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With only three waiver wires left this fantasy baseball season, what are you waiting for? If you have any FAAB money left and are in a redraft league, use it or lose it. But be smart about how you use it. Make sure, if you are in the playoffs and trying to catch the leaders in your league, you have enough money for backups for the last few weeks of the season. The strategy to spend your seasonal FAAB allowance is different now than the rest of the season.
This time of year, it is not usually about filling roster holes, but preparing for them. Make sure you have an extra catcher on your roster or another middle reliever you could plug into your starting spots in order to not get a zero for the week for an injured player who gets hurt this weekend and is questionable for this week. At this point in the season, for counting stats, something is almost always better than nothing. Ratio stats can also be fixed, and the bottom of the bottom-of-the-barrel starters on the waiver wire may not cut it. I will continue to highlight fantasy-relevant players who are injured and may or may not come back this year in order to help you use your roster spots wisely from here on out.
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 17+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I also played fantasy baseball during that time. This has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you. Stay updated 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
Ketel Marte (2B, ARI)- Ankle: Marte was placed on the IL with a sprained left ankle. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Marte could be activated from the IL as early as this Tuesday.
Corey Seager (SS, TEX)- Hip: Seager was placed on the IL this week with right hip discomfort. It seems that this injury has been bothering him more recently. The severity is not yet known, and based on the fact that the Rangers are not in playoff contention, Seager may be done for the year.
Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran, and Jonathan Ornelas could see more playing time with Seager out. also in the mix.
Corey Seager is going on the injured list with a hip injury, per general manager Chris Young
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) September 4, 2024
Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL)- Wrist: Albies is on the IL recovering from a left wrist fracture. He is no longer wearing a brace and took fielding practice this week. Albies is also doing some swinging in the cage but has not been cleared to hit yet. He is at the six-week mark of the projected six to eight absence due to the fracture. He is trending to return closer to the eight-week mark.
#Braves’ Ozzie Albies will begin doing some fielding today. Hasn’t been cleared to take batting practice, but he’s been swinging bat some in the cage. Sunday will be 6-week mark. He said still going on initial 6-8 week prognosis, but he’ll need a rehab assignment before return.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 3, 2024
Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)- Calf: Bichette is on the IL with a moderate right calf strain. Bichette has been running and could start a rehab assignment very soon.
Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC)- Thumb: Pasquantino was placed on the IL with a broken right thumb. He had surgery and is still scheduled to miss six to eight weeks. He is most likely done for the year.
Ryan Mountcastle (1B, BAL)- Wrist: Mountcastle is on the IL with a left wrist sprain. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde admitted this week that Mouncastle is feeling better but he has "no idea" regarding a potential timetable for his return. He has not yet begun swinging a bat. Ryan O'Hearn and Emmanuel Rivera have been handling first base with Mountcastle out.
Max Kepler (OF, MIN)- Knee: Kepler landed on the IL this week with left patellar tendonitis. He had missed the last four games and played in only three out of the last eleven games. There is no timetable for his return. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was called up, and Matt Wallner should see more playing time.
Max Kepler was placed on the injured list with left patellar tendinitis. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. is taking his roster spot. Kody Funderburk was moved to the 60-day injured list to create room on the 40-man roster.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) September 5, 2024
Matt McLain (2B, CIN)- Shoulder: McLain continues to recover from shoulder surgery and a stress reaction in his rib cage. He is now pain-free and has been cleared to resume baseball activities. The Reds are holding out hope that McLain could play this year.
David Bell gave a big injury update this morning. I went through to make sure I made it clear and accurate, so here they are: pic.twitter.com/SoTaBiOPqT
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) September 5, 2024
Esteury Ruiz (OF, OAK)- Wrist: Ruiz is on the IL with a left wrist strain. He had a setback on his rehab assignment, and Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said that Ruiz will not return this year because of the injury.
Ramon Urias (3B, BAL)- Ankle: Urias is on the IL with a right ankle sprain. The severity is not yet known. He is still using crutches, and Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is not sure when he will return. Coby Mayo and Emannuel Rivera will see more playing time with Urias out.
Trevor Story (SS, BOS)- Shoulder: Story has been on the IL after dislocating his left shoulder on April 5. He is on a rehab assignment with the possibility of returning mid September to help the Red Sox playoff push.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Hip: Buxton is on the IL with right hip inflammation. Buxton will be re-evaluated after feeling renewed soreness in his right hip during a rehab game. There is no timetable for his return.
Byron Buxton experienced hip discomfort while on his rehab assignment. The Twins will continue to evaluate him over the next couple days.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) September 5, 2024
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (OF, ARI)- Calf: Gurriel is on the IL with a left calf strain. The severity is not yet known. Pavin Smith did see an increase in playing time. Christian Walker was activated from the IL in a corresponding move.
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU)- Shin: Tucker is on the IL with a right shin contusion. It is now known that he was actually dealing with a shin fracture. There is hope that Tucker could be activated as early as this weekend.
