Central Notes: Bibee, Madrigal, Yelich, Perez

Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee exited yesterday’s recreation as a consequence of proper hip tightness within the sixth inning of yesterday’s win over the Rangers, as relayed by MLB.com. Bibee is scheduled to endure an MRI immediately to find out the severity of the problem.

It’s the newest unfavorable improvement for a Guardians rotation that’s been suffering from harm woes all yr. Proper-handers Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie are each at the moment on the 60-day injured checklist, whereas righty Cal Quantrill additionally missed important time with harm earlier this season. With the membership’s three most established starters having hung out on the shelf this season, Bibee has grow to be the rotation’s anchor throughout his rookie season. The 24-year-old teenager sports activities a formidable 2.98 ERA that’s 41% higher than league common throughout 25 begins this yr. Whereas his 3.52 FIP and and barely inflated 80% strand charge point out there may very well be some regression in Bibee’s future, his stable 24.1% strikeout charge and powerful 7.7% stroll charge give him the look of a robust mid-rotation starter on the very least.

If Bibee’s harm ends his 2023 marketing campaign, it’s going to have actually been a profitable one which figures to garner some consideration in AL Rookie of the Yr voting. The Guardians are unlikely to be meaningfully impacted by his availability for the rest of this season, nevertheless. Contemplating Cleveland sits seven video games again of the Twins within the AL Central with simply 13 video games left to play, it will take a miracle for the membership to make the postseason even within the weak AL Central division.

Extra from round MLB’s Central divisions…

Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal exited yesterday’s 13-inning marathon loss to the Diamondbacks with proper hamstring tightness, as relayed by Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. Madrigal’s balky proper hamstring has induced him points all through his younger massive league profession: it required season-ending surgical procedure whereas he was with the White Sox again in 2021, and he missed just below a month with a pressure earlier this season. A former prime prospect who was chosen fourth total within the 2018 draft, Madrigal has slashed simply .283/.311/.352 (83 wRC+) in 294 massive league plate appearances this season. That being stated, the 26-year-old has hit higher since returning to the massive leagues from an optionally available task in early June, slashing .271/.325/.379 with a minuscule 7.7% strikeout charge. With Jeimer Candelario already on the shelf, the Cubs determine to primarily depend on Patrick Knowledge at third base in the intervening time if Madrigal is out for an prolonged interval.
Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich has appeared in only one recreation since September 8 as a consequence of low again stiffness, and supervisor Craig Counsell (as relayed by MLB.com) signifies that the 31-year-old remains to be day-to-day regardless of beginning Friday’s recreation towards the Nationals. “At this level, we’d like 100% of Christian Yelich.” Counsell informed reporters yesterday, “It’s not the time to go on the market lower than that.” Although Yelich remains to be nowhere close to the extent of manufacturing he loved in 2018 and 2019 when he appeared like top-of-the-line gamers within the sport, the veteran outfielder has loved a bounce-back of kinds in 2023, slashing a stable .272/.363/.432 with a wRC+ of 116. The membership has utilized Joey Wiemer and Tyrone Taylor within the outfield alongside common fixtures Sal Frelick and Mark Canha whereas Yelich has been unavailable.
Royals catcher Salvador Perez exited yesterday’s recreation towards the Astros after a foul ball off the bat of Jose Altuve struck his masks within the fifth inning. Perez started to really feel lightheaded earlier than exiting the sport to endure the concussion protocol, although the Royals later introduced that Perez had prevented a concussion. Per MLB.com, supervisor Matt Quatraro informed reporters that Perez “received his bell rung a bit of bit” however that Perez was feeling advantageous by the tip of the sport. It’s potential, then, that Perez returns to the lineup as quickly as this afternoon. Perez has slashed .252/.291/.415 with a wRC+ of 84 in 551 journeys to the plate this yr whereas splitting time between catcher, first base, and DH.