RADIO
June is coming to a close already and July starts at the end of this coming week. The baseball season is now picking up speed. Division races are starting to take shape and so are the races in our fantasy leagues. Offenses continue to surge with the warm weather. Also with the warm weather comes more injuries. Injured players have been coming back but players continue to get injured at almost the same pace as the last few years – almost one out of every two players will end up on the IL at some point during the MLB season. Knowing when injured players are coming back or how long they will be out is key to your success from now to the end of the season.
For new readers, my name is Reuven Guy and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management Physician Assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 16+ years and have a knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I have also been playing fantasy baseball during that same period, which has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you.
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Salvador Perez (C, KC)- Thumb: Perez will undergo surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament on his left thumb and was placed on the IL. He is expected to return this year. MJ Melendez will take over as the primary catcher for the Royals.
Kris Bryant (1B/3B/OF, COL)- Back: Bryant was again placed on the IL with a back injury. He was on the IL earlier this month for the same issue. Bryant is taking part in a rehab assignment and is expected to return to the Rockies possibly sometime this weekend.
Eloy Jimenez (OF, CHW)- Hamstring: Jimenez is on the IL recovering from surgery to repair a torn hamstring. General manager Rick Hahn said this past week that Jimenez had his rehab assignment paused due to "normal leg soreness." Hahn then emphasized that Jimenez hasn't experienced a setback in his recovery. He was placed on the 60-day IL, however, he could still be activated within the week.
Wander Franco (SS, TB)- Quad: Franco was placed on the IL with a strained right quadriceps. He has begun a rehab assignment and could return as early as this weekend.
James McCann (C, NYM)- Wrist: McCann was diagnosed with a fractured hamate in his left wrist and had subsequent surgery. He has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated as early as next week.
Brandon Lowe (2B, TB)- Back: Lowe is currently on the IL with a lower back injury. He has resumed rotational work and could start swinging soon. There is no timeline for his return. Vidal Brujan has seen an increase in playing time with Lowe out.
Brian Anderson (3B, MIA)- Back: Anderson was placed on the IL with a back injury. Anderson underwent an MRI this past week and met with a spine specialist. The severity of the injury is still not known. Anderson should begin a rehab assignment soon. Jon Berti and Willians Astudillo are filling in for the Marlins.
Joey Wendle (3B, MIA)- Hamstring: Wendle was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to May 31. The severity is not yet known. He had a PRP injection for his hamstring and is no longer feeling sore. He is eligible to return on June 20th but will probably need an extra week or two. Wendle may begin a rehab assignment soon.
Ben Gamel (OF, PIT)- Hamstring: Gamel is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He has begun a rehab assignment and barring any setbacks, he could be back with the Pirates within the next few days.
Miguel Sano (3B, MIN)- Knee: Sano is on the 60-day IL following knee surgery. He continues to ramp up his running progression and recently started hitting. Sano could participate in live batting practice as early as next week. The earliest he could be activated from the IL is July 8.
Yadier Molina (C, STL)- Knee: Molina has been placed on the IL with right knee inflammation. The severity is not yet known. Iván Herrera has been called up and Andrew Knizner should fill in with Molina out.
Yasmani Grandal (C, CHW)- Back: Grandal sustained a left hamstring injury while running and then he developed a back issue. The White Sox still feel like he will require a rehab assignment before being activated from the IL. That puts his timeline to return in about two to three weeks. Reese McGuire has been filling in for the White Sox.
Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC)- Finger: Suzuki on the IL with a sprained left ring finger. He took batting practice this week and had a full workout as well. The Cubs have not said whether he will need a rehab assignment or not. If no rehab assignment is needed, he could be back this week.
Eddie Rosario (OF, ATL)- Eye: Rosario is on the IL following eye surgery to help correct his vision. He was to have his vision re-evaluated late this past week and he is optimistic that he is close to beginning a rehab assignment.
Jeremy Pena (SS, HOU)- Thumb: Pena was placed on the IL with left thumb discomfort. Pena participated in all pregame activities on Thursday. Manager Dusty Baker said that a Friday return, June 24 "might be a little quick," but he was pleased with Pena's progress, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the shortstop return sometime this weekend or early next week. Aledmys Diaz has been filling in.
Ramon Urias (3B, BAL)- Oblique: Urias is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Urias resumed baseball activities this past Wednesday. He has made slow progress in his recovery during his first few days on the IL. Tyler Nevin has been filling in for the Orioles at third base.
