Melanated Mound Marauder Triston “Dr. Sticks” McKenzie is back from arm injury and throwing pellets again for the Cleveland Guardians. He fanned 10 over five shutout innings in his season debut for Cleveland who is chasing AL Central leader Minnesota by 3.5 games as of June 7. Rachel Hill has the low down on the melanated mound marauder.
The Cleveland Guardians were faced with a significant blow when right-handed pitcher and MLBbro Triston McKenzie had to start the season on the injured list due to a shoulder injury. We were excited to see this brother go out and be electrifying on the mound to start the season. Well, we have to patiently wait until we get to see McKenzie back there on the mound.
A shoulder injury is no joke, especially as a pitcher. So, Cleveland wants to be cautious and not rush anything. Last week, the Guardians did receive some good news regarding its talented young pitcher.
McKenzie had the opportunity to do some throwing, and even though it wasn’t much, it definitely is a step in the right direction. Guardians’ manager Terry Francona spoke about McKenzie and how he’s dealing with the injury.
“Trust in the medical people, but also pushing to get better. And that’s kind of a fine line—I think Triston’s really handled it well. He keeps pushing and pushing and pushing,” Francona told a local Cleveland news station.
“Today he went out and played catch today for the first time. It was only I think 40 feet and it was 20 throws, but he’s doing a really good job—and because of that, he’s going to give himself the best chance to come back the healthiest he can be and the most productive.”
The Guardians placed McKenzie on the 60-day injured list, meaning we won’t see him possibly until the end of May. MLBbro.com’s Charles Nyonga had the opportunity to speak with McKenzie about his injury and how the rehab process has been.
Last season, McKenzie set career-highs in wins (11), ERA (2.96), and strikeouts (190).
Triston McKenzie Will Play Key Factor In Guardians Playoff Push
This MLBbro was a bright spot in Cleveland’s rotation last season and was a big help in the team’s postseason run.
There’s no question that Cleveland misses his presence on the mound. The American League Central will most likely be a battle between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland. McKenzie has shown that he has what it takes to be that No. 1 guy and it’s evident that Cleveland sees a lot of potential in him.
The 25-year-old will have to ease his way back into his normal form, but when that does happen, opposing teams will be in for a rude awakening. Dr. Sticks was poised to make an impact at the start of the season for the Guardians, and there were talks of him potentially being in the running for the American League Cy Young award. It will be a wonderful sight to see once McKenzie is back on that mound and doing what he does best.
He brings a lot of energy and excitement to the game and the clubhouse needs him to provide that on and off the field. McKenzie has dealt with injuries throughout his career and that’s been a thorn in his side for sure. Hopefully he can get his health in order, so he won’t have to keep missing significant time and depriving the MLB world of his amazing talent.
Opening week has already presented hardship to one potential American League contender.
The Cleveland Guardians are looking to build on an inspirational 2022 season, one that was destined for a rebuild but ended in a nail-biting ALDS defeat against the New York Yankees. The club now prepares to open the season with a series against the young upstart Seattle Mariners without one of their top starters, MLBbro Triston McKenzie.
After a doctor found a muscle strain in his shoulder, the Guardians shut the MLBbro down for two weeks, with the possibility of missing eight weeks in total. The 25-year-old showed flashes of inconsistency and brilliance last year, as evidenced by his 11-11 record. He also posted a 2.96 ERA and started 30 games, his most durable season to date.
Triston McKenzie’s Cleveland Guardians Are Heating Up In The Summer
McKenzie, also known as ‘Dr. Sticks’, felt tightness and soreness in his arm before his last game and was pulled after an inning due to continuous pain. McKenzie was entrenched as the No. 2 starter for the Guardians and was poised to ascend the team after a breakout season in 2022. After last year’s postseason performance, the MLBbro gave Guardian’s fans extreme optimism. In Game 2 of the American League Wildcard Round last year, McKenzie pitched a dominant six innings, allowing only two hits, zero runs, and 8 Ks. This dynamic showing was followed by a game in which McKenzie didn’t have his best stuff but showed extreme guts, lasting five innings but surrendering four hits, including two home runs and four runs total.
Triston McKenzie Was Dominant In His MLB Playoff Debut As The Guardians Shutout The Rays
McKenzie has been no stranger to injury, as he missed the 2019 season due to injuries to his rotator cuff. While the worst expectation is that the MLBbro can miss up to two months, the Guardians are hopeful for a shorter potential stint on the IL. 2023 is a big year for the young pitcher; he and the city of Cleveland would hate to see it marred by injury. However, the Guardians should not rush his return, as a healthy McKenzie will be integral to the team’s success over the 2023 season if they look to return to their first World Series since 2016.
MLB just ain’t the same without Dr. Sticks. The MLBbro Family is wishing him a quick recovery!!
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