[[ad:athena]]Pineda Gets Popped for PED’s
The Minnesota Twins’ rotation suffered a major blow on Saturday when Major League Baseball announced that right-hander Michael Pineda had received a 60-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.
Pineda violated baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic and potential masking agent. Pineda will miss the rest of the 2019 regular season (and postseason) and the first five weeks of the 2020 season as well.
According to reports, Pineda was initially suspended for 80 games but that penalty was reduced to 60 games after an appeal, where Pineda made a compelling case that the banned diuretic that he used was not a masking agent for performance-enhancing drugs.
The Major League Baseball Players Association released the following statement shortly after the announcement on the behalf of the Twins’ hurler:
I’d like to begin with my sincere apologies to the Twins’ organization, the fans, my teammates, and my family for my error in judgment.
I Mistakenly took a medication that was given to me by a close acquaintance, who obtained it over-the-counter and assured me it would safely help me manage my weight. I ingested a few of these pills without the consent of the Twins’ training staff. Testing revealed trace elements of a substance called Hydrochlorothiazide, which is a banned diuretic under baseball’s testing program.
This was shocking for me to hear. I never intended to cheat the system, other players, or opposing teams. While I am pleased that the arbitrator found there was clear and convincing evidence to reduce my discipline, I realize that I am ultimately responsible for what goes in my body and therefore respect the 60-game suspension that remains. I hope that I can be an example to others about how important it is to check with experts before taking any substance from an outside source.
While taken at face value, it sounds like Pineda didn’t intentionally take a banned substance with the goal of cheating the system, it still leaves the Twins without a key cog in their rotation as they attempt to hold off the Indians in the race for the American League Central division crown.
The 30-year-old right-hander finishes the season with an 11-5 record, 4.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 140/28 K/BB ratio across 146 innings in his 26 starts. Pineda owns the best WHIP of any starter in the Twins’ rotation, while his ERA ranks behind Jake Odorizzi and Jose Berrios.
He had been especially good as of late, posting a 2.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 73/14 K/BB ratio over 65 ⅓ innings in his last 11 starts dating back to June 29. It’s a major blow to the Twins and fantasy owners alike.
It’s unclear at the moment how the Twins will opt to fill the sudden void in their rotation. Keep in mind, they’re also currently without Kyle Gibson (ulceritive colitis), though he’s tentatively expected to return to the Twins’ rotation next week.
It’s likely that Devin Smeltzer, who has made four starts with the big league club this season, will get an opportunity to fill that spot. After all, he’s the only pitcher other than the Twins five starters that has made more than two starts with the Twins this season.
Smeltzer has pitched fairly well in seven appearances (four starts) with the club. The 24-year-old rookie southpaw has posted a 4.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 27/9 K/BB ratio over 36 innings. He could have some mixed league value as a streaming option down the stretch.
Bad News for Baez
The Cubs’ postseason chances took a bit of a hit on Saturday, as an MRI on the injured right thumb of star second baseman Javier Baez revealed a hairline fracture.
He’s set to visit a hand specialist on Monday to determine how much time he’ll be forced to miss with the injury. It’s a devastating blow to both the Cubs and to fantasy owners who were counting on Baez to play a major role over the final month of the regular season.
It’s bad news that the Cubs could have probably gotten sooner, as they waited until he missed his fourth consecutive game after jamming his thumb on Sunday, before getting the MRI exam done.
The 26-year-old is in the midst of another outstanding season offensively, slashing .281/.316/.532 with 29 homers, 85 RBI and 11 stolen bases. While the Cubs have plenty of versatility on their roster and will be able to absorb the hit in the short-term, his offensive production will be extremely difficult for fantasy owners to replace at this stage of the season.
The 50/30 Club?
Christian Yelich had another monster day at the dish in Saturday’s victory over the Cubs, going 2-for-2 with an RBI double, three walks, a run scored and three stolen bases. The RBI double was of the walk-off variety, coming in a surprising move in which the Cubs opted to pitch to him in the ninth inning.
The three stolen bases give Yelich 30 swipes on the season. By reaching that plateau, he becomes just the second player in Brewers’ franchise history to have a 40 HR / 30 SB season, joining Ryan Braun who accomplished the feat in 2012.
What’ll be interesting to watch though, is whether or not Yelich can swat six more home runs over the remainder of the regular season. If he’s able to do so, he’ll be the first player in MLB history to record a 50 HR / 30 SB season. In all likelihood, that would be enough to move him past Cody Bellinger to repeat as the National League MVP.
