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Midweek MLB action is near, and there is no shortage of injuries to cover. These bumps and bruises are sure to affect fantasy baseball lineups, so let's take a look at injured hitters Fernando Tatis Jr., Kyle Tucker, Daulton Varsho, Starling Marte, Gabriel Moreno, and more
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters, as of June 26, 2024. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will be important in lineups.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy baseball player news page, and download the free RotoBaller fantasy baseball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the injury updates for hitters.
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Fernando Tatis Jr. Injury Update
San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (quadriceps) told reporters on Monday that he knows he'll be out well past the All-Star break in mid-July. Tatis didn't get into an exact timetable, but fantasy managers are going to need to be patient here after he was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a right femoral stress reaction in his quadriceps muscle.
Fernando Tatís just spoke to reporters in the Padres clubhouse. Didn't get into timeline but knows he'll be out well past All-Star break
— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) June 25, 2024
It's a tough break for fantasy managers and the Padres, as the 25-year-old outfielder has been strong offensively again in 2024 with a .279/.354/.468 slash line with 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and a .822 OPS in 345 plate appearances. He needs to remain stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy formats. Bryce Johnson got the start in Monday's extra-inning win over the Washington Nationals after being called up from the minors, but David Peralta and Jose Azocar could also be involved in right field moving forward with Tatis sidelined.
Kyle Tucker Injury Update
Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker (shin) was able to some swings with the bat on Sunday. The expectation is that Tucker is going to resume running within the next few days. Tucker is currently scheduled for a light throwing session on Friday. He'll likely go on a minor-league rehab assignment soon after that.
Kyle Tucker took swings off a tee Sunday and "could start running within the next few days," according to the Astros. The team also said Jake Bloss is scheduled for "light toss" Friday and may return "shortly after his 15-day IL stint concludes." I thought this was against HIPAA
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 25, 2024
The Astros expect Tucker to return shortly after his 15-day injured list stint ends. Fantasy managers shouldn't have to wait much longer for Tucker's return to the field.
Daulton Varsho Injury Update
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (back) remained out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday at Fenway Park against the hosting Boston Red Sox. Varsho injured his back on Saturday and will be missing his third straight game on Tuesday.
Welcome back, Bo! #TOTHECORE
Vote Blue Jays before the game: https://t.co/s7rxDvf5zz pic.twitter.com/ilSDnMpszn
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 25, 2024
Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day until further notice. The 27-year-old outfielder is hitting only .207 (50-for-242) in 2024 but has appealing power/speed upside for fantasy managers with 11 home runs and eight stolen bases in 72 games.
Starling Marte Injury Update
The New York Mets officially placed outfielder Starling Marte (knee) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 23) on Tuesday with a right-knee bone bruise and selected the contract of outfielder Ben Gamel from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. This move was coming after he was advised to rest for 15 days following an MRI exam on Monday. Marte has been dealing with knee issues for several weeks and will now take a seat. There's no timeline for his return, but at this point, it's probably safe to assume that we won't see the 35-year-old veteran until after the All-Star break in mid-July.
OF Starling Marte has been placed on the 10-Day IL, retroactive to June 23, with a right knee bone bruise.
OF Ben Gamel has been selected from Triple-A Syracuse.
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 25, 2024
Gamel could see some action in the outfield against right-handed pitchers, but DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor are expected to be the biggest beneficiaries in terms of playing time for the Mets. Fantasy managers will want to keep Marte stashed in an IL spot while he heals. UPDATE: Marte won't take part in any baseball activities for at least two weeks and is going to be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
Gabriel Moreno Injury Update
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (thumb) will catch Zac Gallen's bullpen session on Thursday. Manager Torey Lovullo said before Tuesday's game against the visiting Minnesota Twins that he's optimistic Moreno will be able to return after missing the minimum 10 days on the injured list. Moreno sprained his left thumb on a foul tip in this past Friday's contest against the Philadelphia Phillies, but it sounds like he could return to the D-backs during the first week of July and skip a brief minor-league rehab assignment.
