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Cleveland Indians third baseman Juan Uribe left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels after being hit by a hard ground ball off the bat of Mike Trout. It is uncertain when he will be able to return.

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Uribe Out vs. Royals

Monday, June 13

The team announced that Uribe will not play on Monday against the Kansas City Royals:

Uribe Taken Off on Cart

Sunday, June 12 

Alex Curry of Fox Sports Net said the 106 mph ground ball from Trout hit Uribe in the groin, which resulted in his removal on a cart.

Uribe was 0-for-2 at the plate before he was taken out of the game for Tyler Naquin. Naquin went to center field, while Michael Martinez moved from center to third base to fill in for Uribe.

Uribe’s Absence Will Be Strongly Felt in the Field

Uribe, 37, has been in the league since 2001 and is batting .217 with two home runs and 13 RBI this year entering Monday’s slate of games. He played for the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets before signing with the Indians during the offseason.

He appeared for Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York last season and was with the Mets when they made the World Series, where they lost to the Kansas City Royals.

He is solid with the bat (.255/.302/.418 career slash numbers as of Monday) but is better known for his fielding at the hot corner. He’s accounted for 42 total defensive runs saved above average in his career at third base, per FanGraphs.

The Indians will likely turn to Martinez or Jose Ramirez at third base until Uribe is ready to return.

Martinez is only a .193 career hitter, but he does carry a .256 mark in 39 at-bats this season. Ramirez has been impressive for Cleveland in 2016 with a .303 batting average.

Both are versatile enough to play the infield or outfield, which gives manager Terry Francona options with his daily lineup even if Uribe misses time.

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The Atlanta Braves will be without their top utility man for at least the next two weeks, as Gordon Beckham was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

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Beckham Nursing Hamstring Injury

Thursday, June 2

The team announced the 29-year-old is dealing with a left hamstring strain and that infielder Brandon Snyder was called up to take his spot on the 25-man roster.

Beckham has appeared in 31 games for the struggling Braves this season, making starts at second base, third base and shortstop.

The veteran infielder has been among the team’s most consistent hitters with a .284 batting average, .382 on-base percentage, two home runs and 16 RBI.

While his numbers don’t jump off the page, his contributions are significant for a Braves team that ranks last in Major League Baseball with a .228 batting average.

With the former Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels player on the shelf, Atlanta will be forced to rely on myriad players to replace him.

Along with Snyder potentially playing some third base, Kelly Johnson, Daniel Castro and Adonis Garcia figure to see added playing time on the infield.

The Braves aren’t going anywhere in 2016 with a National League-worst record of 16-36, but losing Beckham could hurt in terms of keeping things respectable.

Beckham was also starting to establish himself as a possible trade candidate to a contender due to his versatility, but if his injury turns out to be a long-term issue, Atlanta may not be able to get any value in return for him.

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The Kansas City Royals‘ struggling rotation has been hit with a new problem, as right-hander Kris Medlen has been placed on the disabled list with a shoulder problem.

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Medlen to 15-Day DL

Thursday, May 12

Per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, Medlen’s official diagnosis is rotator cuff inflammation in his right shoulder. 

Medlen told reporters he’ll undergo an MRI on Friday and said the soreness surfaced near the end of his start on May 10. 

Morosi also reported the Royals placed Chris Young on the disabled list. That leaves manager Ned Yost with two holes to fill heading into a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. 

Injury-Plagued Medlen Struggling to Find Rhythm for Royals 

Medlen has been struggling his way through six starts so far in 2016. The 30-year-old has a 7.77 ERA with 30 hits allowed, 20 walks and 18 strikeouts in 24.1 innings. Kansas City starters enter play Thursday with the eighth-worst ERA in Major League Baseball at 4.73, per ESPN.com. 

Injuries have plagued Medlen throughout his career. He has had Tommy John surgery twice (2010, 2014) and has only made 30 starts in a season once in his career. 

Given Medlen’s struggles so far in 2016, his time in the rotation seemed limited. The Royals have struggled to a 16-17 start after last year’s World Series win. Dillon Gee can slide into the rotation after pitching seven games in relief. 

There is plenty of time left in the season for the Royals to turn things around, but there is only so far a team can go with a rotation that cannot hand those dominant relievers a lead. Medlen’s poor performance and propensity to get hurt could force Yost to put him in the bullpen whenever he returns. 

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The start of the New York Yankees‘ 2016 season has been a nightmare, and things got worse Friday when the team announced starting pitcher CC Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain. It’s unclear when he’ll return to the field. 

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Sabathia Comments on Recovery Timeline

Saturday, May 7

Sabathia told reporters he should only need 15 days on the disabled list, adding he’s unsure whether a rehab start will be necessary.

Sabathia’s DL Stint Retroactive to May 5

Friday, May 6

The Star-Ledger‘s Ryan Hatch relayed the news. In a corresponding move, the Yankees reportedly called up relief pitcher Phil Coke, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Sabathia Crucial to Yankees’ Rotation 

Although the Yankees have sputtered to the tune of an American League East-worst record of 10-17 to start the season, Sabathia has been one of the team’s few bright spots. 

