MLB injury churn this week

Toronto and Detroit both made injury moves this week, with the Blue Jays shelving Addison Barger and the Tigers sending Zach McKinstry to the injured list while summoning Hao-Yu Lee. (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2) The Blue Jays placed Barger on the 10-day injured list on April 7 with a left ankle sprain after he hurt both ankles on one play in Chicago. Toronto manager John Schneider said Barger still looked uncomfortable walking around that day. (mlb.com) Detroit placed McKinstry on the 10-day injured list on April 17, retroactive to April 16, with left hip-abdominal inflammation after a hard slide at home and a collision at third base in Kansas City. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the club hoped it would be a short absence, but said more evaluation was still needed. (mlb.com) The Tigers used McKinstry’s roster spot on Hao-Yu Lee, their No. 6 prospect, who made his Major League debut at Fenway Park on April 17. Lee started at third base, batted eighth and went 0-for-3 in a 1-0, 10-inning loss to Boston. (mlb.com) (freep.com) In Seattle, Victor Robles is not close to an immediate return from the 10-day injured list. The Mariners’ official injury tracker said on April 14 that Robles had begun light baseball activity after his right pectoral strain, but had not resumed throwing. (mlb.com) That timeline matters for a Seattle club already carrying other pitching and depth injuries, including Carlos Vargas on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain and Bryce Miller on the 15-day injured list with left-side oblique inflammation. The Mariners said Miller could return to Seattle for an in-person consultation as early as the homestand that began April 17. (mlb.com) The Mets got a fresh scare with Jorge Polanco, who is now dealing with a right wrist issue on top of left Achilles bursitis. Manager Carlos Mendoza said before the April 17 game at Wrigley Field that Polanco’s wrist had not improved and MRI results were still pending. (mlb.com) New York had not yet placed Polanco on the injured list as of first pitch Friday, but Mendoza said the decision was getting close. Polanco had started the season hitting.179/.246/.286 in 14 games after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason. (mlb.com) The common thread is that clubs are making April roster decisions as if they are already in midsummer, swapping everyday players for depth pieces and prospects before the season is three weeks old. By Saturday, April 18, the injuries had already reshaped lineups in Toronto, Detroit, Seattle and New York. (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2) (mlb.com 3) (mlb.com 4)