Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Kendrick has cost himself a lot of money in the second half of the season. Now, his shoulder could cost him even more.
Kendrick has been scratched from tonight’s start against the Marlins due to a sore shoulder, something not very good for a pitcher who uses that shoulder to throw a baseball for a living. Kendrick, who is sporting a nifty 6.91 ERA in the second half, underwent an MRI on Tuesday, results are expected today.
Zach Miner has been tabbed to take his place. So yeah, you’re gonna get a Zach Miner start tonight, folks. If you have any laundry to do or something, tonight’s the night to do it.
Manager Ryne Sandberg said Kendrick has been pitching with a sore shoulder for the last few weeks, which may help explain why he has struggled with his location so much.
Or, it could just be Kyle Kendrick doing Kyle Kendrick things. That’s a possibility too.
Kendrick has already cost himself a contract extension with his lackluster second half. Still, he probably could expect a raise in his final year of arbitration to about $7-8 million next year, if healthy. However, a shoulder injury could derail even that.
It seems like even Kendrick’s own body doesn’t want him to get paid.
Sandberg said Kendrick told the team about the injury weeks ago but felt well enough to pitch through it. Sandberg also called Kendrick’s scratch tonight as “precautionary.”
Hey, when Zach Miner is your alternative, I guess 60% of Kendrick is still better.
One thing Kyle has always been is durable, having never been placed on the disabled list in his career. And, it’s still unclear if that will happen now. Still, as the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Matt Gelb notes, Kendrick has been a bit “off” with his stuff of late.
"Sandberg described Kendrick’s sinker — his most important pitch — as “flat” after his last start. Kendrick made three starts in September with an average fastball velocity at 89.3 m.p.h., according to PITCHf/x data. His sinker traveled an average 90.5 m.p.h. from April to August.Was the shoulder injury a factor? “It’s hard to tell,” Sandberg said. “That’s a possibility. It could have had something to do with it. His velocity was still good. He was still able to throw a number of pitches and still pitch with it. It wasn’t a thing that was a concern the last few weeks. At this stage of the season, the organization just felt for his peace of mind to be checked out.”"
If you read me on a regular basis, you know I think the Phillies should find an upgrade from Kendrick this off-season, even if it means spending a little bit more money.
Needless to say, I’d like to re-state my objections to re-signing him now.