Originally posted on MLB Trade Rumors | By Steve Adams | Last updated 5/6/21
We’ve seen plenty of fans and readers comment early in the 2021 season that it feels as though injuries are up from previous years, and that is indeed the case. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic breaks it down in an excellent look at the increased IL stints of the non-COVID variety. IL placements are up 15 percent overall compared to the first month of the 2019 season, Rosenthal reports, with a 22 percent uptick among pitchers. Specifically, soft-tissue injuries such as hamstring, quadriceps and oblique injuries have nearly doubled in frequency, while arm and elbow injuries are up by a much slighter margin of 19 percent.
New York; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Patrick Corbin (1-3, 8.10 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 18 strikeouts) Yankees: Jameson Taillon (1-2, 5.24 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 29 strikeouts)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Yankees -192, Nationals +166; over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: New York heads into the matchup fresh off a strong showing by Gerrit Cole. Cole threw seven innings, surrendering two runs on five hits with four strikeouts against Houston.
The Yankees are 9-8 on their home turf. New York’s team on-base percentage of .321 is third in the American League. DJ LeMahieu leads the club with an OBP of .361.
The Nationals are 4-7 in road games. Washington ranks fifth in the MLB in hitting with a .248 batting average, Josh Harrison leads the club with an average of .329.
MLB Trade Rumors
10:56am CDT
We’ve seen plenty of fans and readers comment early in the 2021 season that it feels as though injuries are up from previous years, and that is indeed the case, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic breaks down in an excellent look at the increased IL stints of the non-Covid variety. IL placements are up 15 percent overall compared to the first month of the 2019 season, Rosenthal reports, with a 22 percent uptick among pitchers. Specifically, soft-tissue injuries such as hamstring, quadriceps and oblique injuries have nearly doubled in frequency, while arm and elbow injuries are up by a much slighter margin of 19 percent.
LHP Jon Lester to make Nationals debut Friday
Field Level Media
01 May 2021, 06:05 GMT+10
Left-hander Jon Lester will make his Washington Nationals debut Friday night with a start against the visiting Miami Marlins.
The Nationals reinstated the 37-year-old Lester from the COVID-19 list on Friday.
The three-time World Series champion and five-time All-Star signed a one-year deal with Washington in January.
Lester has a 193-111 career mark with a 3.60 ERA in 424 games over 15 seasons with the Boston Red Sox (2006-14), Oakland Athletics (2014) and Chicago Cubs (2015-20).
The Nationals also optioned right-hander Steven Fuentes and transferred left-hander Luis Avilan (left elbow inflammation) to the 60-day injured list.