After spending time in an alcohol rehabilitation center during the offseason, per USA Today, following a lackluster 2015 campaign, Sabathia kicked off 2016 on the right foot with a win on his first start of the season, against the Detroit Tigers. 

While two losses and a no-decision followed that outing, Sabathia rebounded with a great game Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. The 35-year-old struck out six batters and allowed just six hits over seven innings, as the Yankees shut out their divisional foe. The start seemed to provide the team with an emotional boost.

“It felt great, and it all starts with CC,” Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said after the team snapped its six-game losing streak, according to the New York Post‘s George A. King III. “After the game it felt like we clinched a playoff spot.”

But now Sabathia’s on the shelf, the Yankees will need to lean on Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and Nathan Eovaldi to shoulder the load. 

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Los Angeles Angels pitcher Andrew Heaney has started just one game this season, and a report Friday suggests his availability for the remainder of the 2016 campaign could be in jeopardy.

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Report: Heaney Attempting to Avoid Season-Ending Surgery

Friday, May 6

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, multiple sources said Heaney has damage to the UCL in his elbow, which is an injury that could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. Heaney is “rehabbing with hopes of avoiding Tommy John,” per Passan. 

“Opting for conservative care like other pitchers have done,” Angels general manager Billy Eppler said, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.

The 24-year-old lefty has been on the disabled list for much of the season with a strained flexor muscle, but Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reported on April 25 that the team was happy with his progress:

Based on Passan’s report, however, there is a chance the Angels may be forced to carry on without Heaney for the rest of the season.

That possibility is made even worse by the fact Passan also reported Angels ace Garrett Richards is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Heaney is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA on the season after impressing to the tune of a 6-4 mark with a 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 105.2 innings in 2015.

The Angels acquired Heaney in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014 that sent second baseman Howie Kendrick to the National League.

While the Oklahoma City native was seemingly developing into a reliable, middle-of-the-rotation starter, the Angels are now left searching for answers.

With Heaney, Richards and C.J. Wilson all on the shelf, L.A. must find some starting options in the minors to go along with Jered Weaver, Hector Santiago and Nick Tropeano.

Although the Angels are just four games out of first place in the AL West, they have struggled to the tune of a 13-15 record, and digging out of that hole will be extremely difficult without many quality arms at their disposal.

If Heaney is out for an extended period of time or perhaps even the entire season, Los Angeles’ only hope of keeping pace in the division may be executing a trade for a replacement starter.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett is dealing with right oblique tightness that landed him on the disabled list, and it is uncertain when he’ll return to action. 

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Counsell Comments on Gennett’s Timeline for Return

Thursday, April 28

Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters he expects Gennett to miss three weeks with the injury.

Gennett Placed on 15-Day DL

Thursday, April 28

The Brewers announced the roster move on their official Twitter account, noting Gennett will be replaced on the 25-man roster by infielder Hernan Perez. They also noted starting pitcher Matt Garza was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to complete the transaction.

Injury Halts Gennett’s Strong Start to Season

It’s a disappointing setback for Gennett. The 25-year-old Ohio native was off to a strong start to the 2016 campaign with four home runs and a .361 on-base percentage in 18 games. By comparison, he finished last season with just six homers in 114 contests.

Yadiel Rivera, who started in place of Gennett in the Brewers’ last game, has just six hits in 37 career at-bats (.162). So while he’ll probably get the first crack at filling the void, Perez could also get his chance after hitting .339 in 16 games to start the year at Triple-A.

Either of those options will likely represent a drop-off for Milwaukee, based on the production Gennett provided during the first month of the season. As Counsell alluded to, it could be a while before the starter returns, given the delicate nature of oblique injuries.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon left Wednesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants early after suffering a toe injury, and the timetable for his return is uncertain. 

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Blackmon Placed on 15-Day DL

Thursday, April 14

According to the Rockies, Blackmon was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday due to turf toe on his left foot.

In his third season as a regular starter, Blackmon is hitting .185/.241/.575 with no home runs and three runs batted in so far in 2016 to go along with one stolen base.

The 29-year-old was extremely productive in 2015 with a .287 batting average, 17 homers, 58 RBI and 43 steals.

The Rockies outfield entered the season in a state of flux. Gerardo Parra signed a three-year deal in the offseason, creating a logjam, which Blackmon was initially not a fan of.

“I was [a] little perplexed at first,” Blackmon said, according to Nick Groke of the Denver Post. “Because I didn’t really see it coming. Going into the offseason, I didn’t know that was in play, really. But after looking at it, he’s a great player. I’ve played against him, seen him play. He’s got one of the best arms in the league. He can only make our team better.”

Luckily, Colorado’s depth should allow it to withstand Blackmon’s absence to some degree.

Parra and Carlos Gonzalez make up the rest of the outfield, while utility man Ryan Raburn can fill in for a period of time, particularly against left-handed starters.

In addition to that, shortstop Trevor Story, third baseman Nolan Arenado and second baseman D.J. LeMahieu are off to red-hot starts.

