RADIO
Labor Day weekend is here. This is the time of the year in the fantasy baseball season when we can see the fruits of our labor for the past five months come to fruition or not. There is one month left to the season, and if you are still on the hunt, there is still time to climb the ladder or make a shocking upset in a playoff match.
This is also the time of year when players who get hurt get shut down for the "rest of the year." It may only be for a month but whether the player means a lot to the organization and if the team is in a playoff race, these could be factors that this happens. Young pitchers will also reach innings limits. Both of these factors should help create some roster maneuverability for your teams. Playing time is always at a premium at this time of the season. Those last few runs, strikeouts, saves, and RBIs could distinguish between winning and losing. The worst thing to happen is to have a "dead" roster spot during this crucial time of year. I will continue to update the fantasy-relevant injured players, whether they will come back this year, and who to look for with the increased playing time down the stretch.
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. 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
Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT)- Back: Hayes was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. He is still being evaluated and has no timeline for a return yet. Jared Triolo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have been getting more playing time with Hayes out.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (OF, SD)- Thigh: Tatis is on the IL with a right femoral stress reaction. He has been able to run sprints and is expected to face live pitching soon. There is no clear timetable for his return yet.
Ketel Marte (2B, ARI)- Ankle: Marte was placed on the IL with a sprained left ankle. The injury occurred while batting. He may only miss the minimum time. He has already begun swinging in a batting cage. Kevin Newman and Blaze Alexander have been filling in at second base while Marte is out.
Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)- Calf: Bichette is on the IL with a moderate right calf strain. Bichette was taking grounders on the field this week. It is hopeful that he could return to the Blue Jays by mid-September.
Christian Walker (1B, ARI)- Oblique: Walker is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Walker has been taking batting practice and it is not known if he will require a rehab assignment. The soonest he could return is this coming week.
Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC)- Thumb: Pasquantino was placed on the IL with a broken right thumb. This occurred when a runner ran into his hand. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks and is done for the year. Garrett Hampson may benefit from more playing time with Pasquantino out.
Vinnie Pasquantino has a broken right thumb and a six to eight week return timeline, #Royals announce.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) August 30, 2024
David Hamilton (2B, BOS)- Finger: Hamilton was placed on the IL with a fracture of the left index finger. He was hit by a pitch, which caused the injury. This injury has a typical timeframe to return of four to six weeks, but Hamilton is hoping to be back in two to three weeks based on pain tolerance. Romy Gonzalez and Mickey Gasper could fill in with Hamilton out for the Red Sox.
Here’s the bunt from last night where David Hamilton fractured his finger. pic.twitter.com/DvUojU2BBF
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) August 29, 2024
Alex Call (OF, WAS)- Foot: Call was placed on the IL with a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot. This injury may keep him out for the rest of the year. Top prospect Dylan Crews was called up and should see regular playing time for the rest of the season.
Xavier Edwards (2B, MIA)- Back: Edwards was placed on the IL with a sore low back, mild back extensor soreness. The MRI he had was normal. The Marlins wanted to be extra cautious with him and he could be activated when first eligible. Vidal Brujan has seen more playing time with Edwards out.
Willson Contreras (C, STL)- Finger: Contreras is on the IL now with a right middle finger fracture. This is the second time this year he is on the IL due to a fracture. Recovery time is usually four weeks for this type of injury, especially for a catcher. No surgery is needed, so hypothetically, he could begin to ramp up baseball activities in two to three weeks.
Carlos Correa (SS, MIN)- Foot: Correa is on the IL with plantar fasciitis. He has been hitting and fielding, but there is no timetable for his return. He has yet to be able to run at full speed without pain.
Anthony Rizzo (1B, NYY)- Forearm: Rizzo is on the IL recovering from a forearm fracture. Rizzo is on a rehab assignment and could return to the Yankees lineup as early as this weekend.
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU)- Shin: Tucker is on the IL with a right shin contusion. Tucker has been running close to full speed and could start a rehab assignment this week, but it is not known how long this rehab assignment will last.
