MASH Report (5/12/16)

• The Mets had Noah Syndergaard’s elbow examined a couple of weeks ago.

And for the first time, Collins publicly acknowledged Syndergaard had his right elbow examined by doctors about two weeks ago. According to ESPN.com, the pitcher was checked on May 2, one day after a start.

He was cleared, but the close call lingered with Collins. “So, for 15 more pitches?” Collins said, after summoning closer Jeurys Familia in relief of Syndergaard. “No, it didn’t even cross my mind.”

I went back and tried to find anything which stood out as a possible injury indication and found none. I wonder if he mentioned a small pain to the team and they are just being extra cautious.

• Steven Matz will miss a start with elbow soreness. I am currently tracking all the elbow injuries which get mentioned and the eventual outcomes (from nothing to Tommy John surgery). I will likely wait until the season’s end to publish the results.

• Jung Ho Kang’s ability to run may be hampered all season.

Over the weekend, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Jung Ho Kang’s running may not be back to “100 percent” normal until next season due to the severity of his left knee injuries.

Kang returned to the Pirates on Friday, approximately 7 1/2 months after surgery to repair a fractured tibia and torn meniscus, and hit two homers in his season debut.

“To expect him to come back 100 percent from this injury right away — whether right away means now, July, August — it’s still evolving,” Tomczyk said. “He’s functional enough to be a competitive Major Leaguer and a contributor to help us win games.”

While he rarely stole any bases last year (5 total), I expect none this season.

• Another Angel is lost for a while with Andrelton Simmons needing thumb surgery.

Simmons injured the thumb while sprawling to his right to snare a hard grounder off the bat of Evan Longoria in the third inning of Sunday’s eventual 3-1 loss to the Rays and immediately came out of the game. An MRI on Monday revealed a “full thickness tear of the ulnar collateral ligament of his left thumb,” the Angels announced.

The surgery, which will take place later this week, typically requires six weeks of immobilization and keeps players out two to three months.

• Wilmer Flores is on the DL with a hamstring injury. More information will be coming out soon on the injury’s extent.

• In some surprising news, it took until early May for Nefi Ogando to get placed on the DL. This time, he will miss some time with a fractured rib.

• The A’s placed both Mark Canha (hip and back) and Liam Hendricks (strained triceps) on the DL.

• Seems like Jim Johnson was placed on the disabled list for sucking a strained groin. I expect to see him throwing quite a bit as he “heals”.

• Both Michael Brantley (link) and David Wright (link) are playing through shoulder injuries with some scattered days off here and there. Additionally, David Peralta is dealing with a sore wrist.

• Lance McCullers is expected to come off the DL tomorrow (Friday the 13th).

Fastball velocity reading for pitchers returning from the DL

• After hearing some reports of Mike Minor hitting 96 mph, he was a slower in his first rehab start.

Mike Minor's first pitch in AA: 89 MPH

— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) May 11, 2016

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.