Cubs place Rizzo on DL because of back tightness
The Cubs are taking the safe route with Anthony Rizzo, putting the first baseman on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with lower back tightness.
Rizzo hasn’t played since he went 0-for-5 in Thursday’s 8-0 win at Milwaukee. The 28year-old is a key part of Chicago’s lineup, hitting 32 homers and driving in 109 runs in each of the past two years.
“It stinks, especially not being able to play the home opener,” Rizzo said. “But it’s a long season. It’s a marathon. You’ve got to stay smart, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Rizzo said he is feeling better and hopes to be ready when he is eligible to come off the DL on Monday. The move was made retroactive to Friday.
“Usually, you know, if it’s July, August, September, you mentally grind through it and as long as you can move, you can play,” he said. “But this is one of those things where we talked and we don’t want to, I don’t want to be locked up the entire year. So hopefully, we put a nip to it the next five days here and don’t have to deal with this hopefully for the rest of my career.” Royals’ Gordon out: Kansas City placed Alex Gordon on the disabled list with a torn hip labrum and recalled fellow outfielder Abraham Almonte from Triple-A Omaha.
Gordon, a three-time All-Star who was hitting .174 through his first seven games, awoke with pain Monday and was examined in greater detail Tuesday, and the results showed that an old tear he’d been playing through had worsened.
Kansas City manager Ned Yost was hopeful the recovery time will be 10 days to two weeks, and surgery is not being considered at this point. Squabble suspensions: St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina was in the lineup Tuesday night, hours after he drew a one-game suspension for a dustup with Arizona manager Torey Lovullo on Sunday.
Lovullo was suspended one game and also fined by Major League Baseball.
Molina, who bumped plate umpire Tim Timmons during the bench-clearing dispute, appealed the ban. He started against Milwaukee and can continue to play until the process is complete.
Lovullo spoke earlier in the day with MLB executive Joe Torre, who explained the suspension.
“I support that. I agree with it. I made some mistakes,” Lovullo said.
L.A. to get All-Star Game: A person familiar with the situation said that Dodger Stadium will host the 2020 All-Star Game. A news conference with Commissioner Rob Manfred to announce the move will be held at the ballpark Wednesday.
Briefly: The Blue Jays placed first baseman Kendrys Morales on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. The injury occurred while Morales was running out a single in the second inning of Monday night’s game against the Orioles . ... The Rangers placed second baseman Rougned Odor (left hamstring strain) and righthander Doug Fister (right hip strain) on the 10-day disabled list after both aggravated injuries in the series opener Monday against the Angels. Right-hander Tony Barnette was activated from the 10-day DL and infielder-catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock before Tuesday night’s game.