Over the last couple of days, there have been a lot of star players who have hit the disabled list and won’t be ready for Opening Day.
When you look at this list of players, they would be a good foundation for any All-Star team.
Here are the players who have recently landed, or will land, on the DL prior to Opening Day.
Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Kinsler hasn’t officially landed on the DL, but the plan is to put him there to start the season. Kinsler suffered a high ankle sprain on March 12 and hasn’t seen the field since.
Kinsler going on the DL shouldn’t surprise anyone, as he seemingly makes the trip once every year. Expect Kinsler to miss the first two to three weeks of the regular season.
Andres Blanco will take over for Kinsler at second while he is out.
Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
The Mets placed Beltran on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26. Beltran underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in January, and it was expected that he would need 12 weeks of recovery time.
Beltran expects to begin running drills in 10 days. Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews Jr. will fill in for Beltran while he is out.
Jose Reyes, New York Mets
The Mets placed Reyes on the 15-day DL, but he is eligible to return for the fifth game of the season (next Saturday) against the Washington Nationals.
Reyes is coming back from a thyroid condition in which his thyroid levels were raised. Reyes has been playing in minor league games but is not yet in game shape.
Alex Cora will take Reyes’ spot at shortstop.
Daniel Murphy, New York Mets
This is the third Met to make the list, by the way. I guess nothing has changed from last year.
Murphy will miss two to six weeks with a sprain in his right knee. Mike Jacobs will now be the Mets’ Opening Day first baseman. Yuck.
Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
The Astros placed Berkman on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 26. Berkman underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee in early March and has not yet fully healed.
Berkman attempted to take ground balls on Tuesday, and his knee swelled up. Geoff Blum will play first for the Astros until Berkman comes back.
I will say that is a downgrade for the Astros.
Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies
Blanton will start the year on the disabled list because of a left oblique strain. Blanton could possibly miss three to six weeks.
In his place, look for the Phillies to insert Kyle Kendrick into the starting rotation.
Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies
No surprise here. Lidge had surgery on his right elbow in November and wasn’t expected to be ready by mid-April.
Compounding things was that Lidge received a cortisone shot in his elbow on Tuesday. That is usually never a good sign.
Ryan Madson and perhaps Danys Baez will share the closer duties in Philadelphia until Lidge returns.
Huston Street, Colorado Rockies
Street, who has an injured shoulder, suffered a setback on Tuesday. He had to cut short his throwing program.
The Rockies will place Street on the DL prior to Opening Day and don’t expect him back until May. Franklin Morales will get the first shot at saves while Street and Rafael Betancourt are out.
Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks
It doesn’t look like Webb will be ready for Opening Day. Webb went for an MRI on his right shoulder on Wednesday and also received a cortisone shot. Again, never a good sign.
Expect the Diamondbacks to place Webb on the DL, and look for Webb to return to the Diamondbacks in May.
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