Assuming they can keep up their level of play and LeMahieu replaces Blackmon effectively as the leadoff man, Colorado is capable of playing winning baseball even without Blackmon’s services. 

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton’s hand was injured after being hit by a pitch against the Chicago White Sox on April 11. It is unclear when he will be able to return to the lineup.

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Latest on Buxton’s Playing Status

Saturday, April 16

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Buxton is closer to returning after taking batting practice Saturday without experiencing any problems, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.

On Thursday, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reported Buxton was listed as day-to-day with a left hand contusion and that X-rays were negative.

Buxton’s Injury Adds to Twins’ Rough Start

Buxton’s injury compounds the problems in Minnesota, as the Twins are off to an 0-8 start entering Thursday’s game.

Despite his youth, Buxton is reaching a point where he can be described as injury-plagued. He only played 31 games in 2014 due to wrist and concussion problems, but he bounced back early in 2015 and was called up to the big league club in June.

Unfortunately, Buxton went on the disabled list two weeks after his promotion with a thumb problem and didn’t return until August 20. He only played in 46 games, hitting .209/.250/.326 in 129 at-bats.

The 2012 No. 2 overall pick has the talent to be a superstar, but he needs to stay on the field to show his ability.

For the Twins’ sake, Buxton needs to find a way to avoid injuries. The team has an excellent nucleus with Miguel Sano, Byung Ho Park, Trevor Plouffe and Brian Dozier. Buxton has the potential to be a huge part of the franchise’s future, but it’s all dependent on him playing to hone those skills.

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced Tuesday they placed starting pitcher Matt Garza on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday, with a right lat strain. It’s unclear when he will return.

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Latest on Garza’s Recovery Timeline

Tuesday, April 5

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Garza will miss at least four-to-six weeks.

Garza Comments on Lat Injury

Tuesday, April 5

“It just got suddenly tight and it was the last start before the season, so no need to push it,” Garza said, per MLB.com’s Chris Abshire. “More precautionary than anything. I didn’t feel comfortable.”

Garza Looking to Rebound with Healthy 2016 Season

Garza is coming off a brutal 2015 season in which he finished 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA. According to FanGraphs, his 4.94 FIP was the highest of his career, while his 0.6 WAR was his lowest since his rookie season in 2006.

The Brewers will be counting on Garza to rebound in 2016. They don’t have a ton of depth in their starting rotation, and they’re paying him $25 million over the next two seasons, so they need to get a return on their investment.

Starting the regular season on the DL isn’t an encouraging sign for Garza’s chances this year. Milwaukee called up right-hander Tyler Cravy from its Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, to take his place in the pitching staff.

Cravy appeared in 14 games for Milwaukee in 2015, posting an 0-8 record and a 5.70 ERA. The Brewers have an off day Thursday and then another on April 12. Manager Craig Counsell can shuffle his rotation around a bit to avoid Cravy having to make a start if that’s the team’s plan following his call-up.

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The New York Yankees‘ bullpen has suffered another setback as Bryan Mitchell is expected to miss at least three months due to a toe injury.  

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Mitchell Out Until Midseason Due to Toe Ailment

Thursday, March 31

Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Mitchell has a fractured toe on his left foot, but it’s unclear whether surgery will be necessary. Jack Curry of the YES Network stated it’s a “Grade 3 turf toe,” which will require a minimum of 12 weeks to recover.

Word of the setback comes just days after Mitchell was informed he earned a spot on the 25-man roster for Opening Day. Ryan Hatch of NJ Advance Media passed along comments from the right-handed reliever after he first suffered the injury Wednesday: “I honestly don’t know what to feel right now. I’m just trying to stay positive and hopefully when I wake up tomorrow it feels 10 times better than it does. Just trying to stay positive right now.”

The bullpen was expected to become a major part of the Yankees’ success coming into spring training. Now, it’s suddenly become a question mark with the regular-season opener scheduled for Monday afternoon against the Houston Astros.

Projected closer Aroldis Chapman was suspended 30 games under the league’s new domestic violence policy. Andrew Miller, who was expected to fill the closer void for the time being, also faces an uncertain status due to a wrist injury, per Mark Townsend of Yahoo Sports.

Mitchell had shined during spring training with a 0.57 ERA across six appearances with 12 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. He also posted a 0.64 WHIP, and his batting-average against was just .132.

That success, combined with the suddenly unstable New York bullpen, made him a candidate to pitch some high-leverage innings early in the campaign. That seemed like a long shot at the start of camp after he finished last season with a 6.37 ERA in 20 games.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted the injury is a double whammy for the organization:

Looking ahead, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Miller hopes to pitch through the pain despite the injury to his non-pitching hand, but the Yanks are awaiting details form a hand specialist. If he’s unavailable, Dellin Betances will be the last member of the team’s star pen trio left standing.

Chasen Shreve, Johnny Barbato and Kirby Yates are among the other relievers who will need to step up while the Yankees wait for Chapman, Miller and Mitchell to assume their expected roles.

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