Guardians’ Ramirez may need more time for thumb to heal
Guardians' American League Most Valuable Player candidate Jose Ramirez may not be returning to the lineup Tuesday night in Minnesota after missing the past two games with a sore right thumb.
Ramirez played in Friday's 2-1, 10-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, then sat out Saturday's 7-1 loss and Sunday's 5-3 comeback win in Dodger Stadium.
Manager Terry Francona said Ramirez jammed the thumb while swinging about 10 days ago, then aggravated it in Colorado as the Guardians swept that three-game series.
According to Mlb.com, Ramirez underwent an MRI Sunday morning.
Asked after Sunday's game if he had an update on Ramirez, Francona gave a vague response that opened the door to speculation that Ramirez might need more time to rest and heal.
“No, nothing. Today's Sunday, Father's Day. There's all kind of stuff. Talked to James a little bit,” Francona told reporters, referring to head athletic trainer James Quinlan. “We're going to visit with Jose a little bit, but we don't have enough information yet.“
The Guardians were off Monday. Ramirez was the Guardians' biggest cheerleader in the series finale against the Dodgers. In the eighth inning, the Bally Sports Great Lakes broadcast showed him urging his team on from the top dugout step while also harassing the Dodgers. The Guardians tied the score 3-3 in the eighth on a pinch-hit double to right field by Richie Palacios.
With one out in the ninth inning, Oscar Gonzales walked, Josh Naylor doubled
to right and Steven Kwan was intentionally walked. Ramirez got ready to go in, changing into his uniform shirt and spikes, and Francona admitted he considered using Ramirez as a pinchrunner for Naylor.
“He wanted to,” Francona said. “I discussed ... I care so much about Jose, it's something, I just couldn't do it. Me and [bench coach Demarlo Hale] were going back and forth, and Jose wanted to, I just couldn't pull the trigger.”
Andres Gimenez came through with an RBI single to center to put the Guardians ahead, and Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Naylor to make it 5-3.
“He was like, ‘Hey, let's go, bro,” Clement said of Ramirez during the postgame broadcast. “He was my coach.”
Ramirez had not missed a game this season until Saturday, and Francona knew how much it hurt his star to sit out for the second consecutive day. But Francona appreciated Ramirez's support.