Maddening start for MadBum, he’s placed on injured list
For most of his 10-year career in San Francisco, lefthanded starter Madison Bumgarner was among the most durable pitchers in baseball.
Even when the 31-year-old starter did miss time on the injured list, the issues he dealt with weren’t the types of problems that ail most pitchers.
Fewer than three weeks into his five-year, $85 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bumgarner is headed to the 10-day injured list with a mid-back strain. D’backs general manager Mike Hazen announced the move Monday.
Bumgarner’s stint on the injured list comes a day after he lasted just two innings in a horrendous outing against the San Diego Padres in which he gave up four home runs, including two to third baseman Manny Machado. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame that Bumgarner attempted to gut his way through the outing, but was obviously ineffective during his short time on the mound.
In four starts with Arizona this season, the former Giants ace has posted a 9.35 ERA, giving up 18 earned runs and seven home runs in 17 1/3 innings. Bumgarner’s fastball velocity has hovered around 86-to-89 miles per hour, which is clearly a concern for a pitcher accustomed to hitting 90-to-92 miles per hour during his final seasons in San Francisco.
When Bumgarner hit free agency last offseason, there were serious questions as to how long he would remain a durable starter capable of throwing 200 innings per season. The left-hander worked more than 1,800 regular season innings during his 10 seasons with the Giants, topping 200 innings in seven separate seasons including in 2019.
The D’backs were the team to take a five-year gamble on Bumgarner, causing many Giants fans to criticize president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi for failing to do more to keep a franchise legend in San Francisco.
Hazen told D’backs reporters Monday he doesn’t expect Bumgarner to be out very long
and that scans of his back suggested the left-hander isn’t dealing with a significant injury. In some ways, it’s good news that Bumgarner could return to the Arizona rotation in the near future, but it may also be concerning that his velocity dip isn’t the product of a more serious issue.
Bumgarner was only placed on the injured list twice in his Giants career.
—Kerry Crowley
AVERAGE SALARY DIPS >> Major League Baseball’s eye-popping salaries took an astonishing dive during the coronavirus pandemic to their lowest level in nearly a quarter-century, according to a study by The Associated Press.
Washington pitcher Max Scherzer topped the shortened season’s list at $17.8 million, his income partially protected by a huge signing bonus. That is the lowest amount for baseball’s highestpaid player since Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kevin Brown made $15.7 million in 2000.
Salaries averaged $1,295,942 on expanded Opening-Day rosters after prorated pay was factored in, according to the AP study. That must feel like a throwback paycheck, similar to a vintage jersey — it’s the lowest average in the AP’s annual study since $1,176,967 in 1996 and down from $4,375,486 at the start of the 2019 season.
FRANCONA RETURNING TO MANAGE INDIANS AFTER WEEK OFREST>> Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona will return to the team today after missing more than a week so he could rest while dealing
with a gastrointestinal condition.
The team said Francona will be in the dugout when the Indians open a two-game home series against the Chicago Cubs. Francona has missed Cleveland’s past eight games with the gastrointestinal issue, which has bothered him since spring training in Arizona.
First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. filled in while Francona was out.
DODGERS’ KELLY OUT WITH SHOULDER ISSUE >> Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
Kelly hasn’t allowed a run over 6 1/3 innings in seven games this season.
TIGERS-CARDINALS DOUBLEHEADER POSTPONED >> A doubleheader between the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers this week is being postponed to allow more time for additional COVID-19 testing. MLB opted to postpone Thursday’s doubleheader to continue additional testing while players and staff are quarantined before the team returns to play. More details about the Cardinals’ resumption of play will be announced later this week.
The Cardinals had a series against Pittsburgh set to start on Monday postponed after a weekend series against the Cubs was scrapped due to three positive coronavirus tests.
INDIANS’ CLEVINGER FLEW WITH TEAM AFTER VIOLATION >> Mike Clevinger’s free spirit may have put the Cleveland
Indians at risk.
Clevinger flew home with his teammates Sunday despite knowing he had broken the club’s COVID-19 protocols by going out in Chicago with right-hander Zach Plesac during Cleveland’s weekend trip, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Clevinger did not admit that he had violated the rules during a team meeting Sunday to discuss Plesac being sent home by the team, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The Indians said Clevinger, who can be outspokpen and outlandish, will be quarantined and tested and will not make his scheduled start tonight at home against the Cubs. It’s not yet known if Clevinger and Pleasac have been tested since their violations were reported.
They will have to twice test negative in 72 hours before they’ll be allowed to rejoin in any team activities.
MORTON ON IL WITH INFLAMED SHOULDER >> The Tampa Bay Rays have placed right-hander Charlie Morton on the 10-day injured list due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
The move came one day after Morton (1-1, 5.40 ERA) was removed from a start against the Yankees in the third inning. The 36-year-old Morton, an All-Star in 2018 and 2019, went 16-6 last year in his first season with Tampa Bay.
METS’ STROMAN OPTS OUT >> New York Mets right-hander Marcus Stroman has elected to opt out of the 2020 season due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
Stroman, 29, becomes the second Mets player to opt out during this season due to COVID-19 concerns, joining outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
Stroman went 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts last year for the Mets, who acquired him from Toronto in July.
TIGERS’ CRON INJURED >> Detroit Tigers first baseman C.J. Cron exited Monday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox with a left knee injury. Cron was struck by Danny Mendick’s hard-hit grounder in the fourth inning and stayed down for a while. He eventually walked off with some assistance.