Worldwide Sports News

Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban is dealing with a side/oblique issue that could require an IL stint, reports Joel Sherman of The New York Post.

With Brazoban's status unclear, reliever Kevin Herget was called up from Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Wednesday's game against the Phillies at Citi Field.

Brazoban has spent a chunk of the season in the minors, and his results at the big league level have been mixed.

He has a 3.91 ERA (4.12 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP in 43.0 innings across 46 appearances.

Brazoban struggled during his inning on Tuesday against the Phillies, allowing one run on three hits.

Herget has pitched 4.1 innings over two games for the Mets this season, allowing two runs (one earned) while walking none and striking out one.

More changes to outfield as Phillies try to end New York woes against Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — Whatever this thing is that’s going on at Citi Field, causing the Phillies to lose nine in a row here to the Mets, manager Rob Thomson doesn’t really worry about it.

He doesn’t let negative thoughts enter his mind. Doesn’t think his team is doomed nor unable to compete with the Mets in their ballpark. He is more convincing than others when he states that, and before Wednesday’s series finale, he even had some evidence as to why he’s there.

“It’s tough but you’ve got to grind through it,” Thomson said. “I was looking at some of the Yankees’ stuff from when I was there. So, from ‘05 to ‘09, when we were in California against the Angels, we went 3-13. In ‘08 and ‘09, we were 0-6. Actually, we had lost eight in a row and we beat them in the ALCS. It’s one of those things. You’ve just got to fight through it.”

Maybe the Phillies have just the right person taking the mound in Game 3 against the Mets. Taijuan Walker had a couple of decent seasons for the Mets, so he’s used to their home field. More than that, though, he’s got the makeup that maybe a situation like this calls for, according to his manager.

“I’m happy for him, he put a lot of work in [last] offseason,” Thomson said of Walker. “Came in, velocity jumped up. Now it’s kind of settled in but it’s still more velocity than he had last year. The other stuff moves up just because of the velocity — the split, cutter’s been really good, the slider’s been really good.

“But I’m really happy for him because he went through some rough times last year and he’s fought through it. That’s the sign of a competitor, a grown man.

“It’s tough and he hasn’t complained, he’s done everything we’ve asked. He’s been a true professional while he’s doing it. I love him because you know that he’s going to prepare and you know nothing is going to scare him. He’s going to compete through thick and thin.”

Marsh sits

In the ever-changing world that is the outfield for the Phillies, Brandon Marsh was the odd-man out on Wednesday against the Mets’ right-handed rookie Nolan McLean.

“I’ve liked Casty’s (Nick Castellanos) at-bats the last couple of weeks,” Thomson said. “Marsh is in a little bit of a tailspin and (Harrison) Bader’s been hot, (Max) Kepler’s had good at-bats. Just give him the night. He’ll be back in there tomorrow.”

It’s another part of the continued platooning that has become the norm for Thomson. And changing things doesn’t seem to be in the plan anytime soon.

“A little bit of that (hot player), a little bit of history, a little bit of the pitcher’s stuff versus Casty hits velocity for the most part,” Thomson said. “So, it’s a combination of a lot of things, really. I’d like five guys hot. That’s what I’d like.”

In McLean, the Phillies are facing him for the first time. In his two games, he’s won both and allowed just six hits and two earned runs in 12 1/3 innings.

“He can really spin it,” Thomson said. “He’s got carry to his fastball. It’s heavy, he can spin it. For the most part he can throw strikes, but you still have to be patient with him. Yeah, he’s got good stuff. It’s tough because you can do all the film and all the machine work, you can set up his breaking ball to how it’s going to look in the game. But until you get out there, you really don’t know.”

Romano speaks

It was announced Tuesday that relief pitcher Jordan Romano was being placed on the injured list because of right middle finger inflammation. This came a day after he got tagged for four earned runs in an inning of work in a 13-3 loss Monday.

