Too bad for the Yankees that Aroldis Chapman pitches last, rather than bats first.
The Yankees are less than three weeks away from adding the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings at 15.4 (minimum 300 appearances) to a group that is averaging 12.8 per nine – which is well ahead of the bullpen record of 10.3 set in 2014 by the Yankees.
Making a strength stronger is nice. But fixing a weakness is better. The Yankees are 19th in runs with 51, and nearly one-third (16) came in a single victory over the Astros. The Yankees had scored two or fewer runs in six of their first 12 games. In the American League, only the Twins (7) had done so more often, and they had played two more games.
So while Chapman’s return from suspension will be a bonus, he does not address the Yankees’ greatest need. But there are teams returning players from the disabled list who do address shortcomings. Here are five that – barring setback – are close to helping solve problems:
1. Red Sox
Joe Kelly left his Tuesday start and was to be placed on the DL with a right shoulder impingement. That elevates the importance of Eduardo Rodriguez, the lefty who is slated to throw a 75-pitch simulated game Saturday as he tries to return from a right knee injury.
The Red Sox received Rodriguez from the Orioles for Andrew Miller at the 2014 trade deadline. He had an outstanding rookie season in 2015, finishing particularly strong (4-1, 2.08 ERA in his last seven starts). Boston envisioned the lefty being a beneficiary of working with southpaw ace David Price and perhaps growing into a worthy No. 2 starter.
The $217 million investment in Price gave Boston a No. 1 starter, but they still have lots of health/performance questions behind him. Before they use their strong prospect base in July to potentially trade for a big-time starter, the Red Sox will want to find out about Rodriguez.
Carson Smith (strained flexor tendon) also is due to pitch in that extended spring game Saturday. The Red Sox actually used a starter, Wade Miley, to obtain Smith from Seattle. The righty was among the majors’ best relievers last year (.539 OPS against/11.8 strikeouts per nine innings). Smith’s return will help because Koji Uehara, 41, has struggled as the setup man to new closer Craig Kimbrel.
2. Indians
The Indians have some commonality to the 2015 Mets in that they have a power rotation, but questions abound over whether they can get enough offense to support it. Rajai Davis and Jose Ramirez have done a nice job filling in for Michael Brantley (shoulder), but Brantley quietly has amassed more extra-base hits the past two years (127) than Miguel Cabrera.
Indians outfielders have just seven extra-base hits, the second fewest in the majors. On Wednesday, they are due to get back Lonnie Chisenhall (left wrist), who became a stronger contributor over the final two months last year when he was moved from third base to right field, where he had a .790 OPS. Brantley is on a rehab assignment and perhaps a week away from joining the Indians.
3. Rangers
The Texas rotation has pitched surprisingly well, but that does not remove the performance/injury concerns that exist behind Cole Hamels. When the Rangers obtained Hamels last July, it was to take a long-shot run at making the playoffs — they made it as the AL West champs — and to pair the lefty with Yu Darvish over the next several years as a dynamic 1-2. That is coming into view.
Darvish has looked so good coming back from Tommy John surgery that Texas has had to restrain him. But he begins a minor league rehab assignment next week with the goal of a mid-May return. That should begin a flow of starters returning from Tommy John surgery in the coming months, such as the Mets’ Zack Wheeler, the Rays’ Alex Cobb and the Dodgers’ Brandon McCarthy.
4. Pirates
First, it is just great how quickly Jung-ho Kang has healed that he began a rehab assignment on Monday. The knee injury he suffered last September when wiped out at second base by Chris Coghlan was so traumatic, there were concerns for his career.
Pittsburgh signed David Freese late in the offseason to provide third-base depth, and he has done well. But the Pirates have been best in recent years at having flexibility among their position players, and having Freese as depth behind Kang at third, a righty complement at first for John Jaso and a pinch-hit weapon makes them deeper. Remember, Kang finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year vote last season and he was peaking (.930 OPS) in the 60 games before the injury.
5. Astros
Houston’s rotation ERA is 4.97, central to the team’s shaky beginning to the season. Dallas Keuchel has not been as sharp as his Cy Young work last season, but the real problem is behind him with Collin McHugh, Scott Feldman, Mike Fiers and Doug Fister. None of those righties is overpowering, and the Astros traded the big arm of Vincent Velasquez to get reliever Ken Giles.
One reason the Astros felt they could deal Velasquez was Lance McCullers Jr. was so strong as a rookie (3.22 ERA in 22 starts, 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings). He has been out since mid-March with shoulder soreness and had to shut down briefly after his first rehab assignment with lingering problems. But he threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is due to throw another on Friday. Houston has the second-lowest strikeouts/per nine innings in the AL and could use his power arm.