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The 2024 fantasy baseball season has been no stranger to injuries, and unfortunately, key MLB hurlers continue to battle through them. That said, let's take a look at injured pitchers Grayson Rodriguez, Tanner Bibee, Braxton Garrett, Merrill Kelly, Joe Musgrove, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of August 8, 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.
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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Grayson Rodriguez Injury Update
The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to August 4) on Wednesday with right-late/teres discomfort and recalled left-hander Keegan Akin from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Rodriguez was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday due to the injury and will now miss at least the next two weeks. It's unclear if the 24-year-old will be able to come off the IL when he's eligible to return on August 19, but he should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues while we wait.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/4NEaA7pO0D
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 7, 2024
Albert Suarez was used in an emergency spot start in place of Rodriguez on Tuesday and will likely take over Rodriguez's rotation spot for however long he's sidelined. Rodriguez has a league-high 13 wins in his second year in the big leagues in 2024 while also posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with a 130:36 K:BB in 20 starts over 116.2 innings. UPDATE: Manager Brandon Hyde said Rodriguez has a mild strain, and the O's are optimistic about the timeline for recovery, although an exact timeline is still TBD.
Tanner Bibee Injury Update
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (shoulder) could make his return to the rotation and start on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Twins if his scheduled bullpen session on Thursday goes well. Bibee isn't on the injured list, but the Guardians chose to skip his last turn through the rotation after he came away with right-shoulder discomfort in his last outing on July 29 against the Detroit Tigers.
Cleveland's starting pitching plan...
Today: Ben Lively & Carlos Carrasco
Friday: Alex Cobb & TBD
Saturday: Gavin Williams
Sunday: TBD (but Tanner Bibee if his bullpen session tomorrow goes well)— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) August 7, 2024
The 25-year-old has been solid for fantasy managers in 2024, but he'll surely be more risky against a tough opponent if he returns this weekend with a possible pitch-count restriction. On the flip side, in Bibee's two starts against Minnesota this year, he's allowed only two earned runs while walking one and striking out 17 in 12.1 innings pitched.
Braxton Garrett Injury Update
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Braxton Garrett (forearm) played catch before Wednesday's game against the visiting Cincinnati Reds in Miami as he builds up in his throwing program. Garrett said he's about a week and a half away from beginning to throw bullpen sessions. He was placed on the injured list on June 23 after he was scratched from his scheduled start due to a left forearm flexor strain, and Garrett isn't expected to rejoin Miami's rotation until sometime in September.
Braxton Garrett played catch earlier. He hopes to start throwing bullpens in 1 1/2 weeks. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/E3vfKFg8dj
— Christina De Nicola (@CDeNicola13) August 7, 2024
The 26-year-old southpaw owns a 5.35 ERA and 1.19 WHIP to go with a sharp 34:4 K:BB this season, but he's difficult to stash in fantasy leagues without a whole lot of time remaining to make an impact.
Merrill Kelly Injury Update
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) made his minor-league rehab debut on Tuesday, allowing three runs in four innings for the High-A Hillsboro Hops. Kelly went in with a target of 65 pitches, and he was able to reach 62, so he should be relatively stretched out at this point.
Merrill Kelly's final line in his rehab start for High-A Hillsboro:
4+ IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 62 pitches (38 strikes).
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) August 7, 2024
The 35-year-old veteran right-hander has been on the injured list since April 23 due to a strained right shoulder, but there's a chance that he'll be ready to make his next appearance with the D-backs and won't need to make another start in the minor leagues. Kelly holds a strong 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24.2 innings (four starts) in the desert this season and belongs on all rosters in fantasy leagues.
Joe Musgrove Injury Update
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt has previously said that there is "a high probability" starting pitcher Joe Musgrove's (elbow) next outing would come with the big-league club, and the team initially planned for Sunday in Miami against the last-place Marlins. When Dylan Cease's start on Wednesday was shortened to one inning due to rain, however, Shildt noted that Cease would start in Miami, which presumably bumps Musgrove's return to Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park.
