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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 10 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
Lance McCullers- (SP, HOU)- Shoulder- McCullers was placed on the IL with a sore right shoulder. Astros manager Dusty Baker said McCullers received an ultrasound for the shoulder and was not certain whether an MRI would be necessary and is hoping this injury is "short term" in nature. Both Framber Valdez and Jake Odorizzi are returning this weekend from the IL to help try to negate this injury.
Nico Hoerner- (2B, CHI)- Hamstring- Hoerner was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Severity is not yet known. Rafael Ortega was called up and Eric Sogard should fill in for the Cubs at second base.
Corey Kluber- (SP, NYY)- Shoulder- Corey Kluber was placed on the IL with “a sub-scap strain,” as per Aaron Boone. According to Boone it means four weeks of no throwing. Kluber is going to get a second examination and likely return around August. No word on a replacement yet. "Sub scap" is short for a subascapularis. It is part of the rotator cuff muscles on the scapula, the shoulder blade. This is a muscle strain and could keep Kluber out even longer than two months if it does not respond properly to treatment/rest.
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. Mike Ford will see more time at first base for the Yankees.
Marcell Ozuna- (OF, ATL)- Fingers- Ozuna was placed on the IL with dislocations/fractures of his ring and middle finger of the left hand. This diagnosis came from x-rays and CT scan. He will not require surgery, however he will be out for about six weeks to let them heal. Guillermo Heredia is penciled in to fill in for Ozuna in the outfield for the Braves.
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. Ryan McKenna was called up and DJ Stewart could serve as the primary left fielder for the Orioles.
Luis Arraez- (2B, MIN)- Shoulder- Arraez was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. Severity is not yet known. Jorge Polanco should get more playing time while Arraez is out for the Twins.
Zach Plesac- (SP, CLE)- Finger- Cleveland placed Plesac on the IL with a non-displaced right thumb fracture. Manager Terry Francona said Plesac was "rather aggressively ripping off his shirt" and got it caught on a chair at his locker. He will not require surgery. Finger fractures could take 3-4 weeks to heal. No word on a replacement yet.
Matt Duffy- (OF, CHC)- Back- Duffy was placed on the IL with a low back strain. No word on severity yet. Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reported. Severity is not yet known.
Bryce Harper- (OF, PHI)- Forearm- Harper was placed on the IL with a left forearm contusion. Earlier this month, Harper was dealing with left wrist pain following a hit by pitch and then dealt with right shoulder discomfort. It is possible that these past two injuries may be due to load compensation or returning too soon. Severity is not yet known. Roman Quinn was activated off of the IL and could fill in for the Phillies.
Kyle Gibson- (SP, TEX)- Groin- Gibson was placed on the IL with a right groin strain. Severity is not yet known. Pitchers Demarcus Evans and Wes Benjamin were called up the day Gibson went on the IL and could fill in for the Rangers.
Brian Anderson- (3B, MIA)- Oblique- Anderson was placed on the IL this week with left shoulder subluxation. GM Kim Ng said that Anderson will be sidelined for at least the next several weeks, at least through June. Jon Berti and Isan Diaz will get to see time at third base for the Marlins.
Wilson Ramos- (C, DET)- Back- Ramos is making a return trip to the IL for a lumbar spine strain. He had been activated from the IL by the Tigers on May 17 for the same injury. Jake Rogers will continue to get a shot to play for the Tigers.
Trent Grisham- (OF, SD)- Heel- Grisham was placed on the IL with a left foot contusion. Severity is not known and there is no timeline for his return. Jurickson Profar should see more time in centerfield for the Padres.
Harrison Bader- (OF, STL)- Rib- Bader was placed on the IL with a right rib hairline fracture. He injured himself diving in the outfield. Ribs could take four to six weeks of rest to fully heal. If he comes back too soon, he could have an issue just like Aaron Judge did when he tried to play through his rib pain. Lane Thomas will see more time in the Cardinals outfield.
Pete Alonso- (1B, NYM)- Hand - Alonso was placed on the IL with a sprained right hand, originally called a sore wrist.
Alonso was not wearing a brace while taking grounders at first base mid week and he is eligible to return from the IL this weekend. Until then, Tomas Nido will see more playing time as James McCann and Brandon Drury split time at first base.
Kevin Pillar- (OF, NYM)- Face- Pillar was placed on the IL with facial fractures after getting hit with as pitch in his face. He had to undergo plastic surgery to repair the broken nose. He is expected to begin participating in "light activities" Monday, but still may be two to three weeks away from being baseball ready.
Victor Robles- (OF, WAS)- Ankle- Robles was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain, based on MRI. Timeline for healing of an ankle sprain is about three to four weeks, based on severity of the sprain. Andrew Stevenson could see an increase in playing time for Nationals.
Franmil Reyes- (DH, CLE)- Oblique- Reyes was placed on the IL with as left internal oblique strain. Based on testing, Reyes is expected to miss five to seven weeks. Owen Miller and Jordan Luplow could see time at DH for Cleveland while he is out.
Brandon Belt- (1B, SF)- Oblique- Belt was placed on the IL with a mild left oblique strain. Severity is not fully known. Jason Vosler should continue to fill in at 1B for the Giants until he is able to return.
Nick Senzel- (OF, CIN)- Knee- Senzel was placed on the IL with left knee inflammation. The Reds announced that Senzel will require arthroscopic surgery for his left knee. He is expected to be out four to six weeks.
