Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Thursday, May 30, 2024. Inside today’s edition, the Mets got a double dosage of bad news, as they may lose both Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso for quite some time. Also, Yu Darvish and Alek Manoah may head to the Injured List for their respective injuries, and Lars Nootbaar injured his side on a swing. This and so much more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report for Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Edwin Diaz – RP New York Mets (shoulder)
RHP Edwin Díaz has been placed on the 15-Day IL with a right shoulder impingement.
LHP Josh Walker has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 29, 2024
Diaz said that he first felt any shoulder discomfort on Saturday, and now, a few days later, has been placed on the Injured List. He has struggled to save games this year, despite striking out at an above-average rate this season and generating whiffs. It just hasn’t come all together to equate the outs needed to lock down save opportunities. A reminder that he didn’t pitch at all last season and that a reliever’s endurance is nowhere near that of a starter. Perhaps this is his body’s way of telling him to slow down.
Pete Alonso – 1B New York Mets (hand)
Update: X-rays were negative on Pete Alonso's right hand, but the Mets won't have CT scan results until tomorrow. They need those to confirm no break.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 29, 2024
The Mets received a double dosage of bad news on Wednesday as Pete Alonso got hit in the hand by a pitch, causing his immediate removal from the game. The good news is that the X-rays were negative, and things look to be normalized for now. That being said, they have yet to dodge all bullets, as the CT scan results haven’t been revealed. There is still a chance that he has a fracture. Stay tuned.
Tyler O’Neill – OF Boston Red Sox (knee)
Sox placed OF Tyler O’Neill on the 10-Day Injured List, retroactive to 5/26, with right knee inflammation. To fill his spot on the active roster, the club recalled INF Enmanuel Valdez.
— Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) May 29, 2024
O’Neill has said that this injury has lingered for quite some time and could be the reason for his struggles at the plate. It only makes sense to let him heal and get himself right before coming back. Chances are that this isn’t a long trip to the Injured List, but O’Neill has been injured many times before for long periods of time. There’s a possibility that this is a lengthy absence.
Lars Nootbaar – OF St. Louis Cardinals (side)
#STLCards OF Dylan Carlson going into right field for Lars Nootbaar in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Nootbaar appeared to strain something in his left side on a check swing in the top of the seventh inning. He stayed in the game for an inning, but he is now out.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) May 29, 2024
Nootbaar was replaced midway through the game because the team didn’t want him to play through the pain of the injury. While there is no doubt that he is a talented player, his injury history is concerning. Over the last fourteen months, he has missed time due to injuries to his thumb, back, abdomen, ribs, and now potentially this.
Josh Lowe – OF Tampa Bay Rays (oblique)
The team would be wise to take things slowly here, as a recurring injury is worrisome. Then again, it’s not as if the Rays rushed him back earlier in the season. While it’s great that Lowe has been able to resume baseball activities, his health is vital to the team’s success. Chances are that he heads out to another rehab assignment before returning.
Zach Eflin – SP Tampa Bay Rays (back)
Eflin has been progressing at a steady rate thus far and looks to have a ways to go yet before returning. The team does not have anything in place yet, with regard to a timeline for a return, but they don’t seem overly concerned either.
Yu Darvish – SP San Diego Padres (hamstring)
Yu Darvish departed today’s game with left hamstring tightness.
He is currently undergoing testing away from Petco Park.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) May 29, 2024
The results of this imaging have yet to be released, so it is difficult to plan ahead without speculating. Still, given his age and injury history, it’s hard not to worry about him missing time. Stay tuned.
Kerry Carpenter – OF Detroit Tigers (spine)
(1/2) The Tigers have made the following roster moves:
• Placed OF Kerry Carpenter on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 27, with lumbar spine inflammation.
• Recalled OF Akil Baddoo from Triple A Toledo— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) May 29, 2024
Carpenter will undergo testing to get a better sense of what he is dealing with here. The team has said that there is no timetable for a return, and thus his situation is in limbo.
Alek Manoah – SP Toronto Blue Jays (elbow)
Alek Manoah will get an MRI on his right elbow tomorrow, John Schneider says. #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) May 30, 2024
Definitely not an ideal situation here, as Manoah was seemingly getting himself back on track from a long bout of struggles and injuries. Now, the team will wait to get a clearer picture of the situation and figure out a plan from here. Bowden Francis is finishing up a rehab assignment and figures to be the benefactor here if Manoahis misses time.
Josh Jung – 3B Texas Rangers (wrist)
Bruce Bochy watched Josh Jung hit today: "You'd think he was going to be ready in a couple of days."
Jung is swinging a lighter bat right now, of course, but Bochy said that "he looks great."
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) May 29, 2024
Jung was just cleared to hit this week, and apparently all looked good, if not great. His next step will be to use a regulation-sized and weighted bat, but all indications are that he is on the right path to a return. He will undoubtedly require a rehab assignment before he is back in Texas.
Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees (elbow)
Gerrit Cole is scheduled to toss live batting practice again on Thursday in Tampa, Aaron Boone said. It'll be Cole's third session vs. hitters, following a two-inning, 30-pitch outing on Saturday.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 29, 2024
After this session, there is a chance that Cole will head out to a rehab assignment. Stay tuned.
Jordan Westburg – 2B Baltimore Orioles (hand)
X-rays on Jordan Weatburg’s right hand/wrist negative. Feels a lot better. This was planned day off for Adley Rutschman #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) May 29, 2024
The team said that giving Westburg two full days off (yesterday and today) would benefit him greatly. The hope is that he can avoid a trip to the Injured List.
Brandon Drury – INF Los Angeles Angels (hamstring)
Brandon Drury (hamstring) said he's aiming to return on June 11, when the #Angels open their series in Arizona.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 30, 2024
Drury has recently started a program that consists of running, throwing, hitting, and other baseball activities. The middle of June seems like a reasonable target, though that will be reliant on a successful rehab assignment.