MLB Injury Roundup: Post Trade Deadline Injury Blues

Amidst the flurry of trade deadline moves made this year, there were several significant players sent to the disabled list.  Here’s a look at which players will miss time.

As the trade deadline passed and many teams gained pivotal pieces for a playoff run, there were several teams that received unfortunate news about their top stars.

The Cleveland Indians sent their ace Danny Salazar to the 15-day DL, but expect him to return rather soon.  Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals lost a key bullpen piece in Luke Hochevar for the season, while Ken Giles will now get a chance as the Houston Astros closer after injuries to Luke Gregerson and Will Harris.

Over in the National League, the Colorado Rockies lost slugging shortstop Trevor Story for the rest of the season – which all but puts a cap on the Rockies unfortunate season.  The dismal Atlanta Braves look to be gunning for the number one pick in next year’s draft, as they’ve placed Julio Teheran on the DL with a lat strain.

Out in the Midwest, Aledmys Diaz fractured his thumb and will miss significant time for the St. Louis Cardinals, which may be the final blow to a Cardinals team fighting to stay alive all season.

With just two months left in the season and injuries bound to happen, many teams may scramble to find minor leaguers capable of contributing – or turn to the waiver wire in hopes of making a trade.

Here’s a breakdown of every key MLB injury.

Next: Trouble in the Tribe

Starters

Danny Salazar

While the Indians have arguably the best pitching rotation in the American League, losing Salazar for any amount of time is a blow.  But after adding Andrew Miller to their bullpen before the trade deadline, the Tribe should have enough depth to push through his DL stint.

An MRI revealed inflammation in Salazar’s elbow, which is a lucky break for Cleveland, but they’ll exercise all caution in making sure he returns healthy for the final month of the season.

Salazar currently has a 3.38 ERA while racking up 10.20 strikeouts per nine innings in 20 starts. While his walks have increased, he’s utilizing more of the plate and in turn racking up more strikeouts.

With Cody Anderson and Mike Clevinger available to start, the Indians look to be fine in Salazar’s absence.

Julio Teheran

With the Atlanta Braves mired in the basement of the NL, the team is best suited to letting Teheran take plenty of time to rehab his lat strain.  While he isn’t expected to be out long, Teheran has nothing to prove with Atlanta.

Coming off a down 2015 campaign, Teheran has been excellent this season.  His 2.89 ERA is 16th best among starters with 50 or more innings pitched, while he’s also decreased his walks and home runs allowed.

Teheran’s injury will likely give Aaron Blair another shot in the rotation, despite his struggles in 11 starts earlier this year.  Expect Teheran back soon if his rehab progresses quickly, and then leading a young staff of Braves starters.

Next: A Royal Pain

Relievers

Luke Hochevar

After losing Wade Davis to the DL last week, the Royals received yet another blow to their bullpen with the loss of Hochevar.  The 32-year-old underwent surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome, an issue that impacts the neck and shoulders, as reported by AP.

Hochevar will miss six months, and the Royals are hopeful he’ll be back by spring training.  While Hochevar’s loss doesn’t hurt as much as Davis, it’s yet another blow to a team struggling to stay afloat in the AL Central.

After reinvigorating his career as a reliever in 2013, Hochever has been nothing short of consistent for Kansas City.  This season, he has a 3.86 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched.  In the 40 games he appeared in this season, he only gave up more than two runs three times.

The Royals bullpen, which was once so dominant, is now faltering – which is clearly part of the team’s overall issues this season.

Luke Gregerson

The Houston Astros placed late-inning reliever Gregerson on the DL with an oblique strain, a move that now opens the door for Giles to take over as closer.  Giles, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, struggled to start the season after losing out on the closer job to Gregerson, but has slowly rebounded since then.

Gregerson, despite his consistency this season, lost the closer role to Will Harris recently.  But with Harris’ struggles, Giles will now likely take the job.

Losing Gregerson will hurt the Astros with Harris’ struggles, but if Giles can step up, the team should be able to push through without him.  Gregerson has racked up strikeouts this season while posting a 3.09 ERA and 2.42 FIP with 14 saves.

Harris has been even more impressive, but has given up seven runs in his last 5.2 innings pitched. Giles, who has a 3.80 ERA and 2.76 FIP, is striking out batters at a career-best 13.29 K/9 – which typically the main trait of a dominant closer.

If Giles falters in the role, the Astros will need to figure out something quick if they hope to make a legitimate run at the Texas Rangers atop the AL West.

Trevor Rosenthal

Rosenthal has struggled mightily for the Cardinals this season, but he may return to form soon after some time off the field.  The 26-year-old received platelet-rich plasma injections, which could solve the issues with his right shoulder.

He currently has an unsightly 5.13 ERA while allowing 5.29 BB/9, but has a dominant 12.96 K/9. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes Rosenthal may not return until late August.

Next: Broken Beak