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Weekend MLB action is around the corner, and it's a great time to check in on the latest injury updates for key fantasy baseball hurlers. Let's take a look at injured pitchers Andres Munoz, Bobby Miller, Joe Musgrove, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Lawrence, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of June 7, 2024. Whether your top ace is out of action or a depth player is banged up, some players on this list are sure to affect fantasy baseball lineup decisions.
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Andres Munoz Injury Update
Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz (back) played catch under the watch of a trainer before the team's win on Thursday against the Oakland Athletics. Munoz has been dealing with a back injury of late and was pulled from his save opportunity on Tuesday in Oakland after a collision at home plate with the runner on a wild pitch when he was covering home. The 25-year-old is optimistic that he can avoid a trip to the injured list, though, and was seen giving fist bumps to teammates after throwing on Thursday.
Munoz is playing catch under the watch of a trainer.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) June 6, 2024
It's an indication that he could be available out of the bullpen as soon as this weekend's series against the Kansas City Royals. Lefty Tayler Saucedo picked up his second save of the year in relief of Munoz, while righty Ryne Stanek had a perfect ninth inning to record his fourth save on Thursday.
Bobby Miller Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller (shoulder) is scheduled to make another minor league rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Miller experienced a drop in velocity in his last rehab outing last Saturday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga when he allowed four runs on five hits while walking one in 3 1/3 innings. The good news is the drop in velocity doesn't appear related to his shoulder injury, so he will continue rehabbing this weekend.
Friday is a big pitching day for injured #Dodgers pitchers:
Bobby Miller and Kyle Hurt will pitch for OKC.
Clayton Kershaw will pitch 2 innings simulated game at Rancho Cucamonga.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) June 5, 2024
The 25-year-old is likely going to need at least another rehab start following Friday's appearance, but once Miller is deemed ready, he will have a rotation spot waiting for him in L.A. Given the team he pitches for and his high-end strikeout upside, Miller is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues while he's hurt.
Joe Musgrove Injury Update
An MRI exam on San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove's right elbow showed a bone spur and a bone bruise. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection and a cortisone injection that he hopes will help him resume throwing in around two weeks. Arthroscopic surgery is possible if not enough healing takes place, "but we're not there yet," Musgrove said. He also said he's "done enough studying to know that the removal of spurs isn't necessarily always the best healer. That could lead to other issues or UCL issues."
An MRI revealed a bone spur and bone bruise in Joe Musgrove's elbow. He got a PRP and cortisone injection he hopes will help him resume throwing in about two weeks. Arthroscopic surgery is possible if not enough healing takes place, "but we're not there yet," Musgrove said.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) June 6, 2024
It's more bad news for the 31-year-old veteran, who has already been on the injured list twice in 2024 while posting a bloated 5.66 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 44 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings over his 10 starts. Musgrove ended last year on the shelf and has seemingly not recovered since. He's unlikely to be back until sometime in the second half of the season for the Friars.
Clayton Kershaw Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) is scheduled to throw two innings in a simulated game at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. Kershaw is getting extremely close to beginning an official minor league rehab assignment after tossing an inning of live batting practice last Saturday. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer is apparently "way ahead of schedule," according to manager Dave Roberts, but is still likely "about six weeks" from being ready to make his 2024 debut for the Blue.
Friday is a big pitching day for injured #Dodgers pitchers:
Bobby Miller and Kyle Hurt will pitch for OKC.
Clayton Kershaw will pitch 2 innings simulated game at Rancho Cucamonga.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) June 5, 2024
Fantasy managers that have been holding Kershaw all year have to be getting excited, but don't expect him to be an option for your starting lineup until after the All-Star break. The 10-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner went 13-5 last year with a sharp 2.46 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 137 K's and 40 walks in his 24 starts.
Justin Lawrence Injury Update
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black said that right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence (shoulder) will accompany the team on its road trip to St. Louis and Minnesota starting on Thursday, and will begin throwing bullpen sessions during the road trip. While on the injured list with a right-shoulder strain, Lawrence has been tweaking his mechanics. Barring a setback, the 29-year-old reliever should be able to come off the IL to rejoin Colorado's bullpen by the middle of June.
Lawrence opened the year as Colorado's primary closer but has struggled with a 5.91 ERA (4.12 FIP), a 1.83 WHIP, two saves, 15 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. It remains to be seen what role Lawrence will operate in when he returns to the majors, but right now, the Rockies have a messy closer committee going on involving Jalen Beeks, Tyler Kinley, and Nick Mears. It's a situation to avoid. (MLB.com)
Mike Clevinger Injury Update
Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said on Thursday that right-hander Mike Clevinger (elbow) will throw live batting practice on Friday and will eventually require a minor league rehab start or two before the White Sox consider reinstating him from the 15-day injured list. Clevinger re-signed with the White Sox late and didn't make his first start until May before landing on the shelf on May 28 with right-elbow inflammation.
Pedro Grifol had a lot of Sox injury updates:
— Eloy Jiménez should go on a rehab assignment next week
— Yoán Moncada’s rehab is slow-paced, but return post All-Star break is still possible
— Mike Clevinger will throw BP tomorrow and eventually require a rehab start or two
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) June 6, 2024
The 33-year-old will likely take his time to build his arm back up this time around and may not be ready to return to the big leagues before the All-Star break in mid-July. Clevinger didn't really look good in his four starts this season, allowing 13 runs (12 earned) on 22 hits (four homers) while walking nine and striking out 15 in 16 innings. When he returns, Clevinger will be a low-upside, matchup-based streaming option in deeper fantasy leagues.
Gregory Santos Injury Update
Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Gregory Santos (lat) threw from the mound again on Thursday before the team's series-finale victory over the division-rival Oakland Athletics. Santos was up to 95 mph in his last bullpen session on Tuesday, but there remains no timetable for his return. A right-lat strain has kept the hard-throwing 24-year-old reliever out of action all year in his first year with the M's. At this point, it's unlikely that he'll return before the All-Star break in the middle of July.
Santos throwing from the mound again in Oakland. Ball comes out easy. Was up to 95 in his last session. pic.twitter.com/YzZbg9wbZj
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) June 6, 2024
But when Santos is ready to make his 2024 debut, he should slot in as a key late-inning relief arm for the Mariners as a bridge to closer Andres Munoz. The Dominican hurler had a 3.39 ERA (2.65 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP, his first five career saves, and a 66:17 K:BB in 66 1/3 innings for the Chicago White Sox in his third year in the big leagues in 2023.
Spencer Arrighetti Injury Update
Houston Astros rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (calf) said that he is expecting to make his next scheduled start on Monday in San Francisco against the Giants. Arrighetti was removed from his last start early on Tuesday after three innings against the St. Louis Cardinals due to a left-calf contusion when he was hit by a line drive in the second inning. "It's not bad," Arrighetti said of his injury. "I think I'll be just fine."
The 24-year-old avoided any structural damage to his leg and should be on a normal pitch count for his next outing in a good matchup in the Bay Area against the Gigantes. The former sixth-rounder in 2021 out of Louisiana Lafayette has expectedly had ups and downs in his first 10 big league starts, going 3-5 with a 5.79 ERA and 1.67 WHIP with 55 K's and 26 freensures. All of the injuries to Houston's starters this year essentially ensures that Arrighetti will stick around. (Houston Chronicle)
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