Assuming no setbacks, I think Javier, Arighetti, and Pena should be back within the next 2 weeks. There’s no telling with Yordan. That’s just going to depend on how he feels after taking at bats vs live pitching. Melton should be back soon as well.
Every player on rehab has to be back within 30 days unless they aggravate the injury, so we can expect Javier, Arrighetti, Garcia, France, Guillorme, and Melton back in the next few weeks. As a DH all Yordan needs is to be able to hit and he may not even need a rehab stint, so he could/should also be back in August. McCullers’ blister should be healed within 3 weeks and he will not need a rehab stint (assuming he is not just using the injury to escape the fact that his career is over). Pena took live BP yesterday which also points to an August return. Dubin and Walter are pitchers in limbo but both guys are questionable to return this season. Paredes, Dezenzo, Leon, and Meyers are position players in limbo and also questionable to return this season. Rodgers, Wesneski, and Blanco are all out for the season.
I have javier and Arrighetti back on August 5/6, Melton back during the nationals series and Pena back on the next road trip. Dezenzo, Paredes, Meyers, Dubin out doe the year. Yordan back but hobbled and ineffective sometime in August before shutting it down. I assume Walter if it was inning load management would have made another start or 2 and waited until Javier and Arrighetti came back so end of the year. Garcia 9/1.
Right now we obviously have two Aces, but that's really it for SPs Gusto 5.18 Gordon 4.53 and has given up 12 runs across 16 innings in his last three starts Alexander 5.25 in his two starts If Ulolla is who we think he is, he should be making his debut by the time we get through the next rotation of starts I know a lot of people look at our division lead and say we "should be just fine" But there is a HUGE advantage to not having to play that short series if you are a 1 or 2 seed
Arrighetti is up to 60 pitches, he will likely only need one more rehab start. Javier is up to 50 pitches so should only need 2 more starts. Giving the scrubs one (or even 2-3) more turns thru the rotation is no big deal. And all that ignores the potential of trading for a SP in the next 5 days.
If Javier is recovering from his last start fine and throws 60 or 70 or 70 pitches the next time out they should bring him up. 4 decent innings is better than we are getting 2 or 3 times through the rotation right now.
5 more days until the deadline. 1) How likely is it that Paredes returns with enough time left in the season for him to shake any rust off? If the answer is not "almost certain" then a 3B must be the priority. 1B) Can Dubon hold down 3B until Paredes does return? Are other positions like 2B and SS still as good without him able to play them? If the answer to both is "No" then it is still the priority. If its "yes" then moving it down the list can ge considered. 2) Are Arrighetti, Javier, and/or Garcia close enough to returning that "the law firm" can hold on? Are you confident they will be good right out of the gate? If the answer is "yes" then move on. If it is "No" then it must be addressed. 3) How likely is it Meyers returns with enough time left in the season to shake the rust off? If the answer is "most likely" then this can be moved down. If not see question 3B. 3B) Can Melton be as good in overall performance as Meyers? Is LF still as strong if he can't help there? If the answer is "yes" then this gets moved down. 4) is the current bullpen deep enough to prevent the leverage arms from getting fatigued heading into the postseason? Do you trust your 4th and 5th RP to pitch meaningful innings in the postseason? If the answer to these are "No" then get a nasty RH leverage RP - they are plentiful and reasonably cheap. Bonus question) Is the currently expected roster heading into the post season susceptible to good RH pitching? Projected postseason Tor: 3 RHSP, 1 LHSP Det: 1 LHSP, 3 RHSP NYY: 2 LHSP, 2 RHSP Sea: 4 RHSP Bos: 1 LHSP, 3 RHSP 3/4 of the starters are RH. The LHSP that this team will potentially face are nasty. That makes it even more important that they can be productive vs the RHSP that they do see. If the answer is "yes" then any batters they get must be very good vs RHP and preferably left handed for balance.
Javier's velocity is up, which is encouraging, but he is not getting whiffs. With Walter hurt this team suddenly needs him to be #3 or 4 starter in the postseason. These 2 issues (Walter's injury and Javier's questionable stuff) puts more pressure on Arrighetti to be very good and/or Brown to make a move.
Versus the 7 MLB bottomfeeders who can't even see .500, the Stros are 4-4 vs A's 3-3 vs CWS 2-1 vs Col 2-1 vs Pit I guess thankfully we haven't played the Braves, Nats or O's (yet)
Walter should be back in a couple of weeks. Add a bat like Lowe or Osuna's and get a healthy Yordan/Pens back and that's a lineup capable of winning a WS. The bullpen really misses a guy that can give them multiple quality innings like Dubin. Has anybody heard anything about Dubin? They haven't announced that he needs TJ yet,
