NL West Round-Up: Pagan Avoids Serious Injury, Cuddyer Set To Return

[new_royalslider id=”14″] With another week of play in the books, the San Francisco Giants remain atop the NL West standings and are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, received positive injury news.

Here’s a look at the news and rumors from around the division:

Arizona Diamondbacks

The big news for the Arizona Diamondbacks this week was the hiring of Tony La Russa as the team’s chief baseball officer. Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick stated the position gives La Russa authority “to do whatever he thinks he needs to do to make the organization better.”

As for reliever J.J. Putz who remains on the disabled list, he played catch recently and needs to be re-evaluated by the team. The right-hander is eligible to come off the DL Monday.

Colorado Rockies

Left fielder Carlos Gonzalez continues to be bothered by tendinitis in his left knee that has caused his batting average to fluctuate based on how well he’s feeling. Gonzalez admitted the status of his knee often changes from day to day and at times even in-game, saying he’ll feel healthy early then pain as the game wears on.

Gonzalez’s outfield partner Michael Cuddyer, who injured his hamstring on April 17, is expected to be reinstated from the DL Tuesday after playing in an extended Spring Training game on Friday.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers finished their homestand by taking two of three from the Miami Marlins then hit the road to face the Diamondbacks, where they lost two of three. Yasiel Puig extended his hitting streak to 16 games Saturday, but saw it come to an end Sunday with an 0-for-3 effort.

Juan Uribe returned to the lineup Friday and Hyun-Jin Ryu is on track to come off the DL Wednesday to face the New York Mets.

San Diego Padres

Carlos Quentin returned from the DL May 13 and is now hoping to being placed back on it after leaving Sunday’s game with a tweaked right groin. Before exiting the game, Quentin hit a two-run homer in the San Diego Padres’ win over the Rockies.

While Quentin may be able to avoid another stint on the DL, Andrew Cashner isn’t as fortunate. After revealing he had soreness in his right elbow, the Padres placed the starter on the DL and Cashner is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants split a four-game set with the Miami Marlins, but were relieved to find out Angel Pagan only has a sprained shoulder, an injury he suffered Saturday while attempting to make a diving catch. The Giants consider Pagan day-to-day and he’ll be re-evaluated Tuesday.

With a slow recovery from an ailing back, Marco Scutaro was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day on May 10. In an effort to expedite his recovery, Scutaro will undergo a procedure similar to a platelet-rich plasma injection on Monday.
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