Week 15 MLB Injury News, Fantasy Baseball Injury Updates - Wander Franco, Yordan Alvarez, Jacob deGrom, Freddy Peralta

The mid-summer classic is upon us. We now get to watch the Home Run Derby and see if Pete Alonso can three-peat. The only other MLB player to ever win a total of three Home Run Derbys was Ken Griffey Jr. The All Star game follows with some of the best players in the game today participating. There are some players who are missing the game because of injury or because they want to rest up for the second half run to the playoffs. This time off will give injured players, both All Stars and everyday players, time to heal. Playing fantasy baseball, we would like all of our players on our rosters to be ready to go when the second half of the season starts up again.  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

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS, SD)- Wrist: Tatis continues to recover from wrist surgery following a fracture. Tatis "came out happy" from his last doctor appointment and is expected to be swinging a bat at full speed soon.  Tatis underwent another scan and met with the surgeon who performed his surgery this past Monday, and an update on his status is expected to come soon. This may put him on a timeline to return end of July or the beginning of August, barring any setbacks.

Wander Franco (SS, TB)- Wrist: Franco was placed on the IL with a fractured hamate bone. Franco had surgery this past Tuesday to repair his fractured hamate bone and is expected to require five to eight weeks. Taylor Walls should fill in at shortstop for the Rays until his return. Keep in mind that this type of injury could limit/decrease his power output initially when he comes back.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B, MIA)- Back: Chisholm was placed on the IL with a right lower-back strain. Chisholm remains at the Marlins spring complex and is continuing to steadily increase his activities. Chisholm has been throwing and already has been able to take part in running drills and fielding grounders. Live batting practice could be the major hurdle that he needs to clear to be able to return. Chisholm will probably need a rehab assignment and may return the week after the All Star break at the earliest. 

Kyle Lewis (OF, SEA)- Concussion: Lewis is currently on the IL after experiencing concussion symptoms. Lewis began a rehab assignment and homered in each of his first four games. Lewis is trending to be activated, if not this weekend, then right after the All Star break.

Yordan Alvarez (DH, HOU)- Hand: Alvarez was placed on the IL this week with right hand inflammation. He missed some time with a right hand injury in mid-June and quickly returned to the lineup, but the issue has apparently worsened over the past few weeks. Alvarez is eligible to return coming out of the All-Star break on July 21. Aledmys Diaz is the most likely candidate to see increased playing time during Alvarez's absence.

Frank Schwindel (3B, CHC)- Back: Schwindel is currently on the IL dealing with low back pain and tightness. Schwindel has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL sometime next week. 

Enrique Hernandez (OF, BOS)- Hip: Hernandez is on the IL with a right hip strain. Hernandez was pulled from his rehab assignment and will visit a specialist to be re-evaluated again.

Yasmani Grandal (C, CHW)- Back: Grandal sustained a left hamstring injury while running and then he developed a back issue and is on the IL. Grandal has moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A and could be activated from the IL right after the All Star break.

Michael Brantley (OF, HOU)- Shoulder: Brantley was placed on the IL with right shoulder discomfort. The severity is not yet known. Manager Dusty Baker said over the weekend that Brantley is without a timeline for a return. Baker has been evasive, in general, when asked about players' injuries this season. He did say that  Brantley's shoulder has been "slow to respond" since he landed on the IL. Brantley has been spotted running in the outfield last week but he has yet to resume any hitting activity.  Jake Meyers has seen an increase in playing time with Brantley out.

Bryan Reynolds (OF, PIT)- Oblique: Reynolds was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. The Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Reynolds has not yet resumed baseball activities. There is no timetable for his return. Ben Gamel and Jake Marisnick should see more playing time with Reynolds out.

Mitch Garver (C, TEX)- Elbow- Garver was placed on the IL for an elbow injury. His wife confirmed on Instagram that Garver underwent successful surgery this past Monday to repair the flexor tendon of his right forearm. He is done for the year. Jonah Heim will continue to get most of the starts at catcher for the Rangers.

Miguel Sano (3B, MIN)- Knee: Sano is on the IL following knee surgery. He is now at the point where he is playing in rehab games with the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate. It is not clear how much time he will need there. It is also not clear what his role will be when he comes back to the Twins.