Based on everything Mike Shildt said this afternoon, including that Dylan Cease will pitch in Miami, it is all but certain that Joe Musgrove’s return will be pushed back to Monday at Petco Park against the Pirates. https://t.co/STzeLR3Glc
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) August 7, 2024
Musgrove is expected to be on a limited pitch count of around 60 when he makes his return from right elbow inflammation. Although fantasy managers may have to wait a little bit longer for the 31-year-old veteran right-hander to be activated from the injured list, Musgrove should be stashed in all leagues with a favorable matchup awaiting him on Monday.
Trevor Megill Injury Update
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Trevor Megill (back) said on Wednesday that he expects to be pitching in a game sometime next week. He played catch on Saturday, and depending on whether or not he'll need an abbreviated minor-league rehab assignment, it sounds like he'll have a chance at rejoining Milwaukee's bullpen sometime in mid-August.
Hall's return coincides with moving pieces in the Brewers bullpen. Bryan Hudson throws again tonight for Nashville. Trevor Megill said he expects to be pitching in a game somewhere next week. Even Enoli Parades is making progress-- he expects to begin a rehab a week from Friday.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 7, 2024
Megill collected 20 saves with an excellent 2.41 ERA while holding down the ninth-inning fort for injured closer Devin Williams during the first half of the season, but he landed on the injured list on July 29 with a lower-back injury right after Williams returned. Although Megill already surrendered a huge chunk of fantasy appeal when Williams was reinstated from the IL, the hard-throwing 30-year-old right-hander should return to a high-leverage role out of the Brewers' bullpen, and he could handle the occasional save chance when the closer is unavailable.
Adbert Alzolay Injury Update
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Adbert Alzolay (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, according to manager Craig Counsell. There was a good chance we weren't going to see Alzolay again this season, and now it's confirmed. And on top of missing the rest of 2024, the 29-year-old is unlikely to pitch for most, if not all, of the 2025 campaign after having elbow reconstruction.
Adbert Alzolay is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, per Craig Counsell.
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) August 7, 2024
The Venezuelan hurler opened the year as Chicago's closer but only ended up pitching 17.1 innings over 18 appearances out of the bullpen before going down with his elbow injury. In his 17.1 frames, he allowed 13 runs (nine earned) on 19 hits (six homers) while walking six, striking out 13, and securing four saves for the Cubbies. Veteran right-hander Hector Neris has since taken over the closing duties in Chicago.
Jacob deGrom Injury Update
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (elbow) is scheduled to throw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Thursday at Globe Life Field. It will be deGrom's first time facing hitters since having Tommy John surgery in June of last year, and he will continue to slowly build up his arm for a potential late-season return to Texas' starting rotation.
However, with the Rangers falling further and further from playoff contention after winning the World Series in 2023, the team has little reason to rush deGrom back for any kind of meaningful innings for the rest of the 2024 campaign. The 36-year-old two-time National League Cy Young winner still needs to go on a minor-league rehab assignment and will most likely be on an innings restriction when he does make his 2024 debut for the Rangers, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting much with time running out. (DallasNews.com)
Jordan Wicks Injury Update
Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) will make a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. It will be Wicks' first time pitching in a game since suffering a Grade 2 right-oblique strain back in the middle of June, so he'll almost certainly require multiple rehab starts before the Cubs consider activating him from the injured list. And even when the 24-year-old southpaw is cleared to return to the big-league pitching staff, there's no guarantee that he'll immediately re-enter Chicago's starting rotation.
Jordan Wicks (oblique) will make a rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. https://t.co/T5caZeN94H
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) August 7, 2024
Wicks did have a 25% strikeout rate in 28 innings pitched this year before going down with an oblique injury while sporting a 4.18 ERA (3.10 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and 10 walks in seven appearances (six starts). At best, Wicks will be a deep-league, matchup-based streaming option down the stretch if he replaces Kyle Hendricks in the rotation.
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