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The baseball season is only a week old and it seems like we have seen a lot already. Teams with five-plus-game winning streaks and losing streaks. Games being affected by weather. We even have had a no-hitter already thrown this year thanks to Ronel Blanco of the Astros.
What we have also seen is a rash of many muscle-related injuries already. It seems like every day another player has an oblique, hamstring, or quad injury. Knowing how long these injuries take to recover is key when getting ready for your weekly pickups. Who is worthwhile holding and who is worth the risk of dropping? I will continue to try to help you make an educated decision for these players and hopefully help you not fall behind.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning 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. Therefore, I have 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. This 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 24/7 push notification alerts!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Josh Jung (3B, TEX)- Wrist: Jung fractured his right wrist when he got hit by a pitch. He was expected to have a plate and screws inserted into his wrist. The timeline for his return is 8-10 weeks. Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith have been filling in at third for the Rangers.
#Rangers Josh Jung left the game injured. It is a right wrist injury.
Jung left in the middle of this at-bat after taking a pitch off his right wrist mid swing. pic.twitter.com/W89TeV0Nmj
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) April 2, 2024
Eloy Jimenez (DH, CHW)- Adductor: Jimenez has missed four games so far (at the time of this article being written) due to a left adductor strain. The White Sox are trying to avoid putting him on the IL but it is still a possibility. Gavin Sheets could get more playing time if Jimenez is placed on the IL.
Sean Murphy (C, ATL)- Oblique: Murphy was placed on the IL with a Grade 1 left oblique strain. This could keep him out for about four weeks. Travis d'Arnaud should get more playing time with Murphy out.
Tommy Edman (2B, STL)- Wrist: Edman had wrist surgery this past October and is on the IL currently. Edman got “good news” about his most recent MRI but has not been cleared for full baseball activity yet. There is no clear timeline for his return.
#STLCards CF Tommy Edman said he got “generally good news” from MRI scans he got on his surgically repaired right wrist on Wednesday.
Edman said his is still shut down from most baseball activities until another exam on the wrist takes place on Monday. Edman had surgery in Oct.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 4, 2024
Dylan Carlson (OF, STL)- Shoulder: Carlson has been diagnosed with a sprained acromioclavicular (AC) joint in his left shoulder and is on the IL. Just like Edman, Carlson has not yet been cleared for baseball activities and remains out without a timeline for return.
Vaughn Grissom (SS, BOS)- Groin: Grissom is on the IL with a groin strain. The Red Sox are hopeful that he could start a rehab assignment next week. This could put him on target to return to the Red Sox infield in mid-to-late April.
DJ LeMahieu (3B, NYY)- Foot: LeMahieu is on the IL with a right-foot bone bruise, which has now been upgraded to a non-displaced fracture. Non-displaced means that the bone is lined up well and will probably not require surgery. He will have follow-up exams in about two weeks. There is not timeline for his return. Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera should continue to fill in at third base for the Yankees
Royce Lewis (3B, MIN)- Leg: Lewis injured his leg while running the bases in the opener for the Twins. He received a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection in an effort to speed up the healing process. There is no timeline for his return. Willi Castro will continue to see more playing time at the hot corner for the Twins if Lewis is out for a while.
Royce Lewis said he got a PRP injection to help his quad heal. Spoke of his urgency to obviously get back to the field as quickly as he can.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) April 4, 2024
Garrett Mitchell ( OF, MIL)- Finger: Mitchell has a fracture in his finger on his right hand and was expected to miss 6-8 weeks. He had updated testing, which showed good healing. Mitchell may be able to return to action at the end of April or beginning of May following a rehab assignment.
Matt Carpenter (DH, STL)- Oblique: Carpenter was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. The severity is not yet known, but this could keep him out anywhere between four weeks (Grade 1 strain) or up to eight weeks (Grade 2 strain). Pedro Pages was called up.
Alek Thomas (OF, ARI)- Hamstring: Thomas was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. The MRI revealed a strain between Grade 1 and Grade 2. Thomas could miss up to six weeks with this injury. Jake McCarthy could see an uptick in playing time with Thomas out.
Victor Robles (OF, WAS)- Hamstring: Robles was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. The severity is not yet known. Jacob Young and Eddie Rosario should platoon in the outfield for the Nationals until Robles comes back.
Junior Caminero (3B, TB)- Quad: Caminero was placed on the Triple-A IL with a “minor” left quad strain. The Rays expect him to be back soon and this may affect when he will be called up by the club this year.
