RADIO
We are now amazingly entering mid-June. Warmer weather has already shown what it can do with both the offensive categories (more home runs and runs scored) and injuries as well. This is the time of year to reassess your fantasy team category by category and try to push all-in or try to make a big move to fix the deficiencies on your team. Knowing when injured players are coming back or how long they will be out is key to your success from now to the end of the season. Injuries continue to be an issue for many teams as well as your fantasy team. I will continue to highlight players on the IL with their hopeful return timeframe and the next man up.
A little about myself for new readers: My name is Reuven Guy and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management Physician Assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 16+ years and have a knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I have also been playing fantasy baseball during that same period, which has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you.
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Kris Bryant (1B/3B/OF, COL)- Back: Bryant was again placed on the IL with a back injury. He was on the IL earlier this month for the same issue. Rockies manager Bud Black said last week that Bryant has yet to resume swinging a bat, but that he has been cleared to play catch and take part in baserunning. Yonathan Daza looks to get a lot of playing time with Bryant out.
Eloy Jimenez (OF, CHW)- Hamstring: Jimenez is on the IL recovering from surgery to repair a torn hamstring. General manager Rick Hahn said this past week that Jimenez had his rehab assignment paused due to "normal leg soreness." Hahn then emphasized that Jimenez hasn't experienced a setback in his recovery but will get several days off before resuming his rehab assignment. The White Sox are still hopeful that Jimenez will be able to return to his rehab assignment early next week with a possible return to the majors by next weekend
Tim Anderson (SS, CHW)- Groin: Anderson is on the IL with a right groin strain. Manager Tony La Russa said this week that he hopes Anderson will be able to begin a rehab assignment next week. Anderson's initial timeline for return was around June 21. Leury Garcia and Danny Mendick should fill in for the White Sox until Anderson is able to return.
Wander Franco (SS, TB)- Quad: Franco was placed on the IL with a strained right quadriceps. The severity is not known. He has yet to begin baseball activities. Taylor Walls should continue to fill in at shortstop for the Rays with Franco out.
Jonathan India (2B, CIN)- Hamstring: India landed back on the IL with the same injury that landed him on the injured list earlier this year. India is began a rehab assignment this past week and could return by the end of next week.
James McCann (C, NYM)- Wrist: McCann was diagnosed with a fractured hamate in his left wrist and had subsequent surgery. He should be out for about two to three more weeks. Patrick Mazeika and Tomas Nido will fill in behind the plate with McCann out.
Brian Anderson (3B, MIA)- Back: Anderson was placed on the IL with a back injury. Anderson underwent an MRI this past week and met with a spine specialist. The severity of the injury is still not known. Jon Berti and Willians Astudillo should fill in for the Marlins.
Joey Wendle (3B, MIA)- Hamstring: Wendle was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to May 31. The severity is not yet known. He had a PRP injection for his hamstring and is no longer feeling sore. That being said, there is still no timetable for his return. Willians Astudillo could fill in at third base for the Marlins.
Kyle Lewis (OF, SEA)- Concussion: Lewis was placed on the concussion IL due to concussion-like symptoms. Lewis has begun working on his conditioning by ramping up his heart rate on a stationary bike, but remains without a timeline for his return. Abraham Toro could continue to fill in for him.
Mitch Haniger (OF, SEA)- Ankle- Haniger has been on the IL since April 30 with an ankle injury that had a 8-12 week recovery time frame. Haniger has begun some light baseball activities and hitting in the batting cage. He has not yet been cleared to resume running.
Pete Alonso (1B, NYM)- Finger- Alonso was hit in the hand with a pitch earlier this week by Yu Darvish. X-Rays and MRI did not show a fracture. Alonso said that he had the same injury last year and although he did not sit out right away, he was not himself for three weeks. Reading into this, it is still possible that Alonso ends up on the IL to rest his hand. Until that point, he is day-to-day. J.D. Davis has been filling in at first base for the Mets and they could call up Dominic Smith if needed. Update: Alonso was activated from the IL and played on Friday night.
Starling Marte(OF, NYM)- Quad- Marte injured his quad sliding into second base on a steal attempt. He had an MRI performed the same night and was not immediately placed on the IL. He remains day to day with an IL stint still a possibility. Khalil Lee was called up and Nick Plummer could see more time in the outfield for the Mets.