Mike Zunino (C, TB)- Neck: Zunino is on the IL with a neck strain. Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Zunino received a neck treatment this past Monday to address tingling between his shoulder and finger. It is now wait and see to see how Zunino responds to treatment over the next few days before determining the next course of action. There is no timeline for his return. Francisco Mejia will continue to get most of the work behind the plate for the Rays. 

Mitch Haniger- (OF, SEA)- Ankle: Haniger is on the IL as he continues to recover from an ankle sprain. General manager Jerry Dipoto said this week that he hopes Haniger will be back in the lineup by the end of July. Haniger has not yet progressed to running at full speed, but he has been participating in other baseball activities recently. It's not yet clear when he will be able to begin a rehab assignment, but the team hopes that he will be back in action shortly after the All-Star break.

James McCann (C, NYM)- Oblique:  McCann was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain this week, which happened when tagging a runner out at home. The severity is not yet known. Tomas Nido will get most of the playing time with McCann out.

Evan Longoria (3B, SF)- Oblique: Longoria was placed on the IL with a strained left oblique. The severity is not yet known. Longoria was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment and could return to action next week. 

Austin Meadows (OF, DET)- Achilles: Meadows is on the IL due to bilateral Achilles tendon strains. Haniger was expected to be pulled off his rehab assignment after he reported soreness in both of his Achilles' tendons this past week. Manager A.J.Hinch suggested that Meadows would have to start his rehab program all over due to the setback. Meadows was initially landed on the COVID- 19 IL June 17 before shifting to the IL.

Harrison Bader (OF, STL)- Foot: Bader was placed on the IL with plantar fasciitis of the right foot. The severity is not yet known. Bader has begun taking part in light baseball activities and doing light jogging.  He is not yet ready to begin a rehab assignment. Barring any setbacks, he could return after the All-Star break, depending on pain tolerance.

Wil Myers (OF, SD)- Knee: Myers is on the IL with right knee inflammation. He has been able to avoid surgery. Myers began a rehab assignment this week and could be back the week after the All Star break. 

Yadier Molina (C, STL)- Knee: Molina is currently on the IL with a right knee injury. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said this week that Molina is on track to begin rehabbing in late July and is expected to be ready to return from the IL the first week of August. Until then,  Andrew Knizner, Austin Romine and Ivan Herrera will fill in.

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. He made his third rehab start this week. The Mets have yet to decide if his fourth start will be in the minors or as part of the Mets rotation. There is a possibility that deGrom could pitch the first week after the All Star game.

Freddy Peralta (SP, MIL)- Lat: Peralta is on the IL with a shoulder/lat injury. He threw a bullpen session last week and said that he felt good following the workout. Peralta said he will throw one more bullpen session during the upcoming week before likely graduating to throwing live batting practice, and rehab assignment. He is tracking an early to mid August return, barring any setbacks

Kyle Hendricks (SP, CHC)- Shoulder: Hendricks was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. The severity is not yet known. He will be shut down for at least two to three weeks and then be re-evaluated then. Hendricks had an MRI performed of his shoulder and it did not show any structural damage. 

Andrew Heaney (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Heaney is currently on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. Heaney was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday. He will need at least one more bullpen session before advancing to face hitters, which will be the final hurdle before beginning a rehab assignment. Given the timing required for those steps in his rehab program, Heaney should be expected to return after the All-Star break.

Jack Flaherty (SP, STL)- Shoulder: Flaherty was placed on the IL this week with a right shoulder strain. Flaherty didn't make his season debut until mid-June due to a shoulder injury that first appeared back in mid-March. He left his last start with shoulder stiffness. The severity is not yet known. he will not throw for at least the next two to three weeks. He was then placed on the 60 day IL, making the earliest he could return is August 26th.

Dane Dunning (SP, TEX)- Ankle: Dunning landed on the IL this week with right ankle impingement. The severity is not yet known. This may be the reason why his control has been off the past few starts. Kolby Allard was called up. 

Matt Manning (SP, DET)- Shoulder: Manning is on the IL with a shoulder injury which was followed by biceps tendonitis. He was shut down from throwing and is now scheduled to make his second rehab start this Sunday. Barring any setbacks, Manning is trending to a late July early August return for the Tigers.

Shane Baz (SP, TB) Elbow: Baz was placed on the IL with a right elbow sprain after he experienced discomfort while playing catch Tuesday. He will receive a PRP injection for the elbow and will rest and rehab for a month before being re-evaluated. Even if he is cleared to resume throwing following his four-week shutdown, Baz will likely need at least a couple weeks to get ramped back up for game action.

