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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 22 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
This is the time of year when some fantasy team owners could become lazy. Fantasy football season is just beginning and your baseball fantasy team may be out of it. Maybe you do not want to deal with your team in the middle of the pack anymore. This may then be the time to be aggressive on the waiver wire and make one last push to be relevant down the stretch. Now may be the time to drop that injured player and use your remaining FAAB budget to pick up the pitcher/hitter that could swing the needle.
I will continue to highlight the injured players that may be worth dropping, or keeping, in order to keep you in the battle to climb your fantasy standings. 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.
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
Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL)- Hamstring: Albies was placed on the IL with a strained left hamstring. At first it was thought to be a cramp but turned out to be more severe. There is no timeline for his return. However, a low grade strain is usually two to four week recovery time and a moderate strain is usually four to six week recovery time.
He has already begun doing some running drills this past Friday. With the Braves leading the NL East handily, they may opt to be extra cautious with him at this time. Vaughn Grissom, who was called up, and Nicky Lopez could end up forming a platoon at second base while Albies is out.
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. Trout has been hitting off of a machine for the past week and may face live pitching soon.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Hamstring: Buxton was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said this week that Buxton will need a rehab assignment, although it has not yet been planned. Once this is done, a clearer timetable for his return will be given.
Jose Abreu (1B, HOU)- Back: Abreu was placed on the IL with lower-back inflammation. He received two cortisone shots to address the issue and will need at least ten days to rest/heal. After that, his return will be based on how his back reacts to the treatment. David Hensley was called up and Jon Singleton has been filling in at first base for the Astros.
C.J. Cron (1B, LAA)- Back: Cron was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. Severity is not yet known but he has missed the last few games due to this injury. Logan O'Hoppe was activated in a corresponding move.
Zach Neto (SS, LAA)- Back: Neto was placed on the IL with lower back inflammation. He is now pain free and will begin baseball activities in the near future. There is no timetable for his return.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Groin: Marte was dealing with migraines and was on the IL. He was then activated and is now on the IL with a right groin strain. The Mets believe it has to do with his last offseason surgeries. There is no timeline for his return and the Mets may opt to shut him down for the year with the hope of him being fully healthy to start next year.
Brandon Marsh (OF, PHI)- Knee: Marsh was placed on the IL this week with a bruised left knee. He is expected to now begin a rehab assignment this weekend, DH duty only, and then be evaluated to be activated from the IL around August 21.
J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA)- Head: Crawford is on the concussion IL and is currently trending in the right direction. It is now possible that he could return over the weekend, August 20.
Anthony Rizzo (1B, NYY)- Head: Rizzo is currently on the IL due to concussions. He will undergo more testing to see where he stands in his recovery. There is no timetable for his return but Rizzo said that he "feels like he is progressing." So far, he has only done "some light agility in the outfield and walked at an incline on the treadmill."
Tom Murphy (C, SEA)- Thumb: Murphy was placed on the IL with a left thumb sprain. Severity is not yet known. Brian O'Keefe was called up to back up Cal Raleigh at catcher.
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 the next few weeks. He is scheduled for an MRI soon to determine how the healing is going and also determine when he could return from the IL.
Alex Kirilloff (1B, MIN)- Shoulder: Kirilloff was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. Kirilloff received a cortisone injection for his shoulder. He began swinging a bat this week and will be reevaluated if he could start a rehab assignment next week.
Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL)- Abdomen: Nootbaar was placed on the IL after he fouled a ball off of himself. If all goes well, this will be a minimum stay on the IL. Masyn Winn was called up.
Mark Vientos (3B, NYM)- Wrist: Vientos was placed on the IL with left wrist tendinitis. MRI did not show any structural damage. Jonathan Arauz and Danny Mendick will likely share time at third base in his absence.
Nolan Gorman (2B, STL)- Back: Gorman was placed on the IL with a low back strain. He received an injection as he has been dealing with this issue since late July. Richie Palacios was called up and it is hopeful that Gorman could return when first eligible, which is August 25.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Finger: Bryant is on the IL with a fractured left index finger. Bryant will be in a splint for another two weeks and may play first base upon his return.