Royce Lewis (SS, MIN)- Knee: Lewis was placed on the IL with a bone bruise on the right knee. The severity is not yet known. Lewis has shown some healing but has yet to progress to baseball activities while recovers from a bone bruise of his right knee. Update: Lewis has been diagnosed with an ACL tear and is out for the yar.
Enrique Hernandez (OF, BOS)- Hip- Hernandez was placed on the IL with a right hip flexor strain. Severity is not known but Hernandez has apparently been playing through the injury for a bit. Jonathan Arauz was called up.
Carson Kelly (C, ARI)- Oblique- Kelly has been on the IL with an oblique injury. He has been doing a rehab assignment and could be activated as early as this weekend.
Hunter Dozier (1B/3B, KC)- Side- Dozier has missed the last few games with what manager Mike Matheny has called "something in his side." If he is unable to play this weekend, expect him to land on the IL. Carlos Santana has been filling in at first for the Royals.
Danny Jansen (C, TOR)- Finger- Jansen was placed on the IL with a fractured bone in his left hand near his pinky finger. Hand fractures usually take about four weeks to recover from, maybe longer because of his position, catcher. Alejandro Kirk will fill in and top prospect Gabriel Moreno was called up.
Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC)- Finger- Suzuki on the IL with a sprained left ring finger. He took batting practice this week and had a full workout as well. He is expected to be activated from the IL sometime this weekend.
Tyler Stephenson (C, CIN)- Finger- Stephenson was diagnosed with a fractured right thumb and has been placed on the IL. He is expected to miss four to six weeks. Aramis Garcia should get the bulk of playing time with Stephenson out.
Wil Myers (OF, SD)- Knee- Myers was placed on the IL with right knee inflammation. Myers is "leaning against" having surgery on his right knee in favor of a plan that includes rest and rehab. Recovery time from surgery would be about four to five weeks. Nomar Mazara has been filling in for him for the Padres.
Franmil Reyes (DH, CLE)- Hamstring- Reyes was placed on the IL with right hamstring tightness. The severity is not known. Reyes took batting practice this week but there is still no timeline for his return. The Guardians are set to meet with him and decide what to do over the weekend.
Jeimer Candelario (3B, DET)- Shoulder- Candelario was placed on IL with a left shoulder subluxation. He isn't expected to miss much more than the minimum 10 days on the IL. Harold Castro has been filling in for the Tigers.
LaMonte Wade Jr. (OF, SF)- Knee- Wade is on the IL with left knee inflammation. Wade resumed baseball activities last week and has completed a series of synthetic lubricant injections. This type of injection, usually hyaluronic acid injections, are reserved for patients who have arthritic changes in the knee. Wade is not scheduled to begin a rehab assignment. There is no timeline for his return yet.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Wrist- Rendon is on the IL with right wrist inflammation. Rendon recently began taking grounders but a timetable for his return remains uncertain. Matt Duffy continues to fill in for the Angels. Update: Rendon was activated off the IL and played on Friday night.
Taylor Ward (OF, LAA)- Hamstring- Ward was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. The severity is not yet known and the earliest he could come back is June 14. Jo Adell was called up.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jacob deGrom (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: deGrom was placed on the IL with a stress reaction in his right scapula. deGrom had another MRI which showed more healing and he is now ramping up baseball activities. He threw a 19 pitch bullpen session last week with limited issue. There has also been talk that the Mets are trying to get him to "dial down" the velocity he has been throwing at in order to avoid further injury.
Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL)- Ankle: Woodruff was placed on the IL with a high ankle sprain. He began throwing off a mound this week and is eligible to return this Sunday but may end up being able to return later this week.
Max Scherzer (SP, NYM)- Oblique: Scherzer is on the IL with a moderate to high-grade sprain and will miss 2-4 weeks. Scherzer has already begun throwing bullpen sessions. David Peterson will continue to fill in for him.
Jack Flaherty (SP, STL)- Shoulder: Flaherty has been on the IL since spring training rehabbing a shoulder injury. Flaherty is expected to make his second rehab start this weekend. Flaherty is on target to return to the Cardinals rotation toward the end of the month of June.
Lance Lynn (SP, CHW)- Knee: Lynn is on the IL following knee surgery. His rehab continues to go well and could return June 13, although the White Sox have not yet confirmed this date.
Aaron Civale (SP, CLE)- Glute: Civale was placed on the IL with left glute soreness. Civale began his rehab assignment (three innings) this past week but it is not clear how many rehab starts he will need. Konnor Pilkington has been filling in for the Guardians.