Austin Hays (OF, PHI)- Kidney: Hays was placed on the IL this week due to a kidney infection. The severity is not yet known, and there is no timetable for his return. Cal Stevenson was called up, and Johan Rojas and Kody Clemens could see more playing time with Hays out.
Ha-Seong Kim (SS)- Shoulder: Kim was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Kim is taking live at-bats at San Diego's spring training complex in Arizona and has been playing catch, taking grounders, and swinging in the batting cage. He has not yet begun throwing across the diamond. There is no timetable for his return.
Jordan Westburg (3B, BAL)- Hand: Westburg continues to recover from a right-hand fracture that landed him on the IL. He did some throwing without a cast this week, five weeks after the injury. He will continue to ramp up activities and should still need a rehab assignment before returning. A return in mid-September looks possible.
Jordan Westburg is throwing with his right hand again, and Ryan Mountcastle (left sprained wrist) is playing catch with him
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) September 4, 2024
Jeimer Candelario (1B, CIN)- Toe: Candelario has a fractured right big toe and is on the IL. He is still feeling pain in the toe, and as of this past Thursday, he has not yet begun baseball activities. There is no timetable for his return.
Joey Bart (C, PIT)- Hamstring: Bart is on the IL with a strained left hamstring. He did some running this week for the first time since the injury and remains without a return timetable.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Tyler Glasnow (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Glasnow is on the IL with right elbow tendinitis. Manager Dave Roberts said this past week that Glasnow could be activated off of the IL in mid-September in a "best-case scenario."
Justin Steele (SP, CHC)- Elbow: Steele was placed on the IL with left elbow tendinitis. The severity is not fully known. Kyle Hendricks started in Steele's place and should continue to do so for now.
Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)- Elbow: deGrom is on the IL recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. deGrom is expected to make one more rehab start and then could be activated from the IL following that.
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)- Toe: Kershaw is on the IL with a bone spur in his left big toes. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week that Kershaw will need to wear a walking boot and is likely to require scans on his injured left big toe. Severity is not yet known but he is eligible to return September 15.
Clayton Kershaw will require a walking boot and likely require scans on his left big toe, Dave Roberts said.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 2, 2024
Tyler Mahle (SP, TEX)- Shoulder: Mahle is on the IL with right shoulder stiffness. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Mahle will not make another start this season. He only pitched twelve innings this year coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Max Scherzer (SP, TEX)- Arm: Scherzer was placed on the IL due to right shoulder fatigue. Scherzer is scheduled to make a rehab start this weekend and will be further evaluated after that.
Andrew Abbott (SP, CIN)- Shoulder: The Reds placed Abbott on the IL with a left shoulder strain, retroactive to August 20. Abbott has begun a throwing program but remains without a clear return timeline.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Yamamoto is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week that Yamamoto will return from IL to start this Tuesday against the Cubs.
Dave Roberts said Yamamoto will pitch for #Dodgers next Tuesday at Dodger Stadium vs #Cubs
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) September 4, 2024
Lance Lynn (SP, STL)- Knee: Lynn is on the IL with a knee strain. Lynn continues his rehab starts but has been ineffective during them. There is a possibility that Lynn will return from IL next week.
Chris Paddack (SP, MIN)- Forearm: Paddack is on the IL with a right forearm strain. He does not think he will be able to return before the end of the regular season despite a recent clean MRI. Paddack does hope to return for a Twins playoff run. He was transferred to the 60-day IL, which basically rules him out for the rest of the year.
Jon Gray (SP, TEX)- Foot: Gray is on the IL with a neuroma in his foot. He is out for the rest of the year. He has been having issues with his foot and an injured groin for most of the second half of the season. Jose Urena looks to fill in for the immediate future with Gray out.
Paul Blackburn (SP, NYM)- Hand: Blackburn was hit in the right hand with a comebacker and was placed on the IL with a right-hand contusion. He had a rehab start this past week and is expected to be activated off of the IL next week.
Paul Blackburn (right hand contusion) says he came out of last night's rehab start feeling fine. He will return to the rotation next week in Toronto.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) September 4, 2024
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Finger: Lodolo was placed on the IL this week with a sprained finger. He may miss the rest of the year. He is in a finger splint until September 9. At that point, he will be re-evaluated for a possible return this year.
Michael Lorenzen (SP, KC)- Hamstring: Lorenzen was placed on the IL this week with a strained left hamstring. It is considered a grade 2 strain with a usual recovery timeline of six to eight weeks. He may be able to make only one more start this year.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS)- Elbow: Hendriks continues to rehab after Tommy John's surgery. Hendriks continues to make rehab appearances and could return from the IL as early as this weekend.
Yimi Garcia (RP, SEA)- Elbow: Garcia was placed on the IL this week due to right elbow inflammation. This is his second stint on the IL for this issue, which was in June for right elbow neuritis. He has begun a throwing program but has no timeline for a return yet.
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