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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 21 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
We are now deep in the dog days of the summer. The playoff races are heating up like the weather and anything can happen. The same can be said of the fantasy baseball season. We are at the point where league trade deadlines have mostly come and gone. We are now left with who we have on our rosters and what is left on the waiver wire.
Injured pitchers and hitters have begun being shut done for the year. There are timeline returns for some injured players in mid-September and it is time for you, humble reader, to decide which injured players have any fantasy value for the rest of the year. Ramp-up windows are closing but that does not mean that your fantasy season hopes should close with them. I will continue to highlight injured fantasy-relevant players to help you make your decisions for your roster easier to make.
Here's 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 16+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience.
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Mike Trout (OF, LAA)- Wrist: Trout has been on the IL since July 4 following surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand. He began taking dry swings last week and has now progressed to hitting soft toss. There is still no timeline for his return.
J.D. Martinez (DH, LAD)- Hamstring: Martinez has been out of the Dodgers lineup for the past few days due to a left hamstring/groin issue. He had an MRI for this issue and ended up receiving an epidural injection, which is for a disc issue in the low back. This back issue may be the cause of his leg pain, which is common with a disc bulge/herniation. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Martinez is set to return to the Dodgers lineup over the weekend.
Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)- Knee: Bichette was placed on the IL with right patellar tendinitis. He has been taking swings and jogging. Due to the lack of strenuous baseball activity being done, he is not expected back this weekend.
Charlie Blackmon (OF, COL)- Hand: Blackmon is still recovering from a right-hand fracture sustained in June. He has been doing full baseball activities and could start a rehab assignment very soon.
Josh Jung (3B, TEX)- Thumb: Jung was placed on the IL with a fractured left thumb. He had thumb surgery during which a plate and screws were inserted into his hand. He is expected to miss four to six weeks and hopes to return before the end of the season. Based on the type of surgery he had, it is hard to imagine him beating this estimated timeframe and in non playoff style fantasy leagues, he may be of little value down the stretch. Ezequiel Duran has taken over third base for the Rangers.
Oneil Cruz (SS, PIT)- Ankle: Cruz is recovering from left ankle surgery following a fracture on April 9. He has been doing some baseball activities and recently began a running program. It is possible for Cruz to begin a rehab assignment sometime over the next few weeks.
Jonah Heim (C, TEX)- Wrist: Heim was placed on the IL with a left wrist tendon strain. Heim faced live pitching this week and is progressing ahead of schedule. Heim could be activated from the IL as early as August 14. Until then, Mitch Garver and Sam Huff have seen more playing time.
Jesse Winker (OF, MIL)- Back: Winker has been on the IL since the end of July with back spasms. He will begin a rehab assignment next week.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Hamstring: Buxton was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said that Buxton will be shut down for the next two weeks. The Twins will then see how he responds to the shutdown period before attempting to map out a timetable for his return. Matt Wallner has been getting more playing time with Buxton out.
Logan O'Hoppe (C, LAA)- Shoulder: O’Hoppe had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, non-throwing shoulder, in April. He has begun a rehab assignment but is expected to use the majority of the 20 days on the assignment.
Zach Neto (SS, LAA)- Back: Neto was placed on the IL with lower back inflammation. Angels manager Phil Nevin said that Neto will be out for several weeks. This may mean until mid-September. Until then, Luis Rengifo will continue to serve as the Angels' primary shortstop.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Groin: Marte was dealing with migraines and was on the IL. He was then activated and is now back on the IL with a right groin strain. He received an injection for this issue this week. Marte did have sports hernia surgery over this past offseason due to the same pain/issue. Marte is expected to resume "light activity" within the next few days. Rafael Ortega has been the benefactor of playing time with Marte out for the Mets.
Brandon Marsh (OF, PHI)- Knee: Marsh was placed on the IL this week with a bruised left knee. He is expected to miss two to three weeks. Weston Wilson was called up and should platoon with Jake Cave in the outfield which further cements Johan Rojas’ role with the Phillies.
Jake Fraley (OF, CIN)- Toe: Fraley was placed on the IL with a stress fracture in his left fourth toe. He will be out for at least a few weeks. Stuart Fairchild should have an increased role for the Reds with Fraley out.
Josh Naylor (1B, CLE)- Oblique: Naylor was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. He is expected to miss three to six weeks. These injuries usually tend to be on the longer side. This diagnosis was confirmed on MRI. Gabriel Arias and Kole Calhoun could see more playing time with Naylor out.
Alex Kirilloff (1B, MIN)- Shoulder: Kirilloff was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. Kirilloff received a cortisone (steroid) injection for his shoulder which means his absence may be longer than anticipated. Joey Gallo will get more time at first for the Twins.
Aaron Hicks (OF, BAL)- Hamstring: Hicks was placed on the IL with a hamstring strain. He has begun a rehab assignment and should return next week. That being said, he may be losing playing time due to an outfield roster crunch for the Orioles.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Finger: Bryant is on the IL with a fractured left index finger. Bryant said that he is uncertain when he will be able to remove the splint protecting the finger. "[The Rockies medical staff] don't want me to move [the finger] at all," Bryant said. There is no timetable for his return and there will not be one until he can remove the splint.