As it stands, Yelich is slashing a phenomenal .329/.426/.675 with 44 homers, 97 RBI, 98 runs scored and 30 stolen bases in 127 games on the season.
American League Quick Hits: Mike Trout was held out of the Angels’ starting lineup on Saturday with right toe discomfort, though he was walked intentionally as a pinch hitter. He’s still considered day-to-day… Despite reporting significant improvement on Saturday, Nelson Cruz was held out of the Twins’ lineup with a sore wrist. He’s expected to return on Sunday… George Springer (concussion) is expected to return to the Astros’ starting lineup on Sunday… Yuli Gurriel was held out of Saturday’s lineup -- and will miss Sunday as well -- with a sore hamstring… Nomar Mazara (oblique) took batting practice on the field prior to Saturday’s game against the Orioles. He’s expected to return to the lineup during the team’s upcoming homestand… Jake Fraley was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Astros with right thumb soreness… Ramon Laureano was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Tigers due to cramping in his right leg… J.A. Happ whiffed seven over 6 ⅓ scoreless innings in a victory over the Red Sox… J.D. Martinez slugged his 35th home run in a losing effort… Charlie Morton punched out 10 in a victory over the Blue Jays… Anthony Kay pitched well in his big league debut, striking out eight over 5 ⅔ innings of two-run baseball against the Rays… Jorge Soler crushed his 41st home run as the Royals walloped the Marlins… Justin Verlander picked up his 18th victory of the season, limiting the Mariners to one run on four hits while striking out seven over his seven frames… Alex Bregman smashed his 34th home run of the season in that victory… Mitch Garver homered twice and drove in four runs, powering the Twins past the Indians. He now has 28 long balls in only 81 games on the season… Rougned Odor went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI as the Rangers topped the Orioles… Shohei Ohtani homered, drove in five runs and swiped a base as the Angels triumphed over the White Sox… Jose Abreu crushed his 30th home run of the season and drove in four runs in a losing effort there… Matt Olson went 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in a lopsided victory over the Tigers… Harold Castro went 4-for-5 and plated two runs in a losing effort there… Chris Bassitt struck out a career-high 11 batters over six innings in a victory against the Tigers.
National League Quick Hits: Bryce Harper was held out of the Phillies’ starting lineup on Saturday after being drilled in the right hand by a pitch on Friday... Nick Senzel sat out his fourth consecutive game on Saturday due to a sore shoulder… The Giants claimed left-hander Wandy Peralta off of waivers from the Reds… Nick Markakis (wrist) is set to get at-bats in simulated game situations next week, and if all goes well he could rejoin the Braves next weekend… Roenis Elias was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI exam on Saturday morning… Max Muncy (wrist) is hopeful to return to the Dodgers’ starting lineup on Friday… Johnny Cueto (elbow) threw a successful bullpen session on Saturday and is expected to make his season debut for the Giants during the upcoming week… Kyle Freeland (groin) threw a successful bullpen session on Saturday. The Rockies remain hopeful that he’ll return before the end of the season… Ryan Braun underwent an MRI exam on Saturday to rule out any structural damage in his ailing back. He’s still considered day-to-day… Kurt Suzuki was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Braves with a right elbow injury… Luis Castillo struck out 10 over 7 ⅔ innings of two-run baseball in a tough-luck loss against the Diamondbacks… Alex Young punched out a career-high 12 batters over eight shutout innings, out-dueling Castillo in that one… Caleb Smith fanned eight over six scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Royals… Drew Smyly struck out six over seven shutout innings in a dominant victory over the Mets… Marcell Ozuna crushed a three-run homer as the Cardinals walloped the Pirates… Adam Wainwright spun seven innings of one-run ball in that victory… Yu Darvish (forearm) struck out seven over five shutout innings in his return to the Cubs’ rotation… Christian Yelich Juan Soto drove in two runs in a loss to the Braves, eclipsing the 100-RBI plateau… Josh Donaldson continued his home run barrage, swatting his 36th long ball in a win over the Nationals… Julio Teheran fanned eight while allowing only one run over six innings in a victory there… Wil Myers went 3-for-4 with a jack and a bag as the Padres beat the Rockies… Kirby Yates struck out two in a scoreless inning against the Rockies, securing his league-leading 40th save… Joey Lucchesi recorded eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings in that victory… Tyler Beede fired five shutout innings in a win over the Dodgers.
