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The 2024 fantasy baseball season is approaching crunch time, and several key MLB hurlers remain in the injury headlines. For the latest updates, let's take a look at injured pitchers Gerrit Cole, Jack Flaherty, Kenley Jansen, Max Scherzer, Joe Musgrove, Ryan Pepiot, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of August 1, 2024. Whether your top ace is out of action, or a depth player is banged up, some players on this list are sure to affect fantasy baseball lineup decisions.
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Gerrit Cole Injury Update
New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole, who was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies due to general body fatigue, reported no issues after throwing on Wednesday. Cole is expected to throw a bullpen session on Friday and will likely start this weekend against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays.
Gerrit Cole reported no issues after throwing today. He’s expected to throw a bullpen Friday and will likely start this weekend vs the Jays #yankees
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) July 31, 2024
It's good news for Cole, the Yankees, and his fantasy managers after he got a late start to the season due to an elbow injury he suffered in spring training. The 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young will have a good matchup against the offensively-challenged Jays as he looks to bounce back after a tough start in 2024. Through his seven starts, Cole hasn't looked like an ace, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with 38 strikeouts and 12 walks in 35 innings. Hopefully, the six-time All-Star can turn things around with a little extra rest.
Jack Flaherty Injury Update
The New York Yankees were in on right-hander Jack Flaherty before the Detroit Tigers dealt him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline on Tuesday for two minor-league prospects, but according to sources briefed on discussions, the Yankees backed out of a preliminary trade for Flaherty after reviewing his medical records.
A lower back injury forced Flaherty to miss a start early in July and receive two injections in a span of three weeks. Since returning, he has a 1.53 ERA in 17 2/3 innings over three starts. On the year, it's been a resurgent season for the 28-year-old, as he has a 2.95 ERA in 106 2/3 frames. Flaherty has been asymptomatic since getting treated, and his performance hasn't suffered, but the Yankees perhaps just didn't want to take the risk after recently being burned on a trade for Frankie Montas in 2022. (The Athletic)
Kenley Jansen Injury Update
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that closer Kenley Jansen (back) slipped and tweaked his lower back during his outing on Wednesday in the walk-off win against the visiting Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox will see how he feels on Friday after a scheduled day off on Thursday. Jansen earned his fourth win of the year after tossing a scoreless inning in the top of the 10th, walking one and striking out one, but he clearly tweaked his back trying to cover first base.
Cora says Kenley slipped and tweaked his lower back. They’ll see how he feels on Friday and go from there.
— Mac Cerullo (@MacCerullo) July 31, 2024
He did stay in the game after trainers came out to check on him. Even if his injury is deemed minor, Jansen may not be ready for Friday's series opener against the defending World Series-champion Texas Rangers. Fantasy managers may want to prepare for a potential injured-list stint just to be safe. If Jansen is forced to miss time with this ailment, Luis Garcia or Lucas Sims, both recently acquired in trades on Tuesday, could see save opportunities in Boston.
Max Scherzer Injury Update
Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (arm) left his start early on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals with arm fatigue for the second time in three starts. Scherzer gave up three runs in four innings but was pulled after throwing just 68 pitches. The 40-year-old said he felt better than his start on July 20 against the Baltimore Orioles, when he gave up four runs in two innings, but clearly not as good as his start against the White Sox on July 25, when he threw six innings of one-run ball.
Scherzer isn't too concerned, though, and doesn't think it's an injury and won't need to go on the injured list anytime soon. Even if the future Hall of Famer doesn't go on the IL, this is a worrying trend for a veteran pitcher with as much tread on the tires as Scherzer has. The eight-time All-Star has an ERA under 4.00 but continues to see his strikeout rate drop as he nears the tail end of his fantastic MLB career. (MLB.com)
Joe Musgrove Injury Update
San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) will begin his minor-league rehab assignment with an unnamed affiliate, according to manager Mike Shildt. It comes after Musgrove threw 40 pitches during a two-inning simulated game at the team's spring training complex in Arizona on Tuesday against Mariners minor-leaguers.
