MASH Report (4/25/16) – Everyone’s Hamstring Hurts

• The most impactful injury this week is the hamstring injury sustained by Carlos Carrasco.

The severity of the setback is not immediately known, but manager Terry Francona said Carrasco will be placed on the disabled list, meaning Bauer could be poised for a move back to the starting rotation.

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After his abrupt departure in the third inning, when he sustained the injury while hustling to cover first base, Carrasco headed back to Cleveland to undergo an MRI exam.

Francona said the team will likely have more details on the extent of the issue on Monday, when the Tribe opens a three-game road series against the Twins.

Right now we know he is out at least 15 days with more information coming today (the news might be available by the time this article runs). Just looking back at pitchers with hamstring strains and sprains, they usually return in just over 30 days.

• The season’s beginning is hamstring injury time. Besides Carrasco, Alex Avila (link), Alexi Amarista (link), Danny Valencia (link), and Charlie Morton (link) went on the DL this week with hamstring injuries. While I planned on covering the entire book, “The Arm” by Jeff Passan at a later date, one part is relevant now. In 2009, MLB created an all-encompassing injury database which helped to implement the concussion DL and protocol. Next, they went after hamstrings.

In 2009, MLB created an all-encompassing injury database which helped to implement the concussion DL and protocol. Next, they went after hamstrings.

“…the most common injury in baseball – the strained hamstring – and found the vast majority occur within the season’s first six weeks. Teams instituted protocols during spring training to promote hamstring health, and the numbers of injuries fell immediately.”

Here are the yearly hamstring injuries numbers.

I think two items are going on. First, there seems to a nice little jump up after PEDs were banned back 2005. Second, there was a halving of hamstring injuries in 2011, but numbers have increased since then.

• Also today, the Indians will make a decision on activating Michael Brantley. I am taking a chance on starting him in the one league I have him (and am in second-to-last place so I need all the help I can get).

• Be leery of using Scott Kazmir who is dealing with thumb and wrist issues.

Dodgers No. 2 starter Scott Kazmir said he will continue pitching through the discomfort of an injured left thumb and wrist he’s been dealing with since the end of Spring Training.

If I had any other options, I think I would stay away from him for a couple of weeks at least.

• The Yankees have a couple players, Aaron Hicks (link) and Alex Rodriguez, who may miss a few games or end up on the DL any day.

• Keone Kela will be out at least 12 weeks after having bone spurs removed from his elbow.

• Yimi Garcia heads to the DL with a strained shoulder.

• Branden Pinder pitched one MLB inning this season and now is contemplating Tommy John surgery.

• Baseball America reports on a new catcher’s mask created to limit concussions ($).

The most prominent of Force3’s gear is its Force3 Defender, a spring-loaded face mask the company says absorbs up to 75 percent more force than a conventional mask.

• Robbie Erlin’s strained shoulder put him on the DL.

Fastball velocity reading for pitchers returning from the DL

Jonathan Gray’s fastball velocity is up 1mph from last year.

Brian Matusz velocity is near his 2015 highs.

Players on the 2016 DL

The Red players have had updates since the last report. Click on the “Date” for a link to go to the latest article on the player.