Astros' Bennett Sousa: Won't throw for multiple weeks
Rotowire
Sousa has been diagnosed with a "low-grade elbow flexor/pronator strain" and will not throw for at least two weeks, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Sousa landed on the injured list Friday and underwent an MRI, the results of which revealed the flexor/pronator strain. The southpaw will be evaluated in early September, and he's expected to be sidelined from any throwing for a minimum of two weeks. This is a big blow to Houston's bullpen, as Sousa has excelled with a 2.84 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 59:15 K:BB over 50.2 innings while notching four saves and eight holds across 44 appearances.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Down with elbow inflammation
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The Astros placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It's not clear when Sousa's elbow began barking, but his last appearance came Tuesday in Detroit. He'll be eligible to return Sept. 4, but it's possible he'll need more time, given the nature of the injury. It's a blow to the Astros' bullpen, as Sousa holds a 2.84 ERA and 59:15 K:BB over 50.2 innings this season.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Earns fourth save
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Sousa picked up the save in Monday's 7-6 win over the Red Sox. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out the lone batter he faced.
Sousa needed just four pitches to secure his fourth save of the season Monday, taking over for Enyel De Los Santos with one out left in the ninth inning and striking out Roman Anthony to end the game. The left-handed reliever isn't expected to handle closing duties on a regular basis but stepped in with Josh Hader temporarily unavailable due to left shoulder discomfort.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Nabs third save Wednesday
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Sousa secured the save in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Closer Josh Hader was presumably unavailable after notching the save in Tuesday's victory over Colorado, opening up a rare save opportunity for Sousa. Through 32.1 frames, Sousa has emerged as a weapon out of Houston's bullpen with a 1.95 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 40:7 K:BB. The southpaw has also converted each of his three save chances to go with two holds this year, but he should continue to serve primarily as a middle reliever and setup man going forward.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Returning to big leagues
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The Astros recalled Sousa from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.
Sousa won't be available for Tuesday's game against Seattle, but he's in line to join Houston's bullpen to replace Rafael Montero, who was traded to Atlanta. Sousa missed all of last season due to thoracic outlet surgery but has looked good in four Triple-A outings this season, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out five batters across five shutout frames.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Astros optioned Sousa to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The left-handed reliever missed all of the 2024 campaign following thoracic outlet surgery. While Sousa was healthy this spring, he had a shaky Grapefruit League showing, allowing seven runs on 13 hits and three walks over 7.2 innings.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Healthy for spring training
Rotowire
Sousa (shoulder) confirmed Sunday that he's fully healthy and has completed his recovery from the season-ending thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent in April, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
After a strong finish to the 2023 season, Sousa was poised to win a spot in Houston's Opening Day bullpen coming out of last spring training, but he developed shoulder inflammation late in camp and was placed on the injured list. He was then recommended for thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, after Sousa said that he had been dealing with symptoms of the syndrome for years. Though he experienced a complication during the procedure involving a buildup of fluid in his lung that required a hospital stay, Sousa's throwing program was relatively unaffected. He resumed playing catch in early July and stepped back on the mound for a bullpen session by September, so he's not expected to face any restrictions in camp. Sousa faces stiff competition for a spot in the Astros bullpen, however, and the fact that the lefty has a minor-league option remaining could hurt his chances of breaking camp with the big club.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Placed on injured list
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The Astros placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left shoulder inflammation, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
It's not clear when Sousa suffered the injury, but he'll be sidelined for at least the first couple weeks of the season. According to McTaggart, Sousa said his injury is considered nerve-related, and the issue is similar to one that he contended with last year. The left-handed reliever should be in the mix for a spot in the bullpen once he's healthy.
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Astros' Bennett Sousa: Claimed by Houston
Rotowire
Sousa was claimed off waivers by the Astros on Sunday and was subsequently optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land.
The left-hander was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Friday and will now join his fifth organization of the season. Sousa has appeared in just two big-league games this year and has a 4.91 ERA across 18.1 frames in the minors.
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Tigers' Bennett Sousa: Claimed by Detroit
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The Tigers claimed Sousa off waivers from the Brewers on Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Sousa will join his fourth different organization of the season. The 28-year-old has put up big strikeout totals during his time in the minors but has struggled during his big-league opportunities, posting a 9.00 ERA and 14:12 K:BB over 23 relief innings the last two seasons. Sousa will report to Triple-A Toledo.
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Brewers' Bennett Sousa: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Sousa (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Justin Wilson's return. Sousa is beginning a rehab assignment with the Brewers' Arizona Coast League affiliate Friday, so he could be ready for activation when first eligible in early August. He's been out since early June with left shoulder nerve irritation.
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Brewers' Bennett Sousa: Lands on IL
Rotowire
The Brewers placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list Friday with left shoulder nerve irritation.
Sousa made just his second appearance of the season Wednesday against Baltimore in the ninth inning and surrendered two runs on three hits and a walk. He will now be shelved for at least another two weeks, becoming the 10th Brewers pitcher currently on the IL. Tyson Miller was recalled from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.
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Brewers' Bennett Sousa: Brought up from minors
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The Brewers recalled Sousa from Triple-A Nashville on Sunday.
Milwaukee sent right-hander Jake Cousins to Nashville to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen for Sousa, who rejoins the big club for the first time since early May. Since being demoted to Nashville, Sousa has pitched to a 3.12 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 8.2 innings across eight appearances.
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Reds' Bennett Sousa: Dropped from 40-man roster
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Sousa was designated for assignment by the Reds on Wednesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Sousa was the 40-man roster casualty when the Reds selected the contract of fellow relief pitcher Kevin Herget. The left-hander appeared in 25 games with White Sox in 2022, struggling to a 8.41 ERA and 1.72 WHIP with 12 strikeouts over 20.1 innings.
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Reds' Bennett Sousa: Lands with Reds
Rotowire
The Reds claimed Sousa off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Sousa, designated for assignment Monday, posted a miserable 8.41 ERA in 20.1 innings with the White Sox last season. Those struggles suggest he'll need to show significant improvement in camp for a shot at Cincinnati's Opening Day roster.
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White Sox's Bennett Sousa: Sent to Triple-A
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The White Sox optioned Sousa to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
With holds in both of his last two appearances, Sousa appeared to be gaining traction in the late innings for Chicago, but he'll end up being swapped out of the bullpen for Joe Kelly (hamstring), who returns from a stint on the 15-day injured list. Through his 25 appearances with the White Sox this season, Sousa has largely been unreliable, as he's turned in an 8.41 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across 20.1 innings.
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White Sox's Bennett Sousa: Secures first MLB save
Rotowire
Sousa retired the lone batter he faced via a fly ball to record the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox.
Closer Liam Hendriks was unavailable Sunday after pitching the past two days, and Jose Ruiz was called upon for the save in his place. Ruiz allowed a leadoff double before retiring the next two batters, and Sousa then entered to face pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki, who was retired on four pitches. Sousa is receiving his first taste of the majors this year and has a 4.82 ERA through 12 outings, and he shouldn't be expected to see high-leverage opportunities with much frequency.