“This just popped up a few days ago,” Romano said. “It’s my middle finger. When I woke up (Monday) it was numb for a little bit, like four or five hours. We got it going, worked on it to where I felt comfortable throwing at least. Then after the game just feeling a little off a bit the next morning, too. Shut it down, run some tests on it, make sure everything’s good.”

Romano has struggled most of the season, posting an 8.23 ERA in 42 2/3 innings pitched this season. After three stellar seasons with Toronto, in which he made two All-Star teams, Romano made just 15 appearances last season and had arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow.

“My last pitch that inning was 97, so it’s kind of frustrating to me, too,” he said. “I know it’s in there. It could be a delivery thing, health thing. So, we’re just kind of running through it and then see how it goes throwing and hopefully be able to be consistent again.

“For sure more motivated to pitch. Just missing time absolutely sucks, I just wanted to be available, at least. Obviously, I wasn’t pitching well, but if there’s one thing I can do is at least be available. A little more motivation to pitch.”

What Justin Slaten's return could mean for dominant back end of Red Sox' bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Justin Slaten is ready to pitch for the Boston Red Sox. As a result, the team may just have the best back end of any bullpen in the American League.

Of course, with closer Aroldis Chapman having the best season of his career, the most important part of that equation has been in place for the whole year. Yet with Garrett Whitlock turning a corner this summer (to the tune of a 0.87 ERA and 0.823 WHIP since June 29), an effective Slaten could give the Red Sox a 1-2-3 punch that will be relied upon to lock down the most important wins of the season.

That may be a lot to put on the (recovering) right arm of Slaten, but the 27-year-old has certainly displayed the stuff that would lead to such proclamations being made.

Slaten will be activated from the injured list on either Wednesday or Thursday in Baltimore, manager Alex Cora told reporters, according to The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey. Slaten spent all of June and July and most of August on the IL due to a nerve issue in his neck and shoulder. He made three rehab appearances with Triple-A Worcester, pitching three innings of relief while allowing just one unearned run on one hit and one walk while striking out five of the 12 batters he faced.

Prior to the injury, Slaten made 24 appearances out of the Boston bullpen this season. Though his 3.47 ERA was higher than his 2.93 ERA from his rookie season, he did have a 0.900 WHIP, having allowed 14 hits and seven walks in his 23.1 innings of work.

Provided Slaten pitches as well as he’s capable of pitching, his value should come through particularly on nights when Whitlock — or Chapman — is unavailable. Slaten, who’s gone more than one inning in 20 of his 68 career appearances, also can be the lone bridge from the starter to Whitlock when needed.

Chapman’s season, his first in Boston, has been well-chronicled. But the absurdity of his numbers has only grown as the season has gone on. He hasn’t allowed a hit or a run since July 23. He’s allowed one earned run since May 28. On Fangraphs, his 2.1 WAR is the second-highest for a reliever in all of baseball, just behind Adrian Morejon at 2.2. Baseball Savant has him in the 100th percentile for xERA and xBA, and in the 99th percentile for whiff rate and K rate.

At 37 years old, Chapman is maintaining a 1.07 ERA. His career-best ERA in any full season was 1.51, all the way back in 2012. He hasn’t posted an ERA under 2.00 since 2016.

Whitlock hasn’t been quite as dominant … but he’s been close. His 1.7 WAR on Fangraphs has him ranked eighth among MLB relievers this year. He’s allowed one earned run since July 6. After blowing four saves between April 30 and May 13, he’s blown zero, picking up 17 holds and a win since June.

Obviously, the eighth and the ninth innings are easy decisions for manager Alex Cora.

In the innings prior, though, Cora has turned to a variety of arms in late-and-close situations — Greg Weissert, Justin Wilson, Jordan Hicks, Brennan Bernardino and deadline addition Steven Matz chief among them — to varying degrees of success.

With the highest-stress games now coming in September and October, Slaten now figures to be Cora’s top option.