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We're heading into the last week of August, meaning the fantasy baseball playoffs are on the horizon. Unfortunately, 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 Fernando Tatis Jr., Ozzie Albies, Zach Eflin, Bo Bichette, Jorge Soler, Ryan Mountcastle, and more.
This is the next edition of this year's fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters and pitchers as of August 23, 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 the 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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Fernando Tatis Jr. Injury Update
San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (thigh) ran some sprints at Petco Park before the series opener on Thursday against the New York Mets for the first time since he went on the injured list with a stress reaction in his thigh in June. Tatis estimates that he ran at about 70 percent intensity.
The Padres have been pretty tight-lipped about Tatis' rehab, and there remains no timetable for him to start a minor-league rehab assignment, so the 25-year-old All-Star isn't going to rejoin the Padres until sometime in September, possibly mid-September.
Fernando Tatis Jr. just ran some sprints at Petco Park, he said, for the first time since he went on the injured list. He estimated he ran at about 70 percent intensity.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) August 22, 2024
Tatis is a difference-maker both in real life for the Friars and for fantasy managers when he's on the field, so he should remain stashed in an IL spot in all leagues. The Dominican superstar was hitting a strong .279/.354/.468 with a .821 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and eight stolen bases in 308 at-bats at the time of his injury.
Ozzie Albies Injury Update
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (wrist) is now wearing a soft cast. There remains no definitive timetable on when Albies can begin swinging a bat, but he's at least been able to run and throw since fracturing his left wrist on July 21.
Fantasy managers can probably find more impactful stashes on waiver wires, as the 27-year-old star infielder is unlikely to make it back to the Braves until late September, considering Albies is only about four weeks into an eight-week timeline for a full recovery.
Snit said there’s a good chance Soler will be back in the lineup tomorrow.
Albies is now wearing a soft cast. No definite timetable on when he can begin swinging a bat. He’s been able to run and throw since fracturing his left wrist on July 21.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 22, 2024
Veteran Whit Merrifield is slashing a serviceable .258/.380/.394 with two doubles, two triples, 14 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 66 at-bats (22 games) as Atlanta's interim primary second baseman, and he's worth a look in deep mixed and NL-only leagues while hitting near the top of the lineup.
Zach Eflin Injury Update
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin (shoulder) sounds pretty confident that he'll be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when he's first eligible on Sept. 1. When asked if he'll be ready after 15 days, he said, "Absolutely. As I stand today, yeah, for sure. I'm not even remotely focusing on rehab starts." Eflin said his right shoulder already feels "10 times better" than it did earlier this week.
#Orioles RHP Zach Eflin: “I’m not even remotely focusing on rehab starts.”
So ready after 15 days?
“Absolutely. As I stand today, yeah, for sure.” https://t.co/DC0eC4Pnae
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) August 22, 2024
The 30-year-old was put on the IL on Tuesday with inflammation in his right shoulder, but as things sound now, he won't need any rehab assignments before returning to the O's rotation.
Eflin's fantasy managers are surely hoping he's right in his assessment of his injury and his timeline for a return. In his first four starts with Baltimore since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, Eflin has a 2.13 ERA with only two walks and 25 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings.
Bo Bichette Injury Update
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (calf) has started running at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Fla., according to manager John Schneider.
Bichette will join the Blue Jays at Fenway Park and stick with them through their road trip as he works his way towards a minor-league rehab assignment. Running full speed and running the bases will likely be the last couple of boxes Bichette needs to check before getting the green light for a rehab assignment.
Bo Bichette has started running down in Dunedin, John Schneider says.
He will join the #BlueJays in Boston and stick with them through the road trip as he builds towards a rehab assignment.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 22, 2024
The 26-year-old began hitting and fielding recently as well as he works his way back from a strained right calf that landed him on the injured list to begin the second half of the season.
Bichette won't rejoin the big-league squad until early September, at which point he'll have limited time to turn around what has been one of the most disappointing seasons for a high-end fantasy name. Rookie Leo Jimenez has been seeing most of the starts at the 6 in Bichette's absence.
Jorge Soler Injury Update
Atlanta Braves outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler (hamstring) ramped up his activities a bit with his running on Thursday, and barring a setback, he could return to the starting lineup on Friday in the series opener against the division-rival Washington Nationals at Truist Park.
Soler has been out of the team's lineup since injuring his left hamstring last Wednesday, but the 32-year-old right-handed slugger should rejoin the lineup this weekend. The fact that he appeared as a pinch-hitter on Tuesday is a sign that the Braves feel confident he won't need a trip to the injured list.