Aaron Civale (SP, CLE)- Wrist:  Civale was placed on the IL with a right wrist sprain. The severity is not yet known. No replacement has been named yet as we head into the All Star break.

Luis Severino (SP, NYY)- Lat: Severino was placed on the IL with a low-grade right lat strain this week. He left his last start due to shoulder tightness and underwent an MRI this past Thursday. Severino missed most of the 2019 season with a lat strain, but his current injury is being classified as a low-grade issue. Domingo German is rehabbing and could be activated to take Severino’s spot in the rotation following the All Star break.

Tyler Mahle (SP, CIN)- Shoulder: Mahle was placed on the with a right shoulder strain. Manager David Bell expects Mahle to return to the Reds' rotation in one of the first three games after the All Star break.

Frankie Montas (SP, OAK)- Shoulder: Montas is dealing with shoulder pain. He had an MRI and it showed inflammation but no structural damage. Montas received a cortisone shot for his shoulder. Montas will not pitch this weekend and will instead throw two side sessions before rejoining the Athletics’s rotation to begin the second half of the season after the All Star break.

Steven Matz (SP, STL)- Shoulder: Matz is on the IL with shoulder inflammation. He was scheduled to make the third start of his rehab assignment this week and could be activated as early as July 17.

Chris Archer (SP, MIN)- Hip: Archer was placed on the IL with left hip tightness. The severity is not yet known. Archer is eligible to be activated on the final day of the first half and is expected to pitch.

Edward Cabrera (SP, MIA)- Elbow: Cabrera is on the IL with right elbow tendonitis. Cabrera threw a two-inning live batting practice session this week. The Marlins will now decide if he is ready to start a rehab assignment. Cabrera is trending for a late July return to the Marlins rotation. 

Adrian Houser (SP, MIL)- Elbow: Houser was placed on the IL with a right flexor strain. He was already spotted playing catch in the outfield prior to Wednesday's game, which is a good sign. There is no timeline for his return yet. Jason Alexander will continue to fill in for the Brewers.

Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Back: Suarez was placed on the IL with a low back spasm, retroactive to June 30. The severity is not yet known. Suarez has thrown a bullpen session and the Phillies will now decide whether he needs a rehab start or not.  Cristopher Sanchez and Kent Emanuel are candidates to serve as starters.

Yusei Kikuchi- (SP, TOR)- Neck: Kikuchi was placed on the IL with a neck strain. He has thrown a side session already which means he is recovering fast. There is no word as to when he will come back or if he is guaranteed a spot in the Blue Jays rotation when he comes back.

Michael Lorenzen- (SP, LAA)- Shoulder: Lorenzen was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain, retroactive to July 4. It is unclear as to how long Lorenzen has been dealing with the injury. He had an MRI which showed no structural damage. There is no clear plan or timeline for his return.

Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Anthony Bender (RP, MIA)- Back: Bender has been on the IL with a back injury. Bender threw a 20-pitch bullpen session but has appeared to have had a setback as he is back to playing catch from 60 feet. There is no timeline for his return.

Dany Jimenez (RP, OAK)- Shoulder: Jimenez was placed on the IL with a strained right shoulder. Jimenez played catch again and manager Mark Kotsay said that he will likely need at least one rehab appearance. It is possible that he may need a few more games as he has been on the IL since June 18. Lou Trivino has been closing for the Athletics with Jimenez out.

Joe Barlow (RP, TEX)- Finger: Barlow was placed on the IL with a blister to his right index finger. There is no timeline for his return. The Rangers are using a committee to close games but Brett Martin has looked the best so far. 

Josh Staumont (RP, KC)- Neck: Staumont was placed on the IL with a neck strain, retroactive to June 23. He is now scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A this Sunday. If all goes well, he could be activated within the next ten days.

Tanner Rainey (RP, WAS)- Elbow:  Rainey was placed on the IL due to a UCL sprain of his right elbow. He has already gotten to the point where he is considering surgery. In any event, he will be out for a while, possibly the season. Kyle Finnegan should lead the closer by committee for the Nationals.

Brusdar Graterol (RP, LAD)- Shoulder: Graterol was placed on the IL this week with right shoulder inflammation. He had dealt with a side injury late last week but will land on the IL with a shoulder issue now. He is scheduled to have an MRI for the shoulder and that will give a clearer picture as to the timeline for his return.

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