through a bullpen session Thursday with no issues, but his next step remains unclear … Lourdes Gurriel (quad) is scheduled to play in a simulated game on Friday … Aaron Sanchez will undergo season-ending surgery on his shoulder next week … Eric Sogard (nose) was held out of Thursday’s lineup … Albert Pujols is considered day-to-day after leaving Thursday’s game due to illness … Angels manager Brad Ausmus said Thursday that Tommy La Stella (leg) still isn’t 100 percent … Ryan Pressly (knee) will throw off a mound on Thursday … Michael Chavis might not be able to return this season due to a setback with his oblique injury … Rays prospect Kean Wong was called up from Triple-A Durham on Thursday …Omar Narvaez (back) remained sidelined Thursday … John Means was handed the loss despite allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings against the Rangers … Hunter Pence (back) hasn’t been cleared for baseball activities … Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run on one hit over five innings in a no-decision against the Twins on Thursday … Travis d’Arnaud left Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays due to neck and shoulder tightness …
NL Quick Hits: Ronald Acuna went 2-for-4 with a homer, a stolen base, and two runs scored in a win over the Nationals on Thursday … Javier Baez was scratched from Thursday’s lineup due to lingering soreness in his thumb … Stephen Strasburg allowed three runs over six innings and took the loss in his start against the Braves on Thursday … Eugenio Suarez (hand) went 3-for-5 with his 41st homer in his return to the lineup Thursday against the Phillies … Willson Contreras went 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles, and two RBI in Thursday’s win over the Brewers … Josh Bell slugged his 36th homer of the season — a solo shot — Thursday against Miami … Sonny Gray continued his remarkable bounceback season on Thursday, tossing six innings of one-run ball against Philadelphia … J.T. Realmuto notched a solo homer and a triple Thursday against the Reds … Max Fried struck out nine batters while allowing just one hit over seven scoreless frames in a win over the Nationals on Thursday … Yu Darvish (forearm) threw 29 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday …Kyle Schwarber went 2-for-3 with a grand slam in the Cubs’ win over the Brewers on Thursday … Lorenzo Cain (knee) returned to the starting lineup Thursday … Bryan Reynolds homered twice and drove in three runs in a loss to the Marlins on Thursday … Brandon Woodruff (oblique) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Thursday … Kevin Newman (leg) returned to the starting lineup Thursday against the Marlins … Dakota Hudson continued his recent string of strong starts Thursday by allowing just one hit over six scoreless frames against the Giants … The Cubs may have solved their leadoff spot issues, as Ben Zobrist reached base five times (three hits, two walks) and scored three runs Thursday against the Brewers … The Phillies recalled Maikel Franco from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, though he’s unlikely to play a major role down the stretch … Phillip Ervin slugged a walk-off homer in the 11th inning to lead the Reds to a 4-3 win over the Phillies … Logan Webb was hammered for eight runs — seven earned — in 2 2/3 innings in a blowout loss to the Cardinals on Thursday … Jon Berti scored four runs while going 2-for-5 on Thursday against the Pirates … Roenis Elias left Thursday’s game against the Braves after aggravating a hamstring injury … Alex Dickerson is dealing with right oblique tightness …