Jorge Soler ramped it up a bit with his running today and, provided no setbacks, he could possibly return to the lineup Friday.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 22, 2024
Ramon Laureano is starting in right field again on Thursday and is batting fifth in the series finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Soler has hit .261 (12-for-46) with four home runs and 11 RBI in 15 games since being acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants at the deadline.
Ryan Mountcastle Injury Update
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) was pulled from Thursday's 6-0 shutout loss against the Houston Astros early at Camden Yards due to a sore wrist, according to manager Brandon Hyde.
Mountcastle went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout in the contest before Ryan O'Hearn moved from right field to first base to replace him. The injury stemmed from when the 27-year-old dove head-first into second base in the second inning, but he stayed in the game until being replaced in the ninth.
Ryan Mountcastle came out of the game with a sore wrist, per #Orioles manager Brandon Hyde
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) August 23, 2024
We'll have a better idea of how much time Mountcastle might be forced to miss after he undergoes tests on his wrist. At the very least, fantasy managers should expect him to be out for the second game of the series against Houston on Friday. If Mountcastle's injury is serious enough to put him on the injured list, O'Hearn would be in line for more starts at the cold corner in Baltimore.
Max Scherzer Injury Update
Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (shoulder) will not make his minor-league rehab start on Friday now for Double-A Frisco, according to the team. No reason was given other than Scherzer isn't quite ready.
It's unclear if Scherzer has suffered a setback as he tries to work his way back from right-shoulder fatigue that has kept him sidelined since the end of July. A various assortment of injuries have limited the 40-year-old three-time Cy Young winner to only eight starts.
Max Scherzer is not making a rehab start Friday, #Rangers announce. No reason given other than he's not quite ready.
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) August 22, 2024
The Rangers aren't in the playoff picture this year, so at best, Scherzer may only be able to make a few more starts in 2024, assuming he even makes it back at all.
Check back to see when he might be able to make his next rehab start, which he's hoping will be his last before he rejoins Texas' rotation. The eight-time All-Star is no longer a dominant fantasy ace and has a 3.89 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 38 K's in 39 1/3 innings in 2024.
Byron Buxton Injury Update
There still isn't an exact timeline for Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton's (hip) return, but he will be evaluated when the team returns home for their off-day on Thursday.
However, head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta did not rule out the possibility of Buxton returning on Friday for Minnesota's series opener at Target Field against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals following the minimum 10-day stint on the injured list. Buxton did some running for the first time on Tuesday, having already been hitting, throwing, and doing outfield work since going down with right hip inflammation.
The 30-year-old speedy slugger is slashing a resurgent .275/.334/.528 with 16 home runs, 23 doubles, 54 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 305 at-bats for the Twins this year and needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. (TwinCities.com)
Jacob deGrom Injury Update
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (elbow) made his first minor-league rehab start on Thursday, allowing one earned run on two hits and no walks while striking out three in two innings (29 pitches) with Double-A Frisco. In his first appearance in-game action in over 16 months, deGrom touched 100 mph on his fastball in the first inning on Thursday.
1-2-3 second inning for Jacob deGrom on 15 pitches. Final ljne: 2IP, 2H, 1 R-ER, 0 BB, 3 Ks, 29 pitches/23 strikes
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) August 23, 2024
Manager Bruce Bochy has previously estimated the Rangers' ace's assignment will last four starts, so deGrom will likely make his first big-league appearance this season around mid-September if all goes well in the minors.
deGrom's fantasy impact is going to be muted when it's all said and done for 2024, but the two-time National League, Cy Young Award winner, is certainly someone to stash for those looking to bolster playoff rosters in the season's final weeks.
Kodai Senga Injury Update
The New York Mets believe there's a chance that starting pitcher Kodai Senga (calf) could pitch in one of the final five games of the regular season against the Atlanta Braves or Milwaukee Brewers.
Senga, who is on the 60-day injured list and was all but ruled out for the remainder of the regular season after suffering a high-grade calf strain, is eligible to come off the IL on Sept. 25. The hope until now had been that Senga could possibly make it back for the postseason, should the Mets get there.
While having him available to start one of the final five games of the regular season could be enormous for New York's wild-card push, it's not going to make a significant difference for fantasy managers. Last Friday, president of baseball operations David Stearns said that Senga could start a formal throwing program within the next week to 10 days. (The Athletic)
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