The Opener: Rizzo, Carroll, Rodriguez

Because the 2024 common season continues, listed here are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day at present:

1. Rizzo to bear imaging:

Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo suffered a proper arm harm following a collision with Pink Sox lefty Brennan Bernardino on the plate within the seventh inning of final night time’s loss to Boston. As famous by ESPN’s Jorge Castillo, Rizzo seemed to be favoring his wrist space within the aftermath of the collision, though MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch relayed that the Yankees termed the difficulty a “decrease proper forearm harm.” Rizzo is about to move again to New York at present to go to workforce docs and bear imaging to find out the severity of the difficulty.

The harm is the most recent robust blow in what has been a troublesome season for Rizzo; the 34-year-old has slashed simply .223/.289/.341 with a wRC+ of 84 in 291 journeys to the plate this yr. That manufacturing makes Rizzo certainly one of simply eight certified first basemen to publish under common offensive numbers this yr, and of that group he’s outproduced solely Joey Meneses, Spencer Torkelson, and Elehuris Montero. If Rizzo requires a visit to the injured record, Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu determine to deal with the infield corners in his absence.

2. Carroll to stay in Arizona for MRI:

Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll was additionally eliminated within the late innings yesterday, with supervisor Torey Lovullo telling reporters (together with Alex Weiner of AZSports) that the 23-year-old was affected by “left facet discomfort.” Carroll will stay in Arizona to bear an MRI whereas the remainder of the workforce heads to Washington at present forward of their collection in opposition to the Nationals. Whereas which may appear considerably ominous, Carroll remained optimistic and advised Weiner that “all indications” counsel the outcomes of at present’s MRI can be optimistic.

Carroll has had a brutal sophomore droop, slashing simply .213/.302/.310 (78 wRC+) in 70 video games this yr. He’s began to catch hearth of late, nonetheless, with a .333/.435/.487 slash line in his final ten video games — making the timing of this harm all the more severe. Within the occasion that Carroll is sidelined, Jake McCarthy is the likeliest candidate to take over heart area for Arizona, opening up the corners for veterans Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Randal Grichuk.

3. Blue Jays to activate Rodriguez:

Toronto is about to get some reinforcements on the pitching facet at present, as Francys Romero reports that right-hander Yariel Rodriguez is about to be activated from the 15-day injured record at present. Rodriguez, 27, was among the many most intriguing free agent signings of the offseason as a younger hurler who had impressed in Japan however had not but appeared in an enormous league recreation. The Blue Jays took an opportunity on Rodriguez with a five-year, $32MM deal, however Rodriguez’s debut marketing campaign has been marred by harm. The righty pitched decently in 4 begins with the membership earlier this yr (4.11 ERA, 22.2% strikeout price) however has missed the previous six weeks on account of thoracic backbone irritation.

Now that he’s wholesome, Rodriguez will possible have the chance to step into the membership’s fifth starter function within the aftermath of righty Alek Manoah’s impending UCL surgery. Rodriguez dominated in eight appearances on the Triple-A stage this yr, pitching to a 1.33 ERA in 20 1/3 innings whereas putting out a wonderful 37.9% of batters confronted. So as to activate him, the Blue Jays should create room on the lively roster previous to tonight’s recreation in opposition to the Pink Sox, which is about to start at 6:07pm native time.