Bauer not letting broken leg get the best of him
Cleveland Indians righthander Trevor Bauer, one of the leading candidates for the AL Cy Young Award, will be out four to six weeks with a stress fracture in his right leg, but that’s not stopping him from keeping his arm in shape.
Bauer (12-6, 2.22 ERA, 214 strikeouts in 166 innings) played catch from his knees while wearing a walking boot Friday.
“It’s something I can do every day, something I plan on doing every day, because the overall stress is way less relative to what I’ve been experiencing the whole season,” Bauer said.
Indians manager Terry Francona gave the timetable for Bauer’s return, but Bauer believes he’ll return sooner.
“We’ll find out,” Bauer said. “You’re going to get a very different answer if you ask me that question and if you ask the medical staff that question.”
Bauer sustained the injury when he was hit by Jose Abreu’s liner Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.
Bauer could return in mid-tolate September — just in time for the playoffs. Francona knows the pitcher’s arm will be ready.
“I think in about 10 days he can throw standing, and then in another 10 days, it’s probably close to the mound work,” Francona said. “My guess is his arm is going to feel pretty good.” PUIG APPEALING SUSPENSION >> Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is appealing his two-game suspension for fighting and inciting a benchesclearing incident against the Giants on Tuesday.
Puig was suspended Thursday by MLB after he took a swing at Giants catcher Nick Hundley in the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 2-1 loss. Hundley was fined.
Puig is eligible to play during the appeal. He was not in the starting lineup for Friday’s series opener in Seattle, but Roberts said he would have Puig in the lineup in the next few games.