As MLB’s 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Ryu undergoing x-rays:
In a brutal turn of events yesterday, veteran left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu left his start against the Guardians yesterday after being struck in the right knee by a comebacker. Ryu, who finished top-3 in Cy Young award voting in back-to-back seasons 2019-20, missed the last 13 months of action after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. Yesterday was just the second start of his return to big league action. Looking ahead, MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson notes that the 36-year-old hurler will undergo x-rays to determine the severity of his injury. Should Ryu require a return to the injured list, Toronto won’t need to replace him in the rotation, as they’re currently utilizing a six-man unit and could simply downsize to a group of five containing right-handers Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Alek Manoah, and Jose Berrios along with lefty Yusei Kikuchi.
2. Story to return:
Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is expected to be activated from the injured list prior to this evening’s game against the Royals. Story has yet to play in the majors this season, the second of his six-year, $140MM pact with Boston, after undergoing an offseason internal brace procedure in his throwing elbow. Story is on the 60-day injured list, but the club already has a spot on the 40-man roster, meaning only an active roster move will be necessary to activate the two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner.
Story won’t return to everyday play right away, as noted Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, as player and club agreed that Story would play just every other day in his first week back in the majors as he continues to build back to full strength. That Story is returning today is a reversal from the plan outlined as recently as this weekend, which would have left the 30-year-old in the minors through the end of a maximum 20-day rehab assignment. Story’s return presumably ends Yu Chang’s run as the club’s starting shortstop.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
MLB’s trade deadline has come and gone, and the league’s 30 clubs are all pushing full steam ahead into the stretch run. Although we’re fairly deep into the season at this point, nearly two thirds of the league still has 10% or better odds at a playoff spot, per Fangraphs. If you’re curious how your team will hold up over the season’s final months, what their plan for the future is, or have a question about one of the many deals that went down at the deadline last week, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is hosting a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
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