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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Cardinals notebook: What we know about Iván Herrera's hamstring, Michael McGreevy's next start
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals hoped Friday would bring optimistic news regarding Iván Herrera and his sore left hamstring. Instead, they were greeted with a grim prognosis. Herrera, the team's most impactful hitter, could miss up to six weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The Cardinals were made aware of the injury a few hours before Friday's game, a 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds spurred by six scoreless innings from Andre Pallante. Still, the ramifications of losing Herrera for an extended period could be severe for St. Louis. Advertisement Herrera sustained the injury in the top of the sixth inning during Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, rounding first base after singling to right. Herrera, the starting catcher in Game 1, did not initially think the injury was serious and remained in the game for two more innings. When he continued to feel a twinge, the Cardinals removed him. 'I tried to go for two bases and I felt a pull in my hamstring, a small spot,' Herrera said. 'I didn't think it was bad. … I didn't feel uncomfortable, but they did take me out of the game.' 'I thought I could keep playing,' he added. 'I was hoping that I could play today. But (the team) said if I keep playing with it, I risk missing all year.' Herrera underwent imaging Friday morning at Busch Stadium, which revealed a significant strain will keep him out a minimum of two weeks, but likely much more. The Cardinals' initial recovery timeline ranged anywhere from two to six weeks. Herrera was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday afternoon, and the team recalled Thomas Saggese as the corresponding move. INF Thomas Saggese has been recalled from Memphis (AAA). C/DH Iván Herrera has been placed on the 10-day IL (left hamstring strain). — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 20, 2025 Being without Herrera for any length of time is not ideal for St. Louis. Despite his defense continuing to be a work in progress, Herrera cemented himself in the starting lineup because of his bat. His .320/.392/.533 line is the most productive of any Cardinal, and his eight homers are the fourth-most on the team. The 25-year-old already missed a month of the season after sustaining a bone bruise on his left knee in early April, yet he still leads most of the roster in OPS (.925) and RBIs (36). 'It's unfortunate, he's been doing a really nice job,' manager Oli Marmol said of Herrera. 'Swinging a really hot bat, just a real threat offensively. We're going to miss that, but it's an opportunity for someone else to step in.' Advertisement The Cardinals will have to get creative in Herrera's absence. They'll also need multiple players to step up during the next two weeks. St. Louis (41-35, 4 1/2 games back in the National League Central) is entering a pivotal stretch of schedule where it will face division opponents in 12 of its next 15 games. The Cardinals also do not have a scheduled team off day until July 3. Here's what to watch as the Cardinals navigate a serious blow to their everyday lineup — during a time where they could hardly afford it. For the last several weeks, Marmol's lineup configuration resembled solving a Rubik's Cube. Keeping Herrera as the starting designated hitter kept the best bat in the lineup, but made it impossible for Marmol to play Gorman, Jordan Walker, Burleson, Lars Nootbaar and Victor Scott II in the lineup at the same time. Gorman and Burleson were the players who saw their playing time cut the most, despite both hitters swinging much better bats lately. Gorman entered play Friday hitting .286 with three homers and a .946 OPS in June, while Burleson is slugging a whopping .400/431/.600 and also has three home runs this month. What's been most encouraging about both Gorman and Burleson's performance is that it has come regardless of opposing handedness. The two lefties are having no problem hitting lefty pitching lately, and Marmol is eager to play both hitters more. 'Gorman has shown over time that he can handle lefties, it's more so if his swing is right,' Marmol explained. 'When he's feeling good, I don't think it's a matter of handedness, where Burleson is showing us that he can stay in there really well (against lefties) right now.' Three-run Burly Bomb! 🌮 — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 19, 2025 The Cardinals believe they can increase playing time for Gorman and Burleson by utilizing the designated hitter role and also working in consistent rest days for Walker. Asked if there was some hesitancy about carrying a lefty-heavy lineup (Brendan Donovan, Nootbaar and Scott II will continue in their usual roles), Marmol acknowledged that could be a concern but said: 'It is what it is. You take your shot with what you have, and we can give guys a blow with Saggese from the right side.' Advertisement Expect St. Louis to use the designated hitter role as a carousel, similar to how it operated during Herrera's first IL stint. Gorman and Burleson can trade off in that role, with Burleson also available to give Willson Contreras time off at first base or Walker in right field. The Cardinals could also elect to start Donovan in left field and Gorman at second base on days Nootbaar needs off, but that will raise questions about how much they are willing to sacrifice defensively to prioritize offense. It's not an ideal situation, but if the team is looking for a silver lining, it's that Burleson and Gorman look ready to pick up in Herrera's place. 