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The 2024 MLB season is heating up, but as always, injuries have become a significant factor in fantasy baseball. That said, let's take a look at injured hitters Evan Carter, Tyler O'Neill, Alex Bregman, Luis Robert Jr., Tommy Pham, Sean Murphy, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters, as of June 5, 2024. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will be important in lineups.
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 hitters.
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Evan Carter Injury Update
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said on Tuesday that outfielder Evan Carter (back) will be out for around a month or more. "It's a little worse than we thought. It's not a stress fracture, I think we're calling it a stress reaction," Bochy said. The Rangers put the young outfielder on the 10-day injured list on May 28 with what they called lower-back tightness at the time. This news from Bochy is much more significant and will keep the 21-year-old left-handed hitter out into the second half of the season.
Bruce Bochy with “not great news” on rookie outfielder Evan Carter. Bochy said Carter will be out for about a month or more.
“It’s a little worse than we thought. It's not a stress fracture, I think we’re calling it a stress reaction.”
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) June 4, 2024
It will be at least several weeks before Carter resumes baseball activities. Fantasy managers are going to have to be patient here. In Carter's absence, rookie first-rounder Wyatt Langford has been playing left field regularly while Robbie Grossman and Ezequiel Duran see at-bats at designated hitter. In addition to his injury, Carter struggled in his first 45 games in just his second year in the big leagues, going 27-for-144 (.188) with five homers, 15 RBI, and 43 K's in 162 plate appearances.
Tyler O'Neill Injury Update
Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill (knee) began a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and is optimistic about returning to the majors on Wednesday. O'Neill was placed on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation on May 29, retroactive to May 26.
Tyler O’Neill will go on a rehab assignment with the WooSox tonight. Cora hopes he can be activated Wednesday.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) June 4, 2024
He is slashing .236/.343/.500 with 11 home runs, 17 RBI, and 29 runs scored in 41 games. Should he be activated from the injured list on Wednesday, fantasy managers will have no problem adding O'Neill's power back into their lineups.
Alex Bregman Injury Update
Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (hand) was hit by a pitch in his left hand in the first inning of Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Cardinals. However, he was able to play the entire game, going 1-for-3 with a single, a walk, and a strikeout. Precautionary X-rays came back negative, per the Athletic's Chandler Rome.
X-rays on Alex Bregman’s hand were negative, he said. Spencer Arrighetti said he’s doing fine and expects to make his next start on time, but he said he wasn’t able to get a ton of velocity behind the ball while trying to pitch with the calf contusion in the third inning
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 5, 2024
Bregman should be considered day-to-day, but it sounds like he avoided anything serious. This is good news for fantasy managers, as the 30-year-old is finally starting to come around at the plate, batting .370 with four home runs in his last seven games.
Luis Robert Jr., Tommy Pham Injury Update
The Chicago White Sox made a series of roster moves Tuesday, headlined by the return of outfielder Luis Robert (hip) from the 10-day injured list. He had been sidelined since early April with a Grade 2 right hip flexor strain. Robert is slashing .214/.241/.500 with two homers, four RBI, and three runs scored in seven games and should immediately be added to fantasy lineups.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 4, 2024
The White Sox placed outfielders Tommy Pham (ankle) and Dominic Fletcher (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list in corresponding moves. Chicago also called up outfielder Zach DeLoach from Triple-A Charlotte and added the contract of outfielder Duke Ellis from Double-A Birmingham while designating infielder Zach Remillard for the assignment.
Sean Murphy Injury Update
Initial X-rays on Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (elbow) came back negative on Tuesday night, and he is considered day-to-day. Murphy was hit in the right elbow by a pitch late in the 8-3 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park but has avoided any structural damage, thankfully. Before Murphy left the game, went 1-for-3 with an RBI. The 29-year-old is dealing with a swollen elbow for now and thinks he'll be able to avoid the injured list after missing a good chunk of time already in 2024 with an oblique strain.
Sean Murphy initial X-rays were negative. Day to day.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) June 5, 2024
Fantasy managers shouldn't expect to have Murphy available for Wednesday's contest in Beantown, with Travis d'Arnaud likely earning the start behind the dish. As long as Murphy's injury proves to be pretty minor, he should be able to return to the lineup in the four-game series against the Washington Nationals that starts on Thursday in D.C.
Wilyer Abreu Injury Update
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday and will see a specialist, according to manager Alex Cora. He underwent an MRI, which revealed a lot of inflammation in his ankle. Abreu will need to let the swelling subside and most likely won't need more than 10 days.
Cora says on WEEI that Wilyer Abreu is headed to the IL with an ankle sprain and is going to see a specialist
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) June 4, 2024
The loss of Abreu has depleted the Red Sox outfield to the point where first baseman-designated hitter Bobby Dalbec will make his first MLB start in right field for Tuesday's home game against the Atlanta Braves. Abreu is slashing .272/.344/.485 with six homers, 22 RBI, 26 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 53 games. The Red Sox, however, are optimistic outfielder Tyler O'Neill (knee) will return as soon as Wednesday.
Kris Bryant Injury Update
Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant (rib) remained out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The veteran slugger missed his second straight contest due to rib soreness. Bryant suffered the injury while making a catch during the weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fantasy managers should consider Bryant as a day-to-day. (MLB.com)
Jordan Lawlar Injury Update
Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop and No. 1 prospect Jordan Lawlar (thumb) is nearing a return to Triple-A Reno. Lawlar returned to action this past Friday after missing the entire season after undergoing surgery on his right thumb. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo alluded to the fact that Lawlar will need to shake off some rust, but he should find himself back in the big leagues when he is healthy. Lawlar, 21, is one of the most exciting prospects in the game and offers five-tool potential.
The youngster made his big-league debut in 2023 for the Diamondbacks but struggled with four hits in 31 at-bats. It was a very small sample size for Lawlar, though and fantasy managers shouldn't put too much stock into that performance. As one of the top prospects in the game, managers in all formats should be keeping tabs on his return, as he has the ability to be a difference-maker down the stretch. Once he returns, expect Kevin Newman and Blaze Alexander to see less playing time. (MLB.com)
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