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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 11 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
Baseball has seen the rate of injury continue to rise over the past few years. In fantasy, if someone is not in the medical field, it is hard to gauge how long a player will be out and whether they need to be replaced in a lineup. Sometimes this could mean playing a dead roster spot and losing the opportunity to have a full week of stats. Watching a play and watching the mechanism of injury can say a lot about the type of injury that has been sustained.
We continue to see a barrage of injuries in the majors, with an emphasis on soft tissue injuries. These injuries include oblique, groin, hamstring, and back injuries. Not all of the injuries are the same for each player and should be treated and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. They should not all be lumped together. Key words to listen for while getting updates on these injuries include what grade the strain is to determine how severe it is. That is the best way to help evaluate how long that player will be out for.
I am a practicing physician's assistant in the state of New York in the fields of orthopedics and physical medicine/pain management. I have been treating patients with the same type of injuries that have been affecting athletes in a private practice setting for the past 16 years. Having this base of knowledge, it is easier to “predict” what the injury could be and how much time a player may miss. During the course of the season, I will continue to provide the latest injury updates with diagnoses and discuss the extent of injury and how long the player will be out. I will also be listing the “next man up” when it comes to playing time if the player will be out.
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Injured Players - New Listings
Justin Dunn- (SP, SEA)- Shoulder- Dunn was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation this past week. Severity is not yet known. Robert Dugger was called up to take his spot on the Mariners roster.
Michael Pineda- (SP, MIN)- Forearm- Pineda experienced some discomfort in his right forearm during his last game. "I tried to compete and my forearm bothered me a little bit when I finished my pitches," Pineda said afterward. "That's it. Nothing is big. Hopefully, we can recover 100% and be ready for my next start."
Stephen Strasburg- (SP, WAS)- Neck- Strasburg was placed on the IL with a neck strain following his last start when he lasted only two innings. He was taken out after thirty pitches due to tightness in his right trapezius muscle that showed as a neck strain on MRI. Strasburg remains without an official timeline for return, but will probably spend more than just ten days on the IL. Manager Dave Martinez noted that Rogelio Armenteros and Ben Braymer are candidates to make a spot start for the Nationals and Erick Fedde is currently working through a rehab assignment.
Ramon Laureano- (OF, OAK)- Groin- Laureano was placed on the IL with a right groin strain. He had missed the last four games prior to him going on the IL. Severity is not yet known. A combination of Seth Brown, Stephen Piscotty, Tony Kemp and Chad Pinder should fill in for him.
Mitch Garver- (C, MIN)- Groin- Garver was placed on the IL with a groin injury. He had a foul ball hit him in the groin and went to the hospital. As per Garver, an ultrasound was performed which showed that he required surgery. The length of time he needs to recover from this is not yet known. Ryan Jeffers should see most of the time behind the plate for the Twins until Garver can return.
Jack Flaherty- (SP, STL)- Oblique- Flaherty was placed on the IL with a "significant" oblique injury. There is no immediate timetable for his return. The Cardinals have not yet announced who will take his spot in their rotation, but Johan Oviedo is taking his place in the rotation today.
Kyle Lewis- (OF, SEA)- Knee- Lewis was placed on the IL with a "small" meniscus tear in his right knee. A small tear usually will still lead to arthroscopic surgery and a 4-5 week recovery time. Some meniscal tears, very few, could be treated with muscle strengthening. However, because this issue was also a problem for him during Spring Training, I expect surgery is the way to go. Taylor Trammell was called up. Lewis is receiving a second opinion on his torn right meniscus. Manager Scott Servais was Lewis is "really down and disappointed" as he could miss considerable time if his meniscus is indeed torn.
Lorenzo Cain- (OF, MIL)- Hamstring- Cain was placed on the IL with a strained right hamstring. Severity is not yet so there is no timetable for his return. Tyrone Taylor was called up.
Michael Kopech- (RP, CHW)- Hamstring- Kopech has been placed on the IL with a strained left hamstring, retroactive to May 28. The injury is not thought to be very serious. The earliest he could return is June 8.
Trevor Williams-(SP, CHC)- Appendicitis- Williams was placed on the IL after he had an appendectomy this past Sunday. There is no timeline for his return. Kohl Stewart should continue to fill in for him.
Cavan Biggio- (2B, TOR)- Neck- Biggio was placed on the IL with cervical spine ligament sprain (a sore neck). Manager Charlie Montoyo said this week that Biggio is still considered day-to-day, but he will miss more than the minimum amount of time. Santiago Espinal and Joe Panik should fill in for Biggio while he is out for the Blue Jays.
Madison Bumgarner- (SP, ARI)- Shoulder- Bumgarner was placed on the IL with a shoulder injury. MRI revealed inflammation only, no structural damage. It is not known how long he will be out for and no starter has yet been named to replace him in the Diamondbacks rotation as of yet. Humberto Castellanos was called up.
Logan Webb- (SP, SF)- Shoulder- Logan Webb was sent back to the IL, retroactive to May 31, with a right shoulder strain. Webb dealt with a shoulder strain at the end of May and came off the IL recently. He felt shoulder soreness in a recent bullpen session. To prevent another issue, manager Gabe Kapler said that Webb will not throw for several weeks. Nick Tropeano was called up while Scott Kazmir or Conner Menez could be candidates to take the spot in the rotation.
Mike Yastrzemski- (OF, SF)- Thumb- Yastrzemski was placed on the IL with a right thumb sprain, retroactive to June 2. He sustained the injury when his glove hand collided with the bricks above the padding of the right field wall while attempting a leaping catch. X-rays were negative. Austin Slater and Steven Duggar should see more playing time in his absence.
