RADIO
The "Field of Dreams" game has now been played and teams are really in the heat of their pennant races now. Players continue to vie for playing time-based on merit and injury. This time of year, many injuries may be muscular in nature due to cramping and dehydration. Teams have to manage these types of injuries carefully as they do not want them to end up being long-term issues. This is very much like how fantasy teams are being managed at this time as well as we watch for increase/decrease in playing time for given players. One way of doing this is to watch the teams' schedules and realize when there are built-in days off, having only five or six game weeks. Also, 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.
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
Mike Trout (OF, LAA)- Ribs: Trout is currently on the IL with a rib injury. He is dealing with costovertebral dysfunction. It is somewhat related to the right ribcage inflammation. He received a cortisone shot. Trout began swinging off of a tee and manager Phil Nevin said that Trout “felt really good” afterward.
UPDATE 8/15: Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (back, ribs) took live batting practice on Monday, which means he hit against an actual pitcher throwing at game speed. It's the last step necessary before playing in games, but it's unknown if he'll actually go on a minor league rehab assignment. Whether Trout plays in minor league games first will be up to him, according to skipper Phil Nevin. The 31-year-old is getting very close to rejoining the Halos lineup, which should have fantasy managers ecstatic.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS, SD)- Wrist: Tatis is on the IL following pre-season wrist surgery for a fracture. Tatis was suspended for 80 games due to PED usage and will miss the rest of the season and part of next year.
Enrique Hernandez (OF, BOS)- Hip: Hernandez is on the IL with a right hip strain. Hernandez has begun a rehab assignment recently and will probably need to show he is healthy after playing in back-to-back rehab games prior to his activation from the IL. Manager Alex Cora that he should be back next week.
Juan Yepez (OF, STL)- Forearm: Yepez was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. It has been diagnosed as a Grade 2 strain. Barring any setbacks, Yepez could return to the Cardinals next week as he is currently on a rehab assignment.
Wander Franco (SS, TB)- Wrist: Franco is on the IL as just under a month ago he had surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist. Franco could be ready to resume taking live batting practice as soon as this weekend and a video was posted of him rehabbing. Franco was expected to be sidelined for five to eight weeks, which means he could return by the end of August.
Bryce Harper (OF, PHI)- Thumb: Harper is on the IL following left thumb surgery. Harper had his pins removed from his surgically repaired left thumb. Harper has not regained as much flexibility in his surgically repaired left thumb as anticipated and is not yet ready to face pitchers. Harper's recent medical updates to the media were relatively positive, but over the past few days, he seemingly has not responded as well to his workouts as the Phillies would have hoped for. Harper will also have his throwing program cut back due to "some stiffness" in his right elbow.
UPDATE 8/15: Bryce Harper (elbow, thumb) cleared a major hurdle in his injury recovery on Monday. He took a total of 60 swings while facing live pitching and a pitching machine. It was the first time he'd taken batting practice since he underwent thumb surgery. According to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harper is expected to go through the same batting practice session on Wednesday. After that, he could begin a rehab assignment next week.
Austin Meadows (OF, DET)- Achilles: Meadows is on the IL due to bilateral Achilles tendon strains. Meadows has begun a rehab assignment and even had a walk-off hit in one of the games. Barring any more setbacks, Meadows could return to the Tigers by the end of next week.
Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL)- Foot: Albies has been on the IL since having surgery for a fractured left foot. Albies has begun to do light baseball activities, including playing catch. Following the ramp-up of activities, he will have a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL towards the end of August, barring any setbacks.
Trevor Story (SS, BOS)- Hand:- Story was placed on the IL with a bruised right hand. Story was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his wrist. He has recently begun swinging a bat but is still a ways away from returning to the Red Sox lineup.
Orlando Arcia (2B, ATL)- Hamstring: Arcia was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. The injury occurred while he was running to second base on a hit. The severity is not yet known, Vaughn Grissom was called up and should see playing time until Ozzie Albies comes back.
Harold Ramirez (OF, TB)- Thumb: Ramirez is on the IL with a fractured left thumb at the end of July. Ramirez could be cleared to take live batting practice as soon as this weekend.
Matt Carpenter (2B, NYY)- Foot: Carpenter was placed on the IL after he fractured his left foot after fouling a ball off of it. A timeline of four to six weeks was given for his return. Miguel Andujar was called up to take his roster spot.
Mike Moustakas (3B, CIN)- Calf: Moustakas was placed on the IL with a left calf strain. The severity of the injury is not yet known. Donovan Solano could see extended time at third for the Reds with Moustakas out.
Tim Anderson (SS, CHW)- Finger: Anderson was placed on the IL with a sagittal band tear in his left middle finger. The injury occurred on a swing. He was scheduled for surgery and is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. Leury Garcia and Lenyn Sosa should fill in for the White Sox.
Giancarlo Stanton (OF, NYY)- Achilles: Stanton is currently on the IL with an Achilles strain. He has recently resumed baseball activities, but the timeline for his return remains undetermined.
UPDATE 8/15: Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles) went through a full workout on Monday before the team's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He's been out since July 24 with soreness in his left Achilles tendon, and he's missed the last 20 games. Stanton will repeat the pre-game workout for the next couple of days, after which he could embark on a minor league rehab assignment. The 32-year-old slugger is hoping to play in just a few rehab games before he's cleared to rejoin the Yankees lineup.
Mickey Moniak (OF, LAA)- Finger: Moniak fractured his left middle finger this past week. Recovery from typical finger fractures could range from three to five weeks. Magneuris Sierra could fill in as Mike Trout is still rehabbing as well.