'This will give more opportunity to Gorman (and Burleson) to step in there and show what they're capable of, which will be fun to watch as well,' Marmol said. Saggese was the logical call-up, with Yohel Pozo available to back up Pedro Pagés behind the plate. While there will be a clamor to play Saggese every day, Marmol made it clear the infielder's role is to provide depth. The 23-year-old appeared in 15 games in April for St. Louis before he was optioned back to Memphis to see more consistent playing time. He's hitting .317 with an .847 OPS over 42 Triple-A games, but his ability to play around the infield is where he brings the Cardinals the most value. Marmol wants to prioritize Gorman's and Burleson's playing time, though there will still be opportunities for Saggese to play. Thomas Saggese is red hot for the @MemphisRedbirds 🔥 The @Cardinals' No. 5 prospect is 20-for-45 (.444) in June after belting his fifth homer of the season at Triple-A. — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 18, 2025 'The priority is the guys that have been here, more so than the guy who's getting here,' Marmol explained. 'An opportunity — in an undesirable way — has presented itself, but I think the guys that have been waiting for their opportunity should get it.' Saggese was the designated hitter in Friday's starting lineup, as both Contreras and Nolan Arenado were scheduled for days off after Thursday's doubleheader. Saggese could start against opposing left-handers, but his primary obligation will be bench depth for now. Advertisement A rainout Wednesday allowed St. Louis to bring up McGreevy for a spot start Thursday as its 27th man — before his eligibility date of June 24. The result? Five innings of one-run ball against the White Sox, where the right-hander scattered three hits and a walk with five strikeouts. The Cardinals had to send him back to Memphis after Thursday (McGreevy was sent down on June 10 and, by rule, must wait 15 days before he's eligible to be called back up, with the exception of injury and doubleheaders). Expect to see him back with the big-league club as soon as it's permitted. The Cardinals will likely spot start McGreevy against the Cubs on Tuesday, his third start of the year for St. Louis and his fourth overall appearance. Sonny Gray, who was supposed to start Wednesday's postponed game, was pushed back to Saturday. Miles Mikolas will take Sunday's series finale against the Reds, and Matthew Liberatore is scheduled to start Monday's game — the first of four against Chicago, whom St. Louis is facing for the first time this season. St. Louis has aimed to keep its starters on a six-day schedule for most of the season. By starting McGreevy on his eligibility date, the Cardinals will be able to enforce that schedule. They plan to finish the series with Erick Fedde on Wednesday and Pallante on Thursday, both of whom would be on a five-day schedule if not for a spot start Tuesday. It's fair to question why McGreevy, who has allowed five earned runs over 16 2/3 major-league innings this season, isn't a fixture in the rotation. The Cardinals certainly would like him to be but remain concerned about their lack of starting pitching depth in the minor leagues. St. Louis is one of few MLB teams that has not suffered a significant starting pitching injury, which has kept McGreevy in Triple A. The club could re-evaluate McGreevy's usage ahead of the trade deadline. Until then, St. Louis will continue utilizing McGreevy for spot starts when the schedule allows and look to find a clear avenue for him to remain in the big leagues for good later in the year. (Photo of Ivan Herrera: Jeff Hanisch / Imagn Images)
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Twins takeaways: Royce Lewis injured again, Jose Miranda passed over, Brooks Lee heats up
Royce Lewis is back on the injured list with another left hamstring strain. This time, the Minnesota Twins have classified it as a mild strain, whereas the hamstring injury Lewis suffered during spring training was a moderate strain that sidelined the third baseman for nearly two months. It's unfortunate timing for Lewis, who was finally having some success at the plate after a prolonged slump that carried over from last season, going 11-for-28 (.393) in a nine-game stretch. He was injured Friday while running out a base hit that pushed his batting average above .200. Royce Lewis pulled something running to first and has come out of the game. [image or embed] — CJ Fogler (@ June 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM 'I'm tired of being the one that's getting bullied and picked on by this game,' Lewis told reporters in Houston. 'Whether it wants me to suffer on the offensive side, or when I'm going hot, it just wants to kick me out with an injury, it seems like it's just picking on me at this moment.' Lewis' frustration is easy to understand. His career was forever altered by sustaining back-to-back season-ending torn right ACLs in 2021 and 2022. It was a long road back from those surgeries, and this is his sixth IL stint in the past two years since returning. Advertisement • June 2025: Hamstring • March 2025: Hamstring • July 2024: Adductor • March 2024: Quadriceps • September 2023: Hamstring • July 2023: Oblique Lewis was once among baseball's fastest prospects, but the never-ending injuries sapped most of that speed. In an unsuccessful effort to avoid more leg problems, the Twins asked him to jog this season unless it was absolutely necessary, resulting in a sprint speed in the 13th percentile league-wide. And yet, even abandoning the once-elite and still-valuable running aspect of his game hasn't helped stave off the leg issues. This latest hamstring injury occurred on a routine play in which Lewis ran somewhat hard for less than 50 feet before pulling up in discomfort. March's injury was a similar story. Lewis has played just 182 of 530 possible games (34 percent) since making his highly anticipated Twins debut on May 6, 2022, and he's facing another extended absence that might keep him out through the All-Star break in mid-July. His career high for games played in a season will almost certainly remain at 82, which he accomplished last season. