The Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds all received bad news regarding injury updates for their star players - they're all likely to spend more time than originally expected on the disabled list.
Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and Reds first baseman Joey Votto are dealing with injuries that are contributing to their prolonged absences. The most recent victim was Richards. On Wednesday night in Boston he was running over to first base to cover the bag as Albert Pujols fielded a ground ball and threw it to second base to turn the double play. Richards made it about halfway there before collapsing to the ground and tearing his left patellar tendon. The team was unsure how long he would be out for, but an MRI on Thursday indeed revealed a tear in his knee and doctors said it would be 6-9 months before he can return to action.
This is a big blow to the Angels pitching staff, as Richards was the best pitcher on baseball's best team (13-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 26 starts). But he's not the only player on an AL division-leading team to suffer a knee injury. Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles sprained his right knee during an at-bat against the New York Yankees on August 11. He was placed on the disabled list on August 12 and is eligible to return next Wednesday, but manager Buck Showalter said there is no timetable for Machado's return, meaning he will likely not resume baseball activities next week.
Richards' and Machado's recent injury woes are something Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been dealing with all year. The four-time All-Star was placed on the 60-day disabled list on July 8 because of a left knee injury and is eligible to return on September 4, but that doesn't seem very likely. He just recently started basic conditioning drills and light running, which is just the very beginning of a somewhat lengthy rehab process. If the Reds want any shot at the postseason, they'll need him back as soon as possible, especially after dropping 10 of their last 12 games and a 10-22 record since the All-Star break.
"It is pretty frustrating, it is not fun to come in here and not play," said Votto, in this Dayton Daily News article. "I'm not used to coming in here and being in a position (of not playing)... I wish I was on the field doing my part, helping the team out. Unfortuantely, I'm not able to. I'm trying to get to a point where I can come back and help the team out and play like everybody is used to me playing. I'm not there yet."
While the Angels and Orioles are atop their divisions, the Reds are 10.5 games behind the leading Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and seven games behind the San Francisco Giants, who occupy the final wild card spot.
