Retroactive to 8/18, 15 day minimum IL for pitchers

 

Does not signal a change in Mahle's health evaluation from earlier:

 

Bummer but not so surprising. This way he misses two starts and is available to start on 9/3 against the White Sox. Sounds like they want Smeltzer in the bullpen. Who starts Tuesday then? Maybe Sands pitches today and is then sent down for the Tuesday starter - Sanchez or maybe even Varland?

If he was going to miss one start this is probably the best way to go.  Let him miss 2 and let the shoulder have some down time.  Obviously not the best timing with Houston coming up, but hopefully this gives them a...at least more healthy Mahle for the final stretch run.  Hopefully the offense as a whole finds themselves, much easier on the SP when you are scoring 6 runs a game.

So much for his missing one start. Earliest return on 15 day will be September 1.

Not the best news, but not really a surprise. We're gonna need Mahle down the stretch, so let's hope he doesn't have a relapse when he comes back. As for Smeltzer...ugh. Hope he's only used in middle relief. 

Bad stretch in terms of days off for this to happen, none until September 1. With Ryan and Gray pitching Sunday and Monday, the team could very well be swept by Houston as well. 

Smeltzer's vantage was coming off spring training ready before anyone else, but they didn't. Now that the train has left, they bring him up. Like the post stated, they'll use him against lefty heavy TEX, more than likely middle relief. Later I hope they bring up A Sanchez to pitch against HOU.

I was hoping we'd use Mahle against HOU but just dial him back. I guess it's worse than they expected but not surprized.

Plucking Smeltzer before a double header today will put some pressure on the Saints to fill the gap, and it'll burn a few of their guys. I don't think there's any plan to call Sanchez up.

 

There are two off days during the time Mahle must be on the Injured List. One of the announcers on the Apple+ broadcast said last night that it looked like he would be disabled. 

Smeltzer hasn't been effective at St. Paul after getting hit hard in his last couple of appearances with the Twins. He was a big factor earlier. 

Least surprising news ever.

 

Baldelli and his cronies are setting up some very big precedents.   Sometimes. you have to believe a player and let him play.  This ever so cautionary strategy assures only 1 thing for sure.................the player won't be playing.   I don't understand why these guys are treated with kid gloves.  Yes, I know they are being paid big bucks, but they are also (Their contracts) insured.  Let's roll the dice, maybe we'll get lucky.  All we know is that the chances of drifting out of contention are increased.

Injury after injury

What bad luck!  Who could possibly have foreseen shoulder trouble for a pitcher whose last Injured List stint for shoulder trouble was way back in (checks mlb.com) July 2022?