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The Atlanta Braves placed closer Arodys Vizcaino on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a strained right oblique.

Continue for updates.

Vizcaino’s Tough Injury Luck Continues

Saturday, July 16

News of the transaction came from the team’s official Twitter account. The club also announced it reinstated relief pitcher Eric O’Flaherty from the DL.

Vizcaino has a 1-4 record with a 3.00 ERA and 10 saves in 39 appearances this season.

Since serving an 80-game suspension for a positive performance-enhancing-drug test last season, Vizcaino has been a bright spot amid a dismal 2016 campaign for Atlanta.

Considering this is a minor injury, there’s little reason for Braves fans to worry about Vizcaino’s future, though. He’s shown uncommon toughness since breaking into the big leagues.

Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2012 and another arthroscopic elbow procedure that kept him out for 2013, Vizcaino is still able to throw a fastball that’s consistently over 95 mph, per Brooks Baseball.

The 25-year-old has responded to adversity throughout his young career and has pitched reasonably well this year under the circumstances of being on a losing club. Although Vizcaino has blown three saves, he has shown immense upside in his limited MLB experience.

The Braves would be best suited to allow Vizcaino extra time to fully recover so he avoids the risk of overcompensating with his arm talent.

Atlanta is likely to turn to Jim Johnson to fill Vizcaino’s spot until the latter recovers. Johnson logged 51 and 50 saves in 2012 and 2013, respectively, as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, making him the most proven commodity in the Braves bullpen.

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Washington Nationals All-Star ace Stephen Strasburg went eight innings during Friday night’s 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing one earned run and just three hits while striking out six to improve to 13-0 on the season.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Strasburg is the fifth pitcher since 1956 to start a season 13-0 or better. Three of those pitchers went on to win the Cy Young Award the year they accomplished the feat, including his current teammate Max Scherzer, who won the award in 2013 as a member of the Detroit Tigers:

Strasburg is the only player to have hit the 13-0 mark in the National League.

While the individual success is a good omen for Strasburg’s trophy case, it’s also a good omen for the Nationals, as most of the teams those pitchers played for saw some form of success in the fall:

Friday’s outing also lowered Strasburg’s ERA from 2.62 to 2.51, moving him up to sixth-best in the major leagues.

It’s not the only category he’s among the big leagues’ best in, either: 

Strasburg is also getting plenty of help from his offense when he takes the hill, which has made his 13-0 mark somewhat easier to attain. According to ESPN.com, he’s receiving 6.41 runs per start, which is fourth-best in the major leagues.

He’s already two wins away from his career high of 15 victories, though it took him 28 starts to get to that number in 2012, compared to the 17 he’s made in 2016.

If history suggests anything, it’s that Strasburg will have to maintain this kind of excellence deep into October. And that’s something Nationals fans, and probably Strasburg, would like to see even more than an undefeated record in July.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers suffered a broken hand on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, and he’s slated to miss a big chunk of time after the All-Star break.    

Continue for updates. 

Flowers Out 4-6 Weeks

Tuesday, July 12

Citing sources, Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball relayed the update. 

Flowers was enjoying a decent first half prior to the injury. In 53 games, the 30-year-old batted .253 with a .343 on-base percentage and what would equate to a career-best .425 slugging percentage.

All told, Flowers belted seven home runs and drove in 21 runs over the course of 198 plate appearances. 

Now that the Braves’ backstop is sidelined for a month at a minimum, veteran A.J. Pierzynski figures to shoulder an even heavier load moving forward. 

In 56 games thus far, the 39-year-old Pierzynski is batting just .205 with a .227 on-base percentage, .250 slugging percentage, zero home runs and 18 RBI. 

Pierzynski can provide stability calling games from behind the plate, but he’s not a threat to take opposing pitchers yard the same way Flowers is. 

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On Monday, Giancarlo Stanton became the first player in Miami Marlins history to win the Home Run Derby.

Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.

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NEW YORK — On the day the New York Mets announced Matt Harvey will have his second major surgery in four years, Ron Darling brought up Tim Leary’s name.

“He had some of the best stuff I’ve seen,” said Darling, who joined the Mets in 1983, Leary’s second big league season.

Leary had great stuff. In part because of injuries, he didn’t have a great career.

Harvey still could.

What happened this week was another tough break, with Harvey learning he has thoracic outlet syndrome and will need surgery that will cost him the rest of this season. But season-ending is a long way from career-ending.

When I relayed what we know about Harvey’s condition to a friend who once worked as a major league athletic trainer, my friend predicted a strong recovery.

