Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus announced earlier today that the team has placed starting catcher James McCann on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 2 right ankle sprain. The timetable for his return is approximately 2-4 weeks.
McCann left yesterday’s game in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates after a collision at first base with John Jaso. Pirates’ second baseman Josh Harrison‘s off-target throw caused Jaso to stretch and interfere with McCann hustling down the baseline. McCann was sent for X-Rays after he was removed the game that all came back clean, however the MRI said otherwise.
According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, McCann was seen today in a walking boot and crutches.
McCann has started four out of the Tigers’ first five games, and coincidentally has also thrown out four out of five base runners so far this season. It has been a slow start for McCann who has a .133 batting average, and just two RBIs, but his presence will definitely be missed behind the plate.
In a corresponding move, the Tigers have called up eight-year veteran catcher Bobby Wilson to be the team’s new backup. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will slide into the starting catcher role for at least a few weeks. Saltalamacchia has not been a starting catcher since 2014 with the Miami Marlins and is simply a shell of his career years in 2012 and 2013 with the Boston Red Sox when he hit 16 and 25 home runs respectively.
Saltalamacchia is in the lineup today as the Tigers play their second game of a four-game set against Pittsburgh. With McCann’s injury, yesterday’s loss is much more than the 7-4 defeat they suffered.
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