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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 7. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
Injuries are commonplace in all sports. 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. The mechanism of injury is one of the ways of diagnosing the problem.
My name is Reuven Guy. I grew up playing baseball, watching baseball and wanting to go into medicine. I was able to combine both of my loves. I am a practicing physician 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 15 years. Having this base of knowledge, it is easier to “predict” what the injury could be and how long a player will be out.
During the course of the season in this weekly article, I will be going over MLB player injuries. I will be hunting down the latest updates and have sources to back me up. I will be highlighting the type of injury it is, try to diagnose an injury that has not been diagnosed yet, 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. This year, I will also have a listing of all fantasy-relevant players affected by COVID-19 and COVID-19 protocols. Hopefully, this will help you create and manage a more competitive fantasy lineup.
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Injury "Guy"de for the Week of August 30, 2020
Aaron Judge (Of, NYY) - Lower Body - Judge is currently on the IL with a calf injury. Judge re-injured the same calf in his first game back from the same calf injury. No timeframe was given for his return but GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees want Judge to be ready for when the games mean something.
Charlie Morton (SP, TB) - Shoulder- Morton was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Morton played catch and is scheduled to one more bullpen session before he is activated by the Rays to join their rotation.
Madison Bumgarner (SP, ARI) - Back - Bumgarner was placed on the IL with a mid-back strain. He threw another successful bullpen session and threw a simulated game on August 29th. There is a chance he could be ready to return this week.
Rodon, Carlos (SP, CHW) - Shoulder - Rodon has been dealing with left shoulder soreness and was placed on the IL. Rodon's velocity dropped below 90. Rodon continues to throw side sessions with no issues. He is also scheduled to throw a simulated game on August 30. Rodon could return within the next week or two.
Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL) -Wrist- Albies was placed on the IL with wrist soreness/bone contusion. Albies was able to hit from both sides of the plate this week with no issues as he gets closer to return however he may still be a week or two away from returning.
Josh Donaldson (3B, MIN) - Calf- Donaldson was placed on the IL due to a right calf injury. Donaldson missed three months with a calf injury in 2018 and missed a few games in 2019 due to a calf injury. Donaldson has resumed playing in intrasquad games at the Twins' alternate training site and is getting closer to a return.
Yordan Alvarez (DH, HOU)- Knee- Alvarez was dealing with a knee issue since the summer camp. Alvarez had surgery for both of his knees this week in Houston. He had a slight tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee repaired and a routine cleanup was performed for his left knee. He will miss the remainder of the season but will begin physical therapy immediately and is expected to make a complete recovery.
Nate Pearson (SP, TOR)- Elbow- The Blue Jays placed Pearson on the IL with right elbow tightness. An MRI was scheduled to be performed August 20. Trent Thronton was be activated off of the IL to pitch in his spot in the rotation.
Salvador Perez (C, KC) - Eye- Perez was placed on the IL with blurry vision in his left eye. Perez visited an eye specialist this week and remains without a timeline for his return. Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria should continue to split time in his absence.
Kris Bryant (3B, CHC) - Wrist- Bryant was placed on the IL today with a sprained left ring finger and a sore left wrist, retroactive to Aug. 19. Bryant received an injection to his left wrist on August 18 and the injury may be worse than first thought, thus the placement on the IL. There is still no timeline for his return as of yet.
David Dahl- (OF, COL) - Back- Dahl was placed on the IL with lower-back soreness. Manager Bud Black said that Dahl is nearing a return as he has been facing live pitching this week.
Bo Bichette (SS, TOR) - Knee- Bichette is on the IL with a grade 1 sprain of the LCL (lateral collateral ligament of the right knee. Bichette is progressing well and has begun baseball activities but there is no timeline for him to take ground balls or running the bases.
Ken Giles (RP, TOR) - Forearm- Giles is currently on the IL with a mild strain of the flexor mass in his right forearm. He received an injection a few weeks ago. Giles felt good after a bullpen session this week and is ready to face live batters. There is still no timetable for his return.
