Players to watch on homestretch
MLB teams make push for playoffs as another season winds down
Two sluggers with lingering questions. A catcher returning from injury. A pitcher headed for a big payday, and baseball’s most famous panda.
The final month of the season offers a chance for redemption for Josh Hamilton of the Angels and Bryce Harper of the Nationals. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is back from a right-thumb injury, and Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer is putting together a fitting encore to his Cy Young Award season from a year ago. With September at the plate, here are a couple players to watch in the final weeks of the season and beyond:
ANGEL IN THE OUTFIELD
This has been one strange season for Hamilton, who agreed to a $125-million, five-year contract with the Angels in December 2012.
The 2010 AL MVP was working on a nice start when he tore a ligament in his left thumb on a head- first slide into first on April 8 in Seattle. That shelved the slugger until June, and he wasn’t quite the same when he returned. Hamilton took a couple of days off earlier in August, and manager Mike Scioscia said the left fielder was struggling with his confidence level. It looks as if that little break might have done the trick.
BEING BRYCE HARPER
On the other side of the country, Harper has dealt with many of the problems Hamilton has had this year. Harper injured his left thumb on a headfirst slide into third on a triple against San Diego on April 25. He had surgery and was sidelined until the end of June.
The 21-year-old Harper also struggled when he returned, and Washington manager Matt Williams left open the possibility of a minor league stint when he was asked about the 2012 NL rookie of the year during a radio interview. But he ruled out the idea later that same day. Washington is in prime playoff position, but Harper could be the difference in a long playoff run or a quick post-season exit.
CATCHING HEAT
The tight NL Central race got a jolt this weekend with the return of Molina to the Cardinals.
Molina is a .284 career hitter who usually slots into the heart of St. Louis’s lineup. He had been on the disabled list since July 10 with a torn thumb ligament that required surgery. Molina returned to a new-look pitching staff that has dealt with its share of injuries. The Cardinals traded for starting pitchers John Lackey and Justin Masterson, while Molina was out, and his presence could have a bigger effect on the pair of important right-handers than the lineup.
MAD MAX
The Tigers got David Price in a deadline trade, and then lost Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez to injuries. Meanwhile, Scherzer just keeps humming along. The right-hander is 15-5 with a 3.26 ERA, to go along with 220 strikeouts in 187⅔ innings. Saturday’s loss to Chris Sale and the White Sox was just his second in his last 13 starts.