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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 13 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
June is winding down, as is the third month of the baseball season. Fantasy baseball teams are starting to feel the roster crunch with injuries. Every spot on your fantasy roster is important and every stat is important to help you climb the standings or maintain your lead in your leagues. Knowing how long a player is out is key to maximizing your entire fantasy roster. At this point in the season, it is very important to hear what the managers and general managers have to say about injured players. If a player gets injured from now until the end of June, injury timeframes are important. A two-month absence at this point may mean that the injured player may not give you much production for the rest of the year. Pitchers tend to be out longer as their ramping up takes more time than a hitters rehab assignment.
Knowing when to drop an injured player is key. This is also league dependent. Someone who is in a league that has head-to-head playoffs at the end of the year should manage their injuries differently than in a league that just has overall standings. Also, keeper league teams should manage their injuries differently as well. Those roster spots could be utilized in the FAAB market for a new replacement player that could help you win your league. I will continue to highlight the timelines of when injured relevant fantasy players could and should return from injury.
Here's a little about myself 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 time period, which has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball which I hope to share with you. Make sure to stay up to date on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24/7 push notification alerts!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Aaron Judge (OF, NYY)- Toe: Judge was placed on the IL with a sprained right big toe. This injury occurred when he stubbed his toe making a catch at Dodger Stadium. X-rays did not show a fracture. Judge said that every day he is feeling better, but there is still no timetable for his return as he received a second PRP injection for a second ligament that was bothering him.
Brandon Lowe (2B, TB)- Back: Lowe was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. He was diagnosed with a herniated disc and will be shut down for two to three weeks. A herniated disc is a chronic issue and can have flare-ups, but could also be played with. An example of that is Clayton Kershaw. Lowe should be out until at least the All-Star break. Taylor Walls and Isaac Paredes will continue to see more playing time for the Rays.
Pete Alonso (1B, NYM)- Wrist: Alonso, at the time of writing this article, was trending to be placed on the IL with a left wrist contusion. He took grounders this week and was seen this week wearing a brace on his wrist but it was off later in the week. Alonso still has a two to three-week timeframe for him to return. Mark Vientos and Mark Canha will continue to see more playing time at first base for the Mets.
Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)- Oblique: Alvarez is on the IL with a Grade 1 oblique strain. Astros general manager Dana Brown said this week that Alvarez is not expected to resume baseball activity for at least another three weeks and then will ramp up. This means that Alvarez will probably be out until late July. Corey Julks and Chas McCormick will continue to see more playing time with Alvarez out.
Ryan Mountcastle (OF, BAL)- Head: Mountcastle was placed on the IL with vertigo, retroactive to June 10. He has been able to swing in the cage, so this could be a minimum stint on the IL before he returns. Mark Kolozsvary was called up and Aaron Hicks will continue to see more playing time.
Jesse Winker (OF, MIL)- Neck: Winker was placed on the IL with a cervical strain, retroactive to May 28. He is on a rehab assignment and could be activated this weekend.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (OF, MIA)- Toe: Chisholm is currently on the IL with turf toe on his right foot. Chisholm will have to undergo surgery after the season to repair it. He was recently cleared to begin running and ramping up other baseball activities. While the hope is that he will be able to make it back in the coming weeks and be healthy enough to play the remainder of the season.
Salvador Perez (C, KC)- Wrist/Hand: Perez was hit by a pitch in his left hand/wrist. He was taken out of the game. He is not in the lineup Friday night and there is a chance that he will end up on the IL.
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Hamstring: Muncy has a grade 2 strain of his left hamstring strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said they will not put Muncy on the IL yet and the hope is for Muncy to return Saturday. However, in an interview he gave, Muncy said that the strain is only mild. Usually, a grade 2 strain requires a six to eight-week recovery time. Chris Taylor could be in line for more playing time.
Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC)- Shoulder: Pasquantino was placed on the IL with right shoulder instability/pain. He will require surgery to repair a torn labrum, which is causing the instability and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2023 season. Nick Pratto has been filling in at first base for the Royals.
Mitch Haniger (OF, SF)- Forearm: Haniger was hit by a pitch and was diagnosed with a fractured right forearm. He had surgery Thursday to repair the fracture and he could miss six to eight weeks recovering.
Brandon Belt (DH, TOR)- Hamstring: Belt was placed on the IL with left hamstring inflammation. He did participate in running drills on Tuesday but he apparently was not able to show the Blue Jays that he was well enough to avoid the IL. Ernie Clement was called up.
Charlie Blackmon (OF, COL)- Hand: Blackmon was placed on the IL with a fractured right hand, a fifth metatarsal fracture. The usual recovery time is about four to six weeks as long as surgery is not needed. If surgery is needed, the timeline for his return could extend to eight to ten weeks.
Tyler O'Neill (OF, STL) - Back: O’Neill was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. On June 2, O’Neill's rehab was then shut down for an additional ten days. O’Neill said this week, “ I'm on doctor's orders in terms of a core program and what that timetable looks like. Hopefully later this week, we can get into baseball activities and can ramp up from there."
Zach Neto (SS, LAA)- Oblique: Neto was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. It was initially called cramping but it now seems more significant. The severity is not yet known. Andrew Velazquez was called up and should get a lot of time at shortstop for the Angels.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW)- Back: Moncada was placed, again, on the IL due to a low back issue. He has dealt with a herniated disc in his back since spring training and already spent more than a month on the IL with the issue. The treatment for this usually involves rest, physical therapy, and epidural injections with surgery as a worst-case scenario. Jake Burger is in line for everyday third-base duties.
