The Pittsburgh Pirates placed outfielder Andrew McCutchen on the DL on Monday afternoon, retroactive to Aug. 4, the team announced.
MLB news: Pirates place Andrew McCutchen on DL, Giancarlo Stanton homers twice
The Pirates placed Andrew McCutchen on the 15-day DL, Giancarlo Stanton went deep twice in Miami, and Rangers outfielder Alex Rios is set to see a specialist about his nagging ankle sprain.
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McCutchen has been sidelined since Aug. 3 with a fractured rib and cartilage injury on his left side. The Pirates were hoping that McCutchen would be able to avoid a stint on the DL, but he hasn’t returned to the lineup in the week since suffering the injury.
The reigning NL MVP, McCutchen was having another stellar season in Pittsburgh, and his absence is obviously a big loss for the Pirates. The 27-year-old was hitting .311/.411/.536 with 17 home runs in 489 plate appearances prior to the injury and was once again in discussion for the NL MVP.
In McCutchen's absence, the Pirates have been using Travis Snider in left field alongside Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. Josh Harrison is also capable of playing the outfield, but despite their depth on the roster, the Pirates are clearly handicapped without McCutchen in the lineup on a nightly basis.
Pittsburgh currently sits in the NL's second Wild Card spot and is also 2.5 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central.
Stanton blasts two home runs against Cardinals
Giancarlo Stanton's power is well known, and the Marlins outfielder put on another show Monday night in Miami. Stanton belted two home runs against the Cardinals, marking his 30th and 31st long balls of the season:
Stanton’s second was the more impressive of the two, and it elicited quite the reaction from the Marlins’ play-by-by announcer, Rich Waltz:
The 24-year-old outfielder’s second homer gave him seven home runs this season that have traveled at least 450 feet, which, it turns out, is more than any other MLB team, according to ESPN Stats & Info:
Giancarlo Stanton now has seven 450-foot HR in 2014 ... that's more than any other team pic.twitter.com/BQLhwFoSVc
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 12, 2014 Rios to see specialist regarding ankle sprain
Rangers outfielder Alex Rios will see a specialist regarding his sprained right ankle, which kept him out of the Texas lineup Monday night, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Rios has appeared in just one game since Aug. 6 and played in only three innings before exiting.
The 33-year-old outfielder was a candidate to be traded before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline and had reportedly passed through waivers last week, meaning the Rangers could trade him to any team.
That possibility now appears unlikely as Rios continues to battle the nagging ankle sprain. Rios has batted .294/.324/.415 in 111 games this season.
Collins, Mejia meet to clear the air
Mets manager Terry Collins and closer Jenrry Mejia met privately prior to Monday's game in Philadelphia after the right-hander revealed to the media that he has a hernia, according to ESPNNewYork's Adam Rubin.
Collins preferred that Mejia keep the injury news quiet, which he stressed to the pitcher Monday.
Mejia still plans to finish out the season despite the injury and will have surgery in the offseason. The 24-year-old blew a save opportunity in the Mets' loss to the Phillies on Sunday.
In 36 relief appearances since being named the Mets’ closer, Mejia has posted a 2.70 ERA in 36 ⅔ innings, while striking out 40 batters and walking 15.
Scores:
Mets 5, Phillies 3
Rays 7, Rangers 0
Pirates 11, Tigers 6
Marlins 6, Cardinals 5
Brewers 3, Cubs 1
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