Nick Swisher has surgery, Carlos Beltran’s elbow is cranky

The Indians announce Swisher will undergo surgery on both knees, while Beltran’s recurring elbow pain ... recurs.

Aug 21, 2014, 11:30 AM UTC

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Indians announced on Thursday that outfielder Nick Swisher was undergoing surgery on both of his knees, with a full recovery set for 8-10 weeks. The surgery obviously puts Swisher out for the remainder of the season, but appears to leave him in good shape to get in a normal off-season routine.

Swisher is in the second year of a four-year, $56 million contract with Cleveland. He’ll have $30 million remaining on the deal as of next season, and he saw his OPS drop from .763 in 2013 to .608 this year, his second straight declining season. After playing in at least 145 games in each of the last eight seasons, injuries and ineffectiveness limited Swisher to 97 games in 2014, his first season under 100 games played since his rookie season.

Sore elbow sidelines Beltran

While Carlos Beltran's elbow has been an issue almost the entire season, this time his absence from the lineup affected Jeter, so it's now deemed newsworthy. His right elbow continues to be sore and could get him shut down if the Yankees are eliminated from playoff contention.

Beltran out with right elbow soreness, same elbow that's bothered him. Jeter moves to DH today.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) August 20, 2014

Gardner generates great grab, gif

Brett Gardner went into foul territory, and then into the stands to make an impressive grab, thus certifying of True Yankee status, if he hadn't already achieved it. This also caused the Yankees twitter account to dilute the meaning of the word superhuman

Brett Gardner, superhuman: http://t.co/CyGShCdycg #Yankees http://t.co/i7qkvAj4CR
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 21, 2014

Offensive struggles return to haunt Royals

While the Royals have made an impressive run to the top of the AL Central, their offense has been missing for much of the year. That theme continued on Wednesday night as they could only manage two runs, and 32 batters in the game. Kansas City turned five hits and three walks into four double plays on the evening, limiting current best-player-in-baseball (per fWAR) Alex Gordon to three plate appearances. He did homer and walk in two of those plate appearances, though.

Alex Gordon got 3 plate appearances in a full game at Coors Field. That's about all you need to know about the #Royals offense tonight.
— Doug Howard (@IowaRoyal) August 21, 2014