Latest MLB News and Notes: Wednesday, August 18
18 August 2021
The MLB playoff races are heating up, with roughly six weeks to go until the end of the regular season. Here are some of baseball’s top stories heading down the stretch.
A’s Pitcher Bassitt Injured by Line Drive, Spends Night in Hospital
Oakland A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt was injured Tuesday night when he took a line drive to the head in the second inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox. Bassitt was down for several minutes before being carted off the field.
The comebacker was clocked in excess of 100 mph. Amazingly, according to A’s manager Bob Melvin, Bassitt never lost consciousness.
"We don't think the eye is a problem at this point. It felt like it was below it,” Melvin said. “He's got some cuts that [need] some stitches. He's in a scan and we'll know more about potential fractures tomorrow."
Melvin did not take any further questions about the incident.
Bassitt has a 12-4 record this season with a 3.22 ERA and 154 strikeouts.
Springer to Injured List, Again
For the third time this season, the Toronto Blue Jays have put outfielder George Springer on the injured list. This time around, it’s a stint on the 10-day I.L., retroactive to Sunday because of a sprained left knee.
The injury occurred on Saturday in a game against the Seattle Mariners when Springer hit the outfield wall hard while trying to make a catch. Though he’s only played in 49 games this season, Spring has been productive while in the lineup, batting .269 with 16 home runs and a career-high .610 slugging percentage.
Toronto recalled infielder Otto Lopez from Triple-A Buffalo to fill Springer’s roster spot. In 11 Triple-A games this season, Lopez is batting .282 with seven RBIs.
Nationals’ Reliever Ross Out for the Season
The Nationals snapped their seven-game losing skid on Tuesday but still suffered a loss that won’t show up on the scoresheet. Pitcher Joe Ross has been shut down through the end of the season due to a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). He will not need surgery, but he will not play again in 2021, treating the injury with rest and “extensive rehab.”
Ross felt tightness in his forearm after a bullpen session on Saturday. He previously underwent Tommy John surgery (in 2017). After the current injury, Ross was again examined by Dr. Keith Meister, who performed the 2017 surgery, to decide if a second Tommy John surgery was needed. According to Nationals manager Dave Martinez, Meister determined a second surgery would not be necessary.
"Of course, he's not going to be happy because he wanted to continue to pitch, but I think that's great news," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We'll get him the rest that he needs and then get him back on the mound as soon as we can. But I don't expect him at this point to pitch anymore this year. We want to make sure he's completely healthy, and he's ready to go in spring training."
In 2021, Ross had a 5-9 record with a 4.17 ERA. He also set career highs in innings pitched (108) and strikeouts (109).