Zach Britton (RP, NYY) - Hamstring- Britton was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Britton has progressed to sprinting this week as he gets closer to a return from the IL.
Alex Bregman (3B, HOU) - Hamstring- The Astros placed Bregman on the IL with a strained right hamstring. Bregman will be out at least three weeks. Bregman also recently began doing some running. Abraham Toro and Yuli Gurriel will continue to fill in at 3B for him while he is out.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN) - Shoulder- Buxton was placed on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. The Twins are optimistic that Buxton will be back this week.
Mitch Garver (C, MIN) - Intercostal- Garver was placed on the IL with an intercostal strain. He is not near returning. Alex Avila and Ryan Jeffers will continue to split time while Garver is out.
James Paxton (SP, NYY) - Forearm- Paxton had discomfort in his forearm/elbow while pitching on Thursday and was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. His MRI did not show any structural damage and he was told that he does not require Tommy John surgery. According the GM Brian Cashman, Paxton is "a little far away" from returning.
Drew Pomeranz (RP, SD) - Shoulder- Pomeranz was placed on the IL with shoulder tightness. He was able to play catch this week and was activated off of the IL on August 29th. Emilio Pagan will serve as closer with Pomeranz is out.
Gleyber Torres (SS, NYY) - Hamstring- Torres was placed on the IL with a mild left hamstring and left quad strain. MRI showed mild strains only. It was reported that he will be out "anywhere from three to six weeks" according the GM Brian Cashman. Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada will continue to see more playing time with Torres out.
Austin Slater (OF, SF) - Groin- Slater was placed on the IL with a mild left groin strain. Slater will begin baseball activities over the weekend. No clear timetable for his return yet.
Keone Kela (P, PIT) - Forearm- Kela was placed on the IL with forearm tightness. He will begin to try to through until this resolves. Richard Rodriguez will continue to fill in as closer for the Pirates.
DJ LeMahieu (2B, NYY)- Thumb- LeMahieu was placed on the IL earlier this month with a sprained thumb. No surgery was needed. According to GM Brain Cashman, LeMahieu could return as early as Sunday and returned to the lineup a day early.
Giancarlo Stanton (OF, NYY)- Hamstring- Stanton was placed on the IL earlier this month with a hamstring sprain/ strain. According to GM Brain Cashman, Stanton is at least a week away from returning.
Pedro Severino (C, BAL)- Hip- Severino was removed from Sunday's game with right hip flexor tightness and has not played since. If there is no improvement seen soon, there is a chance he may end up on the IL. Bryan Holaday has been filling in at catcher for the Orioles while Chance Sisco has been serving as the DH.
Colin Moran (3B, PIT)- Concussion- Moran was placed on the 7 day IL and is in the concussion protocol. Moran sustained the head injury last Sunday when he collided with Avisail Garcia. Concussions could be tricky as symptoms could be gone in a few days or linger for weeks. Jose Osuna could see more playing time with Moran out.
Andrew Miller (RP, STL)- Shoulder-Miller has been placed on the IL with left shoulder fatigue, retroactive to August 24. There is no word on severity yet. Giovanny Gallegos may now have a path to become the #Cardinals full time closer.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Finger- The Dodgers placed Buehler on IL with a blister on his right hand, retroactive to Aug. 23. Because this was done retroactively, it is possible that Buehler will not miss more than the minimum time on the IL.
Merrill Kelly (SP, ARI)- Shoulder- Kelly was placed on the IL due to blood clots in his pitching shoulder. General manager Mike Hazen said Kelly probably won't return this season. Kelly had a procedure performed to remove a blood clot from his right shoulder. Taylor Clarke should fill in the rotation for the Diamondbacks.
Jalen Beeks (RP, TB)- Elbow- Beeks was placed on the 45 -day IL with a forearm injury. Beeks was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow and will have Tommy John surgery this coming week.