Ha-Seong Kim (SS)- Shoulder: Kim was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He is scheduled to travel with the Padres this week and could be activated as early as Tuesday.
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 there is no timetable for his return.
Javier Baez (SS, DET)- Hip: Baez was placed on the IL with right hip inflammation. It was determined that he needed surgery and is done for the year. Ryan Kreidler and Trey Sweeney should see the majority of the action at shortstop for the Tigers.
#Tigers medical update: pic.twitter.com/iCx8bw8olV
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) August 27, 2024
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Tyler Glasnow (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Glasnow is on the IL with right elbow tendinitis. He is scheduled to begin playing catch this weekend. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did express optimism of Glasnow returning during the regular season.
Dave Roberts said #Dodgers are “hopeful” Tyler Glasnow will pitch again this season.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 29, 2024
Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)- Elbow: deGrom is on the IL recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He has begun increasing his workload in the hopes that he could make a mid-September return to the Rangers rotation.
Plan is for deGrom to make next start Sunday for Round Rock
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) August 29, 2024
Max Scherzer (SP, TEX)- Arm: Scherzer was placed on the IL due to right shoulder fatigue. Scherzer was re-evaluated by the team orthopedist this past week. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said this week that it is "going to take a while" for Scherzer to be built back up after he resumes throwing. Scherzer may be done for the year.
The possibility grows that Max Scherzer has thrown his last pitch with the Rangers. https://t.co/rC2wadhS7Y
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) August 28, 2024
Andrew Abbott (SP, CIN)- Shoulder: The Reds placed Abbott on the IL with a left shoulder strain, retroactive to August 20. The Severity is not yet known, and he is eligible to return on Sept. 4. Buck Farmer has filled in for the Reds.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Yamamoto is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. Yamamoto threw a two-inning in a rehab start and remains on track for a mid-September return.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is through two innings of work in his rehab outing with OKC. Sitting 94-95, allowed one hit – a solo shot to center. Struck out two on 31 pitches.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 29, 2024
Lance Lynn (SP, STL)- Knee: Lynn is on the IL with a knee strain. He is scheduled for a weekend rehab start and a possible return to the Cardinal rotation later in the week.
Luis Gil (SP, NYY)- Back: Gil was placed on the IL this week with a lower back strain. Yankees manager Aaron Boone Gil should make a rehab start this week and a possible return after that.
Clarke Schmidt (SP, NYY)- Lat- Schmidt is rehabbing a lat injury that forced him on the IL almost two months ago. He has moved his rehab to Triple-A and continues to track for a return from the 60-day injured list by the second week of September.
Today, the Yankees transferred the rehab assignment of RHP Clarke Schmidt from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) August 28, 2024
Zack Littell (SP, TB)- Shoulder: Littell was placed on the IL this past week with right shoulder fatigue. He will not need a rehab start and could return this weekend or early 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.
Robbie Ray (SP, SF)- Hamstring: Ray was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Severity is not yet known and there is no timetable for his return yet. This could be a season ending injury for Ray, depending on the severity of the strain.
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. CT scan was negative, and the Mets hope he can return after a minimum-length stay on the IL. Tylor Megill is the likely candidate to get called up to start for Blackburn.
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. "It's not concerning for the long term, but it's a rare injury that could keep him out for the year," manager David Bell said of Lodolo. "That's the bottom line." Jakob Junis was called on to start instead of Lodolo.
#Tigers medical update: pic.twitter.com/iCx8bw8olV
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) August 27, 2024
Michael Lorenzen (SP, KC)- Hamstring: Lorenzen was placed on the IL this week with a strained left hamstring. He will be eligible to return in mid-September, but a firm timeline for his recovery is not yet known. Alec Marsh is likely to slide into Lorenzen's rotation spot.
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 the end of this coming week.
Andrew Nardi (RP, MIA)- Elbow: Nardi was placed on the IL this week due to a left elbow injury. The severity is not yet known. George Soriano was called up.
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. There is a chance that he will not come back this season from this issue.
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