After an impressive showing as a rookie last season, Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette entered 2020 on the verge of superstardom. He only underscored that status since the launch of this 60-game MLB season, but his momentum came to a screeching halt on Sunday.
Bichette was placed on the 10-day injured list with what was termed as a right knee sprain. He apparently suffered the injury while doing stretching prior to Saturday’s game, which was suspended due to rain. He played in the game anyway and didn’t raise the issue until later. Bichette was still in the process of being sent for tests — including an MRI — as the Blue Jays began the first of two games against the Rays on Sunday afternoon. By the end of the day, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reported that Bichette’s knee injury is “worse than expected” and could keep him sidelined until mid-September.
This is obviously devastating news for a Blue Jays team which dropped both games on Sunday and now sits at 7-11 on the year. Only three teams in the American League (Angels, Mariners, and Red Sox) have a lower winning percentage. With expanded playoffs, it wasn’t hard to see the Blue Jays making a run at things this year. That’s harder to envision if Bichette is going to miss the next month of action.
Bichette is batting .361/.391/.672 with five home runs, 13 RBI, four steals, and 11 runs scored through 15 games this season. He homered in four straight games last week, highlighted by a 5-for-5 performance against the Marlins on Wednesday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the most anticipated prospect arrival in quite some time, but Bichette has quickly emerged as the team’s best player.[[ad:athena]]
For now, let’s cross our fingers for one of the most impressive young players in the game.
DJ Down
After losing sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge over the past week, the Yankees were forced to place DJ LeMahieu on the injured list Sunday due to a left thumb sprain.
LeMahieu suffered the injury on an uncomfortable-looking swing during the fourth inning of Saturday’s game. He was sent for an MRI and CT scan and still plans to get a second opinion from a hand specialist who treated him when he suffered a thumb injury during the 2018 season as a member of the Rockies.
Tyler Wade is expected to see most of the playing time at second base during LeMahieu’s absence, though his relevancy is mostly limited to AL-only fantasy formats. The Yankees called up Miguel Andujar to replace LeMahieu on the active roster, but it’s unclear if he’ll play enough to be worth a look in mixed fantasy leagues.
Coming off a fourth-place finish in AL MVP balloting last year, LeMahieu was batting .411/.456/.534 with two homers, eight RBI, and 15 runs scored through 19 games this season. He’s tied with Baltimore’s Hanser Alberto for the AL lead with 30 hits.
Replacing LeMahieu is going to be the Yankees’ biggest challenge to date, but the replacements didn’t have any issue handing the Red Sox another loss on Sunday. New York has now won five straight games and sits at 15-6 on the year, two games ahead of the Rays for first place in the AL East. Only the Athletics (16-6) have a better record in MLB.
Four-Oh-Four
In need of a fresh arm, the Cardinals called upon prospect Roel Ramirez to make his major league debut in relief of Dakota Hudson on Sunday against the White Sox. He made some unfortunate history in the process.
Entering the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Cardinals down 1-0, Ramirez struck out Luis Robert to begin the frame. Not a bad way to begin your career. However, he gave up back-to-back singles and a walk (with a caught stealing in between) before surrendering a three-run homer to Yoan Moncada. Yasmani Grandal, Jose Abreu, and Eloy Jimenez then followed with solo homers, giving the White Sox four straight homers. That ties a major league record.
It was the second time in franchise history that the White Sox hit four straight homers. The last time was August 14, 2008 against the Royals, with Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, and Juan Uribe pulling off the feat. This was also the last season where the White Sox made the playoffs.
Back to Ramirez, he’s the first pitcher to ever allow four straight homers in his major league debut. The good news is that things can only get better from here.
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Sunday Saves
Zack Britton (8) - leads majors, Chapman set to return
Archie Bradley (6) - tied with Kenley Jansen for NL lead
Josh Hader (5)
Daniel Hudson (4)
Nick Anderson (3)
Sergio Romo (3) - Taylor Rogers pitched the eighth as Rocco Baldelli played the matchups
Carlos Estevez (1) - see below
Anthony Slegers (1) - resumption of suspended game, was optioned to alternate site Sunday evening
Estevez was hit in the back of his right wrist/hand by a comebacker on the final play of Sunday’s game and was being sent for X-rays. Jairo Diaz has been scored upon in three out of his last five appearances and Wade Davis and Scott Oberg are both out with injuries, so the back-end of the Rockies’ bullpen could be wide open. Daniel Bard has been lights out (3,60 ERA, 12/0 K/BB ratio in 10 innings) and could see some save chances in the coming days. What a story he’s been so far.
Sunday’s Five-Star Performance
Franmil Reyes - 3-for-4, two home runs, two RBI, two runs scored, HBP as part of an 8-5 win over the Tigers
Reyes poked an opposite field blast (383 feet - 106.6 mph) off Michael Fulmer in the second inning before slugging a massive 453-foot blast (at 114.1 mph) off the vines in distant center field against Carson Fulmer in the seventh. I’m going to link it here, just because I’m a nice person. According to Mandy Bell of MLB.com, it was the hardest hit home run by an Indians’ player during the Statcast era. By the way, he did all of that while wearing a mask.
