Worldwide Sports News

PHOENIX — Baltimore Orioles reliever Albert Suarez has been transferred to the 60-day injured list with a shoulder issue, the team announced.

The right-hander has made just one appearance this season, throwing 2 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 28. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Suarez isn’t expected to need surgery.

“It’s going to be months,” Hyde said. “Hopefully just a few months, but it’s really unfortunate news.”

The 35-year-old Suarez was a big part of the pitching staff last season, compiling a 3.70 ERA over 133 2/3 innings in 32 appearances, including 24 starts.

“It’s a big blow for us because he was throwing the ball really well in spring training and did so many things well for us last year,” Hyde said.

The Orioles acquired left-handed pitcher Grant Wolfram from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league outfielder Daz Cameron and cash. Wolfram was put on the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Suarez was moved to the 60-day IL.

SEATTLE — Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti broke his right thumb when he was hit by a line drive while playing catch in left field before the game at Seattle.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Arrighetti was being evaluated during his pregame availability. The team announced the injury about an hour before its series opener against the Mariners.

The 25-year-old Arrighetti is 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in two starts this season. He allowed five runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings during a 6-1 loss at Minnesota.

Arrighetti, a sixth-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft, went 7-13 with a 4.53 ERA in 28 starts and one relief appearance as a rookie last year.

PITTSBURGH — St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera was placed on the 10-day injured list because of a bone bruise in his left knee.

Pedro Pages is expected to get the bulk of the action behind the plate with Herrera out. Catcher Yohel Pozo was brought up from Triple-A Memphis, and he was in the starting lineup for the Cardinals’ game at Pittsburgh.

The 24-year-old Herrera got hurt in the opener of a doubleheader at Boston. He is expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

Herrera was off to a hot start in his first season as a full-time starter, batting .381 with four homers and 11 RBIs in seven games.

He was unable to put weight on his left leg and had to be helped off the field after running the bases. He underwent testing, which was negative.

“It was really good news,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said before the series opener against the Pirates. “The way his knee buckled, I thought it might be an ACL tear.”

WASHINGTON — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell expects to be out for two weeks while he recovers from shoulder inflammation.

Snell, who agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract with Los Angeles in November, said the shoulder issue has been lingering for three weeks. The two-time Cy Young Award winner had an MRI that came back clean, and he was placed on the 10-day IL.

“I thought I could pitch through it,” Snell said. “But when I got to Philly, played long toss, catch, tried to throw it. I just couldn’t. It’s inflammation. Hopefully, it’s a couple weeks and I am back and ready to go.”

The World Series champions opened a three-game series at Washington. Manager Dave Roberts said left-hander Justin Wrobleski is lined up for Snell’s spot in the rotation.

“Putting Blake on the IL certainly isn’t ideal,” Roberts said. “I still feel very good about our pitching depth. I am just hoping that it is very benign and not too long a wait from getting him back.”

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw had a bullpen session as he nurses a left toe injury. The three-time Cy Young Award winner hasn’t pitched in a big league game since Aug. 30.

With Freddie Freeman sidelined by an ankle injury, Kershaw spoke for the team when celebrating the franchise’s 2024 title at the White House.

“It’s always an honor,” Kershaw said. “I don’t ever want to say no to those type of opportunities. Me not having a lot to do with the October run was a little awkward but at the same time (having) somebody on the outside that didn’t play to be able to highlight some of the things that this group did was really cool.”

The 37-year-old Kershaw thinks he is going to face hitters in Arizona, staying on the schedule he has been using for two weeks.

“It’s kind of a weird needle to thread because physically my arm is ready to go,” Kershaw said. “I am ready. But my toe isn’t all the way there yet. So, whenever my toe finally is strong enough to be put there, I want to be ready.”

BOSTON — EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.

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Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran said in an upcoming documentary series that two years before his 2024 All-Star season, the pressures of the sport led him to intense bouts of depression and an attempted suicide.

“I remember when I was going through it and you start losing a couple of games and you’re not doing good, it feels like the world is kind of creeping in on you,” Duran, 28, said in the fourth episode of an eight-part Netflix series titled, “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox.”

The episode chronicles the journey of Duran, a seventh-round draft pick in 2018, to making his MLB debut in 2021 after becoming one of the majors’ top prospects as one of the top hitters in the minors. It also delves into his struggles not long after getting called up to the majors, as the former infielder had a difficult time adapting to playing in the outfield.

“They love you one day, and then the next day they have to grind on you a little bit,” Duran recalled.

He said there were times he felt players were treated like “zoo animals.”

“Sometimes some fans take it too serious. I feel they cross the line when they start talking about my mental health — making fun of me for that,” Duran said. “Calling me weak. It just kind of triggered me when you start talking about mental health because I feel like that is just part of it — that loneliness. Some people deal with it better than others.”

The intense atmosphere of the Boston sports media market also wore on him, he said.

“I remember when I first started struggling I was like, just send me back down (to the minor leagues),” he recalled. “It honestly felt like there was a dark cloud over me because it’s so easy to look past the positive things for me, and then to grab onto the negative things.”

That pressure to perform came to a head at one point for the young slugger.

“I couldn’t deal with telling myself how much I sucked everyday,” Duran said. “I was already hearing it from fans. And what they said to me, (it’s not like) I haven’t told myself 10 times worse in the mirror. That was a really tough time for me. I didn’t even want to be here anymore.”

The series’ director, Greg Whiteley, then asked, “When you say, ‘here,’ you mean here with the Red Sox or here on planet Earth?”

“Probably both,” Duran said before going into detail.

In a statement, Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy commended Duran for being open about taking care of his mental health.

“Jarren’s decision to share his story is an act of courage that reaches far beyond baseball,” Kennedy said. “By opening up, he’s showing others who may be struggling that they’re not alone and that asking for help isn’t just okay, it’s essential. Every member of this organization continues to stand with him. He has our deepest admiration, he’s always had our full support, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team.”

Manager Alex Cora said he was aware of the situation long before the Netflix filming.

“I mean, obviously, I was aware of it,” Cora said before Boston’s scheduled game against Toronto. “Since I learned about it, me as a person, I’ve been giving him support, love. I’m somebody that he can talk to. That door’s always open. The relationship has grown throughout the years. Obviously, a lot of private conversations about the subject. I truly believe that him opening up is going to help a lot of people.

“It takes a person with courage and being transparent and genuine to do that. ... I hope that’s how we see it — that he will impact others and he’s going to save lives with what he did in Netflix.”