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to replace Lewis on the roster despite hitting poorly in a limited role with the Twins earlier this season. This is noteworthy because he's an outfielder taking the place of an infielder, and he was chosen over Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien. Keirsey made the Opening Day roster and spent the first 56 games with the Twins but received just 66 plate appearances and hit .109 with 21 strikeouts and one walk, often looking overmatched. He was used mostly off the bench as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. robs extra bases and a run 🤯 — MLB (@MLB) April 30, 2025 Demoted to the minors last month, Keirsey batted .231 with a .619 OPS in 10 games for St. Paul, far from the level of performance that usually warrants a quick return to the majors. It's clear this is less about Keirsey, who figures to play sparingly again, and more about bypassing Miranda and Julien. Advertisement Miranda would have been the natural roster replacement for Lewis. He's a fellow right-handed hitter and has lots of experience filling in for Lewis at third base, including earlier this season. However, the 26-year-old has underwhelmed with St. Paul after a mid-April demotion. Miranda has played 31 games for St. Paul, hitting .210 with two homers and a .607 OPS that's 138 percentage points below the International League average. Julien has been more productive there thanks to a high walk rate, but he has hardly impressed while hitting .248 with two homers in 35 games. Miranda and Julien are bat-first players who were once considered part of the lineup's core, and they have 530 games in the majors between them. Yet with Lewis out and the Twins in need of infield depth and any kind of boost for a punchless lineup, they opted for a little-used backup outfielder. Brooks Lee is now in line for the bulk of the starts at third base, with Willi Castro and Jonah Bride also seeing some time there. It's been a huge weak spot all season, as Twins third basemen have combined to hit just .234 with a .635 OPS that ranks 24th in MLB. Swapping out Lewis for Keirsey means Castro will be needed more as an infielder than an outfielder, likely sharing second base with Kody Clemens and occasionally sliding over to third base. As is annually the case, Castro's versatility has become essential. And he's hitting .350 over the past month. Three weeks ago, I wrote an article about why manager Rocco Baldelli had seemingly unwavering faith in Lee being a good major-league hitter despite uninspiring numbers that painted a much different picture. At the time, Lee was hitting just .230 with four homers and a .622 OPS in 39 games after a disappointing rookie campaign in 2024, but Baldelli was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old and kept running him out there in a prominent lineup spot. Advertisement 'You can throw things at him, and he can handle them,' Baldelli said then. 'I'm into challenging players. I think they respond and grow and turn into even better versions of themselves. He's got really good ability. He doesn't have a ton of major-league experience, but you see him getting better.' It turns out Baldelli's faith was justified, and the challenge worked. Brooks Lee.. so hot right now — Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 15, 2025 Lee had gone hitless in six of his last seven games when that was published on May 28. Since then, he has at least one hit in every game, and Lee is now riding a 15-game hitting streak in which he has batted .350 with three homers to raise his season OPS from .630 to .708 (league average is .709). Lee was one of the Twins' only bright spots offensively this weekend during a three-game sweep in Houston that saw the lineup score just six total runs. Lee had five hits in three games, homering from both sides of the plate, but the rest of the lineup combined to hit .157 with 32 strikeouts in 89 at-bats. Swept by the Astros, including back-to-back walk-off losses, the Twins have dropped five of their last six series, defeating only the last-place Athletics in Sacramento. They are 10-15 (.400) since the 13-game winning streak ended, which nearly matches their 13-20 (.394) record before the streak. (Photo of Royce Lewis: Ellen Schmidt / Getty Images)
New York Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Mets have a different plan for Kodai Senga's rehab this time
NEW YORK — Kodai Senga's hamstring strain is Grade 1, the least severe, meaning the right-hander will be shut down for about the next two weeks before being re-evaluated and ramped up to return. This places Senga's timeline to be back in the Mets' rotation in the second half of July. 'I feel like it's relatively good news,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. Advertisement The important step now for Senga and the Mets is to ace this recovery process, in a way they didn't with either of Senga's rehabilitations last year. In both instances, it appeared he and the Mets were not on the same page at times. Questions about Senga's next steps or his ultimate timeline were met with shrugs more often than with other players. It's important that the Mets and Senga learn from whatever disconnect existed then and apply those lessons to make this recovery process smoother all around. 'I wouldn't say we weren't on the same page. It was a tricky injury with a few setbacks,' Mendoza said. 'Now that we've gone through it with Senga, I'm pretty confident (in) the communication and the feedback with him. We'll continue to listen to him.' Indeed, going through the experience last season should help this time around. 'A lot of players, but particularly Senga, want to be involved in the process,' president of baseball operations David Stearns said. 'It's important that we get on the same page from the jump and that we're all bought into what this process is going to look like. 