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As the weekend approaches, there are plenty of big-name fantasy pitchers dealing with ailments. Fantasy managers will be happy to get some of these key players back, but some of them are still set to be out for a little bit longer. We have the latest updates. Let's take a look at the top injured pitchers including Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw, Shane McClanahan, Joe Ryan, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of Aug 4, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. 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 force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.
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 pitchers.
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Shohei Ohtani Injury Update
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani (finger) said he was dealing with cramping in his right middle finger during his start on Thursday night against the Seattle Mariners, and he doesn't know if he'll need to skip his next start. The cramping caused him to depart after four innings on the mound, holding the M's scoreless on three hits while walking one and striking out four to drop his season ERA to 3.32 as a hurler.
The 29-year-old two-way superstar has had issues with cramping in his legs recently as well, but he stayed in the game as the designated hitter and went 2-for-2 with his major-league-leading 40th homer of the year, two walks and two runs scored. The cramping issues are a bit concerning, but the Angels still don't seem terribly worried. Whenever Ohtani is on the mound or as the DH, the bottom line is that he needs to be in all starting fantasy lineups.
Clayton Kershaw Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Clayton Kershaw's (shoulder) simulated game on Thursday went well. He will throw a bullpen session in a few days and should return to the team's starting rotation next week. Kershaw hasn't pitched for the Dodgers since June 27 due to left-shoulder inflammation, but it sounds as though he's on the cusp of a return to the big leagues.
The 35-year-old future Hall of Famer is past his prime, but don't tell that to him. He's gone 10-4 on the season with a 2.55 ERA (3.52 FIP), 1.05 WHIP, 24 walks and 105 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings over his 16 starts before landing on the injured list. The three-time Cy Young winner and 10-time All-Star could be a difference-maker for fantasy squads down the stretch if he's as good as he was before his injury.
Shane McClanahan Injury Update
The Tampa Bay Rays don't have a definitive diagnosis on left-hander Shane McClanahan (forearm) and he'll undergo more imaging and get additional options, but he will end up going on the injured list during that process. It comes after McClanahan was forced from his start on Wednesday against the New York Yankees after he felt left-forearm tightness in the fourth inning.
Depending on the results of his tests, this is an injury that could keep the 26-year-old out for the rest of the regular season, so fantasy managers will be holding their breathe until then. The former first-rounder is a fantasy ace when healthy, and he currently has an 11-2 record, 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 115 innings across his 21 starts in 2023. Keep him stashed in all fantasy leagues until we know more.
Joe Ryan Injury Update
The Minnesota Twins placed right-hander Joe Ryan (groin) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a left-groin strain and selected the contract of left-hander Dallas Keuchel from the minors in a corresponding move. Ryan has fallen on hard times on the mound of late for the Twins, and his groin injury might be the explanation.
The 27-year-old allowed seven earned runs on nine hits (four home runs) while walking one and striking out four in four innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday and has an 8.87 ERA with 11 home runs surrendered in 23 1/3 innings over his last five starts, dating back to July 9. After a very nice start to the year, Ryan is now 9-8 with a 4.43 ERA (4.15 FIP), 1.13 WHIP, 25 walks and a career-high 152 K's in 126 innings over 22 starts. Hopefully he'll be able to find his early season form once he's past his groin injury.
Brandon Woodruff Injury Update
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) is set to return on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Woodruff has been out since April 7 with a shoulder strain and has gone through an extensive rehabilitation process to get himself ready to return to the majors.
He posted a 3.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 11:2 K:BB ratio in 11 ⅔ IP while on his rehab assignment and built himself up well enough that he should be able to throw 80-plus pitches in his first start back. The righty should have already been stashed in all fantasy leagues and can be thrown back into lineups immediately.
Jose Urquidy Injury Update
If Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy's (shoulder) bullpen session goes well, he could return from the injured list to take the ball on Sunday against the New York Yankees. We wouldn't recommend using Urquidy in DFS or season-long fantasy leagues in his first start back, though, since he has missed the last three months of action.
The 28-year-old hurler has never been a very dominant starter, either, and he allowed five earned runs on nine hits in five innings of work in his final minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land last weekend. Urquidy might not be limited from a pitch-count perspective on Sunday, but he'll be much too risky for fantasy purposes. The Mexican righty had a 5.20 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 23 K's in 27 2/3 frames in his six starts earlier this season before going on the shelf.
Walker Buehler Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow), who is trying to come back from Tommy John surgery, is "on the verge" of starting a minor-league rehab assignment. However, Roberts isn't ready to pinpoint a specific date. The Dodgers are hoping to have Buehler back as a starter in September. The 29-year-old could start a rehab assignment if all goes well with his bullpen session this Saturday.
Buehler could return just in time for a postseason run for a Dodgers team that hasn't had a dominant rotation for most of the year. However, for fantasy purposes, you may want to temper expectations given the fact that many hurlers struggle with velocity when they initially return from TJ surgery.
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