Evan Longoria (3B, ARI)- Back: Longoria is on the IL with a strained lower back. Longoria has begun a rehab assignment, again, and could be back with the Diamondbacks by August 25.
Mitch Haniger (OF, SF)- Forearm: Haniger is recovering from surgery due to a right forearm fracture. He is on track to begin a rehab assignment next week. The earliest he could be activated is August 28.
Adalberto Mondesi (SS, BOS)- Knee: Mondesi has been out all year rehabbing knee surgery. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said this week that he has been shut down again from his rehab. It is starting to look like Mondesi will miss the entire 2023 season.
Manuel Margot (OF, TB)- Elbow: Margot, who is on the IL due to right elbow pain, underwent surgery this week to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. The procedure went as planned, per Rays manager Kevin Cash, and the expectation remains that Margot could be ready to return to action in three to four weeks.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Carlos Rodon (SP, NYY)- Hamstring: Rodon was placed on the IL with a low-grade hamstring strain. He threw a five inning sim game this week. If he responded well to this outing, and is now scheduled to start this Tuesday for the Yankees.
Marcus Stroman (SP, CHC)- Hip: Stroman was placed on the IL with right hip inflammation. He then began reporting rib discomfort. This was then diagnosed as right rib cage cartilage fracture and is without a timetable to return from the IL. This type of injury could take three to four weeks to heal and that has to be followed by a ramp up period. Drew Smyly should return to the Cubs starting rotation to continue to fill in for Stroman.
Joe Ryan (SP, MIN)- Groin: Ryan is on the IL with a groin strain. He is scheduled to make his rehab start this coming Tuesday and could be activated to start next Sunday.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Buehler is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, his second such surgery, from last year. Manager Dave Roberts has said that when he returns, he will return as a starter. This would make it more likely for Buehler to return mid to late September in order for him to be able to be stretched out.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP, TEX)- Forearm: Eovaldi was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. He threw another bullpen session this week. If all goes well, there is a chance he could return to the Rangers rotation by the end of the month if they forgo sending Eovaldi on a rehab assignment.
Tanner Houck (SP/RP, BOS)- Face: Houck has been on the IL with a facial fracture since June. Houck dominated in his last rehab outing and could return to the Red Sox rotation for his next start if the Red Sox decide to go with a six man rotation.
Nestor Cortes (SP, NYY)- Shoulder: Cortes was placed on the IL with a left rotator cuff strain. He had missed all of June and July with the same issue and he will be shut down from throwing for another three to four weeks. This may time him out of pitching again this year. Jhony Brito or Randy Vasquez could fill in for the Yankees down the stretch. Cortes has only started 12 games this year due to injury.
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 had two rehab starts already and is trending to return to the Orioles by the end of August.
Bryan Woo (SP, SEA)- Forearm: Woo was placed on the IL due to right forearm inflammation. Woo threw a bullpen session this week and is tentatively scheduled to be activated off of the IL next week.
Hunter Greene (SP, CIN)- Hip: Greene has been on IL since mid-June with right hip discomfort. Greene is expected to make his return from the IL over the weekend.
Steven Matz (SP, STL)- Lat: Matz is currently on the IL with a left lat strain. He has now been shut down from throwing for the next two weeks. An updated MRI will then determine if he could pitch again this year. Lat injuries usually sideline pitchers for about four to six weeks. This would knock out any chance of Matz pitching again this year.
Ben Lively (SP, CIN)- Pectoral: Lively was placed on the IL with a right pectoral strain. Lively is scheduled to make his second rehab start this weekend after which time he could be activated from the IL next week.
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Tibia: Lodolo is on the IL recovering from a stress reaction in his tibia. He will make his third rehab start over this weekend and could be activated to start next weekend.
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 suffered a setback in his rehab assignment but has now been cleared to continue his rehab assignment. Barring any future setbacks, Helsley could return to the Cardinals by the end of August.
Edwin Diaz (RP, NYM)- Knee: Diaz is recovering from knee surgery this past spring. He threw off of a mound this week. The Mets have also left open the possibility of him returning before the season ends.
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