Injured Players - Updates
Corey Seager- (SS, LAD)- Hand- Seager is currently on the IL after fracturing the fifth metacarpal on his right hand. This is known as a Boxers fracture. Seager was wearing a cast but is now wearing a splint. He will travel with the Dodgers on their upcoming road trip. Seager has been fielding grounders with just his glove hand. He is still about two weeks away from a return. Gavin Lux and Chris Taylor will continue to fill in for him for the Dodgers.
Bryce Harper- (OF, PHI)- Forearm- Harper was placed on the IL with a left forearm contusion. Severity is not clearly known and he was not activated when he was first eligible. He has only done some light hitting until now. Matt Joyce and Brad Miller will continue to fill in for him.
Byron Buxton- (OF, MIN)- Hip- Buxton was placed on the IL with a Grade 2 hip strain and was said that he would be out for multiple weeks. Buxton has been sprinting while running the bases recently, but has still not been cleared to begin a rehab assignment.
Mike Moustakas- (2B, CIN) -Heel- Moustakas was placed on the IL with a right heel contusion. He was seen running in the outfield, but it is still not clear when Moustakas will be cleared to return to game action.
Kenta Maeda- (SP, MIN)- Groin- Maeda is on the IL with a groin strain. Maeda completed a long-toss session this week and could throw a bullpen session this weekend. He still may end up needing a rehab assignment before he is activated and has not yet been cleared to do so. A pain-free bullpen session is a step in the right direction.
Didi Gregorius- (SS, PHI) -Elbow- Gregorius was placed on the IL with right elbow impingement. Gregorius is still not close to returning.
Colin Moran- (1B, PIT)- Groin- Moran was placed on the IL with left groin discomfort. Moran is currently on a rehab assignment and could be activated within the week.
Miles Mikolas- (SP, STL)- Forearm- Mikolas was placed on the IL with forearm tightness. Manager Mike Shildt said that his MRI showed his right forearm is "structurally intact." He received a stem cell injection to work on a small calcification in his right flexor tendon and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.
George Springer- (OF, TOR)- Quad- Springer was placed on the IL with a right quadriceps strain. He had a similar injury while rehabbing his earlier oblique injury. He ran the bases and took fly balls in the outfield this week, but is not yet ready to begin a rehab assignment.
J.D. Davis- (OF, NYM)- Finger- Davis is on the IL due to a finger injury. Mets manager Luis Rojas said recently that Davis experienced discomfort in his sprained left hand while working out earlier this week and is not nearing a rehab assignment, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.
Dylan Moore- (2B, SEA)- Calf- Moore was placed on the IL with a left calf strain. He is currently close to starting a rehab assignment and could be back within the next week or so barring any setbacks.
Lance McCullers Jr.- (SP, HOU)- Shoulder- McCullers was placed on the IL with a sore right shoulder. McCullers said he felt "great" after throwing a side session this past Wednesday. It is not yet known if he will require a rehab assignment. If he does, he could return in about two and a half weeks or so.
Luke Voit- (1B, NYY)- Oblique- Voit was placed on the IL this week with a grade two oblique strain. Typical oblique strain IL stints last about four to six weeks, depending on severity. Manager Aaron Boone said this past week that Voit is expected to be out for "at least a few weeks."
Austin Hays- (OF, BAL)- Hamstring- Hays was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. It is not yet clear how long he will need to recover. Hays has started his running progressions recently.
Luis Arraez- (2B, MIN)- Shoulder- Arraez was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. Severity is not yet known, but it has been noted that he will miss a few weeks and will not be a minimum stay on the IL. Jorge Polanco will continue to get more playing time for the Twins.
Matt Duffy- (OF, CHC)- Back- Duffy was placed on the IL with a low back strain. No word on severity yet. Duffy has been doing some light swinging recently.
Harrison Bader- (OF, STL)- Rib- Bader was placed on the IL with a right rib hairline fracture. He injured himself diving in the outfield. He has started some light throwing and swinging a bat, the team's official site reports.
Brandon Belt- (1B, SF)- Oblique- Belt was placed on the IL with a mild left oblique strain. Severity is still not fully known. Jason Vosler and Wilmer Flores will continue to fill in at first base for the Giants.
Miguel Rojas- (SS, MIA)- Finger- Rojas dislocated his finger on Thursday and had it put back into place by the training staff. An X-Ray revealed that he is also dealing with a small fracture. There is no timetable yet for his return, but hand fractures usually take 3-4 weeks to heal.
Darin Ruf- (OF, SF)- Hamstring - Ruf (hamstring) was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Ruf was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. A better idea of his return timetable will be known once he is able to return to baseball activities.
Brandon Nimmo- (OF, NYM)- Finger- Nimmo was placed on the IL with a bone bruise on his left index finger. He was on a rehab assignment and was taking some swings off a tee and did flip drills, but still felt some pain and soreness in his finger. He has been shut down for now.
Danny Duffy- (SP, KC)- Forearm- Duffy was placed on the IL with a forearm strain. He recently began throwing from 90 feet and has thrown with "some intensity" from that distance, an encouraging sign according to manager Mike Matheny. He is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning.
Sixto Sanchez- (SP, MIA)- Shoulder- Sanchez has been rehabbing on the IL a shoulder injury. Sanchez will pause his throwing program for a few days as a result of increased shoulder soreness. The Marlins appear to be optimistic that this will be just a minor setback for Sanchez.
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