It was no surprise to hear Mets pitcher Matt Harvey was back on the disabled list Thursday with a shoulder injury, while Noah Syndergaard's return from a strained lat was pushed back until probably August.
This season has featured an unending series of injuries to top-of-the-rotation starters and back-end relievers, most of them pitching-related arm issues, though one of the more notorious ones _ Madison Bumgarner's shoulder strain and bruised ribs _ was due to a dirt bike accident.
The current list includes Astros ace Dallas Kuechel, who went 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA in his first 11 starts and figured to be the early leader in the AL Cy Young race. Kuechel went on the DL on June 8 with neck discomfort after an earlier DL stint with a pinched nerve in his neck.
It also includes the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks, who finished third in NL Cy Young voting last year and is out with hand discomfort.
Old standbys such as the Yankees' CC Sabathia (hamstring) and the Padres' Jered Weaver (hip inflammation) are back from the DL, while the White Sox's James Shields (strained lat) is scheduled to return Sunday in Toronto from the first DL stint of his career.
Even Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who was deemed healthy enough over the winter to sign a five-year, $86 million deal, has not been immune. Chapman is on rehab assignment after missing a month with rotator cuff inflammation.
Pitchers are bigger, stronger and throwing harder than ever, and last week's draft was full of early-round picks who can throw in the mid- to upper 90s.
According to fangraphs.com, 44 major league pitchers entered the weekend with at least 10 innings pitched and an average fastball of 96 mph or higher, led by Chapman (99.3), Cardinals reliever Trevor Rosenthal (99.1) and Syndergaard (98.7). All three have been on the DL this year, with Rosenthal starting the season with a strained lat.
Has the increase in average velocity led to an increase in arm issues and DL stints?
"No, I think it's a reaction to some of the offense you see," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "Part of it is all the training now is to push guys to throw harder. That's how you get college scholarships, that's how you get signed. For scouts and organizations and colleges, that's what people are more interested in.
"I do think velocity does contribute (to injuries), especially jumps, like when kids jump a lot, they're really at risk. It doesn't happen as much in the major leagues, but through the minor leagues, high school and college, you have to be really careful when a kid jumps a lot in velocity."
Remember that when you hear about the next pitching phenom with the 97-mph fastball.
Did he get there gradually, or was he pushed to the extremes by a coach or parent, knowing the quickest path to the majors is throwing as hard as you possibly can?
