MLB Weekly Digest February 24th Edition: Mikolas Has Forearm Injury

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The last week in MLB was about a starting pitcher in the National League who is dealing with an injury, another starting pitcher in the American League has been shut down due to an injured forearm, and a club in the NL has named their Opening Day starter.

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Pitcher Miles Mikolas Dealing with Forearm Soreness

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas will probably miss the start of the regular season.

Mikolas received a second platelet-rich plasma injection a couple of days ago for a sore right forearm, said Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com.

Mikolas sidelined with flexor tendon discomfort, prescribed rest for 3-4 weeks after a PRP injection this morning. https://t.co/VysoCE36RY

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) February 18, 2020

The right-hander will rest for three-to-four weeks and will take part in non-throwing drills before getting evaluated in mid-March.

If healthy, Mikolas will begin a throwing program and head to minor-league camp to ramp his pitching, according to Rogers.

Mikolas was given his first injection when the offseason began after he had issues last season, but he had some discomfort during his first bullpen session last week.

He also had an MRI, and it revealed there was no ligament damage.

Mikolas had an average 2019 campaign for the Cardinals, by posting a 4.16 ERA in 184 innings pitched (32 starts) with 144 strikeouts, 32 walks issued, 27 home runs yielded, a 4.27 FIP, and a 1.22 WHIP.

Mikolas dealing with an injury isn’t ideal for the Cardinals, but, hopefully, he won’t miss too much time when the regular season starts.

New York Yankees Shut Down Starting Pitcher Luis Severino with Forearm Injury

The New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino is dealing with a forearm injury that goes back to his last start of the American League Championship Series last year, said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

Boone mentioned the off and on issue is definitely concerning, and the team has shut him down, per Jack Curry of the YES Network.

Aaron Boone said Luis Severino has some forearm soreness that dates back to his last start of the ALCS.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) February 20, 2020

Boone said Severino will he examined by Dr Chris Ahmad tomorrow. Said Severino will he shut down for at least a few days. It’s been an off and on issue so Boone said it’s definitely “concerning.”

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) February 20, 2020

He said Severino would head to New York today for three days to undergo numerous tests.

Boone also added Severino feels pain in his right forearm when he throws his changeup, a pitch that requires him to pronate his arm, per Curry.

Boone said Severino will go to NY on Monday and stay for 3 days to undergo a battery of tests. Dr Chris Ahmad examined Severino today, but Severino didn’t undergo any new tests in Tampa.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) February 21, 2020

Severino feels the pain in his right forearm when he throws his change up, a pitch that requires him to pronate his arm.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) February 20, 2020

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman isn’t sure if the forearm injury is going to be a short-term or a long-term problem, per Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

Brian Cashman: "Unknown if this is gonna be a significant issue that we're gonna be dealing with that's gonna cost us a lot of time, or if it's a small issue."

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) February 20, 2020

Cashman said the Yankees did a series of tests, multiple times on Severino’s forearm during the offseason and all came back negative.

The only thing that appeared was a “loose body” in the elbow that’s not causing any problems, per David Lennon of Newsday Sports.

Cashman explained that #Yankees have done a series of tests, multiple times, on Severino’s forearm throughout the offseason and all came back negative. Only thing was a non-symptomatic finding of a “loose body” in the elbow that’s not causing him any problems.

— David Lennon (@DPLennon) February 20, 2020

Severino made only three starts during the regular season last year as he dealt with numerous injuries.

The Yankees are already without starting pitcher James Paxton, who will be sidelined three-to-four months after undergoing back surgery earlier in the month.

The injury to Severino puts the Yankees in a tough position as they will need to replace two members from their starting rotation before the season begins.

The quartet of Jordan Montgomery, Mike King, Luis Cessa, and Deivi Garcia will be vying for those two spots during spring training.

St. Louis Cardinals Name Starting Pitcher Jack Flaherty as Opening Day Starter

The St. Louis Cardinals have named starting pitcher Jack Flaherty as their Opening Day starter, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com.

Jack Flaherty will be the #STLCards Opening Day starter.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) February 22, 2020

Flaherty was the superb on the mound last season, as he was the ace of the Cardinals’ starting rotation.

The right-hander compiled a 2.75 ERA in 196 1/3 innings pitched (33 starts) with 231 strikeouts, 55 walks surrendered, 25 home runs allowed, a 3.46 FIP, a 155 ERA+, finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting and led the NL with a 0.96 WHIP in 2019.

The team selecting Flaherty as their Opening Day starter is logical, and the Cardinals will need Flaherty to continue his success from last year to have a chance of winning the NL Central for the upcoming season.

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Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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