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Week 6 MLB Injury Report for Fantasy Baseball
Sprains, strains, and surgeries. These three words make chills run down the spine of even the most hardened fantasy player. They're the little “what if” clause hanging over every fantasy season, that thing you just can't ever really predict no matter how much pre-draft research you do. Like it or not, being able to properly deal with injuries is one of the main separators between casual fantasy players and league champions. Below you will find updates and analysis for all the MLB injuries relevant at the end of Week 6.
Recent Injuries
Aramis Ramirez: Ramirez was held out of the Brewers' starting lineup for much of the week with lower back tightness. Luckily the condition seems to be mild. Ramirez is expected to make his return this Friday.
Jean Segura: Segura was placed on the DL on May 14th with a fractured right pinkie finger. The team is hoping this injury will be able to heal quickly and that Segura will be back by the end of the month.
Wil Myers: Myers was held out of the starting lineup between May 12th, 14th and 15th with left wrist tendinitis. It does not look like this condition will warrant a DL stint, but the outfielder is still at least 3-4 days away according to the team. Update your lineups accordingly.
Leonys Martin: Martin is day-to-day with a left wrist sprain. The Rangers do not expect to need to send their center fielder to the disabled list for this condition, however.
“We’re going to let him work that soreness out,’’ manager Jeff Banister said. “Let’s see if we can’t clean him up and have him ready to go in a couple of days.’’
Drew Smyly: The blows just keep coming for the Tampa Rays. Smyly's season is almost certainly finished after the promising young pitcher suffered a left labrum tear. While he's still currently seeking out a second opinion, this type of injury is incredibly serious and almost certainly warrants surgery. Given how difficult it is to make it back from labrum surgery, there are very real questions about what we might see from Smyly going forward. Baseball fans will just have to hope for the best.
Justin Masterson: Masterson was placed on the DL on May 14th with right shoulder tendinitis. The Red Sox are hoping to have him back in late May.
Justin Morneau: Morneau was held out of the starting lineup with what the team is vaguely calling “dizziness.” It's hard to say exactly what's affecting the first baseman based off of that, but whatever it is, the Rockies think it's serious enough to warrant a day of rest. Morneau's condition is day-to-day going forward.
David Price: Price was pulled from his last start early with some hamstring pain. The Tigers have cautiously pushed his next start back two days to Saturday, but Price doesn't seem overly concerned about the injury himself.
“My health right now is fine," he said. "My last two days have been very good, very encouraging."
Ongoing Injury Updates
Sean Doolittle: Doolittle began a High-A rehab assignment on May 14th. According to CSN Bay Area's Joe Stiglich, this is likely the 'final step' in his rehab process. He is expected to rejoin the team sometime in late May.
Ben Zobrist: Zobrist could begin a rehab assignment as early as May 18th. If he is able to do so, this would put him on track to get back to the majors in early June.
Jose Reyes: Although he was still unable to go full strength, this week Reyes was able to take batting practice for the first time since being forced to the disabled list with cracked ribs.
"I was extra careful," Reyes told the National Post. "I kind of cut off my swing a little bit. It didn't feel like it was me hitting, but at the same time this is my first time hitting BP. I can't go there and hit BP full out ...I have to take it one step at a time and hopefully tomorrow do a little bit more."
Despite this progress, the Jays do not yet have a timetable for Reyes' return.
Jonathan Lucroy: Lucroy was able to participate in batting practice late last week. He remains on track to return to the Brewers at the end of the month.
Archie Bradley: Bradley is set to make his return to the Dback's starting rotation on May 16th. It's a good matchup for Bradley as he's set to take on Jerome Williams and the offensively challenged Phillies.
Kenley Jansen: The star closer returned Friday and managed a miraculous four strikeouts in one perfect inning of work. Initially the Dodgers had projected a Saturday return for the injured reliever, but after Pedro Baez was pulled from a game with right pectoral pain, it made sense to get Jansen some time Friday. Jansen looks to be fully healthy and should resume his role as a top closer immediately if not sooner.
Yasiel Puig: Bad news for Puig owners. After being shut down from his rehab assignment on May 12th, word broke that the left hamstring strain which has held him out of action for so long has still not healed. According to manager Don Mattingly, Puig is still “at least a couple weeks” away from a return.
Hyun-Jin Ryu: Ryu's throwing program was shut down on May 11th after the injured pitcher experienced a set-back. He's likely at least a month away from a return.
Hunter Pence: After beginning a rehab assignment on May 8th, Pence is a strong candidate to return to the Giants' lineup very soon.
“He’s getting to where he’s just about ready and he’s going to wear me out,” Bruce Bochy jokingly told Andrew Baggerly. “I’m trying to avoid that, to be honest.”
The Giants will assess Pence's condition on a day-to-day basis going forward.
“But we’re at the stage where we’ll evaluate him every day and make the call when we think he’s ready,” Bochy explained.
Yan Gomes: Reports out of Indians' camp indicate that Gomes could begin a rehab assignment as soon as May 15th. He would begin by working on hitting as a DH before moving to catching duties at a later date. He's a good candidate to return in late May.
Hisashi Iwakuma: Iwakuma was shut down from throwing for 10 days beginning on May 12th. The Mariners are still hopeful he could be ready to rejoin the team in late June, however.
Jose Fernandez: Fernandez began facing live hitters in batting practice on May 9th, according to the Marlins. The young ace is working his way back from last year's Tommy John surgery at a fantastic pace and could be ready to go as soon as mid-June.
David Wright: Wright has still not been cleared for baseball activities after suffering a back injury in a rehab outing. Thankfully an MRI revealed he does not have any structural damage. Even still when taken together with the hamstring strain he was already working his way back from, it does not paint a rosy picture for fantasy owners. Until Wright can begin a rehab assignment, there is no timetable for his return.
Travis d'Arnaud: d'Arnaud was cleared for all baseball activities except for swinging a bat on May 11th. The Mets are looking to have him back by the end of May.
Anthony Rendon: The Nationals are flying Rendon to their Spring Training facilities in Florida to begin baseball activities.
"In recent days, he has been doing strengthening with our physical therapist," manager Matt Williams said. "Now he is going to be off to Florida to start that progression with baseball. So it's a good sign. He feels good to get to the baseball part of it, which is really important stuff for him. It will be a slower process for him. At least he will get a chance to do some stuff."
While it is still technically possible that the star infielder could be back in May, an early June return is looking more and more likely.
Matt Wieters: It's been a long road back for Matt Wieters, but it seems that the end is at last in sight. The Orioles are targeting June 4th for the promising catcher's return.
Alex Cobb: With Cobb deciding to undergo Tommy John surgery, it seems that his season is over before it began.
Nick Franklin: Franklin is still on track to return to the team in mid-May. The Rays initially estimated that his rehab assignment would last around two weeks. This would point to somewhere around the last full week of May as the most likely time for Franklin's activation from the DL.
Devin Mesoraco: Not much has changed with Mesoraco since last week. He's still limited to pinch hitting and DH duties because of the damage done to his left hip and frankly it's hard to see that changing any time soon. Mesoraco hasn't started a game behind the dish since April 11th.
Justin Verlander: Verlander threw 25 pitches in his last bullpen session and continues to build up strength in his right arm. The Tigers are working to have him back by late May.
Masahiro Tanaka: After a 3-pitch bullpen session on May 12th, Tanaka is scheduled to throw another on May 15th. If all continues to go well, he could be back for the Yankees in the first weeks of June.
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