MLB Weekly Digest May 15th Edition: Rays Put Rasmussen on IL

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The prior week in MLB was about a club in the American League placing a starting pitcher on the injured list, a pitcher in the National League dealing with a strained left forearm, and a reliever making history.

Tampa Bay Rays Place Starting Pitcher Drew Rasmussen on 60-day IL with Flexor Strain

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain, per a team announcement.

The Rays have selected RHP Chris Muller to the major league roster. To make room on the active and 40-Man rosters, we are placing RHP Drew Rasmussen on the 60-Day Injured List with a flexor strain.

— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) May 12, 2023

The announcement was shocking as Rasmussen was terrific in his last start against the New York Yankees, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing only two hits.

Rays president of baseball operations, Erik Neander, said something was not right towards the end of the outing, per The Ronnie and TKras Show.

NOW on The Ronnie & TKras Show:

“Unfortunately, at the very tail end of it, felt something that wasn’t quite right.”-Erik Neander on Drew Rasmussen’s injury last night #RaysUp @RonnieNTL @TKras @TheChrisMathis

👁️❤️📻: https://t.co/ofcFkfysEx pic.twitter.com/BnOveotTfD

— 95.3 WDAE & AM 620 (@953WDAE) May 12, 2023

Rasmussen is hopeful he does not need surgery, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

#Rays Rasmussen said he felt something during his final batter on Thursday, more nerve like than pain, and noted his velocity was down. Didn’t sleep well last night knowing MRI was coming. Said he hopes to avoid surgery but it’s obviously early in that process

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 12, 2023

He will be shut down from throwing for eight weeks and then start building up, so he may return in August, says Topkin.

Rasmussen will be shut down from throwing for 8 weeks and then start building up, so an August return would seem to be best case scenario for #Rays

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 12, 2023

The loss of Rasmussen is significant for the Rays as he was having a good season on the mound.

He compiled a 2.62 ERA in 44 2/3 innings pitched (eight starts) with 47 strikeouts, 11 walks issued, two home runs allowed, a 155 ERA+, 2.57 FIP, and a 1.05 WHIP.

The club could replace his spot in the starting rotation with rookie Taj Bradley who is in Triple-A but has made three starts for the Rays this year.

They have Tyler Glasnow, who is on a rehab assignment, and he could take that spot in the rotation when he returns.

Atlanta Braves Place Starting Pitcher Max Fried on Injured List with Forearm Strain

The Atlanta Braves have placed starting pitcher Max Fried on the injured list with a strained left forearm, per a team announcement.

The #Braves today recalled LHP Danny Young to Atlanta and placed LHP Max Fried on the 15-day injured list, backdated to May 6, with a strained left forearm.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 9, 2023

Fried underwent an MRI and there was not concern about needing a second Tommy John surgery.

He will be shut down from throwing until the forearm heals, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

Fried's MRI didn't create any concern about possibly needing a second TJ surgery. He will be shut down from throwing until his forearm heals. He'll then have to build back up and basically go through Spring Training again. So, timetable is TBD. But this won't be a short-term IL

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 9, 2023

The loss of Fried is monumental for the Braves, as he was having a stellar 2023 season.

The left-handed pitcher authored a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings pitched (six starts) with 25 strikeouts, six walks surrendered, two home runs yielded, a 213 ERA+, 3.06 FIP, and a 1.07 WHIP.

Fried was spectacular for the club last season and finished second in the National League Cy Young voting.

He compiled a 2.48 ERA in 185 1/3 innings pitched with 170 strikeouts, 32 walks allowed, 12 home runs yielded, a 166 ERA+, 2.70 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP.

The Braves are optimistic that Fried will return to the club this season.

Boston Red Sox Reliever Kenley Jansen Makes History

Boston Red Sox reliever Kenley Jansen made history several days ago as he recorded the 400^th save of his career.

The 7th player in MLB history to record 400 saves: Kenley Jansen. pic.twitter.com/n1YZrjhSiI

— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 11, 2023

He became the seventh player in MLB history to reach that milestone.

He joins a list that includes Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, Francisco Rodriguez, John Franco, and Billy Wagner.

Jansen totaled 350 saves over 12 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers before tallying 41 saves with the Braves last season.

He signed a two-year deal with the Red Sox during the offseason.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a 29-year old 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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