Week 2 MLB Injury News and Fantasy Baseball Injury Updates - Byron Buxton, Taijuan Walker, Blake Snell, Luis Castillo, Teoscar Hernandez

Opening Day is now in our rear view mirror. Fantasy drafts are over and we now get to overreact with the players on our team. Injuries are up a little bit from last year at this time (one week into the season). I will continue to highlight players on the IL with their hopeful return timeframe and the next man up.

One thing to note for all the fantasy baseball injury news you may hear is what type of IL the players are being placed on. There is a still a COVID IL (a few players have already been placed on it). Vaccinated players with close contacts have no minimum stay. Non- vaccinated players still need to stay around seven to 10 days on the IL. The current MLB IL remains at 10 days. Starting May 2nd, the IL will be 10 days for hitters and 15 days for pitchers. One can learn a lot about the players current injury based on which IL they get put on. Teams will be placing injured players on the 60-day IL to create for themselves more roster flexibility as those players do not count against the active 40-man rosters. More importantly, if a player is hurt and is placed on the 15-day IL, the team then believes that the player will be back sooner than the 60 days, or the first to second week in June. When picking up and dropping players, keep that in mind.

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 15+ 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 time period, which has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball which I hope to share with you. Make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24x7 push notification alerts!

Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball

Byron Buxton (OF, MIN) - Knee: Buxton was forced to exit the game on Friday after sliding into second base on a double. On Saturday it was reported that there is no structural damage on Buxton's knee. He is expected to miss about a week of games, and he may be headed to the IL.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS, SD) - Wrist: Tatis is on the IL with a wrist fracture. He had surgery and is expected to be out for about three months. He is expected to start swinging a bat in about three weeks.

Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF, ATL) - Knee: Acuna is recovering from ACL repair from last year. GM Alex Anthopolous said that Acuna will likely be ready to make his season debut in late April as a DH before being able to start in the outfield in early May. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment as early as April 18.

Teoscar Hernandez (OF, TOR) - Oblique: Hernandez was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. Severity is not yet fully known. Bradley Zimmer or Cavan Biggio may benefit with more playing time for the Blue Jays.

Luis Urias (3B, MIL) - Quad: Urias injured his left quad running the bases earlier this spring and is on the IL. He is running but has not yet been cleared to start a rehab assignment.

Nick Ahmed (SS, ARI) - Shoulder: Ahmed is still battling some discomfort in his right shoulder and is on the IL. He is taking at-bats in extended spring training and could return sometime this week.

Evan Longoria (3B, SF) - Finger: Longoria was placed on the 10-day IL following surgery to repair a ligament in his right index finger in mid-March. He is participating in limited baseball activities and could come back as early as the end of April. Wilmer Flores will continue to fill in at 3B.

LaMonte Wade Jr. (1B, SF) - Leg: Wade was placed on the IL with inflammation and a bone bruise. He has been throwing and hitting off a tee and was supposed to begin a running progression this past week. Steven Duggar and Austin Slater continue to fill in for the Giants.

Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW) - Oblique: Moncada was placed on the IL with an oblique strain. White Sox GM Rick Hahn said that it has been diagnosed as Grade 1 oblique strain and is expected to keep him sidelined for another two weeks. Jake Burger or Leury Garcia should fill in.

Donovan Solano (2B, CIN) - Hamstring: Solano was placed on the IL with a sore left hamstring. Reds manager David Bell was optimistic that he will not be out too long and he could be activated this weekend.

Tommy La Stella (2B, SF) - Achilles: La Stella was placed on the IL. La Stella was delayed in spring training after he underwent Achilles surgery in October. He may still need a rehab assignment before he can come off the IL. Mauricio Dubon and Thairo Estrada continue see more playing time. 

Kyle Lewis (OF, SEA) - Knee: Lewis was placed on the IL as he continues to come back from knee surgery last year to repair a torn meniscus. He has been taking live BP and may still need to have a rehab assignment before the Mariners activate him. 

Alex Kirilloff (OF, MIN)- Wrist: Kirilloff was placed on the IL with a recurrence of the right wrist issues that sidelined him for much of last season. He underwent season-ending surgery on the wrist last summer. No word yet on the severity of the current issue. Trevor Larnach should more time with Kirilloff out.

