The Pirates and Reds will each get a key player back this week as the tight NL Central race continues with just under 40 games remaining in the season. Meanwhile, Minnesota Twins top prospect Byron Buxton continues to recover from a nasty outfield collision that occurred last week.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder and reigning NL MVP Andrew McCutchen has been out of action since August 4 due to an "avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the 11th rib," otherwise known as a fractured rib and cartilage injury on his left side. He suffered the injury on August 3 in Arizona after hitting a sacrifice fly. McCutchen immediately grabbed his left side after the swing and didn't return to the game.
But the Pirates were optimistic and kept the All-Star on the active roster to avoid putting him on the disabled list. Later in the week when they realized it was likely a bad decision to be sacrificing a roster spot for an extended period of time, the team placed McCutchen on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 4. Manager Clint Hurdle told MLB.com that he's optimistic McCutchen will return to the lineup on Tuesday, August 19 and avoid a minor-league rehab assignment. The team is 5-8 without him.
The Cincinnati Reds also got back a contributing player as they've been dealing with a slew of injuries. Second baseman Brandon Phillips was activated from the disabled list on Monday night and was in the starting lineup. Phillips has been out since July 11 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. The Reds (61-64) are nine games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central lead and five games behind the San Francisco Giants for the final wild card spot. Phillips had an uncharacteristic year (.701 OPS with seven home runs and one stolen base) in 86 games prior to his injury, but he'll likely provide a spark for an ailing Cincinnati lineup.
Byron Buxton, the Minnesota Twins top prospect, was involved in an outfield collision last week during his first game with Double-A New Britain. Buxton was knocked out for ten minutes after colliding with teammate Mike Kvasnicka and the game was delayed for over a half hour as medical staff attended to the 20-year-old. Luckily, Buxton was only diagnosed with a concussion and the sole remaining symptoms he's experiencing are headaches and neck stiffness. However, Buxton will be out of action for the remainder of the minor league season, but the Twins expect him to be ready for the Arizona Fall League.
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