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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 3 (2024). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
It is only two and a half weeks into the season and we seem to have enough injuries occurring to last us for a few months. Starting pitchers have been dropping like flies, which should make us rethink how we draft them in the preseason.
There is no Tommy John surge this spring -- it's just always this bad since ~2014. Today marks the 100th day of the year, a period during when most elbow injuries occur. We looked at the first 100 days of each year re: TJS procedures for MLB and all pro pitchers since Tommy John… pic.twitter.com/smNQQ3bo2Q
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) April 10, 2024
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According to this research, we have had a pretty "average" year when it comes to pitchers' injuries. Also, we have passed the point when most pitchers start to require Tommy John surgery. We have passed the time when pitchers acclimate themselves to new rule changes and baseball for this year. That being said, as fantasy players, we still have to navigate these injuries to help us win our fantasy leagues. I will continue to highlight injured players (pitchers and hitters) and when you can expect them to return.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning 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. Therefore, I have 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. This 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!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Luis Robert Jr. (OF, CHW)- Hip: Robert was placed on the IL with a Grade 2 hip flexor strain. He is expected to be out at least six to eight weeks. A Grade 2 strain usually ends up being closer to the eight-week time frame. Dominic Fletcher and Kevin Pillar could see more playing time.
#WhiteSox Luis Robert Jr. left tonight's game injured.
He comes up limping rounding 1st base in the 9th inning on this double. pic.twitter.com/utlfzRRKAg
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) April 6, 2024
Brandon Lowe (2B, TB)- Oblique: Lowe has been placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. The severity is not yet known, but he could miss up to a month based on the grade of the strain. Curtis Mead has seen an uptick in playing time with Lowe out.
Trevor Story (SS, BOS)- Shoulder: Story is on the IL and will be out for the entire year after it was noted that he has a fracture in his glenoid of the left shoulder. This will require surgery. He also had a subluxated shoulder from the play that he got injured during. David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez will fill in for the time being for the Red Sox at shortstop.
Cora says the Sox will platoon at SS (Hamilton and Gonzalez) and 2B (Reyes and Valdez).
Grissom will play 2B on his rehab (starting Friday) but could be re-introduced to SS.
Refsnyder starts his rehab tomorrow.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 9, 2024
Geraldo Perdomo (2B, ARI)- Knee: Perdomo injured his knee while running from first to second. He was diagnosed with a torn right meniscus in his knee. He had surgery and is expected to miss at least one month. Blaze Alexander and Kevin Newman will get more playing time with Perdomo out.
Eloy Jimenez (DH, CHW)- Adductor: Jimenez was placed on the IL due to a left adductor strain. The severity is not fully known, but recovering from this injury usually takes four to six weeks. Gavin Sheets should get more playing time.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW)- Adductor: Moncada suffered a Grade 2 left adductor strain while running to first base. He was placed on the IL and is expected to miss two to three months. Lenyn Sosa should see more playing time with Moncada out.
Yoan Moncada will miss at least three months and potentially the whole season pic.twitter.com/Ku0eGD9hcN
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 10, 2024
Sean Murphy (C, ATL)- Oblique: Murphy was placed on the IL with a Grade 1 left oblique strain. This could keep him out for about three more weeks. He has not yet begun swinging a bat.
#Braves catcher Sean Murphy (oblique, IL) has begun walking on the treadmill, Snitker said. That’s a long way from sprinting and hitting, but it’s progress.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 10, 2024
Tommy Edman (2B, STL)- Wrist: Edman had wrist surgery this past October and is on the IL currently. Edman has begun baseball activities but still has a ways to go to build up to being game ready.
Dylan Carlson (OF, STL)- Shoulder: Carlson is on the IL with a sprained acromioclavicular (AC) joint of his left shoulder. He has not been cleared to begin baseball activities yet.
Max Kepler (OF, MIN)- Knee: Kepler was placed on the IL with a right knee contusion. It is unknown when he suffered the injury and how long he will be out for. Jose Miranda was called up to be the DH for the Twins with Matt Wallner seeing more playing time in the outfield.
Vaughn Grissom (SS, BOS)- Groin: Grissom is on the IL with a groin strain. The Red Sox are hopeful that he could start a rehab assignment this weekend. This should put him on target to return to the Red Sox infield by the end of next week.
Brent Rooker (OF, OAK)- Abdomen: Rooker was placed on the IL with rib pain. The severity is not yet known. Lawrence Butler has been playing instead of him for now for the Athletics.
Garrett Mitchell ( OF, MIL)- Finger: Mitchell has a fracture in his finger on his right hand and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. He had updated testing, which showed good healing/alignment. Mitchell currently has a June 1 target return date.