Michael Brantley (OF, HOU)- Shoulder: Brantley has been on the IL since mid-July. Brantley had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder to repair a torn labrum, ending his season and possibly his tenure with the Astros. Trey Mancini, Aledmys Diaz, Chas McCormick, and Mauricio Dubon have been filling in for Brantley.
George Springer (OF, TOR)- Elbow: Springer is currently on the IL with an elbow injury. He received an anti-inflammatory injection (steroid injection) and the Blue Jays are hoping he could return when first eligible, August 15.
UPDATE 8/15: The Toronto Blue Jays activated outfielder George Springer (elbow) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and designated outfielder Bradley Zimmer for assignment in a corresponding move. Springer will be active for Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Harrison Bader (OF, NYY)- Foot: Bader is on the IL with plantar fasciitis of the right foot. He is still in a walking boot. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said this week that Bader is unlikely to make his return from the IL until September.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Foot: Bryant was placed on the IL with left plantar fasciitis. The severity is not yet known. He is currently in a walking boot and has no timeline for his return.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)- Back: Kershaw is on the IL with a low back issue. He said “something locked up” during warmups before the fifth inning. The severity is not yet known. Kershaw had an epidural injection performed this week in the hope that he could return to pitching soon. He has recently resumed throwing a baseball at “really light intensity.” Kershaw was diagnosed with a disc herniation in 2016 and was on the IL in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020 for back issues.
Michael Pineda (SP, DET)- Arm: Pineda was placed on the IL with a right triceps strain. Pineda is expected to begin a rehab assignment in the coming days.
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Concussion: Fried was placed on the seven-day concussion IL and must go through the concussion protocol now. Fried banged his head against the ground while attempting to make a throw to the plate during his last outing against the Mets. He will be eligible to return as early as Monday but that is not a sure thing.
Spencer Howard (SP, TEX)- Shoulder: Howard was placed on the IL with right shoulder impingement syndrome. The severity is not yet known. The earliest he could be activated off of the IL is August 23rd. John King was called up to take his roster spot.
Michael Lorenzen (SP, LAA)- Shoulder: Lorenzen is on the IL with a shoulder strain. He was transferred to the 60-day IL and will not be able to be activated until September.
MacKenzie Gore (SP, WAS)- Elbow: Gore was placed on the IL with a sore left elbow. He will continue to treat his injury with rest and rehab. The Nationals have said that they will take it slowly with him as there is no rush for him to return. Gore is expected to begin a throwing program this weekend.
Chris Sale (SP, BOS)- Wrist: Sale was recovering from a fractured left pinkie finger and now fractured his right wrist. He suffered the injury in a bicycle accident while he was rehabbing from his finger injury. Surgery was required and he is done for the year.
Jack Flaherty (SP, STL)- Shoulder: Flaherty is on the IL as he continues to rehab from a shoulder injury. He was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this past week. Assuming Flaherty avoids any further setbacks, Flaherty could be activated from the IL in late August or early September.
Tyler Glasnow (SP, TB)- Elbow: Glasnow has not pitched this year since having Tommy John surgery last year. The Rays have not ruled out Glasnow returning this year. "The chance is not zero," pitching coach Kyle Snyder said Saturday. "Let's say that much. It's pretty remarkable just to see where he is." He has been throwing bullpen sessions for more than a month with velocity around 98-99 mph. He is expected to face live hitters in two weeks.
Trevor Rogers (SP, MIA)- Back- Rogers is on the IL with lower back spasms. Rogers has thrown a rehab start and could be activated as early as this week.
Adrian Houser (SP, MIL)- Elbow: Houser is currently on the IL with a right flexor strain. He has had two rehab starts so far and will need a few more before being activated from the IL.
Tarik Skubal (SP, DET)- Arm: Skubal was placed on the IL with left arm fatigue. Inflammation was noted in Skubal’s forearm as he left the game, according to reports. Skubal has begun a throwing program but there is no timeline for his return yet. He was then placed on the 60-day IL which almost completely rules out a return to action this year.
Paul Blackburn (SP, OAK)- Finger: Blackburn was placed on the IL with an inflamed right middle finger. The severity is not yet known. JP Sears was called up.
Hunter Greene (SP, CIN)- Shoulder: Greene is on the IL with a shoulder strain. The full extent of the injury remains unclear after one MRI and will have further testing. The Reds do not expect him to require surgery.
Ross Stripling (SP, TOR)- Glute: Stripling was placed on the IL with a right glute/hip strain. Stripling has made one rehab start and could return to the Blue Jays rotation as early as the end of this week.
Michael Wacha (SP, BOS)- Shoulder: Wacha was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Wacha has been pitching in rehab assignment games and could return to the Red Sox rotation as early as this week.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Brusdar Graterol (RP, LAD)- Shoulder: Graterol was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Graterol is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend with possible activation from the IL next week.
David Bednar (RP, PIT)- Back: Bednar was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. Bednar has begun doing lumbar/spine exercises and is hoping to start throwing in about a week. Wil Crowe looks to be the primary option for the Pirates to close until Bednar can return.
Taylor Rogers (RP, MIL)- Knee: Rogers had a cortisone injection for his sore left knee last weekend and was unavailable for Tuesday's game. The severity of his injury is not yet known or whether an IL stint is in his future. In the meantime, look for Devin Williams and Matt Bush to see more high-pressure situations for the Brewers.
Tanner Houck (RP, BOS)- Back: Houck was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. The severity is not yet known. Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber are now in line to close for the Red Sox until Houck returns.
Blake Treinen (RP, LAD)- Shoulder: Treinen has been out with a shoulder injury since mid-April. He is now scheduled to start a rehab assignment this weekend.
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