3 hours ago
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The best reliever available is expected to be Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, who’s a free agent after the year. The 100-mph-throwing Helsley is employing a curve more.
As for lefty relievers, the trade supply is almost nil. The Mets’ signing of Brooks Raley is especially prescient with Danny Young and excellent A.J. Minter officially out for the year.
The pitching injuries are getting crazy but aren’t evenly divided. The Cardinals, who sometimes employ a six-man rotation to combat baseball’s bad pitching injury history in March and April (old friend Steven Matz is the swing man), have only one pitcher on the IL. Meantime, the Orioles have nine (and quality ones; Zach Eflin could be back this weekend), and the Dodgers had as many as 12.
The Yankees may have a great one in George Lombard Jr. He could be the future third baseman, but at 19, it’s probably not this year. …
English (US)