One often hears the phrase "Next man up" in football, but perhaps it is fitting to also use it in the context of starting pitching in the major leagues.
In recent times, the sport of baseball has been plagued by a surge of injuries to its top pitchers, leading teams to devise alternate strategies that they would have preferred to avoid. Several key starters have been sidelined, prompting the need for replacement options.
The New York Yankees had an additional opening in their rotation due to Gerrit Cole's elbow issues. Luis Gil, who has recently returned from Tommy John surgery, impressed during spring training and was given the spot.
In his two starts, he has only given up three runs in nine innings and his 14 strikeouts and seven walks demonstrate why he was unable to pitch beyond the fifth inning.
Braves pitcher Spencer Strider, who achieved 20 wins last season, will be out for the rest of the year following elbow surgery. The team turned to Allan Winans on Thursday to face the New York Mets, but he gave up six earned runs in just five innings.
Meanwhile, their highly regarded prospect AJ Smith-Shawver has been struggling at the Triple-A level. The team plans for 25-year-old right-hander Darius Vines to make the start against Houston on Monday.
The Cleveland Guardians received the news that Shane Bieber would require Tommy John surgery over a week ago. However, thanks to a rainout on April 7 and a scheduled day off on Thursday, the team has managed to rely on their other four starting pitchers.
This will all change in their upcoming series against Boston, as Xzavion Curry and Ben Lively are both expected to make their first appearances of the 2024 season.
The Astros, represented by Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez, have been facing challenges as Verlander has been absent throughout the season and Valdez recently suffered an injury.
While Ronel Blanco has been performing well, highlighted by a no-hitter on April 1, the team has struggled overall. In the absence of Valdez, Blair Henley was unable to impress as he only retired one of his nine batters after being called in as a substitute on Monday.
On Wednesday night, top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti struggled as he allowed seven runs in the third inning for Houston.
Two notable pitchers, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, from the Rangers have yet to make an appearance for the current World Series champions. However, Cody Bradford, with a record of 3-0 and a 1.40 ERA, has been performing well. Unfortunately, he has also been placed on the injured list due to a back strain.
The Miami Marlins have had a difficult beginning, as Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez will miss the entire season due to undergoing Tommy John surgery. Additionally, Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett have faced injuries. Despite their 3-13 record, the team's rotation has not been a complete disappointment, as Max Meyer has achieved a 2-0 record with a 2.12 ERA.
Return of the week
A multitude of strong contenders emerged this week. In a single day, the Tigers, Braves, and Guardians all staged comebacks in their final at-bats, while the Athletics overcame a five-run gap in the sixth inning.
On Monday, the Padres were faced with a challenging deficit against the Chicago Cubs as they trailed 8-0 in the sixth inning.
However, they were able to turn things around by scoring seven runs in that inning, thanks to the two-run home runs by Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts. To seal the victory, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, leading the Padres to a 9-8 win.
The game in San Diego had a minimum win probability of only 0.6%, as reported by Baseball Savant.
Weekly highlight
Currently, the Kansas City Royals are positioned near the upper echelon of the AL Central, showcasing the most impressive run differential in baseball.
The presence of shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. suggests a promising future for the Royals, as evidenced by his outstanding performance on Thursday against Houston. In that game, Witt Jr. achieved a 4 for 5 record with two home runs, five RBIs, four runs scored, and a stolen base. This dominant 13-3 win marked the end of a seven-game winning streak for the Royals.
