Rays’ Kiermaier will miss two to three months

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Tampa Bay centre-fielder Kevin Kiermaier has a torn ligament in his right thumb that requires surgery and could be sidelined for two to three months. The Rays placed the defensive whiz on the 10-day disabled list Monday, a day after he was injured sliding headfirst into second base during a 10-4 interleague baseball loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The club said surgery will be scheduled “in the coming days.” This will be the third straight season the 27-year-old, two-time Gold Glove winner will miss significant time because of injury. Kiermaier, who’s batting .163 with one RBI this season, missed 48 games after breaking his left wrist diving for a ball in 2016. Last season, he fractured his right hip sliding feet-first into first base and was sidelined for 61 games.