Ryan Noda (1B, OAK)- Face: Noda is on the IL with a fractured mandible (jaw bone). Noda did not take live batting practice this week as originally planned but has been medically cleared to play in games if he is comfortable. Once he is comfortable doing this, a short rehab assignment should follow.
Evan Longoria (3B, ARI)- Back: Longoria is on the IL with a strained lower back. Longoria was traveling with the team but suffered a setback when his back began feeling stiff again. There is no timetable for his return.
Gabriel Moreno (C, ARI)- Shoulder: Moreno is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He has begun swinging the bat and catching bullpen sessions. He is now scheduled to catch five innings in a game at the Arizona Complex League. There is still no definitive timetable for his return.
Taylor Walls (SS, TB)- Oblique: Walls is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Rays manager Kevin Cash said this week that Walls is "still a ways away" from a return. He was placed on the IL on July 22.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Carlos Rodon (SP, NYY)- Hamstring: Rodon was placed on the IL with a low-grade hamstring strain. He continues to throw off of flat ground in the hopes that he could spend just the minimum on the IL.
Marcus Stroman (SP, CHC)- Hip: Stroman was placed on the IL with right hip inflammation. He threw a bullpen session and is hoping to be back from the IL when eligible, August 16.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Buehler is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, his second such surgery, from last year. He hit 93 mph during a one-inning simulated game this week. "It went really well," manager Dave Roberts said of the session. "Much better than I expected." Buehler has acknowledged that his original goal of returning on September 1 is not realistic, as he will require a few more simulated games before going out on a rehab assignment.
Joe Musgrove (SP, SD)- Shoulder: Musgrove is on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He has been shut down for three weeks. He is expected to begin playing catch around August 24. The best-case scenario is that he could return to the Padres rotation in mid-September. This would be the case if there are no setbacks and if the Padres are still in the Wild Card race.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP, TEX)- Forearm): Eovaldi was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. He threw a bullpen session this week consisting of about 15-to-20 pitches. Eovaldi is tentatively slated for a lengthier bullpen session this weekend. There is no clear timeline for his return yet.
Garrett Whitlock (SP/RP, BOS)- Elbow: Whitlock has been on the IL with an elbow issue. He is expected to be activated off of the IL over the weekend.
Tanner Houck (SP/RP, BOS)- Face: Houck has been on the IL with a facial fracture since June. Houck will need two more rehab starts before he is activated if the Red Sox want to use him as a starter.
Michael Wacha (SP, SD)- Shoulder: Wacha is currently on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He has been on a rehab assignment and may require one more start before his activation from the IL.
John Means (SP, BAL)- Elbow/Back- Means is now 16 months post Tommy John surgery followed by a 2.5 month absence due to a low back issue. He has now been cleared for a rehab assignment. He could make his return to the Orioles by the end of August.
Zack Greinke (SP, KC)- Elbow: Greinke was placed on the IL with a sore elbow. Severity is not yet known and no timetable for his return has been set.
Bryan Woo (SP, SEA)- Forearm: Woo was placed on the IL due to right forearm inflammation. Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said this week that there are "no real concerns" with Woos' right forearm, called that a precautionary move, and expressed optimism that Woo will only have to miss a couple of weeks. Emerson Hancock got the first crack at the Mariners' open rotation spot.
Hunter Greene (SP, CIN)- Hip: Greene has been on IL since mid-June with right hip discomfort. Greene is expected to make two more rehab starts and then be activated off of the IL.
Shane McClanahan (SP, TB)- Forearm: McClanahan started to experience tightness in his left forearm during his last start and was placed on the IL. Rays manager Kevin Cash said this week that it is “highly unlikely” that McClanahan will pitch again this year.
Anthony DeSclafani (SP, SF)- Elbow: DeSclafani is on the IL with a flexor strain in his forearm/elbow. He will receive a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his right elbow and is expected to be shut down from throwing for six to eight weeks, effectively knocking him out for the rest of the season.
Ben Lively (SP, CIN)- Pectoral: Lively was placed on the IL with a right pectoral strain. Reds manager David Bell said this week that Lively could return to the Reds rotation when first eligible on August 17.
Marco Gonzales (SP, SEA)- Forearm: Gonzales is on the IL with a nerve issue in his left elbow/forearm. Seattle general manager Justin Hollander said this week that the same issue is preventing him from beginning any type of ramp-up activity. Hollander remarked "the clock is ticking on that" when asked about Gonzales' chances of returning this season.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Ryan Helsley (RP, STL)- Forearm: Helsley is currently rehabbing a forearm strain that caused him to end up on the IL. He is on a rehab assignment and could be activated sometime over the next few days.
Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)- Back: Romano was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. He has thrown a few bullpen sessions already and could be activated from the IL sometime this coming week. There is a thought that he will not require a rehab assignment.
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