'I think we got there last year, but anytime you're going through this multiple times, I certainly know Senga a lot better now than I did last year. Our medical staff has worked through a rehab progression and rehab process with him already on multiple occasions. We feel pretty comfortable that whatever this turns out to be, we're going to be able to work very productively with him to get him back healthy.' That means the Mets being more forthright with their expectations for Senga. Typically, New York looks at a rehab in smaller increments, leaving room for improvisation as the player's health dictates. Taking that approach with Senga, who likes doing things his way, did not provide enough structure, with one team source describing the pitcher on rehab 'like a hot-air balloon in a hurricane.' Advertisement The Mets are fortunate that almost no team in baseball is better equipped to handle the absence of their best starter. New York dealt with losing Senga a year ago, its rotation has been lights out all season, it already has an established major-league starter to step into Senga's rotation spot in Paul Blackburn and it has reinforcements on the way in Frankie Montas (by the end of the month) and Sean Manaea (in July). It doesn't hurt, either, that the team is in first place in the National League East. Nevertheless, making the rehab process smooth for Senga is vitally important to the Mets' end goals. No pitcher on their staff has a higher ceiling than the 32-year-old, who appeared on Cy Young ballots in his rookie season in 2023 and was on pace for his second All-Star nod this season — the kind of pitcher they wanted to throw Game 1 even when he wasn't all the way back in 2024. Looking back on last year's postseason, perhaps the only hypothetical that haunts the Mets is what a fully healthy Senga could have meant for them, especially in their NLCS against the Dodgers. With the rest of the rotation flagging, Senga was rocked in his abbreviated start in Game 1 and pitched only in a mop-up role in the season-ending Game 6. A healthy Senga would have meant two better starts in the series, more aggressive usage of David Peterson out of the bullpen and a better chance of a pennant. This season, the Mets have been clearer in communicating their expectations for Senga. They did it in spring training, lining him up to start the fifth game of the season to better prepare him for the regular season's workload. And Senga has performed exceptionally well, leading Major League Baseball with a 1.47 ERA over 13 starts. Furthermore, new assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel has been especially beneficial for Senga. The two have developed a strong relationship, with Druschel helping prevent Senga from throwing too much. 'He's very meticulous with what he does with his rehab and his mechanics and his throwing program,' Mendoza said. 'I feel like we're in a good place, and I'm not anticipating any issues here.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Royce Lewis' injury woes continue with another hamstring strain
HOUSTON (AP) — Minnesota third baseman Royce Lewis strained his left hamstring in the ninth inning of the Twins' loss to Houston on Friday night. Lewis pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth and was replaced by a pinch-runner. Manager Rocco Baldelli said after the game that he strained his hamstring but that they didn't know how severe the injury was. Advertisement 'He actually tested relatively well after the game upon examination in the training room,' Baldelli said. 'We're going to bring him in tomorrow and check him out, see how he comes in. A lot of the times you learn a lot just by how the guy shows up the next day, how he can move around, what he's capable of doing. That will tell us a lot, and then we'll be able to make a decision of some kind as far as the next step one way or the other.' The injury comes after he missed the first 35 games of the season with a moderate strain of the same hamstring that occurred running out a ground ball in spring training. Lewis, the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, has been plagued by injuries in his career. He played just 82 games last season while missing time with a severe quadriceps strain and a groin injury. Those injuries came after he tore the ACL in his right knee in both 2021 and 2022. Lewis, who homered Friday night, is hitting .202 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 30 games this season. ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Royce Lewis' injury woes continue with another hamstring strain
HOUSTON — Minnesota third baseman Royce Lewis strained his left hamstring in the ninth inning of the Twins' loss to Houston on Friday night. Lewis pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth and was replaced by a pinch-runner. Manager Rocco Baldelli said after the game that he strained his hamstring but that they didn't know how severe the injury was. 'He actually tested relatively well after the game upon examination in the training room,' Baldelli said. 'We're going to bring him in tomorrow and check him out, see how he comes in. A lot of the times you learn a lot just by how the guy shows up the next day, how he can move around, what he's capable of doing. That will tell us a lot, and then we'll be able to make a decision of some kind as far as the next step one way or the other.' The injury comes after he missed the first 35 games of the season with a moderate strain of the same hamstring that occurred running out a ground ball in spring training. Lewis, the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, has been plagued by injuries in his career. He played just 82 games last season while missing time with a severe quadriceps strain and a groin injury. Those injuries came after he tore the ACL in his right knee in both 2021 and 2022. Lewis, who homered Friday night, is hitting .202 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 30 games this season. ___ AP MLB:
