Nationals manager Dave Martinez underwent a heart procedure Monday in Washington, and it was uncertain when he will be able to rejoin the team.
The news about Martinez came from general manager Mike Rizzo, who spoke to the media in St. Louis on Monday before the Nationals opened a key series against the Cardinals.
The team previously announced that Martinez, 54, did not join the club on its trip to St. Louis, opting to remain in the nation's capital for precautionary medical testing. He first left the club Sunday in the sixth inning of Washington's 7-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, and he was hospitalized due to chest pains.
Martinez wound up having a cardiac catheterization, and he will remain in Washington for additional testing, according to Rizzo. "This is something we have to take care of," Rizzo said, according to the Washington Post, adding that Martinez was "upbeat."
--Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo must wear a boot five to seven days to immobilize a moderate-lateral right ankle sprain and then be re-evaluated, the team said.
"I have every intention of doing everything I can, with the training staff, to be back on the field with the boys," Rizzo told reporters before the Cubs played a home game against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. "I think in a few days, really, will tell us a lot more."
X-rays didn't reveal a fracture, so surgery is not required. Rizzo, who also underwent an MRI, suffered the injury in the top of the third inning of Sunday's victory over the Pirates. His ankle turned while charging a bunt attempt by Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams. He fell to the ground after making the play, and was replaced at first base by Ian Happ.
--Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said he has accepted his season-ending injury and was ready to support his teammates in their fight for a posteason berth. Yelich suffered a fractured right kneecap when fouling off a pitch in the first inning at Miami on Sept. 10.
"It was the worst pain I ever felt in my life," said Yelich, speaking to reporters for the first time since the injury. "I couldn't breathe."
The reigning National League Most Valuable Player underwent X-rays at Marlins Park after leaving the field, and knew his kneecap was broken. "The timing of it is very unfortunate; it sucks," he said. "It seems to be one of those things that's not fair at the moment. Trust me, I had my pity party that night at the stadium. I felt terrible. I was down in the dumps. After leaving the stadium and getting going, it's all about being positive and trying to get back."
--David Ortiz said he feared the worst after being shot in the Dominican Republic in early June.
"I thought I wasn't going to be able to be who I am right now and go back to normal, you know? At some point, I started losing hope," the former Boston Red Sox slugger told MLB.com.
"(Doctors) discovered that this bullet gave me a bacteria that they had never seen before," Ortiz said. "They had this team, antibacteria team. They were really on me, hard, because they want to get this out of my body. The reality is that they did, but they fought with it. The reason why they went in the third time is because the bacteria had my intestine all kinked. It wasn't able to function."
--President Donald Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to record-setting reliever Mariano Rivera. The longtime New York Yankees closer received the nation's highest civilian honor two months after he entered the famed Cooperstown museum as the first unanimously elected Hall of Famer.
"He is the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of baseball, and more than that, he has lived the American dream and shines as an example of American greatness for all to see," Trump said.
Rivera, 49, earned a record 652 saves over 19 seasons with the Yankees (1995-2013). He made 13 All-Star teams and won five World Series championships in the Bronx.
--Field Level Media
