Among the many many Blue Jays starters at present on the injured record, José Berríos‘ well being state of affairs is perhaps probably the most perplexing in the meanwhile. Berríos suffered a stress fracture in his throwing elbow throughout consumption physicals for the World Baseball Basic, and that damage flared up once more throughout a minor league rehab stint. Though an replace was anticipated yesterday on Berríos’ situation, there was no clear reply on the present severity of the stress fracture.
If something, the image is even murkier now. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet relays feedback from supervisor John Schneider, who says that “surgical procedure is on the desk” for Berríos. Schneider doesn’t consider there may be any ligament injury, however there could also be “unfastened our bodies” in Berríos’ elbow along with the stress fracture, based on Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The latter damage comes with a spread of outcomes for restoration. The Braves’ Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep each underwent surgical procedure to take away unfastened our bodies within the spring. Schwellenbach is on the 60-day injured record and hasn’t thrown but, whereas Waldrep prevented the 60-day IL. Within the final month, Tarik Skubal and Edwin Díaz have additionally undergone surgical procedure for unfastened our bodies, and so they’re anticipated to overlook two to a few months.
It’s tough to foretell a timeline for Berríos from that vary of outcomes. Given his lengthy layoff and the lingering stress fracture, the Jays will understandably proceed with warning. In the meanwhile, that leaves a four-man rotation of Dylan Stop, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, and Patrick Corbin. That clearly gained’t maintain up long-term, and it’s additional difficult by the Jays’ hectic schedule within the subsequent two weeks. The workforce doesn’t have an off day till June 1st, with 17 video games between from time to time, together with tonight. Schneider has mentioned the membership will use a spot starter tomorrow, leaving three further turns by way of the rotation that must be coated by a spot starter or bullpen video games.
As hectic as their rotation appears, the Jays’ offense bought some constructive damage updates in the present day. Alejandro Kirk is progressing in his rehab and has responded nicely to catching, per Nicholson-Smith. Based on MLB.com’s damage report, Kirk will catch injured starter Shane Bieber‘s subsequent bullpen session. That bodes nicely for the well being of Kirk’s left thumb, which fractured on April third on a foul tip and necessitated surgical procedure just a few days later. On the time, he was projected for a six-week restoration timeline. It stays to be seen how Kirk will fare towards stay pitching, however for now, the indicators level to him being again inside or not too far past that timeframe.
In Kirk’s absence, Toronto’s offense has been a backside 10 unit within the Majors. Getting into play in the present day, the workforce ranks twenty third with a 93 wRC+. Kazuma Okamoto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are hitting 15-20% higher than common by wRC+. Nonetheless, Andrés Giménez, Davis Schneider, and George Springer are all hitting a minimum of 11% beneath common. In the meantime, Kirk has a 110 profession wRC+ and an 11.5% profession strikeout price. His eventual return will add a tricky out to the lineup and lengthen the group total. If the Blue Jays elect to maintain Brandon Valenzuela on as Kirk’s backup catcher, that would additionally profit the offense by limiting taking part in time for the weak-hitting Tyler Heineman.
Nicholson-Smith additionally offers an replace on Addison Barger. Schneider feels that Barger is “doing higher” and can ideally be hitting and throwing by subsequent week. If all goes nicely, Barger might be again “fairly quickly” after that. This present IL placement is Barger’s second of the yr, as he beforehand missed a month as a result of an ankle sprain. He performed one sport earlier than injuring his elbow on Could eleventh and touchdown again on the IL.
The Jays could understandably be involved after that succession of accidents, although it’s maybe an excellent signal that Barger will be again fairly quickly after hitting and throwing drills. Barger has solely had 28 plate appearances this yr, however he had a 107 wRC+ in 502 plate appearances final yr. His underlying metrics counsel that efficiency is sustainable. Barger’s common exit velocity and hard-hit price had been within the 86th and 91st percentiles, respectively. Assuming he stays wholesome this time, Barger would add depth to Toronto’s lineup, albeit not as impactfully as Kirk.
Photograph courtesy of Brian Fluharty, Imagn Pictures
