Rays lose key power hitter to kneecap fracture

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe has been identified with a proper kneecap fracture, supervisor Kevin Money instructed reporters (together with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). He suffered the damage in Thursday’s win over the Los Angeles Angels when he was hit by a Griffin Canning pitch.

It’s one other powerful growth for Lowe, who’s sadly no stranger to late-season accidents. He missed many of the second half in 2019 with a bone bruise in his proper leg, though he was in a position to return for the playoffs. Lowe missed final 12 months’s postseason with a recurring again challenge. There’s now a very good probability he’ll miss the playoffs once more, with the estimated return timetable solely leaving the potential of a comeback late in a deep run.

Lowe is among the sport’s higher offensive second basemen. The left-handed hitter has linked on 21 homers in 436 plate appearances, rating eighth on the place. He’s strolling at a robust 11.5 p.c clip and owns a .231/.328/.443 line total. Regardless of a reasonably excessive strikeout fee and middling batting common, he’s an above-average hitter. That’s significantly true towards right-handed pitching, whom Lowe has hit at a .241/.335/.478 clip.

Tampa Bay has been dwelling with subsequent to nothing offensively out of the shortstop place currently. The group led by Taylor Partitions is hitting .188/.282/.304 this month. They’ll now additionally should patch issues collectively on the keystone. Isaac Paredes moved over there tonight towards the Blue Jays with Curtis Mead stepping in at third base. The Rays have rookie Osleivis Basabe in a utility position, whereas they simply promoted prime prospect Junior Caminero (who didn’t get into the sport tonight).

Lowe’s damage occurred yesterday, however the Rays had a pair of exits from tonight’s contest. Randy Arozarena is day-to-day after leaving with proper quad tightness. They might be in line for an additional prolonged absence from reliever Jason Adam, who got here out within the ninth inning after feeling facet tightness.

Adam simply returned after lacking three weeks with a left indirect pressure. He told Topkin that whereas this discomfort is in a unique space of the indirect, it’s extra painful than the prior pressure. He’s possible headed again to the 15-day injured record. The 32-year-old righty has had one other sturdy season out of Money’s bullpen, pitching to a 2.67 ERA with a 31.5 p.c strikeout fee in 54 frames.

Tampa Bay is 2 video games again of the Baltimore Orioles within the AL East, pending the results of Baltimore’s sport in Cleveland. The Rays have seven video games left on the regular-season schedule. They’ll host the Toronto Blue Jays for 2 extra, play a two-game set in Boston on Tuesday and Wednesday, then wrap up the 12 months with three towards the Jays on the Rogers Centre.