Do you remember when Reyes was scuffling? Me neither. The 25-year-old has been one of the hottest hitters in the game of late, hitting 17-for-33 (.515) with four home runs, 11 RBI, and seven runs scored over his last nine games. He’s pulled his season batting average up from .163 to .316 during that time.
Reyes was actually removed from the game after being hit in the left hand by a pitch in the ninth inning, but fortunately X-rays came back negative. Hopefully he can keep on mashing.
American League Quick Hits: Aaron Judge (calf) said Sunday that he’s “100 percent” and feels like he could play in a game right now … Yordan Alvarez was scratched from Sunday’s lineup against the Mariners due to right knee soreness and is considered day-to-day … Anthony Rendon homered for the fifth time in his last six games Sunday against the Dodgers … Frankie Montas (back) is on track to start Tuesday against the Diamondbacks … Aroldis Chapman (COVID-19) is expected to be activated by the Yankees on Monday … Brandon Lowe went 3-for-5 with a go-ahead solo homer in a win over the Blue Jays on Sunday … The Angels have switched up their rotation for their upcoming series against the Giants, with Griffin Canning now slated to start Monday and Dylan Bundy being pushed back to Tuesday … Nick Anderson notched a save with a scoreless ninth inning against the Blue Jays on Sunday … Rich Hill (shoulder) could be activated to make a start this coming week against the Brewers … Randy Dobnak allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a win over the Royals on Sunday and now holds a 1.42 ERA … Salvador Perez was scratched from Sunday’s lineup due to blurry vision … Mike Ford homered and knocked in three runs in a win over the Red Sox on Sunday … Stephen Piscotty homered and drove in five runs in a blowout win over the Giants on Sunday … Willy Adames hit a two-run homer to lead the Rays to a win in the second of Sunday’s games against the Orioles ... Anthony Bass was unavailable Sunday due to a tight back … John Means struggled in his return to the Orioles on Sunday, allowing three runs while lasting just two-thirds of an inning against the Nationals … The Rangers activated Danny Santana from the 10-day injured list … The scuffling Kyle Tucker slugged a walk-off solo homer against the Mariners on Sunday … David Fletcher extended his hitting streak to 15 games on Sunday … Anthony Santander socked a pair of solo homers Sunday against the Nationals … Max Kepler popped a two-run homer in Sundays’ win over the Royals … Yusei Kikuchi (neck) will make his next scheduled start Thursday against the Dodgers … The Royals placed right-hander Jakob Junis on the 10-day injured list due to back spasms … The Athletics placed Burch Smith on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain … White Sox prospect Dane Dunning is being considered to make his major league debut Wednesday against the Tigers … Matt Wisler will make a spot-start for the Twins on Monday against the Royals, but isn’t worth a look in fantasy leagues.
National League Quick Hits: Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that all Reds players who were tested for COVID-19 on Saturday had negative results … Mets manager Luis Rojas said Jacob deGrom (neck) “felt better” after playing catch again Sunday … Juan Soto kept on rolling Sunday against the Orioles, finishing 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored … Max Scherzer struck out 10 batters while allowing five runs over seven innings Sunday against the Orioles … Tommy Pham (calves) was in the Padres’ lineup on Sunday against the Diamondbacks before leaving due to numbness in his hand … In his first start against his former team, Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler allowed two runs over seven innings for the win against the Mets on Sunday … Corey Seager homered and drove in three runs in a win over the Angels on Sunday … Keston Hiura went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in the Brewers’ win over the Cubs on Sunday … Jean Segura was pulled from Sunday’s game against the Mets due to a hamstring issue while Jay Bruce was pulled due to a quad issue … Mets manager Luis Rojas hasn’t committed to the struggling Steven Matz making his next start … Eduardo Escobar went 3-for-4 and slugged a go-ahead three-run homer in a win over the Padres on Sunday … Jeff McNeil (knee) flew out as a pinch-hitter to end Sunday’s game against Philadelphia ... Robbie Ray went maximum Robbie Ray on Sunday against the Padres, walking six batters over five no-hit innings … Dodgers prospect catcher Keibert Ruiz homered in his first major league at-bat Sunday against the Angels … Jon Gray earned his first win of the season after allowing three runs over seven innings with seven strikeouts Sunday against the Rangers … Howie Kendrick has been dealing with hamstring tightness … The Cubs placed right-hander Tyler Chatwood on the 10-day injured list due to mid-back tightness … Tony Gonsolin is in line to start Tuesday against the Mariners and makes for an appealing streaming option in mixed fantasy leagues … Corbin Burnes will start on Tuesday against the Twins, replacing the demoted Eric Bauer in the Brewers’ rotation … Andrew McCutchen came off the bench to slug his first homer of the season Sunday against the Mets … Nick Markakis went 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs to lead the Braves to win over the Marlins on Sunday … The Mets designated infielder Brian Dozier for assignment while recalling right-hander Franklyn Kilome from their alternate training site … Jason Heyward was scratched from Sunday’s lineup due to mid-back tightness and can be considered day-to-day.
