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As the 22nd week of the 2024 MLB season nears, it's important to follow the latest developments on key players. There is no shortage of high-impact fantasy baseball studs dealing with bumps and bruises, so let's take a look at the top injured players including Tyler O'Neill, Christian Yelich, Jorge Soler, Jared Jones, Byron Buxton, Max Scherzer, and more.
This is the next edition of this year's fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters and pitchers as of August 16, 2024. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, all players should be monitored ahead of the start of the week.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across 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 the top fantasy baseball players.
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Tyler O'Neill Injury Update
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on Thursday that the team is aiming for outfielder Tyler O'Neill (leg) to come off the 10-day injured list on either Sunday against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles or on Monday before a series opener in Houston against the Astros. O'Neill rejoined the Red Sox at Fenway Park this week after being discharged from a hospital early this week while dealing with a leg infection.
Liam Hendriks will start a rehab assignment Sunday, likely at Worcester, barring any setbacks. They want 7ish outings out of him.
Cora said Criswell likely active tomorrow. They’re aiming for Sunday/Monday for O’Neill.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 15, 2024
The 29-year-old starting outfielder is on the cusp of a return and should be rostered in all fantasy leagues. When he returns, Ceddanne Rafaela will likely head back to shortstop duties for Boston. In his first year in Beantown, O'Neill has been solid, slashing .268/.357/.544 with a .900 OPS, 22 home runs, 45 RBI, and 59 runs scored in 80 games played.
Christian Yelich Injury Update
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (back) will undergo season-ending surgery on Friday. Yelich had been attempting a non-surgical comeback from lower-back inflammation, but he's instead opted to have a procedure as treatment for the injury.
It's a tough break for fantasy managers and the first-place Brewers, who had both been hoping to get him back into the mix for the stretch run this season. Yelich expects to be healthy in time for the 2025 campaign.
Christian Yelich will undergo season-ending back surgery tomorrow in Milwaukee, performed by Dr. Brandon Rebholz. https://t.co/SiHT1jrDpJ pic.twitter.com/YsXlAz54QY
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 15, 2024
The 32-year-old All-Star left fielder's year ends after he slashed an outstanding .315/.406/.504 with 11 home runs, 42 RBI, 44 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases over 315 plate appearances. Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell should handle consistent at-bats in Milwaukee's outfield against right-handed pitching the rest of the way.
Jorge Soler Injury Update
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jorge Soler (hamstring) has a mild left hamstring strain. He is considered day-to-day, and he'll stay with the team on its current road trip. It's good news for Soler, who thinks there's a chance he could play for the Braves during this weekend's series against the Los Angeles Angels but will sit Friday's series opener in Anaheim.
Jorge Soler has a mild hamstring strain. Day to day. He’ll stay on the trip.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) August 15, 2024
Manager Brian Snitker may take a cautious approach and sit the 32-year-old veteran slugger until the start of next week's series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Soler exited Wednesday night's game against the San Francisco Giants as a precaution after his hamstring tightened while he was attempting to beat out a grounder in the fourth inning.
Michael Harris II should reclaim his spot atop Atlanta's lineup in games Soler ends up missing.
Jared Jones Injury Update
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (lat) made another minor league rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings of work. The results in the box score were not pretty, but Jones' velocity looks to be back up to normal.
The Pirates could opt to have him make one more appearance in the minors to sharpen things up, but he did throw 67 pitches in Thursday's outing, meaning he could be ready to rejoin Pittsburgh's rotation early next week.
Jared Jones made another rehab start in AAA
The results haven't been pretty, but that is far from the goal in a rehab start. His velocity looks to be back up to normal, and his slider graded out well
I can't wait for him to make his return to Pittsburgh soon! pic.twitter.com/RKLV3n8M7h
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) August 14, 2024
Working his way back from a Grade 2 right lat strain, the 22-year-old rookie right-hander owns a promising 3.56 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 98 strikeouts and 27 walks through 91 innings (16 starts) this season. There's no reason for him to be on waiver wires in any fantasy leagues.
Byron Buxton Injury Update
Despite not dealing with any structural damage, Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday. The Twins are calling up infielder Edouard Julien from the minors in a corresponding move.
Buxton was pulled with right hip discomfort in Monday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals, and the Twins made the move to put him on the IL after he was held out of the lineup for the third straight game in Thursday's series opener in Texas against the Rangers.
Even though he has no structural damage, Byron Buxton will be placed on the 10-day IL. Edouard Julien is en route. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 15, 2024
There's no guarantee that the oft-injured outfielder will be ready when he's eligible to come off the IL on Aug. 23. In the 30-year-old's absence, expect Austin Martin and Manuel Margot to split playing time in center field. Martin is starting in center and batting ninth on Thursday against Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford.
Max Scherzer Injury Update
Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (shoulder) said he's "turned a corner" and plans to throw a bullpen session on Friday. Scherzer, who has made only eight starts in 2024 due to various injuries, last pitched for the Rangers on July 30 against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he allowed three earned runs in four innings for his fourth loss of the season.
Nathan Eovaldi’s bullpen on Wednesday went well & he’s on track to start Saturday.
Max Scherzer said he’s “turned a corner,” plans to throw bullpen on Friday
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) August 15, 2024
He's been battling right shoulder fatigue of late but is feeling better after receiving a nerve injection this week. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner will now begin building his arm back up and could even need a short minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the Rangers' starting rotation.
Scherzer can still be effective in the right matchups, but he's far from his prime and is quickly running out of time to help in fantasy leagues.
Trevor Megill Injury Update
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed reliever Trevor Megill (back) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday. Megill lost most of his fantasy appeal when regular closer Devin Williams returned from a lengthy injured-list stint, but Megill should return to a high-leverage bullpen role once he's activated from the 15-day injured list. The 30-year-old has been on the shelf with a lower back injury since late July but is nearing a return to the big league bullpen.
🚨 REHAB ALERT 🚨 Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill joins the Timber Rattlers this Thursday! 🔥 #tratnation #ThisIsMyCrew
Tickets 🎟 https://t.co/iN6qAU5CpE pic.twitter.com/X6W2ipaJEJ
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) August 14, 2024
The former seventh-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2015 out of Loyola Marymount University currently leads the Brewers relief corps with the first 20 saves of his career, and he's also posted a career-best 2.41 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a strong 40:8 K:BB in 33 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Megill will continue to be valuable in holds leagues when he's back in Milwaukee.
Lance Lynn Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (knee) will throw a second bullpen session on Friday at Busch Stadium. How the 37-year-old veteran right-hander's body responds following that session will dictate when he pitches next for the Cardinals, manager Oliver Marmol said.
Lynn threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Monday and a flat-ground session ahead of Tuesday's game in Cincinnati against the Reds.
He's been on the 15-day injured list since July 31 with inflammation in his right knee, having gone 6-4 with a 4.06 ERA over 21 starts and allowing only five home runs in 106 1/3 innings after being plagued by the long ball in 2023 while pitching for the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Barring any setbacks, Lynn should be back to help St. Louis' rotation without needing a minor league rehab start at some point next week. (MLB.com)
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