The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Verlander, Gray, Giolito dealing with injuries
The news hit one after another Tuesday. Three big-name righthanded starting pitchers all dealing with injuries that could cause each to miss the start of the regular season — and potentially more.
Houston’s Justin Verlander, St. Louis’ Sonny Gray and Boston’s Lucas Giolito are all dealing with various injuries.
Verlander will start the season on the injured list after being slowed by inflammation in his pitching shoulder during the offseason. Gray has a hamstring strain sustained Monday. And Giolito reported discomfort in his pitching elbow following last week’s start in which he was roughed up.
“We’re obviously concerned. Not a good day for us,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.
Verlander is the biggest name of the three, although his situation appears to be more of a delay than a long-term concern. Astros manager Joe Espada said the 41-year-old Verlander hasn’t suffered any setbacks or soreness following bullpen sessions but needs more time to become game ready. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is expected to throw in the bullpen again on Friday but has yet to face hitters. But a delay to the start of the season could jeopardize his conditional $35 million option for 2025.
Giolito will have additional exams to determine the severity of his injury, but there’s worry it could be a long-term issue.
Acuña expected to play opener
National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to be ready for opening day with the Atlanta Braves after a more thorough examination of his sore right knee found no serious issues.
Acuña left the Braves’ spring training site in Florida to be examined by
Dr. Neal Elattrache in Los Angeles on Monday night.
The team announced that Elattrache found only irritation in the meniscus of his right knee. Acuña will be able to gradually increase his baseball activities and is expected to be cleared to play by the time the Braves open the regular season at Philadelphia on March 28.
“I feel great,” Acuña said. “I feel like nothing happened.”
Acuña is coming off a season in which he became the first player in baseball history to hit 40 homers and steal 70 bases. He was a unanimous choice for NL MVP after hitting .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIS and 73 stolen bases, leading Atlanta to its sixth straight NL East title.
Acuña tweaked his knee on Thursday while he was in a rundown between second and third base during an exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins. There were no immediate issues; he remained in the game for two more innings before exiting with many of the regular starters.
Acuña took batting practice the following day, but the team decided to take no chances when pain persisted in the same knee that sustained a season-ending injury in 2021.
“I don’t know when I (will) play again,” he said. “I feel like I can play today, I can play every day, but I’ve got bosses. When they tell me I can play, I play.”
As a precautionary measure, the Braves sent Acuña to be examined by the famed California surgeon who surgically repaired the knee after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in 2021.
Elattrache confirmed there was no structural damage, providing the Braves with a big sigh of relief as they head into another season of high expectations.
Stanton puts in extra work
Giancarlo Stanton’s post workout batting practice session against a pitching machine lasted 90 minutes at Steinbrenner Field.
The New York Yankees slugger was joined by teammate DJ Lemahieu for the first 20 minutes, then went solo except for short breaks to pace around the batting cage or talk with hitting coach James Rowson.
“If I don’t get my work in, then I’m just thinking about it all day,” Stanton said. “So, there’s no point in being at home just thinking about doing this anyway.”
A slimmed-down Stanton is known for extra work. The veteran slugger was still hitting opposite-field homers to right field during his final minutes of BP.
Stanton, 34, has not played a full season since 2018, the first year after New York acquired him from the Miami Marlins. He missed 266 of 708 games in the past five seasons with a variety of injuries.
Stanton hit .233 with 97 homers and 259 RBIS over the past five years, down from .265 with 302 homers and 772 RBIS in his first nine seasons.