The Padres placed Stephen Kolek on the IL with forearm tendonitis. Austin Davis was DFA'd and Logan Gillaspie optioned. Those moves cleared roster space for Scott, Hoeing and Pérez.
Meanwhile, Joe Musgrove will make a rehab appearance at an affiliate Sunday, Mike Shildt says.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) July 31, 2024
The 31-year-old responded well after that test and will now resume throwing in games in the minors. Since Musgrove has been out since late May due to a bone spur and right elbow inflammation, he's likely to require at least a couple of rehab starts before the Padres feel comfortable having him rejoin their starting rotation. Musgrove finished last year on the injured list and has been on the IL two separate times in 2024, so it's fair to wonder how effective he'll be when he returns after he didn't look like himself in his 10 starts this year.
Ryan Pepiot Injury Update
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot (knee) threw another bullpen session on Tuesday but expectedly still felt some stiffness in his knee between simulated innings. Pepiot is scheduled to throw another bullpen on Friday at Minute Maid Park ahead of the series opener against the hosting Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay will determine his next step based on how he responds to that.
The 26-year-old former third-round pick went 6-5 with a 3.92 ERA (3.85 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 94 strikeouts and 31 walks in 17 starts (87 1/3 innings) for the Rays before going on the injured list due to a knee infection that emerged at the end of the All-Star break, and he figures to be able to return sometime in early August without heading out on an abbreviated minor-league rehab assignment. Upon his activation from the IL, Pepiot should take Tyler Alexander's rotation spot. (MLB.com)
Jon Gray Injury Update
Texas Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (groin) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday amid a flurry of roster moves, and manager Bruce Bochy said that he expects Gray to miss around a month as he recovers from a right-groin strain. Gray exited his start in Toronto on Sunday before even throwing a pitch.
He initially tweaked his groin during his pre-game bullpen session but decided to pitch through it until the pain worsened. It's unclear who will take Gray's spot in the starting rotation in Texas. Until Tyler Mahle (elbow) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) become options, it could be one of Dane Dunning, Cody Bradford, or Jose Urena. Gray is sporting a weak 19.8% strikeout rate in 2024 but has been solid as a backend rotation option in deep mixed fantasy leagues with a 3.73 ERA (3.34 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP in his 20 outings (17 starts) over 94 innings in his third year in Texas. (MLB.com)
Edward Cabrera Injury Update
Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said that testing came back OK for right-hander Edward Cabrera (knee), and he's penciled in to make his next scheduled start this Sunday versus the division-rival Atlanta Braves. Cabrera was pulled from his start early on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning when he injured his left knee while covering first base.
#Marlins probables for Braves series:
Thursday: RHP Max Meyer (previously announced)
Friday: TBA
Saturday: RHP Kyle Tyler
Sunday: RHP Edward CabreraSkip mentioned that testing came back OK for Cabrera.
— Christina De Nicola (@CDeNicola13) July 31, 2024
The 26-year-old avoided a serious ailment, though, and won't have to skip a start in the rotation for the Fish. The Dominican hurler is currently sporting a career-worst 6.65 ERA (5.58 FIP) with a 1.55 WHIP and a 56:26 K:BB in 43 1/3 innings over his 10 starts in his fourth big-league campaign in 2024. Cabrera does have a career-high 28.6% strikeout rate, but his career 13.8% walk rate makes him a volatile fantasy asset on a start-by-start basis.
Gregory Santos Injury Update
Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Gregory Santos (biceps) left his appearance early on Wednesday at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox with a biceps injury, according to manager Scott Servais. Santos will undergo an MRI exam on Thursday back in Seattle. The 24-year-old Dominican hurler made it through two-thirds of an inning and didn't allow a run on Wednesday in the series finale while striking out one batter before being pulled.
Gregory Santos left today’s game with a bicep injury, Scott Servais just said. He’ll undergo an MRI tomorrow back in Seattle.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) July 31, 2024
The M's have a day off on Thursday before opening a series on Friday versus the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, and it remains to be seen if Santos will be available out of the bullpen by then. It's been a tough first year in Seattle for Santos, who entered Wednesday's contest with a 7.71 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with four strikeouts and one walk in just 4 2/3 innings pitched after missing most of the year due to injury.
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