Danny Jansen (C, TOR)- Wrist: Jansen is on the IL with a right wrist fracture. He recently began a rehab assignment, but as a DH only. He could return to the Blue Jays' big club by the end of April.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Spencer Strider (SP, ATL)- UPDATE: Strider has undergone season-ending UCL surgery Elbow: Strider was placed on the IL with damage to his UCL in his right elbow. He is going for further consultation to see whether he will go forward with Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, the top ranked fantasy pitcher during draft season may have pitched his last inning for the Braves this year. Allan Winans was called up to take his rotation spot.
Kodai Senga (SP, NYM)- Shoulder- Senga is on the IL with a right shoulder posterior capsule strain. There has been no change in his status except that he was transferred to the 60-day IL. This means that the earliest he could be activated is May 27.
Framber Valdez (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Valdez was placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation. The severity is not fully known as the Astros are hopeful to have him miss only two starts through the rotation. Spencer Arrighetti was called up to take his spot in the Astros rotation.
Framber Valdez's elbow is sore. He's back in Houston seeing doctors. The club chose to exude optimism.
"I asked him, ‘Was it a lot of pain, low pain, medium pain?’ He said it was a little below the medium side. I think it’s going to be fine.” -https://t.co/3XqjFu5TAz
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 8, 2024
Josiah Gray (SP, WAS)- Forearm: Gray was placed on the IL with a right flexor strain in his pitching elbow. The severity is not fully known, but this does not bode well for him. Joan Adon was called up to take his rotation spot for the Nationals.
Robert Stephenson (shoulder) is set to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake. He's pitching Sunday in Las Vegas and Tuesday in Salt Lake City. And then will be reevaluated from there.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 10, 2024
Michael Lorenzen (SP, TEX)- Neck: Lorenzen has been on the IL with a neck strain. He is scheduled to make one more rehab start and could be activated by the Rangers sometime next week to start for them.
Shane Bieber (SP, CLE)- Elbow: Bieber was placed on the 60-day IL with ligament damage to his UCL. He will be having Tommy John surgery and is done for the year. For now, Wes Parsons was called up by the Guardians to start in his place.
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Shoulder: Verlander is on the IL with shoulder soreness. He is scheduled to have one more rehab start and could be activated by the Astros as early as next week.
Braxton Garrett (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Garrett started the season on the IL with left shoulder soreness. He is scheduled for one more rehab start this weekend and could be activated from the IL next week barring any setbacks.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Elbow- Buehler continues to recover from Tommy John surgery that he had in August 2022. He is scheduled to make maybe only one more rehab start before being activated from the IL.
Edward Cabrera (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Cabrera has been diagnosed with right shoulder impingement. Cabrera is scheduled for another rehab start. He may be activated from the IL, if all goes well, next week.
Nick Pivetta (SP, BOS)- Forearm: Pivetta was placed on the IL this week with a flexor strain in his right forearm. Red Sox GM Craig Breslow said this week that Pivetta may only miss two turns through the rotation. That remains to be seen and should be seen as very optimistic. Cooper Criswell and Chase Anderson are candidates to fill in for the injured Pivetta.
Kyle Bradish (SP, BAL)- Elbow: Bradish was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his pitching elbow. He is currently on the IL but has recently begun a rehab assignment. This assignment may be at least two to three starts as he has to build up arm strength.
Chase Silseth (SP, LAA)- Elbow: Silseth was placed on the IL with a right elbow strain. An MRI revealed inflammation only, which is a good thing. No word on how long he will be out for. Jose Soriano has taken his rotation spot for the Angels.
Taijuan Walker (SP, PHI)- Shoulder: Walker was diagnosed with right shoulder impingement and began the season on the IL. Walker has begun a rehab assignment and the Phillies said they will activate him when he gets his pitch count during his rehab to around 100 pitches.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)- Elbow: Romano was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation and began the season on the IL. He has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL as early as the end of next week.
Devin Williams (RP, MIL)- Back: Williams is on the IL with multiple stress fractures in his back. He said this week that his goal is to return around the All-Star break. Abner Uribe has been closing for the Brewers with Williams out.
Matt Brash (RP, SEA)- Elbow: Brash is on the IL with medical right elbow inflammation. He had a live bullpen session that “went well.” He has not yet begun a rehab assignment but should do so soon.
Robert Stephenson (RP, LAA)- Shoulder: Stephenson is on the IL with right shoulder soreness/discomfort. He has been cleared for a rehab assignment and could join the Angels bullpen by the end of next week.
Robert Stephenson (shoulder) is set to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake. He's pitching Sunday in Las Vegas and Tuesday in Salt Lake City. And then will be reevaluated from there.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 10, 2024
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