"The Yankees just got better"; "It's time for Ben Rice" - Fans find silver lining amid Anthony Rizzo's 4-6 week absence due to fractured arm
The New York Yankees face another injury setback as first baseman Anthony Rizzo will be sidelined due to a fractured arm. According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the first baseman is likely to miss at least four to six weeks of baseball action due to the injury.
Rizzo hasn't lived up to expectations this season, hitting only .223 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs. With him sidelined, DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera are expected to get some action playing first base.
Fans online had mixed reactions to the news, with some relieved that he was gone, while others felt bad for Rizzo. However, given the down year he is dealing with, most reactions were negative:
"Hate to say it but prolly the best thing to happen , dude has become a cancer to this lineup," a fan wrote.
"Might be the last time we see Rizzo in a Yankee uniform," another added.
"Yankees just got better," one fan wrote.
Many fans lobbied for Ben Rice, who is an up and coming first base prospect for the Yankees:
"Feel bad for my man Rizzo but it’s time for BEN RICE," one fan commented.
"CALL UP BEN RICE," another added.
"call up ben rice or spencer jones," another wrote.
What happened to Anthony Rizzo?
Anthony Rizzo exited the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday night after injuring his arm in the seventh inning.
With the bases loaded on first and second, Rizzo barreled for a ground ball to first base where Red Sox's pitcher Brennan Bernardino arrived to make the play. Hustling to first base, Rizzo collided with Bernardino, resulting in him falling on his right wrist and arm.
Immediately, trainers and coaching staff arrived to help him. Rizzo subsequently exited the ball game. For the remainder of the contest, Oswaldo Cabrera took up his spot in batting and first base. The Bronx Bombers lost 9-3 in the end to the Red Sox, losing the series 2-1 in the process.
Imaging and scans were done on Monday which revealed a fracture on Anthony Rizzo's right arm.
The Yankees have a day off before they lock horns against divisional rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, who are 1.5 games behind for the division lead.
The opening game of their three-game series takes place at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.