Shin-Soo Choo (OF, TEX)- Oblique- Rangers manager Chris Woodward said Choo is dealing with an oblique injury in addition to the calf injury. The oblique injury is thought to be worse and they are trying to have Choo avoid the IL. This is something to monitor as he tries to play through it.
Nick Anderson (RP, TB)- Forearm- Anderson was placed on the IL with right forearm inflammation. Rays Manager Kevin Cash expressed optimism that Anderson will be ready to return from the IL Sunday when first eligible. Cash said Anderson was "doing well" since being shut down.
Matt Manning (SP, DET) and Alex Faedo (SP, DET)- Forearm- Tigers GM Al Avila says the team has shut down both pitching prospects for the season. Both of them have right forearm strains. This is said to be done as a precautionary measure as they do not want them rushing back too soon.
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Forearm- Verlander is on the IL with a forearm injury. On Friday, Manager Dusty Baker said today that Verlander "is a little further away than we would like, but he's closer to reality than it appeared like when he first went down." It is not known yet whether Verlander will be able to return this year.
Cole Hamels (SP, ATL)- Triceps- Hamels has been on the IL since the start of the season with a shoulder and then a triceps injury. Hamels, however, could return sometime in September, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Wade Miley (SP, CIN)- Shoulder- Miley was placed on the IL with a left shoulder strain. No word on severity. Miley was on the IL earlier this year with an unrelated injury (groin injury). Tyler Mahle will stay in the rotation for now.
Ryan Yarbrough (SP, TB)- Groin- Yarbrough was placed on the IL with left groin tightness. He suffered the injury this past Friday night. No word on severity or who will take his spot in the Rays rotation.
Mike Zunino- Oblique- Zunino was placed on the IL with left oblique tightness. No word on severity. He has been out the past few days with the same issue. Michael Perez and Kevan Smith will split time behind the plate for the Rays.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP, BOS)- Calf- The RedSox placed Eovaldi on the IL with a "very mild strain" of his right calf, retroactive to August 26. No word on severity. Chris Mazza was recalled to start in his place.
Steven Matz (SP/RP, NYM)- Shoulder- Matz reportedly experienced some left shoulder discomfort during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader and will probably make a trip to the IL. No word on severity or any test results yet.
David Robertson (RP, PHI)- Elbow- Robertson will not throw for another six weeks and will miss the remainder of the 2020 season. Robertson is coming back from Tommy John surgery performed August 2019.
Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)- Finger- Romano was placed on the IL with a finger injury. He is expected to miss two to four weeks with middle finger numbness. Anthony Bass will probably remain the primary closer for the Blue Jay.
Danny Santana (OF/1B, TEX)- Elbow- Santana was placed on the IL with a right elbow sprain, retroactive to August 27. Severity is not yet known and there is no timetable for his return yet. Ronald Guzman was called up.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW)- Leg- Moncada was removed from Saturday's game after aggravating his left upper leg injury. Manager Rick Renteria said the injury is in the region of the hamstring, though he indicated it's not actually a hamstring issue. Moncada has been battling through the injury for the past couple weeks and should be considered day-to-day but this situation should be monitored.
Updated List of Fantasy-Relevant Players Affected by COVID-19
Please note: Although a player may have returned, they may not be up to game speed yet and may still be on the IL or not ready to play. Also please note that the COVID IL can range from a few days to weeks and symptomatic players with negative COVID testing will miss fewer games.
