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Well removed from the MLB All-Star Break, the fantasy baseball season is heating up quickly. This week, our list of stud pitchers in the injury headlines is more stacked than ever before. That said, fantasy managers are in for a tough challenge, but we have the latest update on them all. Let's take a look at the top injured pitchers including Shane McClanahan, Liam Hendriks, Marcus Stroman, Julio Urias, and many more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of Aug 3, 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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Shane McClanahan Injury Update
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (forearm) felt tightness on the outside of his left forearm while warming up in the fourth inning of his outing against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, and he will fly back to Tampa on Thursday to have his arm looked at by a doctor. In his four innings of work, McClanahan got slapped around to the tune of five earned runs on five hits (two homers) while walking none and striking out three before leaving.
It's pretty ominous news, but fantasy managers should consider him to be day-to-day for now until we know more on his injury. It would be a crushing blow for the Rays and fantasy managers to lose the 26-year-old southpaw for extended time. Coming into Thursday's start, he had gone 11-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 118 K's in 111 innings (20 starts).
Liam Hendriks Injury Update
Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery on Wednesday morning to fix a torn UCL in his right elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas. It's a tough break for Hendriks, who had already made a return from non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis earlier this year.
The 34-year-old right-handed Aussie will end up making just five appearances for the White Sox this year, giving up three earned runs on four hits while walking one and striking out three in five innings with one save. Hendriks will now miss the rest of the 2023 season and most likely most of the 2024 campaign. For now, Gregory Santos should be Chicago's primary closer for the foreseeable future.
Marcus Stroman Injury Update
Chicago Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman (hip), who was put on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with right-hip inflammation, received a cortisone shot and isn't expected to miss much time, according to manager David Ross. "He's still only going to miss one start with the off days we have, and he'll be able to work on some stuff with the time he's going to have down, so I thought it was an optimal time," Ross said.
The 32-year-old allowed six runs in three innings in his last start against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, which was the third straight start in which he failed to get out of the fourth inning. Stroman said the hip injury has been affecting his mechanics, explaining he was "trying to do so much without my lower half." Hopefully with some rest, Stroman will be able to return and pick up where he left off earlier in the year. Keep him stashed in all fantasy leagues. (ESPN.com)
Julio Urias Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Julio Urias (finger) threw a successful bullpen session on Tuesday. "As of now, we expect him to make that start on Thursday," Roberts said. Urias has struggled in 2023, but fantasy managers will want to get him in their starting lineups this week in an excellent matchup against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.
The 26-year-old southpaw is being pushed back due to a split fingernail on his left hand. Urias has an ERA just south of 5.00 this year and is sporting a 6.23 ERA with eight walks and 24 strikeouts in 26 innings over his last five starts. He's had some rough outings in 2023, but the matchup is just too good to ignore this week.
Max Fried Injury Update
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that the plan is for left-hander Max Fried (forearm) to come off the 60-day injured list and start Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the surging Chicago Cubs. Fried looked good during four minor-league rehab starts, but he hasn't pitched in a big-league game since May 5 when he injured his left forearm.
The 29-year-old southpaw tossed 79 pitches in his fourth and final rehab start last Saturday, so he shouldn't have too much of a limit from a pitch-count perspective on Friday. Fried is a fantasy ace when healthy, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for his first start back against a team that is playing their best baseball right now.
Jordan Romano Injury Update
Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (back) is playing catch on flat ground from 75 feet on Wednesday for the first time since he landed on the 15-day injured list last Saturday with lower-back inflammation. If all goes well as he increases his intensity over the coming days, he hopes to be throwing off a mound by this weekend.
If the 30-year-old right-handed reliever doesn't have any setbacks, he could be back as Toronto's closer when he's eligible to return from the IL on Aug. 13. He needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats. Yimi Garcia picked up the most recent save for the team last Friday with Romano out, but Jordan Hicks and Erik Swanson could see a closing opportunity in the near future before Romano returns.
Nestor Cortes Injury Update
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (shoulder) will return from the 60-day injured list and start on Saturday against the Houston Astros, according to manager Aaron Boone. Left-hander Carlos Rodon will go on Sunday. Cortes was originally to make his final minor-league rehab start on Wednesday, but he instead rejoined the Yankees and is ready to return this weekend.
The 28-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the big leagues since late May due to a left rotator-cuff strain, so fantasy managers may want to temper expectations in his first start back, especially in a tough matchup against Houston. But Cortes is worth a pickup in deep-mixed leagues for those needing pitching depth the rest of the way.
Ryan Helsley Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Ryan Helsley (forearm) threw a successful 20-pitch bullpen session at Busch Stadium on Wednesday at the velocity the team expected, according to manager Oliver Marmol. If Helsley recovers well on Thursday, a minor-league rehab assignment could come as soon as this weekend. It means that the 29-year-old could return to the Cardinals bullpen as early as next week, barring any setbacks.
Until he's back from the 60-day injured list, Giovanny Gallegos should remain the favorite for save chances, especially now that Jordan Hicks is in Toronto. Helsley should be the primary closer once he's back with St. Louis and fully healthy, so fantasy managers in need of some saves down the stretch may want to consider adding him now off the waiver wire if he's available.
Joe Musgrove Injury Update
San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (shoulder) has "minor" right-shoulder soreness and has been scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. Reliever Nick Martinez will serve as the opener instead. Musgrove is being pushed back to the start of the series against the Seattle Mariners next week, which starts on Tuesday. Hopefully, the 30-year-old will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list and start next week.
Musgrove has been great for the Friars and fantasy managers in 2023, going 10-3 with a 3.05 ERA (3.54 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, 21 walks and 97 strikeouts in 97 1/3 innings over his 17 starts. Martinez won't go more than an inning or two and should be avoided as a fantasy streamer at Coors Field on Wednesday.
Hunter Greene Injury Update
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (hip) threw two innings in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday and didn't allow a run while giving up one hit, walking none and striking out three. It was a nice first step for Greene, who is targeting an Aug. 20 return to Cincinnati's starting rotation. The hard-throwing 23-year-old is expected to make his next minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday against tougher competition.
The contending Reds will get a huge boost on the pitching side when they get both Greene and left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) back in their rotation at the end of this month. Greene should be stashed in all fantasy formats right now for his strikeout upside. (MILB.com)
Tanner Houck Injury Update
Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck (face) is getting ready for a rehab assignment, which will begin on Saturday with Triple-A Worcester. He'll aim for around 40 pitches before bumping that up to 60 in his next rehab game on Wednesday. If everything goes as planned, Houck could return to the Red Sox for their road trip, which starts on August 15, after landing on the injured list on June 18 with a facial fracture.
Over 13 starts, the 27-year-old owns a 5.05 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 64 strikeouts across 67.2 innings. Manager Alex Cora doesn't know what role the team will use Houck in, and if he's moved to the bullpen, that erases almost all of his fantasy value. (MLB.com)
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