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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, April 16, retroactive to Saturday, April 13, with a lower back strain.
In a corresponding move, the Brewers called up utility man Owen Miller from Triple-A Nashville to fill the roster spot.
The outfielder was removed early from a game on April 12 against the Baltimore Orioles due to lower back discomfort, according to Chris Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Christian Yelich Latest Injury Update - April 30
Yelich (back) played catch from around 120 feet in the outfield on Monday. Given Yelich's history with back issues, dating back to last year, it's no surprise that the Brewers are taking things slow in his recovery from a lower-back strain that landed him on the injured list. It's good news that the 32-year-old left-hander is doing baseball activities, but it may still be a while before he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.
Your regularly scheduled Christian Yelich update: He is currently playing catch from about 120 feet in the outfield.
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) April 29, 2024
Despite the Brewers slow-playing Yelich's rehab, fantasy managers must keep him stashed in an IL spot in all leagues after he opened the season hitting .333/.422/.744 with a 1.166 OPS, five home runs, 11 RBI, two steals and seven runs in his first 39 at-bats. Until he's able to return, Blake Perkins should continue to benefit from more playing time in Milwaukee's outfield.
Christian Yelich Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball
Back issues have been common for the 32-year-old, but he has not faced any setbacks this time and should hopefully be cleared to return sometime next week.
Christian Yelich explains what he felt in his back this evening. He hopes that he caught it before it tightened up too much, but sounds like he’ll be out at least a couple days. pic.twitter.com/1hv9tVYSQo
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) April 13, 2024
As a result, 27-year-old Blake Perkins has stepped into a regular role in the Brewers lineup, showcasing his potential and taking full advantage of the opportunity. He is currently riding a strong .364/.432/.606 line with two home runs and has found his role in helping his team get off to a strong 12-6 record.
Perkins remains a solid play in DFS and could be used as a depth outfielder in NL-only formats while Yelich remains out.
Christian Yelich Fantasy Baseball Outlook
Christian Yelich was off to a scorching start, posting an incredible .333/.422/.744 line with five long balls and two swiped bags. According to Statcast, Yelich had a .672 xSLG and 16.1% barrel rate, which placed him in the top 97th and 93rd percentiles among qualified hitters.
Christian Yelich's first home run of 2024#OpeningDay #MLB #MLB2024 pic.twitter.com/AYj68pUVO2
— Big baseball (@BIG_baseball_YT) March 29, 2024
Yelich batted in the three-hole in every start he made, usually behind outfielders Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, or backstop William Contreras, which provided him prime RBI opportunities. He tallied 11 RBI in just 11 games suggesting he could be in for a big summer.
Fantasy managers hope that the 2018 National League MVP returns as early as Tuesday when the Brewers travel to the Steel City to take on their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates. For now, Yelich should remain stashed either in an IL spot or in your reserves.
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