#Rays Junior Caminero left today's MiLB game injured.
I see reports of it being a quad injury. He got injured running to first on this play. pic.twitter.com/lrrj6IanJt
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) March 31, 2024
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Shoulder: Verlander is on the IL with shoulder soreness. He is scheduled to have one of a possible two rehab starts this weekend. This means he could be about two weeks away from making his season debut for the Astros.
Justin Verlander is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Joe Espada said. He’ll throw a bullpen tomorrow at Minute Maid Park before beginning the rehab assignment. The Astros are optimistic Verlander will only need two starts at AAA before returning.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 3, 2024
Wade Miley (SP, MIL)- Shoulder: Miley is on the IL with shoulder soreness and a minor groin issue. He is scheduled to have a rehab start soon and could return to the Brewers rotation by the end of next week.
Sonny Gray- (SP, STL)- Hamstring: Gray was placed on the IL with a hamstring strain that occurred in early March. He threw 54 pitches in a simulated game and, if he recovers well, could begin a rehab assignment next week.
Gavin Williams (SP, CLE)- Elbow: Williams will start the season on the IL with elbow soreness. His MRI was normal and he has been throwing bullpen sessions. Williams could be ready to return around the end of April, barring any setbacks.
Braxton Garrett (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Garrett is expected to start the season on the IL with left shoulder soreness. He is scheduled for a rehab start this weekend but it is unclear how many rehab starts he will need.
Eury Perez (SP, MIA)- Elbow: Perez is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. He has opted for Tommy John surgery as he continues to have pain. Perez is done for the year.
Perez threw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Miami and felt elbow tightness. He also experienced a drop in velocity. His surgery will be Monday with Dr. Meister in Dallas and will be the same procedure as former NL Cy Young award winner and teammate Sandy Alcantara.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) April 4, 2024
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Elbow- Buehler continues to recover from Tommy John surgery that happened in August 2022. Buehler has made one rehab start so far and the Dodgers want him to have at least four rehab starts. He will miss the first few weeks of the season as the Dodgers continue to take it slow with him.
Bryan Woo (SP, SEA)- Elbow: Woo has elbow inflammation and will start the season on the IL. He has begun a throwing program but there is no timeline for his return.
Edward Cabrera (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Cabrera has been diagnosed with right shoulder impingement. He is scheduled for a four-inning rehab start this weekend. Barring any setbacks, Cabrera may need one more rehab start before he is activated from the IL.
John Means (SP, BAL)- Elbow: Means continues to recover from Tommy John surgery and is on a rehab assignment now. No word as to how many starts he will need.
Kyle Bradish (SP, BAL)- Elbow: Bradish was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his elbow. He is trying to avoid surgery and has been participating in a throwing program with no setbacks so far. He is expected back by the end of May.
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Leg: Lodolo is on the IL, still recovering from the stress reaction in his leg from last year. He has made a rehab start and could start next week for the Reds.
Taijuan Walker (SP, PHI)- Shoulder: Walker was diagnosed with right shoulder impingement and began the season on the IL. He has thrown a live batting practice, but there is no word on when bullpen sessions and rehab assignments will begin for him.
Tylor Megill (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: Megill was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. He will be shut down for a few days and hopes to be back in the Mets rotation sooner rather than later. In the meantime, Jose Butto should take his spot for the Mets.
Tylor Megill says that his shoulder injury is "not too serious"
He will not throw for the next five days and begin ramping up after that pic.twitter.com/yYr0y9ZD36
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 1, 2024
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)- Elbow: Romano was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation and began the season on the IL. He has begun throwing side sessions in his first step back to the closer role for the Blue Jays.
Paul Sewald (RP, ARI)- Oblique: Sewald was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain and began the season on the IL. He could miss up to two months with this injury. He has begun playing catch, but this is only the first step in his rehab.
Brusdar Graterol (RP, LAD)- Shoulder: Graterol was placed on the IL prior to the South Korea series with shoulder discomfort and hip tightness. He was placed on the 60-day IL.
Matt Brash (RP, SEA)- Elbow: Brash is on the IL with medial right elbow inflammation. He has begun bullpen sessions and throwing soldiers. This is his first step back to the Seattle bullpen.
Robert Stephenson (RP, LAA)- Shoulder: Stephenson is on the IL with right shoulder soreness/discomfort. He is getting close to beginning bullpen sessions, but is still a ways away from being activated off of the IL.
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