AL CENTRAL
News and notes by John Perrotto
Chicago White Sox
Right fielder Avisail Garcia is using a strong finish to strengthen his case to be in the lineup next season.
From Aug. 2 through Sunday, Garcia hit .281 in a 31-game span with five home runs and a .796 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) despite being on the disabled list Aug. 7-22 because of a sprained right knee. That lifted Garcia’s season average to .248 to go with 11 homers and a .691 OPS through 112 games.
Garcia has spent most of the last two months playing right field. The 25-year-old was the White Sox’s primary designated hitter through much of the season’s first half.
“His swings are better,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Whether it was playing the outfield or not, there could be a correlation to that. But I think it’s more (about) his mechanics and just the timing that he has right now.” uLeft-hander Chris Sale is likely to be the subject of many trade rumors if the White Sox decide to rebuild this offseason. However, the five-time All-Star told reporters last week that he prefers to remain with the Sox. uRight- handed reliever Zack Putnam is expected to resume throwing in December as he recovers from arthroscopic elbow surgery performed Aug. 5 to remove bone fragments.
Cleveland Indians
The Indians sustained a potentially devastating blow to their hopes of winning their first World Series since 1948 when righthander Carlos Carrasco was struck by a line drive off the bat of Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler and suffered a seasonending broken right hand Sept. 17.
With the Indians headed to their first AL Central title since 2007, Carrasco likely would have pitched Game 2 in the division series, following 17-game winner
Corey Kluber in the rotation. That start now figures to fall to right-hander Trevor Bauer because All-Star Danny Salazar is sidelined by a strained forearm and also could be lost for the season.
“It will make this more challenging, what we’re trying to do,” manager Terry Francona said.
uRight- hander Josh Tomlin returned to the rotation Sept. 14 as Salazar’s replacement and beat the White Sox, allowing one run in five innings. Tomlin had been moved to the bullpen after going 0-5 with an 11.48 ERA in six starts in August. uCatcher Yan Gomes suffered a broken right wrist when he was hit by a pitch while on a rehab assignment with Class AA Akron (Ohio). He will miss the
rest of the season. Gomes had been out since July 18 because of a separated right shoulder. Detroit Tigers
Rookie right-hander Michael
Fulmer is showing signs of wear now that his total innings between the major leagues and minors has reached 164.
Fulmer remains a strong contender for the AL rookie of the year award with a 10-7 record and 3.03 ERA in 24 starts.
However, he is 0-4 with a 6.28 ERA in five starts since pitching a
four-hit shutout Aug. 14 against the Texas Rangers.
Fulmer is scheduled to make two more regular-season starts and set up to pitch the AL wildcard game if the Tigers make it. His 1242⁄ innings pitched last 3 season were the most in his first five professional seasons, but manager Brad Ausmus doesn’t think he has overused the 23-year-old.
“Guys are getting Tommy John surgeries at an unbelievable rate, even with the protection,” Ausmus said. uThird baseman Nick Castellanos began taking batting practice and is expected to be activated from the disabled list this week. He has been shelved since Aug. 7 because of a broken left hand, and utility infielder
Andrew Romine is the latest player to get a shot at replacing him. uRight- hander Jordan Zimmermann, limited to two starts since July 1 because of neck and back problems, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Sept. 17, but it was unclear when he will pitch again. Kansas City Royals
With the Royals’ chances of defending their World Series title all but gone, left-hander Jason
Vargas gave them a ray of hope for 2017.
Vargas came off the disabled list and made his first major league start since having Tommy John elbow surgery Aug. 5, 2015. He threw 52 pitches in three innings and allowed one run in the Royals’ 3-2 victory against the White Sox on Sept. 17.
“He was a little better than I expected,” manager Ned Yost said. “It’s been 14 months since he’s been on a major league mound. You just want to go out, feel good and get through it and come off of it healthy, on a good
note.”
Vargas will enter the final year of his four-year, $32 million contract next season.
uIn the first year of his threeyear, $25 million contract, righthanded reliever Joakim Soria has a 4.14 ERA in 65 games and has blown seven save opportunities. Soria said he is fine physically and is just having an off year.
uRight-hander Kris Medlen told the Royals he is willing to rework his contact, which includes a $10 million club option for next season with a $1 million buyout, after being limited to six starts this year because of shoulder problems.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins likely will finish with the worst record in the major leagues, but rookie center fielder Byron Buxton’s lateseason surge has provided a pleasant diversion.
Buxton hit .311 with six home runs and a 1.069 OPS in his first 17 games after his Sept. 1 recall from Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.). The 22-year-old hit .193 with one home run in 63 games earlier this season and .209 with two homers in 46 games last year.
Before the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Buxton was rated as the best prospect in baseball.
“I think he’s had to deal with a lot in terms of the up-and-down and expectations,” manager Paul
Molitor said. “And he’s just kind of learning to trust his ability a bit more.”
uInterim general manager Rob Antony interviewed for the newly created position of president of baseball operations, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The Twins also have been connected in various media reports to Chicago Cubs vice president of player development/amateur scouting Jason McLeod and assistant GMs Derek Falvey of the Indians, J.J. Picollo of the Royals, John Ricco of the New York Mets and Chaim Bloom of the Tampa Bay Rays. uRight-handed reliever Trevor May has been shut down for the season because of a lower back strain.
“‘Who Let The Dogs Out?’ That song was stuck in my head.”
White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton, after 1,222 dogs were confirmed as the most dogs to attend a sporting event by the Guinness Book of World Records at U.S. Cellular Field, an 8-1 victory against the visiting Indians on Sept. 13