Injury Updates: Skaggs, Sanchez and Soria
Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Yet another pitcher has been added to the list of players who have been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. This time it is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim right-hander Tyler Skaggs. Like almost every player before him, with the exception of the New York Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka who chose to attempt rehabilitation before possibly having to opt for surgery, Skaggs will undergo Tommy John surgery. The date for the surgery has not yet been set.
Skaggs says he chose surgery over rehabilitation because it was better for his career. He has also chosen to not try and push the recovery time. The recovery period from Tommy John surgery can be anywhere from 12-18 months. Instead of trying to return late next season Skaggs is going to take the full 18-months to recover fully and return to baseball fresh and ready for the 2016 season.
The 23-year old is smart in attacking his recovery in this way. Many pitchers end up getting re-injured and having to have a second surgery thus missing more baseball.. At such a young age, he might be able to circumvent a second injury. Missing a little more baseball now can save him time in the future.
Skaggs was injured during a start on July 31. He was in the midst of pitching a no-hitter when he had to leave the game in the fifth inning. Skaggs was 5-5 with 4.30 ERA in 18 starts this season with the Angels. He was transferred Sunday from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
The Angels are currently sitting in second place in the American League West, four games behind the Oakland Athletics who are leading the Majors with a record of 74-45.
Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
One of the Detroit Tigers many elite starters, Anibal Sanchez, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday. Sanchez led the league in ERA (2.65) last season. So far in 2014 he’s done a fine job for the Tigers going 8-5 with a 3.53 ERA.
Unfortunately the 30-year old right-hander has been diagnosed with a right pectoralis major strain. His stint on the disabled list is retroactive to Saturday although the Tigers say that he will likely be out at least three, maybe four, weeks with the injury.
Sanchez’s accomplishments are often overlooked due to the now three Cy Young Award winners in the Tiger’s rotation, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and David Price. Since being traded to the Tigers from the Miami Marlins in 2012 Sanchez has a 3.11 ERA and 3.65 K/BB ratio in 62 starts for the Tigers.
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The Tigers suffered a second blow on Sunday when Joakim Soria, who was recently acquired from the Texas Rangers and is arguably the Tiger’s best reliever, was also placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. Soria has a left oblique strain and like Sanchez could be out for up to three weeks.
#Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said he anticipates Joakim Soria (left oblique strain) will be sidelined two to three weeks.
— James Schmehl (@jamesschmehl) August 10, 2014
Although Soria has struggled since coming over from Texas he is a key piece to an overall struggling Tiger’s bullpen. He has strong career numbers to back up that his issues were likely due to the oblique strain. Soria is a two-time All-Star with a 2.60 career ERA over seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Rangers and Tigers.
This is bad news for Detroit as they are clinging on to a half-game lead over the Royals in the A.L. Central. The Royals are currently on a seven-game winning streak meaning that, while they are bound to lose a game sometime, their club is very hot at a very good time in the season. The Tigers now will be without two of their most valuable pitchers, in Sanchez and Soria, while their main competition in the division is creeping up on them rapidly.