“I’d still draft him on my fantasy team for next year,” he said.

Harvey’s agent, Scott Boras, said by phone that he regards this week’s developments as “positive” news.

“We finally know why Matt’s command has been off,” Boras said.

Thoracic outlet syndrome may not be that well known by average fans, but plenty of pitchers have had it, and plenty have come back from it. Boras said Harvey was diagnosed with the neurogenic form of the ailment, meaning the impingement in his shoulder affects the nerves rather than the blood flow.

That helps explain why Harvey can still throw a baseball 98 mph, as he did Monday against the Miami Marlins. It also explains why he often hasn’t been able to throw it where he wants, with a walk rate (2.4 per nine innings) that is up considerably from last season (1.8).

The nerve impingement made it hard for Harvey to find a consistent arm slot. By removing the rib that has pushed against the nerve, doctors will create more space for the nerve, and theoretically allow Harvey to get back to having a consistent delivery.

There are plenty of examples of pitchers who have come back strong from similar surgeries, starting with Kenny Rogers, who had it done at age 36 and made three more All-Star teams. Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter the year after he had the surgery.

But surgery is surgery, and this will be two big ones for Harvey, before he ever throws 200 innings in a major league season (he had Tommy John surgery in 2013). Any team looking to commit money to Harvey will know that. Clubs will also know the biggest risk factor for any pitcher is a history of getting hurt.

That’s all hugely significant for the Mets, because they won’t have Harvey for the rest of 2016 and probably don’t have him as a possible trade chip this coming winter. It’s hugely significant for Harvey, because he has less time to establish himself as dependable before free agency arrives after the 2018 season.

Back in July 2013, around the time Harvey was starting the All-Star Game and before the Tommy John surgery, he did an interview with David Amsden of Men’s Journal in which he talked about how big a star he was and wanted to be in New York.

“I could buy a place now, but I’ve gotta wait for that $200 million contract,” Harvey said then. “If I’m going to buy an apartment, it has to be the best apartment in the city.”

He didn’t get that $200 million contract then, and he’s not getting it right now, either. He could still get it in 2018, but teams don’t give deals like that to pitchers who can’t get through a season.

Forget the money for now, though, because this is about a lot more than money. This is about a pitcher who even opponents enjoy watching—a pitcher whose body once again has gotten in the way of him getting to the mound.

“It’s just not a good feeling,” said Max Scherzer, the Washington Nationals right-hander who would have pitched against Harvey on Saturday night (and will now face Logan Verrett instead). “I want to beat the Mets and Matt Harvey. I want him out there.”

Scherzer said his heart aches for Harvey—a sentiment similar to the one Darling expressed Friday. Any of us can feel for a player who gets hurt, but those who have pitched in the big leagues understand the emotions better than we ever can.

“Matt has been to heights few have been,” Darling said. “But the only way to have a great career is to be able to sustain it. I have great compassion for him. I just hope he has better luck.

“He’s young, he loves to do something and he can’t do it.”

And that’s why when Mets manager Terry Collins described Harvey’s mood Friday as both disappointed and optimistic, I totally got it.

Based on what we know about his condition, he should be optimistic about a successful return. Based on two major surgeries in four years, he should be extremely disappointed and cautious as he views the future.

What happened this week doesn’t necessarily threaten what still could be a great career. But it sure does burden Harvey with another big obstacle to overcome.

Danny Knobler covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.

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Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer will replace teammate Stephen Strasburg on the 2016 National League All-Star roster, MLB announced on Friday.

Scherzer, 31, is 9-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 0.97 WHIP through his first 18 starts. He’s struck out 155 batters in 120.2 innings and will be making his fourth straight appearance in the Midsummer Classic.

Strasburg, 27, was considered a potential NL starter after going 11-0 with a 2.71 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 15 starts. The game is also in Strasburg’s hometown of San Diego, so it’s a bit of a surprise that he won’t be making the trip.

But with the Cy Young Award contender due to pitch on Friday night against the New York Mets, Strasburg likely decided there wasn’t enough rest time.

Scherzer’s selection comes within hours of the Mets announcing that starter Bartolo Colon earned All-Star honors in place of Madison Bumgarner.

After struggling for the first two months—especially in regard to home runs allowed—Scherzer has been back in fine form in June and July. He went 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 41.1 innings in June. Junior Guerra of the Milwaukee Brewers out-dueled him in a 1-0 battle on Independence Day, but Scherzer still gave up just four hits over six innings.

“I think he’s an All-Star, personally,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said, per Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. “Not because he’s on my team, which helps. But this guy, he can easily win 20. So don’t count him out.”