Jake Fraley (OF, CIN)- Wrist: Fraley was placed on the IL with a small muscle tear in his right wrist. He received a cortisone injection and has been feeling better. He expects to return this Sunday.
Austin Meadows (OF, DET)- Anxiety: Meadows is on the IL while dealing with anxiety. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said this week that Meadows is continuing his treatment in Florida. There is no timetable for his return.
Harrison Bader (OF, NYY)- Hamstring: Bader is on the IL with a hamstring strain. He is currently on a rehab assignment and is scheduled to return from the IL on Tuesday.
Gio Urshela (3B, LAA)- Pelvis: Urshela has been diagnosed with a left pelvic fracture. There is no timeline as to when he could return. Michael Stefanic was called up to provide infield depth for the Angels.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Carlos Rodon (SP, NYY) - Back: Rodon continues to make progress from his low back injury that has him on the IL at this time. Rodon continues to throw live batting practice and may begin a rehab assignment next week Tuesday. He will likely need three rehab starts before he is activated, barring any setbacks.
Ross Stripling (SP, SF)- Back: Stripling has been out since mid-May with a low back strain. He received a cortisone shot for his SI (sacroiliac) joint. Stripling has now begun a rehab assignment and may need two more rehab starts before he is activated, in about ten days to two weeks.
Chris Sale (SP, BOS)- Shoulder: Sale was placed on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. Sale was then diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left scapula and was transferred to the 60-day IL. He will be shut down for at least three to four weeks but will not require surgery.
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Tibia: Lodolo is on the IL with a stress reaction in his left tibia. He did receive encouraging results from his most recent MRI but he will not be able to return until early August at the earliest.
Wade Miley (SP, MIL) - Lat: Miley is on the IL with a posterior serratus strain around the left side of his rib cage. Brewer manager Craig Counsell has said that Miley will return this Saturday from the IL.
Jose Quintana (SP, NYM)- Rib: Quintana has been on the IL from the start of the season following rib surgery. He has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL in early July.
Alex Faedo (SP, DET)- Finger: Faedo is on the IL with a finger injury. He saw a specialist and underwent a procedure to remove a fingernail on the middle finger of his right hand. He has resumed a throwing program but will still probably need a rehab stint, albeit maybe a short one.
Matt Manning (SP, DET)- Foot: Manning sustained a right foot fracture on April 11. He is currently on a rehab assignment. He may still need a few more rehab starts to build up his stamina but could return within the next two weeks.
Seth Lugo (SP, SD)- Calf: Lugo is on the IL with a calf strain. He has been facing live hitters soon and hopes to return to the Padres rotation but may now need a rehab assignment.
Justin Steele (SP, CHC)- Forearm: Steele was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. He threw a side session this week and has been cleared to start this Sunday.
Graham Ashcraft (SP, CIN)- Calf: Ashcraft was placed on the IL with a left calf contusion, which has now almost fully healed. He will require either three bullpen sessions and/or a rehab assignment before returning from the IL.
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, DET)- Finger: Rodriguez was placed on the IL this week with a left index finger pulley rupture. Rodriguez met with a hand specialist and was cleared to throw and has increased the throwing intensity. He has not yet been cleared to do mound work.
Kyle Wright (SP, ATL)- Shoulder: Wright has been on the 60-day IL with a shoulder strain. Wright is likely to remain sidelined until after the All-Star break but he has been cleared to throw and can begin building up this week with flat-ground work.
Trevor Rogers (SP, MIA)- Biceps/Lat: Rogers has been on the IL with a left biceps strain since April 21. After a minor setback in his last rehab start, he was diagnosed with a right lat strain. He is rehabbing in Florida and could start throwing next week.
Julio Urias (SP, LAD) - Hamstring: Urias is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He will need a few more bullpen sessions before going on a rehab assignment.
Alex Wood (SP, SF)- Back: Wood was placed on the IL with a back strain. He is expected to spend the minimum amount of time on the IL and is expected to be activated on Saturday.
Mike Clevinger (SP, CHW)- Biceps: Clevinger was taken out of his last starts due to right biceps soreness. The severity is not yet known and he may have an IL stint in his future.
Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, HOU)- Forearm: McCullers underwent season-ending surgery this past Tuesday to repair a torn right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur from his right forearm. He has been ruled out for the rest of this season.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Ryan Helsley (RP, STL)- Forearm: Helsley was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. He underwent a second round of imaging scans this past Tuesday. Afterward, "concern is minimal" for Helsley's right forearm, but the Cardinals want to make sure that their closer has nothing structurally wrong. He has been shut down for 10 days. Giovanny Gallegos is expected to be the primary closer with Helsley out.
Liam Hendriks (RP, CHW)- Forearm: Hendriks was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. His MRI did not show any structural damage and there is no timetable for his return. After getting medically cleared by his oncologist, he was given a PRP injection in the hopes to speed up his recovery. Kendall Graveman looks to be the primary closer for the White Sox.
Jesse Chavez (RP, ATL)- Shin: Chavez was placed on the IL with a left shin contusion. X-rays were negative after he was hit by a comebacker this past Wednesday. The severity is not known and there is no timeline for his return yet.
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