Three MLB clubs bound for the postseason appear to be running into some problems at an inopportune time. St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, New York Mets infielder Juan Uribe and New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia are dealing with injuries.
The Cardinals are the best team in the MLB, but Molina's loss could drastically set them back. He's one of the best catchers in baseball and his clutch bat is absolutely needed in the team's lineup, which is among the less-potent offenses.
Molina suffered a sprained thumb during Sunday's victory over the Chicago Cubs and he'll undergo an MRI on Monday to see if there's more damage than initially expected. Manager Mike Matheny said he was "concerned" about Molina's injury and that he's "anxious to hear what the doctors come up with," according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
His fill in would most likely be Tony Cruz.
As for the Mets, they could be down an infielder heading into the final two weeks of the season. Uribe suffered a chest contusion last night against the New York Yankees when he dove for a ground ball off the bat of Brett Gardner. He left the game two innings later to undergo X-rays, which came back negative, but he's set for an MRI on Monday as well.
Uribe is a good veteran presence on this young Mets team and he gives manager Terry Collins a lot of flexibility. To lose him down the stretch would not help the Mets, who are six games ahead of the Washington Nationals in the NL East with just 13 games to go.
Just across town in the Bronx, the Yankees can't seem to stop dealing with injuries to their starting pitchers. Masahiro Tanaka will miss his next start due to a hamstring issue and the team is already without Nathan Eovaldi for the rest of the regular season. Sabathia, who returned from the DL earlier this month, is not injured right now, but a report after last night's game suggests his ailing knee may not be something to rely on.
"Sabathia is pitching with bone-on-bone arthritis in his right knee, he told MLB.com as Sunday night turned into Monday morning," writes Barry Bloom.
"The big left-hander is able to pitch thanks to a brace on the knee that allows him to land on his front leg without feeling any pain...
"Sabathia said the ligament brace keeps the joints in his knee from rubbing when the leg hits the ground. Before he began using it, he'd never know when to expect a jolt of pain on any given pitch."
But how long can the brace keep his knee stable? Sabathia hasn't had a good year, but the Yankees cannot afford to lose another starter - especially a veteran - as they prepare for the postseason. His last two outings against the Rays and Mets resulted in crucial victories, and the Yanks will need that as often as possible if they want to catch the Toronto Blue Jays or win a postseason series.
Stay tuned for updates on these three players as the week progresses.
