The Miami Marlins placed outfielder/first baseman Kyle Stowers on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, the team announced Tuesday.
It’s a tough break for Miami’s playoff push. Stowers grimaced rounding first base on a single during Sunday’s 12-3 win over the Angels and walked off with what the club initially called hamstring discomfort.
The Marlins recalled infielder Graham Pauley from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.
What makes this frustrating is that hamstring issues have already cost Stowers time this year. A right hamstring strain during spring training kept him sidelined until April 9.
Now he’s dealing with the left one.
Stowers has been one of Miami’s most consistent bats this season, hitting .242/.327/.462 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs through 94 games. His .788 OPS ranks among the team’s top offensive producers.
The former Baltimore prospect had his breakout campaign last year, posting a career-high 3.7 bWAR and earning his first All-Star selection after belting 25 homers with a .912 OPS.
That’s why this injury comes at such a bad time for the Marlins. They’re sitting 3.5 games behind in the Wild Card race as of Tuesday afternoon, fighting for that third and final playoff spot.
Losing one of their top bats when every game matters doesn’t help their their postseason chances. The way I see it, Miami needs all the offensive firepower it can get down the stretch.