Tyler Naquin (OF, CIN)- Quad: Naquin is in the IL with a left quad strain. Naquin has run the bases and could begin a rehab assignment this weekend. With no setbacks, Naquin could be back with the Reds by the end of next week.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jacob deGrom (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: deGrom was placed on the IL with a stress reaction in his right scapula. deGrom has thrown five bullpens and threw a session of live batting practice. deGrom is slowly ramping up his activity and will need a rehab assignment before he returns. Barring any setbacks, deGrom is trending for an early July return, around the All-Star Game.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Buehler is on the IL with an elbow injury. He has a flexor strain and had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. The earliest he could return is in September as he is on the 60-day IL.
Chris Sale (SP, BOS)- Rib: Sale is on the IL with a stress fracture on the right side of his ribcage. Sale is expected to make his next rehab start Saturday. He felt fine after tossing a 22-pitch inning in his 2022 debut in his rehab assignment. Expect him to push for around 2-to-3 innings Saturday while the Red Sox have him steadily build up to a starter's workload. After his second outing in the FCL, Sale is expected to report to a full-season affiliate to continue his rehab assignment.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP, BOS)- back: Eovaldi is on the IL with lower back inflammation. He is progressing more slowly than expected and is unlikely to return from the IL when first eligible. A more clear return timetable for his return should come into focus after he's cleared to begin a throwing program.
Garrett Whitlock (SP, BOS)- Hip: Whitlock is on the IL with right hip inflammation. He threw a bullpen session last weekend. "He's trending in the right direction," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "At one point on the road trip, he'll be with us." Whitlock could return as early as this weekend or at the beginning of next week.
Max Scherzer (SP, NYM)- Oblique: Scherzer is on the IL with a moderate to high-grade sprain and will miss 1-3 weeks. Scherzer had a rehab assignment and may start this weekend for the Mets.
Tylor Megill (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: Megill left his last start after a few innings due to right shoulder discomfort. He was then placed on the IL with a strained right shoulder. Megill will be shut down from throwing for four weeks before being re-evaluated. He had just recently come back from the IL with a biceps injury and he may have re-injured it. David Peterson will continue to pitch in the Mets rotation with Megill out.
Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, HOU)- Forearm: McCullers has been on the IL with a forearm injury. He threw a bullpen session and took part in fielding drills on the mound this past week. McCullers has been completing side sessions for nearly a month while gradually increasing the intensity of his throws and incorporating all of his pitches. The Astros have not given a timeline for when he could begin a rehab assignment.
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Back: Lodolo was placed on the IL with a lower-back strain. Lodolo has been cleared to restart a throwing program. Lodolo may need one more rehab start which would then have him returning to the Reds rotation the first week in July.
Steven Matz (SP, STL)- Shoulder: Matz has been on the IL with a sore shoulder. Matz threw a bullpen session last Saturday. Matz progressed to throwing from flat ground last week, and he has now advanced to pitching off a mound. Matz is still likely a few weeks away from a return.
Jakob Junis (SP, SF)- Hamstring: Junis is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He has a Grade 2 hamstring strain and it should keep him out for four to six weeks. Junis has already started a throwing program so it is possible that he may return at the shorter end of that timeline.
Edward Cabrera (SP, MIA)- Elbow: Cabrera was placed on the IL with right elbow tendinitis, retroactive to June 13. The severity is not yet known. Cabrera did not make his rehab start as originally planned after he had to tend to a personal matter. Daniel Castano has filled in his rotation spot for the Marlins.
Marcus Stroman (SP, CHC)- Shoulder: Stroman is on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Stroman was scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week but there is still no clear timeline for his return. He should need a rehab assignment before he is able to return to the Cubs rotation.
Bailey Ober (SP, MIN)- Groin: Ober is on the IL with a right groin strain. Ober has started playing catch and said he's hopeful to return to the mound and throw a bullpen by the end of this week.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Liam Hendriks (RP, CHW)- Forearm: Hendricks was placed on the IL with a forearm strain. Hendricks began throwing this week and is recovering well. Hendriks was quoted as saying, "Everything is exactly where we are expecting it to be. Now the challenge on my behalf tends to convince them that I can come back quicker than they are trying to let me." Hendriks is targeting July 1 for his return from the IL. Kendall Graveman should close with Hendricks out.
Aroldis Chapman (RP, NYY)- Achilles: Chapman was placed on the IL with left Achilles tendinitis. Chapman has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment this weekend In the meantime, he may have lost his closer job to Clay Holmes.
Anthony Bender (RP, MIA)- Back: Bender has been on the IL with a back injury. Bender threw a 20-pitch bullpen session last Sunday. He apparently felt good afterward, as he's expected to throw in a simulated game soon. There is no timeline for his return.
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