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)- Back: Kershaw is currently on the IL with back pain, SI joint inflammation. It is expected for Kershaw to return to the Dodgers rotation sometime this weekend.
Andrew Heaney (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Heaney was placed on IL with shoulder soreness. Heaney has made two rehab starts so far and will need one more prior to his activation from the IL, possibly next weekend.
Matt Manning (SP, DET)- Shoulder: Manning was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Matt Manning “came clean” and acknowledged soreness after Tuesday’s rehab start, A.J. Hinch said. He has bicep tendinitis and was again cleared to begin throwing again. There is no timeline for his return.
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, DET)- Side: Rodriguez has been placed on the IL with a left rib cage sprain. Rodriguez underwent tests on his ribs which did not reveal any stress reaction. Rodriguez began a rehab assignment this week. There is no clear timeline for his return as it is not known how many rehab appearances he will need.
Jake Odorizzi (SP, HOU)- Ankle: Odorizzi was placed on the IL with some strains and sprains to the ligaments of his right foot/ankle. He was able to throw a 57-pitch bullpen session last week but has not started running at full speed yet. There is no timeline for his return.
Hyun Jin Ryu (SP, TOR)- Forearm: Ryu was placed on the IL with forearm strain and elbow inflammation. He is expected to be sidelined multiple weeks, and he is scheduled to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion. He was taken out of a game this past week with forearm tightness and was placed on the IL. He went for an MRI and GM Ross Atkins said that some "chronic changes" were seen. Ross Stripling will take his spot in the Blue Jays rotation.
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Back: Lodolo was placed on the IL with a lower-back strain. Lodolo has been cleared to restart a throwing program. He will throw a live bullpen and pitch in a simulated game at the Reds' spring training complex which should then be followed by a rehab assignment. There is no timeline for his return at this time.
Sonny Gray (SP, MIN)- Pectoral: Gray was placed on the IL with a right pectoral strain, retroactive to May 30. Gray was expected to throw a bullpen session this past Friday and if all goes well he could be activated from the IL as early as the end of next week.
Steven Matz (SP, STL)- Shoulder- Matz has been on the IL with a sore shoulder. He was set to begin a rehab assignment and bullpen session but has suffered a setback. There is no timeline for his return. Packy Naughton has been filling in for the Cardinals.
Casey Mize (SP, DET)- Elbow- Mize is on the IL with an elbow injury and it was revealed that he will likely need Tommy John surgery, ending his season.
Bailey Ober (SP, MIN)- Groin- Ober was placed on the IL with a right groin injury. This is his second stint of missing time due to this injury. Severity is not known and there is no timeline for his return. Cole Sands took his rotation spot for the Twins.
Alex Cobb (SP, SF)- Neck- Cobb was placed on the IL with a neck strain. The severity is not yet known. Cobb will be eligible to return June 19. Sam Long was called up.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Lucas Sims (RP, CIN)- Back: Sims was placed on the IL today with low back spasms, retroactive to May 11. He was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his back. Sims has begun a throwing program but there is no timeline for his return. Art Warren and Tony Santillan are in the mix for the closer role for the Reds.
Aroldis Chapman (RP, NYY)- Achilles: Chapman was placed on the IL with left Achilles tendinitis. Chapman is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday and has been pain-free and has been playing catch since landing on the injured list with Achilles tendinitis on May 24. He may require a few bullpen sessions prior to being activated from the IL. Clay Holmes has assumed the closer role for the Yankees.
Andrew Kittredge (RP, TB)- Elbow- Kittredge was again placed on the IL after just coming off of it with an elbow injury. He will likely require surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow and is expected to miss at least a month. The Rays will continue to employ a closer by committee strategy. Update: Kittredge will undergo Tommy John surgery and is out for the year.
Anthony Bender (RP, MIA)- Back- Bender has been on the IL with a back injury. The severity is not known but has already begun playing catch. There is no timeline for his return. Dylan Floro, Anthony Bass, and Cole Sulser have been closing for the Marlins with Bender out.
Jorge Alcala (RP, MIN)- Forearm/Elbow- Alcala is on the IL with an elbow forearm injury. He was on a rehab assignment and has now been shut down/paused since he experienced increased tightness in his pitching elbow. The severity of the injury is not yet known.
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