The right-handed flamethrower’s only issues this season have been with the long ball. His 21 homers allowed are tied for the second-most in Major League Baseball with Josh Tomlin, Ian Kennedy and Jered Weaver—none of whom are sniffing the All-Star Game (though Tomlin has been very good).

“I’m not going to sit here and just beat myself up over home runs,” Scherzer said, per Janes. “I’m gonna attack the zone. I know that, and I’m gonna give up some solo blasts. I’m okay with that.”

It speaks to how well Scherzer is pitching between those dingers that he’s been able to overcome them and make the roster.

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Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has gone on the 15-day disabled list with an unspecified injury. 

Continue for updates.  

Dusty Baker Mum on Zimmerman’s Ailment

Friday, July 8

The Nationals announced the move Friday. 

On Thursday, manager Dusty Baker said Zimmerman was out due to a “sore something,” according to the Washington Post‘s Chelsea Janes. 

This is a difficult blow for the injury-plagued 31-year-old, especially since he appeared in only 95 games in 2015 and 61 games in 2014. In fact, he hasn’t appeared in at least 150 games in a season since the 2009 campaign, which is one reason he moved to first base from his old position of third base.

When healthy, Zimmerman is still a dangerous offensive player. Thus far, he is batting just .221 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI in 2016.

He posted solid power numbers last season with 16 home runs and 73 RBI, but he hit only .249 with a .308 on-base percentage. Still, he was a force in his prime and was a 2009 All-Star with a .292 batting average, 33 home runs, 106 RBI and a WAR of 7.1, per ESPN.com. He followed that up the next year with a .307 batting average, 25 home runs, 85 RBI and a WAR of 6.0.

He earned Silver Slugger awards in both of those seasons and was a Gold Glove third baseman in 2009.

The hope in the nation’s capital was Zimmerman would bounce back to his old form, but the Nationals can at least turn to Clint Robinson in his absence. Robinson played 126 games last season and hit .272 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI. The fact he picked up critical experience in 2015 will help him fill in for Zimmerman until the starting first baseman returns.

While Robinson can serve as the first baseman for the immediate future, Washington is trying to rebound from a disappointing 2015 and could use Zimmerman’s veteran presence and pop back in the lineup.

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New York Mets ace Matt Harvey will undergo surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in his right arm and will miss the remainder of the 2016 MLB season, his agent Scott Boras announced Friday.

Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reported the news, and Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball noted Harvey has been having trouble feeling his fingertips all season.

Boras commented on the surgery, per Rubin:

The doctors clearly recommended that he have this done, mainly so that he can be ready for ’17. The rehab on this is six months. Now, if there was a small window of a season, you might be able to take a shot. It’s actually Botox, which relaxes the muscles. That’s not a long-term solution.

The only way this is going to be treated appropriately — and obviously we don’t want to do anything to affect next year — is to get this surgically taken care of.

Harvey tweeted his disappointment about the diagnosis:

Harvey, 27, went 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 17 starts. He struck out just 76 batters in 92.2 innings and struggled with his command and velocity throughout much of the year.

The Mets placed him on the disabled list Wednesday after he complained of shoulder pain. Harvey left Monday’s start against the Miami Marlins, having given up six runs on 11 hits in 3.2 innings. It was the second straight game Harvey failed to make it out of the fourth inning.

Dr. Robert Thompson diagnosed Harvey with thoracic outlet syndrome Thursday, at which point he was presented with the option of surgery or taking a nerve blocker. Surgery offers a four-month time frame before Harvey could pitch again, while the injections could have brought him back to the rotation at some point this season.

“It’s unclear how effective that would be or for how long,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said, per Rubin. “… I do believe that surgery is probably inevitable and more a question of timing than anything else. So, obviously, to the extent that we’re backed up for a period of time, it begins potentially to encroach on 2017 as well.”

The Mets (47-38) are in second place in the NL East and are trying to build on a surprise World Series appearance last year. Harvey was one of the biggest reasons for New York’s ascent, earning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors after returning from Tommy John surgery.

Questions may now arise about Harvey’s usage during that 2015 campaign. As noted by ESPN Stats & Info, Harvey’s 216 innings (including postseason) were the most of any player in his first year back from Tommy John. Boras and the Mets had a disagreement behind the scenes last season about Harvey’s usage; there was concern about his going over a 180-inning limit set by Dr. James Andrews.

While the injuries are different, some will no doubt draw the line and conclude Boras was right to look out for the best interest of his client.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.

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Fact: On Wednesday, Giancarlo Stanton became the first player in Miami Marlins history to hit 200 career home runs with the franchise. 