Danny Jansen (C, TOR)- Oblique: Jansen was placed on the IL with an oblique strain. The Blue Jays are expecting to be without Danny Jansen for “several weeks,” per Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. Raimel Tapia and Santiago Espinal may benefit with more playing time as Alejandro Kirk obviously stands to receive bulk of the playing time at catcher.

AJ Pollock (OF, CHW)- Hamstring: Pollock was placed on the IL with a strained hamstring. Pollock has a chance to spend only 10 or 11 days on the IL; however, he is away from the team and not able to perform further testing as he is away from the team due to the birth of  his child. Saturday Update: Pollock is expected to begin a rehab assignment shortly.

Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Jacob deGrom (SP, NYM) - Shoulder: deGrom was officially placed on the IL with a stress reaction in his right scapula. He is expected to have a follow up MRI in about a week to see his injury progression. 

Lucas Giolito (SP, CHW) - Abdomen: Giolito was placed on the IL with a left abdominal strain. He said he feels significantly better than when he first suffered the injury. The White Sox will not shut him down from throwing with a minimum IL stay as their hope.

Chris Sale (SP, BOS) - Rib: Sale was placed on the 60-day IL as he is dealing with a stress fracture on the right side of his ribcage. Sale threw prior to this past Friday's game but there is still no set timetable for his return.

Luis Patino (SP, TB) - Oblique: Patino was placed on the 60-day IL with a left oblique strain. The best-case scenario for his return will now be in early June.

Luis Castillo (SP, CIN) - Shoulder: Castillo has been placed on the IL with shoulder soreness. He is expected to return some time at the end of April and probably with a pitch count to start. He recently began to throw live batting practices.

James Kaprielian (SP, OAK) - Shoulder: Kaprielian is going through his recovery from AC joint irritation/inflammation and was placed on the IL. He has begun a rehab assignment earlier this week. 

Taijuan Walker (SP, NYM) - Knee: Walker underwent a debridement procedure on his right knee January 14. He was placed on the IL, however, for right shoulder bursitis, based on MRI. Walker has played catch two days in a row with no issues. He hopes to have a rehab assignment scheduled for him some time next week.

Mike Clevinger (SP, SD) - Knee: Clevinger is on the IL due to a sore right knee. He began his rehab assignment this past week and may need a few starts to ramp up.

Wade Miley (SP, CHC) - Elbow: Miley was placed on the IL with elbow inflammation. Miley recently began playing light catch. There is still no timetable for his return.

Lance Lynn (SP, CWS)- Knee: Lynn had knee surgery on April 5th and is currently on the IL. He resumed playing catch off flat ground this week. He will have to build up and have a rehab assignment. He is still expected back end of May or beginning of June.

John Means (SP, BAL)- Forearm: Means left with last start with forearm tightness after four innings. He is scheduled to have an MRI to further evaluate his injury situation.

Jon Gray (SP, TEX)- Finger: Gray was placed on the IL with a blister on his throwing hand. This is not a serious issue and is expected to be activated this coming week and possibly be a two-start pitcher this week as well.

Blake Snell (SP, SD)- Groin: Snell was placed on the IL with left adductor tightness. Snell has said this injury is "way more minor" than the issue he dealt with in 2021, but he'll still be forced to miss at least one turn through the rotation. He is eligible to return as early as April 22nd. MacKenzie Gore is scheduled to take his spot in the rotation for now.

Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Lucas Sims (RP, CIN) - Elbow: Sims was placed on the IL to start the season. Sims acknowledged that he "had a couple of hiccups" with his elbow and back while gearing up for spring training and is not expected back until late April. He has begun a rehab assignment and is still on target to return end of April.

Jorge Alcala (RP, MIN)- Elbow: Alcala was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Severity is not yet known. He was a candidate to get saves for the Twins prior to his injury.

Dylan Floro (RP, MIA)- Shoulder: Floro has been on the IL with shoulder tendonitis. He threw a bullpen session prior to Thursday's game and appears to be fully recovered. He is now focused on building up his arm strength. When he gets activated from the IL, Floro should slot back into a high-leverage role and potentially even bump Anthony Bender from the closer spot.

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