Cubs reliever Colten Brewer punched a dugout wall after getting pulled in the third inning of Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels. His weekend only got worse from there.
The right-hander later learned he fractured his left hand. The club placed him on the 60-day injured list before Sunday’s series finale.
“My frustration got the best of me,” Brewer said, adding he had no intention of injuring himself.
He entered Saturday’s game in relief of Kyle Hendricks, who left with back tightness and the Cubs trailing 2-0, becoming the first of five Cubs relievers. Brewer gave up three runs – one earned – hit a batter and committed a throwing error in 2/3 inning in what eventually became a 7-0 loss.
“When those things happen, you know you screwed up,” Chicago Manager Craig Counsell said Sunday. “It’s not who he is, but it’s a mistake that he made.”
Brewer isn’t the only pitcher to punch his way onto the injured list this season. Texas Rangers reliever Brock Burke landed there after breaking his non-throwing hand while punching a wall earlier this season following a poor outing.
In 2022, Astros reliever Phil Maton broke his right pinkie when he punched a locker in frustration after Houston’s regular-season finale, causing him to miss the postseason.
Brewer has appeared in 16 games this season for the Cubs, posting a 5.66 ERA with no decisions. Chicago recalled righty Hunter Bigge from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Bigge is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA and six saves in 11 games with Iowa.
MARINERS: The MRI results on Seattle center fielder Julio Rodríguez came back clean on Sunday, one day after he left in the first inning of the Mariners game against Toronto because of right quad discomfort.
The young Mariners star shouldn’t be out for long, and could even appear as a pinch-hitter on Sunday if needed, though Manager Scott Servais would prefer to give Rodriguez the day off.
Servais hopes that with rest on Sunday and a day off on Monday, Rodríguez will be ready to go when Seattle opens a two-game series in San Diego on Tuesday.
GUARDIANS: Cleveland optioned left-hander Logan Allen to Triple-A Columbus, one day after he struck out a season-high nine in 4 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants.
The somewhat surprising move comes a week after the AL Central leaders sent Triston McKenzie down to the Clippers after he struggled in recent starts.
Allen is 8-4, but he has a 5.67 ERA in 18 starts. Manager Stephen Vogt said the club needs more consistency from Allen.
PIRATES: Pittsburgh placed starting pitcher Bailey Falter on the 15-day injured list with left triceps tendonitis.
The 27-year-old left-hander lasted two innings on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and leaving with the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning of a 5-2 loss to the New York Mets. Falter is 4-7 with a 4.08 ERA this season, his first full one in Pittsburgh after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 1, 2023.
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