Miguel Rojas- (SS, MIA)- Finger- Rojas dislocated his finger on Thursday and had it put back into place by the training staff. He should go for testing and an IL stint is likely and from the wording of early reports. This injury could be similar to that of Marcell Ozuna with a possible extended stay on the IL. Jose Devers could see more playing time or Jazz Chisolm could slide over to play second base for the Marlins
Darin Ruf- (OF, SF)- Hamstring - Ruf (hamstring) was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. MRI results are pending, so no word on severity yet. Ruf suffered the injury while rounding first base in Wednesday's game. Lamonte Wade was called up.
Injured Players - Updates
Aaron Hicks- (OF, NYY) -Wrist- Hicks was placed on the IL with a torn wrist tendon sheath. Hicks had surgery this week and could be done for the year.
Byron Buxton- (OF, MIN)- Hip- Buxton was placed on the IL last week with a Grade 2 hip strain and was said that he would be be out for multiple weeks. Buxton is still having trouble decelerating when running, which appears to be slowing his rehab down. He will not immediately begin a rehab assignment at this time.
Noah Syndergaard- (SP, NYM )-Elbow- Syndergaard has been on IL since the start of the season following Tommy John surgery last year. Syndergaard made his first rehab start with no issue, but had elbow soreness during his last rehab start and lasted only one inning. Updated MRI showed only inflammation and will be shut down for six weeks. Mid to late August is the new timetable for his return as he will not throw until after the All Star break.
Mike Moustakas- (2B, CIN) -Heel- Moustakas was placed on the IL with a right heel contusion. It is still thought that Moustakas could return when eligible, which is May 29.
Kenta Maeda- (SP, MIN)- Groin- Maeda is on the IL with a groin strain. He may end up spending more than the minimum time on the IL as the Twins want to make sure he is 100% percent healthy before they activate him from the IL. That being said, there is no word as to how long he will be out for.
Luke Weaver- (SP, ARI) -Shoulder- Weaver was placed on the IL this week with right shoulder discomfort. He was diagnosed with a subscapularis strain and word is he will not pitch for one month. He was then placed on the sixty day IL, confirming that this is the same type of injury Corey Kluber, who is also out for at least two months.
Michael Conforto- (OF, NYM) -Hamstring- Conforto was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain suffered running to first base. He is expected to be out at least until late June.
Didi Gregorius- (SS, PHI) -Elbow- Gregorius was placed on the IL with right elbow impingement. Gregorius was eligible to already return from the IL but isn't close to doing so. The swelling in his elbow has gone down but is still present there. He has yet to swing a bat with both arms. Gregorius had Tommy John surgery on this elbow in 2018. Nick Maton and Ronald Torreyes have been filling in for at short for the Phillies.
Jeff McNeil- (OF/2B, NYM) -Hamstring- McNeil was placed on the IL after having left hamstring tightness diagnosed as a strain, based on MRI. He is not expected to be back until late June at the earliest.
Colin Moran- (1B, PIT)- Groin- Moran was placed on the IL with left groin discomfort. Moran continues to progress in the right direction, but has yet to run the bases. Once he clears that hurdle, he will most probably require a rehab stint before activation.
Jose Urquidy- (SP, HOU)- Shoulder- Urquidy was placed on the IL with posterior shoulder discomfort. Urquidy was scheduled for a rehab start this past week, and if all goes well may be able to return to the Astros rotation some time next week.
Elieser Hernandez- (SP, MIA)- Hernandez has been on the IL with right biceps inflammation since his first start of the season. He may only require one more rehab start before he is able to get activated from the IL the first week of June.
Miles Mikolas- (SP, STL)- Forearm- Mikolas was activated from the IL and did not last long on the field as he was then placed on the IL following his first outing, lasting only four innings, with forearm tightness. Manager Mike Shildt said that his MRI showed his right forearm is "structurally intact". Mikolas is going to go for a second opinion by Dr. James Andrews. Johan Oviedo should fill in while he is out.
George Springer- (OF, TOR)- Quad- Springer was placed on the IL with a right quadriceps strain, retroactive to May 3. He had a similar injury while rehabbing his earlier oblique injury. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said that Springer's condition is improving but he remains without a timeline to return.
Seth Lugo- (RP, NYM) Elbow- Lugo has been on the IL to start the season following elbow surgery in mid-February to remove a loose body from his right elbow. He began his rehab assignment and is currently on pace to be activated is the first week of June.
Marco Gonzales- (SP, SEA) -Forearm- Gonzales is on the IL with a mild forearm strain. Mariners manager Scott Servais said that he is hopeful Gonzales will be able to return from the IL when his next turn through the rotation comes up June 1 (this week).
Jesus Luzardo- (SP, OAK) -Finger- The Athletics placed Luzardo on the IL with a fractured left pinkie finger suffered when he bumped his pitching hand while playing a video game. Luzardo began his rehab assignment this past week. He is still about one to two weeks away without any setbacks.
J.D. Davis- (OF, NYM)- Finger- Davis is on the IL due to a finger injury. Davis had a recent MRI of the left hand which showed joint inflammation and will receive treatment before resuming baseball activities. He has his rehab assignment at Triple-A paused over the weekend due to neck stiffness but was able to play through it, including hitting a home run with the issue. The latest news says that he should be able to start swinging again over the weekend.
Ke'Bryan Hayes- (3B, PIT)- Wrist- Hayes has been on the IL since May 9 with a wrist injury. The Pirates are expected to work through a spring-training like progression with Hayes with an early June return date. The earliest he is eligible to return is June 3rd, 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh reports.
Zach McKinstry- (2B, LAD)- Oblique- McKinstry is on the IL with an oblique strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said McKinstry is expected to be activated from the IL this weekend. barring any setbacks.
Dylan Moore- (2B, SEA)- Calf- Moore was placed on the IL with a left calf strain. He is still a few days away from resuming baseball activities.
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