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Another week of MLB baseball brings another flurry of fantasy pitchers dealing with bumps and bruises. Pitching staffs are deeper than ever, but fantasy managers will have to identify which players to target while their top hurlers are out of the lineup. Let's take a look at the top injured pitchers including Zach Eflin, Hunter Greene, Max Fried, Chris Sale, Michael Wacha, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of July 27, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy baseball player news page and download the free RotoBaller fantasy baseball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the injury updates for pitchers.
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Zach Eflin Injury Update
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zach Eflin departed Wednesday's contest against the Miami Marlins early with discomfort in his left knee. It was already a tough afternoon for the right-hander as the Marlins tagged Eflin for five earned runs on seven hits and a walk before he left the contest after completing four innings.
Despite the tough afternoon, it's been a productive season for the 29-year-old, his first with the Rays. Eflin entered Wednesday's contest sporting a 3.36 ERA and 3.33 SIERA across 19 starts while only Seattle's George Kirby sports a superior walk rate to Eflin's 3.6% BB%.
Hunter Greene Injury Update
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (hip) threw a side session on Tuesday, according to manager David Bell. Greene has one more level to reach in his core-stability program. Once he finishes that, he will throw a live batting practice session and then start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville or High-A Dayton. Greene reached Level 3 of his rehab program and is now throwing off a mound at the team's spring training complex. "It could all happen really fast," Bell said on July 25. "Any day, it's going to happen."
The 23-year-old hard-throwing hurler will rejoin Cincy's starting rotation as soon as he's ready. In 14 starts before his injury, he went 2-4 with a 3.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 100 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings pitched. (MLB.com)
Max Fried Injury Update
Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried (forearm, illness) was scratched from his minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday night due to an illness. The team will announce a new date for his next rehab start on either Thursday or Friday. Fried was expected to make his fourth rehab start and then likely be activated from the 60-day injured list, but that will have to wait for now.
Depending on when the 29-year-old southpaw's final rehab start is, he could still return to Atlanta's starting rotation at some point later next week. Fried should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues despite not having pitched in the big leagues since May 5. It's been a frustrating year for Fried due to injuries -- he's made just five starts -- but he's a fantasy ace when healthy.
Chris Sale Injury Update
If Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale's (shoulder) live batting practice session at Triple-A Worcester goes well on Thursday, he would start a minor-league rehab assignment next Tuesday. Sale is taking the next step after throwing a normal bullpen session last weekend.
The oft-injured 34-year-old southpaw is attempting to return from a stress reaction in his left scapula, and he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues because of his strikeout upside when he's actually healthy. However, the Red Sox may bring him back early and ease him back into big-league games, so it may be tricky as to whether to use him in starting fantasy lineups right away when he's activated from the injured list.
Michael Wacha Injury Update
San Diego Padres right-hander Michael Wacha (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday for the first time since he landed on the injured list with right-shoulder inflammation earlier this month. He continues to build up toward an expected August return after throwing 25 pitches on Tuesday, using his fastball and changeup exclusively. Wacha is scheduled to throw a second bullpen session on Friday, where he plans to mix in the rest of his pitches.
The Friars will continue to use a four-man starting rotation, and Wacha doesn't appear to be an option to start on Aug. 1, the next time the team would need a fifth starter. The 32-year-old veteran has been lights-out for SD in 2023, going 8-2 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 15 starts. (MLB.com)
A.J. Minter Injury Update
Atlanta Braves left-hander A.J. Minter (shoulder) began his rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The 29-year-old has been on the shelf since earlier this month after experiencing shoulder tightness.
It's a good sign for Minter, and he could return in early August if there are no setbacks. Across 40.1 innings this year, the seven-year veteran owns a 4.91 ERA (2.84 FIP) but with a 1.09 WHIP, 31.6% strikeout rate, 10 saves, and 11 holds. Despite his bloated ERA, he'll remain a solid option in hold formats once he's back.
Nick Lodolo Injury Update
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) threw his first side session on Tuesday in Arizona, and it went well, according to manager David Bell. Based on Lodolo's progression from a left-tibia stress reaction, he's unlikely to be back with the Reds until sometime in September. "That's kind of how I've been thinking about it. It's a little bit tough because there hasn't been a calendar yet," Bell said earlier in July. "That seems right to me."
The 25-year-old southpaw has been sidelined since early May. Lodolo has plenty of strikeout upside, but he had posted a 6.29 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 34 1/3 innings over seven starts before his injury and can probably be left to the waiver wire in most mixed leagues for the rest of the season. (MLB.com)
Wade Miley Injury Update
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Wade Miley (elbow) is hopeful that he can return from the injured list on Saturday, according to MLB.com. The 36-year-old veteran has missed time due to left-elbow discomfort, and he has yet to make a start in the second half.
Through 13 appearances this season, Miley has pitched to a 3.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 16.7% strikeout rate with a 6-2 record. He only has value in deeper leagues considering his strikeout numbers, so fantasy owners can drop the former 2008 draft pick in standard formats no matter when he returns. (MLB.com)
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