Collateral Damage Daily for April 25

Apparently, I have the opposite of Midas touch. After praising the New York Mets and their ability to stay off the disabled list, two players were placed on it in a matter of hours. One broken rib and one bad (it sounds bad, at least) elbow later, the Mets were shuffling their rosters around faster than a Vegas blackjack dealer. Not to be outdone, a few other pitchers were also placed on the disabled list yesterday and another one was transferred to the 60-day DL. Apparently, it’s rough being a pitcher.

Additions

• Bill Bray was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin, something that has bothered him since spring training. This is his drive leg, so it has to contract forcefully while being stretched. This is one of the main mechanisms that muscles end up being strained, and it appears that Bray’s left groin just could not get any better during the regular season. By moving him to the disabled list, he will have the chance to get proper rest and move forward with rehab.
• Mike Pelfrey was officially placed on the disabled list with swelling in his right elbow but there is strong speculation that he has a partial tear to the UCL in his elbow and may need Tommy John surgery. Sandy Alderman sort of hinted as much on Tuesday when he said a ligament tear was not being ruled out. Pelfrey doesn’t have an extensive history of upper extremity injuries at the big-league level.
  
  He felt something grab in his elbow at the start of each inning, not exactly something the Mets medical staff wanted to hear after the game. There is some conflicting information about whether Pelfrey will visit Dr. James Andrews this week for a second opinion or if the test results will only be reviewed, but it does not sound promising. Robert Carson is taking Pelfrey’s roster spot in the short term, but Chris Schwinden will likely take over his spot in the rotation later in the week.
• Matt Guerrier will join his relieving brethren on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. He last pitched on April 18, so the move can be backdated to April 19. Guerrier doesn’t have any history with shoulder or elbow issues in the majors... well, except for the fact that manager Don Mattingly said that Guerrier has been pitching with elbow pain the entire season. This was evident in his last appearance when he walked three batters in less than an inning of work. His MRI yesterday revealed tendinopathy, which means he has an injured tendon. He was also going to get a PRP injection in hopes of accelerating the healing process. Michael Antonini was brought up as a short-term replacement until Todd Coffey is able to come off the disabled list.
• The Mets also had to place Jason Bay on the disabled list with a non-displaced fracture of a rib on the left side after landing awkwardly while diving for a ball Tuesday night. X-rays immediately after the game were negative, a common occurrence when dealing with rib injuries. A subsequent MRI revealed the injury, although a CT scan can provide the greatest detail. There is nothing Bay can do to heal faster other than potentially using a bone stimulator and rest. He is going to be restricted to light stationary biking until all the pain in the area has resolved; only then can he begin rehabilitation exercises. The best-case scenario is Bay missing only about three to four weeks, but it could be significantly longer. Zach Lutz was called up to take Bay’s spot on the team.