Which key injury will hurt their team the most?
Baseball players have had a rough go of it recently.
This past week alone, multiple well-known players have been forced to the disabled list with injuries that loom large for their teams if they can't return to health quickly. Given that baseball teams play 162 games in a 183-day span, injuries are to be expected. The recent rash of ailments, however, has fans and teams in search of an answer.
Many of these injuries will have a major affect on their teams and the standings as the season hits month three. Here's a look at the major injuries, ranked according to the impact the loss will have on their team.
7. Carson Smith
Injury: Torn ulnar collateral ligament
Timetable: 11-14 months after surgery
Before Smith could even make an impact as Craig Kimbrel's set-up man, he was bit by the Tommy John bug. The Red Sox have been getting along just fine without him, but that could change if Koji Uehara or Matt Barnes falter.
6. Sonny Gray
Injury: Strained right trapezius
Timetable: At least 15 days
Even before the injury Gray didn't look right. The A's are probably out of it already, but any hope of salvaging something from this year - and maybe even Gray's trade value - rests on him making a quick return.
5. Kevin Kiermaier
Injury: Two metacarpal fractures in left hand
Timetable: 8-10 weeks after surgery
The Rays will miss their Gold Glove center fielder, arguably the best in baseball. His defense is a big part of their game and a lengthy absence could hurt their chances of getting back into the AL East race.
4. Angel Pagan
Injury: Strained left hamstring
Timetable: TBD
Pagan already missed two weeks with a hamstring injury, but was sporting a .275/.338/.383 line this year. The first-place Giants are 9-1 over their last 10 contests, so the risk of disrupting a good thing looms large.
3. Alex Gordon
Injury: Broken scaphoid bone in right hand
Timetable: 3-4 weeks
Last year, Gordon got hurt and Ben Zobrist stepped right in. This year, they don't have that luxury. Though he was struggling, the Royals now have to patch together some kind of replacement in left as they chase the White Sox.
2. Lucas Duda
Injury: Stress fracture in lower back
Timetable: At least 4-6 weeks
Duda's back injury throws the Mets into flux. It's been suggested that David Wright move to first base, but if he does that, who covers third? Without a natural first baseman to cover for him in a long-term scenario, this loss could hurt the defending NL champions immensely.
1. Jordan Zimmermann
Injury: Strained groin
Timetable: TBD
Zimmermann was looking like the free-agent steal of the year until leaving Sunday's start early with a groin strain. He's not on the DL yet - that decision won't be made until the weekend - but the Tigers can't afford to lose him with their other starters struggling.