Ambulance Chasers: Soler Flare

Happiest of Saturdays to you Razzballers!

You’ve probably heard the various generational topics. Things like walking 10 miles in the snow to school or spending $56.23 on a piece of avocado toast or whatever BRAT  means (spoiler: sorry to report it’s not bratwurst). Those are just distractions from the true divisive issue: Pluto’s status as a planet. Whether you grew up thinking of Pluto as a noun or simply a comparably small rock, it does not matter.

All that matters is that Jorge Soler’s light has been extinguished with an injured hamstring. And Jazz Chisholm Jr. has a UCL injury. Our friend Byron Buxton? He’s injured again. And it’s our job to figure out how to fix that this week on Razzball Ambulance Chasers, where Pluto is dead.

Notable Injuries

AL Central

Byron Buxton (OF, MIN), hip: Blessed Byron Buxton returns to the IL with hip inflammation (no structural damage found in an MRI per Dan Hayes). He is eligible to return August 23. The Twins are bringing Edouard Julien back to the roster as a result.

If you don’t want to travel too far for a roster replacement, it’s a short walk over to Buxton’s teammate Matt Wallner, who has 4 HR and 12 RBIs in his past 54 AB. On the season, Matt Wallner has an 18 wRC+.

Another option is recent IL graduate Kerry Carpenter. The Tigers outfielder is on a hot streak after being activated. He’s hit 3 HR in his 12 AB since returning to the roster.

AL East

Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3B, NYY), elbow: Jazz sustained a sprained UCL (non-throwing arm) as he slid into home plate during a game in the Yankees-White Sox series. Luckily, x-rays were negative for any major damage, and Jazz himself thinks he will return after the 10-day minimum (August 23). We’ll see about that.

Jazz’s teammate Oswaldo Cabrera will keep 3B warm for now. In his last 44 AB, he has hit 3 HR and 8 RBIs with 1 SB.

AL West

Ronel Blanco (SP, HOU), index finger: Blanco was hit on the left hand by a comebacker off Brandon Lowe’s bat. Luckily the only damage Blanco sustained was index finger soreness. His status remains questionable. So, he should be back in action soon.

Alex Bregman (OF, HOU), elbow: Bregman is day-to-day with swelling in his right elbow. The swelling occurred Bregman slept on it awkwardly per MLB’s Brian McTaggart. Athletes! They’re just like us.  Luckily, the swelling is not considered serious, and Bregman should be back in action soon.

Oakland’s JJ Bleday is an option if you need coverage for Bregman. Bleday is hitting .329/.402/.573 4 HR and 13 RBIs in his last 22 AB. Bleday’s BABIP is high here, but the sample size is small.

NL East

A.J. Minter (RP, ATL), hip: Minter hits the IL for hip surgery, which is likely season ending. You will find a potential replacement in the West Coast Contingent of A.J.s: A.J. Puk. In his last 11.7 IP, Puk is throwing 13.8 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 with 1 SV and 5 HLD.

Jorge Soler (OF, ATL), hamstring:  The angels are in the Braves outfield this year as Jorge Soler is added to the list of ailing Braves outfielders. Soler is currently day-to-day with a mild hamstring strain. He is traveling with the team, but it was uncertain at the time of publication if he was going to play this weekend.

Although Soler is day-to-day, hamstring injuries occasionally linger. David Peralta is readily available option for your roster if you are down Soler. Peralta has hit 5 HR and 12 RBIs in his last 61 AB. The sample size is small, but his BABIP has been quite high. He’ll likely regress, but hopefully, Soler won’t be down too long! Another option here would be Gavin Lux.

Injury Updates

Here are your lightning-round injury updates. If a top player is not mentioned below (i.e. Ozzie Albies), there are no big or helpful updates. If I missed someone you’re curious about, hit me up in the comments.

• Bo Bichette (SS, TOR), hamstring: returned to baseball activities before rehab assignment.
• Triston Casas (1B, BOS), ribs: activated.
• Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX), elbow: may begin rehab soon.
• Tommy Edman (SS, LAD), wrist: returning to the lineup on Monday.
• Jon Gray (SP, TEX), groin: throwing off the mound.
• Riley Greene (OF, DET), hamstring: rehab assignment.
• Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS) elbow: beginning rehab assignment.
• Reynaldo Lopez (SP, ATL), forearm: rehab assignment.
• Matt McLain (2B/SS, CIN), shoulder: resuming baseball activities.
• Starling Marte (OF, NYM), knee: could be activated this weekend.
• Max Muncy (3B, LAD), oblique: return to the line-up on Tuesday.
• Luis Rengifo (UTIL, LAA), wrist: returned to baseball activities.
• Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL), lat/teres: expected to return in September.

• Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA), ankle: appeared to aggravate his ankle injury; season outlook is murky.
• Joe Ryan (SP, MIN), teres: out “indefinitely” with a grade 2 teres strain.
• Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), shoulder: threw BP session; updates to come.
• Fernando Tatís Jr. (OF, SDP), leg: from Mike Schlidt “nothing new”.
• Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU), shin: working out in the field now but no rehab assignment yet.
• Justin Verlander (SP, HOU), neck: rehab assignment.
• Christian Walker (1B, ARI), oblique: hitting off the tee.
• Jordan Westburg (2B/3B, BAL), hand: should return in September.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD), shoulder: threw sim game, and rehab may follow.
• Christian Yelich (OF, MIL), back: out for the season to have back surgery. 🙁

That’s it for this week folks! Who’s been troubling your IL lately?

If you’re on X or Twitter or whatever they call it these days, find me on  Twitter. You can also find me in bluer skies at BlueSky.