Thor hits the DL

Noah Syndergaard is one of two reliable starters on the Mets’ roster, and they’re going to be without him for at least the next 10 days.

Syndergaard was placed on the disabled list Tuesday after being diagnosed with a strained ligament in his right index finger after a visit to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He was seen flexing the finger in the dugout during his last start Friday against the Brewers, in which he allowed three earned runs on six hits over six innings in a 4-3 loss. The Mets promptly sent him for an MRI when the finger issue worsened during his between-starts bullpen session on Monday.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters Tuesday that he’s optimistic Syndergaard will be able to return to the rotation as soon as he’s eligible -- or shortly thereafter -- but you can bet they won’t rush this process. Syndergaard was limited to seven starts in 2017 due to a torn right lat muscle.

To fill his spot, the Mets are pushing Jason Vargas up a day to work Wednesday’s game against the Braves. Vargas lasted just three innings in his last start Saturday against Milwaukee, yielding five runs on two walks and six hits, so he should be fine for an extended outing on short rest. But this obviously isn’t an ideal situation for anyone involved. Vargas, who signed a two-year, $16 million free agent contract with the Mets in mid-February, has registered a 10.62 ERA and 2.16 WHIP through his first 20 1/3 innings (five starts) this season.

Seth Lugo will work in Vargas’ place on Thursday night against the Cubs. He holds a sharp 2.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 34/9 K/BB ratio in 32 2/3 innings this season, but all of that has come in relief and he makes for a poor fantasy streaming option in what could be a short start against Chicago.

 

Mad Bum To Join Giants Next Week

In more uplifting starting pitcher news, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area reports that Giants ace Madison Bumgarner is scheduled to make his season debut next Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.

Bumgarner, who’s been on the disabled list all year with a fractured left pinkie finger, struck out eight of the 12 batters he faced Saturday in his first minor league rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento, ultimately finishing with 3 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings. He is scheduled to make one more minor league rehab start Thursday at High-A San Jose and then it should be go time.

The 28-year-old left-hander made only 17 starts last year because he strained his shoulder and bruised his ribs in a late-April dirt bike accident, but he still managed a cool 3.32 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 101/20 K/BB ratio in 111 innings, and his fastball velocity was actually better than what it was in 2016.

That shoulder injury had no long-term effects, and this pinkie fracture shouldn’t either. There’s really no reason he can’t be one of the top fantasy pitchers over the final four months of the 2018 season.

Andrew Suarez could be sent back down to the minors to open up a spot for Bumgarner in the Giants’ rotation. The 25-year-old has registered a 5.65 ERA over his first seven major league starts.

Or maybe the Giants will have to place Jeff Samardzija on the disabled list, thus clearing a spot. Samardzija left his start Tuesday night against the Rockies after just one inning due to shoulder tightness.

Astros Lose McCann To Knee Injury

Astros catcher Brian McCann was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with what, for now, is being called “right knee soreness.” He is scheduled to be examined by team doctors back in Houston on Wednesday, at which point there should be a more informative diagnosis.

McCann also spent time on the disabled list last August with a similar issue and there’s at least some worry among Astros management that this could be a serious injury.

"It's something that he's battled before and something that he's had to deal with, and as we talked to him after the game, we felt like we needed to send him back to Houston to get him evaluated further,” manager A.J. Hinch told beat writer Brian McTaggart of MLB.com on Tuesday. “We won't know the extent of any sort of issue until he gets to Houston."

This injury to McCann will mean a big uptick in playing time for Max Stassi, who doubled in Tuesday night’s loss to the Yankees and is slashing .294/.362/.518 with four home runs and 14 RBI over 30 games (22 starts) this season. He’s worth consideration in mixed fantasy leagues.