Alcantara, Sandy (SP, MIA)- Returned
Alvarez, Yordan (DH, HOU)- Returned
Astudillo, Willians (C, MIN)- Returned
Beer, Seth (1B, ARI) - Returned
Bethancourt, Christian (RP, PHI)
Blackmon, Charlie (OF, COL) - Returned
Brito, Socrates (OF, PIT)- Returned
Brinson, Lewis (OF, MIA)- Returned
Cabrera, Genesis (RP, STL)- Returned
Calhoun, Kole (OF, ARI) - Returned
Cano, Robinson (1B/2B, NYM) - Returned
Chapman, Aroldis (RP, NYY)- Returned
Cessa, Luis (RP, NYY)- Returned
Chirinos, Yonny (SP/RP, TB)- Returned
Cooper, Garrett (1B/OF, MIA)- Returend
d’Arnuad, Travis (C, ATL)- Returned
Davidson, Matt- (DH, CIN)- Returned
deJong, Paul (SS, STL)- Returning
DeShields, Delino (OF, CLE)- Returned
Diaz, Elias (C, COL)- Returned
Dietrich, Derek (1B/OF, CHC)- Returned
Dozier, Hunter (3B/OF, KC)- Returned
Drury, Brandon (3B, TOR)- Returned
Elias, Roenis (RP, SEA)- Returned
Engel, Adam- (OF, CHW)- Returned
Flowers, Tyler (C, ATL)- Returned
Freeman, Freddie (1B, ATL) - Returned
Garica, Jarlin (RP, SF)- Returned
Gimenez, Andres (2B/SS/3B- Retured
Glasnow, Tyler (SP, TB) - Returned
Gomber, Austin (P, STL)- Returning
Grichuk, Randal (OF, TOR)- Returned
Guerra, Junior (RP, ARI) - Returned
Hamilton, Billy (OF, SF)- Returned
Haseley, Adam (OF, PHI) - Returned
Hayes, Ke'Bryan (3B, PIT)- Returned
Hernandez, Darwinzon (RP, BOS) - Returned
Hirano, Yoshii (RP, SEA)- Returned
Hunter, Tommy (RP, PHI)- Returned
Jansen, Kenley (RP, LAD) - Returned
Joyce, Matt (OF, MIA)- Returned
Kela, Keone (RP, PIT)- Returned
Keller, Brad (SP, KC)- Returned
Kendrick, Howie (1B/2B/3B/OF, WAS) - Returned
Kingery, Scott (2B/3B/SS/OF, PHI) - Returned
Lauer, Eric (SP, MIL)- Returned
LeMahieu, DJ (1B/2B, NYY) - Returned
Luzardo, Jesus (SP, OAK) - Returned
McKay, Brendan (SP, TB)- Returned
Mahtook, Mikie (OF, DET)- Returned
Margot, Manuel (OF, TB)- Returned
Martinez, Carlos (SP/RP, STL)- Returning. He has been throwing live BP and facing hitters this past week.
Mateo, Jorge (SS, SD)- Returned
Mazara, Nomar- (OF, CHW)- Returned
Meadows, Austin (OF, TB)- Returned
Moncada, Yoan (3B, CHW) - Returned
Molina, Yadier (C, STL)- Returning
Neris, Hector (RP, PHI)- Returned
Nido, Tomas (C, NYM)-
Nola, Aaron (SP, PHI) - Returned
Norris, Daniel (SP, DET)- Returned
O'Hearn, Ryan (1B, KC)- Returned
Perez, Salvador (C, KC)- Returned
Pham, Tommy (OF, SD) - Returned
Quinn, Roman (OF, PHI)- Returned
Robles, Victor (OF, WAS)- Returned
Rodriguez, Eduardo (SP, BOS)- Returned but out for the year with COVID complications.
Rojas, Miguel (SS, MIA)- Returned
Ruiz, Keibert- (C, LAD)- Returned
Sano, Miguel (1B/3B, MIN) - Returned
Senzel, Nick- (2B, CIN)
Smith, Caleb (SP, MIA)- Retruning
Smith, Will (RP, ATL)- Returning
Soto, Juan (OF, WAS)- Returned
Suero, Wander (RP, WAS)- Returned
Teheran, Julio (SP, LAA)- Returned
Toussaint, Touki (SP/RP, ATL)- Returned
Urena, Jose (SP, MIA)
Urias, Luis (2B/SS, MIL)- Returned
Urquidy, Jose (SP, HOU)- Returning- According to Dusty Baker, he is about ten days away from joining the Astros.
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