Gabi Moreno will catch Zac Gallen’s bullpen session on Thursday. Torey Lovullo said he’s optimistic Moreno will be able to return after missing the minimum 10 days.
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) June 25, 2024
Fantasy managers in shallow leagues should be able to find better stashes than the 24-year-old contact-hitting backstop, who's slashing an uninspiring .230/.313/.346 with three home runs, 11 doubles, 26 RBI, and 23 runs scored in 217 trips to the plate as Arizona's everyday catcher in 2024.
Josh Jung Injury Update
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said before Tuesday's game against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers that third baseman Josh Jung (wrist) is heading back to Texas to get checked out and "make sure everything's fine." Bochy said it's possible that Jung rejoins the club on this road trip, which concludes with Sunday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, but he can't answer that until he gets checked out. Barring any setbacks in his evaluation, Jung is still a candidate to rejoin the major league roster before the end of June.
General manager Chris Young said Jung has “tendon inflammation.” He classified Jung’s return on this road trip as “ambitious,” but said it should calm down with time + rest.
Young called it an understandable hiccup, expectation is they get it under control in a few days. https://t.co/ylxYbdcXAm
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) June 25, 2024
Josh Smith has been a great streaming option for fantasy managers in the interim, slashing .302/.396/.474 with seven home runs, 17 doubles, 32 RBI, and four stolen bases across 232 at-bats for the Rangers this season, but he'll need to find playing time in other spots than the hot corner once Jung is back in the lineup.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Injury Update
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) will have right-hand surgery on July 11. The surgery comes with an expected recovery timeline of three months, so he'll essentially miss the rest of the 2024 season. Encarnacion-Strand initially went on the injured list in early May with what the team called a right ulnar styloid fracture in his hand, but additional testing showed ligament damage.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand to have right hand surgery on July 11. Recovery time expected to be three months.
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) June 25, 2024
Fantasy managers were expecting a lot from the 24-year-old power hitter after he batted .270 with 13 home runs in only 63 games in his rookie season in 2023, so this is obviously a big blow for anyone who drafted him. CES ended up playing in only 29 games this year and hit .190/.220/.293 with two homers and 16 RBI. Spencer Steer should continue to man first base for the Reds moving forward, which has opened up playing time at third base for Santiago Espinal.
Kerry Carpenter Injury Update
Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (spine) took swings off a batting tee on Monday and completed throwing/running drills on the field ahead of Tuesday's game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Working his way back from a lumbar spine stress fracture, Carpenter has re-engaged himself in baseball activities and will accompany the team on their upcoming road trip to continue his workouts.
#Tigers medical update: Kerry Carpenter (lumbar spine stress fracture) took swings off a batting tee Monday and completed throwing/running drills on the field Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/6DBbGUsTZS
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) June 25, 2024
Although he's unlikely to return to the Tigers before the mid-July All-Star break and will likely need minor-league rehab assignment before he's activated from the injured list, the 26-year-old righty-mashing right fielder was slashing .283/.342/.572 with eight home runs, 10 doubles, 29 RBI, and 21 runs scored in 163 plate appearances before going down and makes for a fine stash in all fantasy leagues.
Javier Baez Injury Update
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (spine) is still rehabbing and doing baseball activity at the club's spring training facility in Tampa. Baez isn't expected to be with the Tigers on their upcoming three-city road trip, and manager AJ Hinch said on Tuesday that he's facing an "extensive" minor-league rehab assignment once he's cleared for competition.
Javier Baez is still rehabbing and doing baseball activity in Tampa and Lakeland. He isn't expected to be with the Tigers on the three-city trip. AJ Hinch said he's facing an "extensive" rehab assignment once he's cleared for competition.
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) June 25, 2024
Baez is recovering from lumbar spine inflammation and is likely to remain sidelined through the mid-July All-Star break. Considering the 31-year-old former All-Star was slashing a pathetic .183/.209/.247 with one home run, 25 RBI, 15 runs scored, and six stolen bases through 186 at-bats as Detroit's primary shortstop this year, he can be left on waiver wires in the majority of fantasy leagues.
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