National League Quick Hits: X-rays taken Tuesday on A.J. Pollock's left thumb showed that his avulsion fracture is not yet fully healed … Bryce Harper belted his National League-leading 17th home run in Tuesday's win over the Orioles … Reds top prospect Nick Senzel (vertigo) returned to the lineup at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday after missing a little over three weeks … Kenta Maeda left his start Tuesday night against the Phillies with a right hip strain … Rhys Hoskins (mouth) was not in the Phillies' starting lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers … Carlos Martinez (lat) is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start Thursday with Double-A Springfield … Adam Eaton (ankle) did agility drills in the outfield at Camden Yards on Tuesday … Francisco Cervelli (illness) remained out of the Pirates' lineup on Tuesday … Dexter Fowler (knee) was out of the Cardinals' starting lineup again on Tuesday … Juan Soto reached base in all four of his plate appearances Tuesday in Baltimore … Mike Soroka (shoulder) is set to make a rehab start Friday with Low-A Rome … David Dahl (leg) was absent from the Rockies' starting lineup Tuesday against the Giants … Matt Carpenter belted a solo home run and reached base three times Tuesday against the Brewers … Daniel Murphy (knee) is scheduled to play at least two more minor league rehab games … Robbie Ray (oblique) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon at Chase Field … Steven Matz exited his start Tuesday night against the Braves with discomfort in his left middle finger and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday … Shelby Miller (elbow) struck out eight batters over five innings of one-run ball Tuesday in his rehab debut with High-A Visalia … Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Tyler Saladino (ankle) will be placed on the disabled list … Austin Meadows went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs … Wil Myers (oblique) did some light on-field drills Tuesday at Petco Park … Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said Tuesday that he will look at transitioning Homer Bailey to the bullpen … Anthony Swarzak (oblique) is scheduled to make two more minor league rehab appearances on Friday and Saturday … Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Tuesday that Ryan Madson (pectoral) will be activated off the disabled list Thursday.

American League Quick Hits: Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Tuesday that Adrian Beltre (hamstring) is getting "very close" to returning … Mookie Betts (side) is on track to return to the Red Sox lineup Thursday … Brett Gardner played hero ball in the Yankees' comeback win over the Astros Tuesday, hitting a solo home run and a game-tying, two-run shot in the ninth inning … Miguel Cabrera (hamstring) is expected to be activated off the disabled list within the next couple of days … Josh Donaldson (calf) was held out of the Blue Jays’ lineup Tuesday night against the Red Sox … Shohei Ohtani has been confirmed as the Angels' starter Wednesday in Detroit … Michael Brantley went 3-for-4 with a home run to extend his hitting streak to 18 games in Tuesday's win over the White Sox … Manny Machado launched a solo home run and added a single Tuesday versus the Nationals … Tigers placed starter Francisco Liriano on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain … Luis Valbuena went 3-for-5 with a pair of homers to lead the Angels over the Tigers on Tuesday … Zach Britton (Achilles) will make two rehab appearances with Triple-A Norfolk before being reevaluated … Joe Mauer said he hasn't had any concussion symptoms in 4-5 days … Matt Shoemaker had surgery on his right forearm Tuesday morning … Sandy Leon homered, doubled twice, and drove in three runs as the Red Sox topped the Blue Jays on Tuesday … Paul Blackburn (forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Stockton … Angels reliever Blake Wood will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow … Danny Valencia was excused from the Orioles on Tuesday after his wife went into labor … Tim Lincecum (blister) will remain on his minor league rehab assignment for the time being … Jayson Werth agreed to extend the date of the opt-out in his minor league contract with the Mariners after coming down with a minor hamstring tweak last week … Darren O'Day (elbow) could be cleared to resume throwing Wednesday … Randal Grichuk (knee) has moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo … Colby Rasmus (hip) could join Double-A Bowie this weekend for a minor league rehab assignment … Boog Powell (knee) took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since landing on the disabled list … Santiago Castilla (shoulder) could return from the disabled list when first eligible on June 5 … Chris Tillman (back) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday … Liam Hendriks (hip) has reported to Triple-A Nashville to begin a minor league rehab assignment … Ryan Buchter (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday … Red Sox signed first baseman Adam Lind to a minor league contract.