Source: B/R Insights 

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The New York Mets‘ Matt Harvey landed on the disabled list Wednesday with shoulder discomfort, and there’s simply no positive way to spin that.

We’re talking about one of the game’s top pitchers when he’s right. And we’re talking about a Mets team that’s fighting to stay in the National League playoff money one season after advancing to the World Series.

There is a glass-half-full take here, however, if you dig deep enough.

First, the news on Harvey: The right-hander is headed to the 15-day DL with the “suspicion” he may have thoracic outlet syndrome, per Newsday‘s David Lennon. In case you don’t have your “Obscure Upper Body Injury of the Month” calendar handy, that’s a shoulder ailment that can lead to season-ending surgery, as it did for the Minnesota Twins‘ Phil Hughes in June. 

We’re getting ahead of ourselves, of course. Harvey doesn’t even have an official diagnosis yet, let alone a prognosis. But these are ominous signs for the guy who came back strong from Tommy John surgery in 2015, posting a 2.71 ERA and blowing past his doctor-recommended 180-inning limit with 216 frames between the regular season and playoffs.

It’s also foreboding for the Mets, who were counting on their young, stud-stuffed rotation to carry them once again.

Even if Harvey is out for an extended period, however, this isn’t a death knell for New York.

They’ve got newly minted All-Star Noah Syndergaard, an ace by any measure with his triple-digit heat, 2.41 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 101 innings.

Jacob deGrom (2.61 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 93 innings) and rookie left-hander Steven Matz (3.34 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 89 innings) round out a stellar top three.

Then there’s ageless wonder Bartolo Colon, whose 7-4 record, 2.87 ERA and Twitter-busting homer belie the 43 years he’s spent as an inhabitant of planet Earth.

Logan Verrett, who sports a 4.01 ERA and has walked 22 in 49.1 innings, is expected to take Harvey’s turn Saturday against the division-leading Washington Nationals, per CBSSports.com. 

Long term, however, the Mets are counting on the return of right-hander Zack Wheeler, who hit a bump in his recovery from Tommy John surgery but resumed throwing without issue on June 27, per ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin. 

A first-round San Francisco Giants pick in 2009, the 26-year-old Wheeler boasts 271 strikeouts in 285.1 innings with the Mets between 2013 and 2014.

Injury comebacks are never guaranteed, but there’s reason to believe Wheeler can provide New York with another top-shelf arm just as the race for October is heating up.

At the very least, he should be able to outperform Harvey, who wasn’t exactly setting the league ablaze.

With a 4-10 record and 4.86 ERA through 17 starts, Harvey looked more like a fifth starter clinging to his job than the Cy Young-contending Dark Knight Gotham was expecting. Even if you allow for a little bad luck—as his 3.49 FIP suggests—no one who watched Harvey pitch this season would claim he was anything close to a No. 1.

“It’s mostly a mechanical thing,” Harvey said on June 23, per Rubin. “Obviously it’s been a struggle mechanically pretty much all year.”

Maybe the shoulder issue, whatever it turns out to be, explains some of that. Maybe it also explains the velocity dip that saw Harvey’s average fastball fall from 95.2 mph in 2015 to 94.4 mph.

This DL stint is frown-inducing no matter what, as Matt Vaccaro of the New York Post outlined:

Despite their recent offensive surge, these Mets were built on the backs of their starting pitchers. That always included Harvey as an anchor, and even when he struggled, it included the belief that once Harvey shook off his malaise, he would return to the form he once knew, would be what the team expected he should be.

Remember, though he may have been supplanted by Noah Syndergaard now, Harvey began this season as the team’s ace. You don’t just shake off losing your ace, even if he’s been resoundingly vulnerable to date, even as the team has had to adapt around his struggles. 

Fair enough. Honestly, though, the Mets’ bigger concern remains the offense, which has indeed shown flashes lately but still ranks in the bottom third of MLB in runs, batting average and OPS. If the Mets add anything at the trade deadline, it should be a bat.

New York obviously hopes the Harvey news is less than dire and he returns to action approximating his old self.

But even in a worst-case scenario, there’s hope, thanks to the Syndergaard/deGrom/Matz trifecta, the potential of a Wheeler return and a dash of Colon.

The Nats are formidable, and the path to an NL wild-card slot is crowded, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and even the pesky Miami Marlins all in the hunt.

And yet, while there’s no positive way to spin an injury to a franchise pitcher, there’s also no reason to panic in Queens—at least not yet.

All statistics current as of July 6 and courtesy of MLB.com and FanGraphs.

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