MLB Notes

Mike Moustakas, third baseman for the Kansas City Royals
Mike Moustakas, third baseman for the Kansas City Royals

ROYALS

Moustakas on 15-day DL

photo

MLB Photos via Getty Images

Alex Gordon, left fielder for the Kansas City Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals placed third baseman Mike Moustakas on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Such injuries usually sideline a player for a long period. Moustakas said he will seek a second opinion on the injury.

"We're still talking with the doctor, get a second opinion, see where we're at," Moustakas said. "You can't rule anything out. I just want to go out there and be healthy and get prepared to play baseball again. That's where I'm at right now."

Moustakas and left fielder Alex Gordon collided Sunday while chasing a fly ball in Chicago. Gordon went on the disabled list Monday with a right wrist fracture.

"It's disappointing. It's just one of those things that happen in sports," Moustakas said. "You can't control everything. Me and Gordo [Alex Gordon] are going out trying to make a play and unfortunately we both got hurt. That's just part of sports."

Moustakas did not play in the next three games at Minnesota and was checked out by team physicians upon returning to Kansas City for a seven-game homestand beginning Thursday against the Chicago White Sox.

Moustakas, a 2015 All-Star, was hitting .240 with 7 home runs and 13 RBI in 27 games. It is Moustakas' second trip to the disabled list in May after missing three weeks with a broken left thumb.

"I've never been on the DL before. I've played through some injuries throughout my career," he said. "Most of them I've been able to get through, playing through pain, playing through discomfort.

"With my thumb, I felt like I was able to play through that, but at the end of the day I wasn't able to hold my bat, so it stopped me from playing."

MARLINS

Morris has herniated disk

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Miami Marlins lost yet another piece to their bullpen when they placed right-hander Bryan Morris on the disabled list with lumbar disk herniation.

Manager Don Mattingly was guarded in discussing the severity of the injury and how long he thought Morris might be out. But he indicated it likely won't be a quick recovery.

"It's a little more complicated than just give him a couple days' rest and he's going to be fine," Mattingly said. "I think, at this point, [Morris] is kind of mulling his options, what he wants to do, how he wants to attack this thing."

Mattingly would not say whether surgery was a possibility.

"He's been dealing with it for a while and it's just gotten worse," Mattingly said. "It's gotten to a point where he's like, basically, 'I can't keep doing this.' "

RANGERS

Odor suspension begins

Rougned Odor of the Texas Rangers will begin serving a seven-game suspension today after major league baseball announced its ruling Thursday.

The MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that the league decreased its suspension from eight games, which was initially announced after Odor punched the Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista on May 15. Odor appealed the decision and has continued to play since the fracas. The league heard the appeal Tuesday.

TWINS

Pitching coach suspended

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have suspended pitching coach Neil Allen indefinitely with pay, following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.

Minnesota made minor league pitching coordinator Eric Rasmussen the interim pitching coach. The team was off Thursday, traveling to Seattle for a series starting today.

The Twins issued a statement acknowledging awareness of the pending DWI charge, but did not comment further.

BRAVES

Olivera banned 82 games

Atlanta Braves outfielder Hector Olivera has been suspended through Aug. 1 without pay for violating Major League Baseball's joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

The suspension is retroactive to April 30 and covers 82 games. Olivera has agreed not to appeal the suspension, according to MLB and the players' association.

Olivera was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault and battery after an April 13 incident at the Braves' team hotel in Arlington, Va., in which an alleged female victim was left bruised and had to be treated at a local hospital.

He was placed on paid leave immediately after the arrest by MLB, and the suspension was announced Thursday after the conclusion of its investigation into the incident.

The team issued the following statement: "The Braves fully support Major League Baseball's decision regarding Hector Olivera. The Club will have no further comment on the matter at this time."

Sports on 05/27/2016

Upcoming Events