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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 14 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
As we move past the 60-game mark, there continues to be an uptick in injuries this year, particularly soft tissue injuries. These injuries include oblique, groin, hamstring, and back injuries.
Not all of the injuries are the same for each player and should be treated and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. They should not all be lumped together.
Keywords to listen for while getting updates on these injuries include what grade the strain is to determine how severe it is. That is the best way to help evaluate how long that player will be out for.
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Injured Players - New Listings
Byron Buxton- (OF, MIN)- Hand- Buxton is on the IL with a left pinky fracture (fifth metacarpal bone), also known as a Boxers fracture. Buxton will not need surgery to repair his fractured left hand. Healing time is about five weeks, although the Twins have not yet given a timetable for his return. Trevor Larnach could continue to benefit from more playing time.
Aaron Civale- (SP, CLE)- Finger- Civale is on the IL with a finger injury. He was diagnosed with a sprain in his middle finger on his right hand. He will be shut down from throwing for one to two weeks and is expected to miss about a month of game time. No replacement has been named in the Cleveland rotation yet.
Corey Dickerson- (OF, MIA)- Foot - Dickerson was placed on the IL with a foot sprain. His exact return timeline is unclear, but his absence could wind up being a long one, as manager Don Mattingly described the outfielder's MRI results as "not very promising." Dickerson will be in a walking boot for three weeks before being reevaluated.
Daniel Vogelbach- (1B, MIL)- Hamstring- Vogelbach was placed on the IL with a hamstring strain, and Brewers manager Craig Counsell called the injury "significant." He was injured while scoring from second on a base hit. Keston Hiura was called up.
Joey Lucchesi- (SP, NYM)- Forearm- Lucchesi was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. He has since undergone Tommy John surgery this week after being diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow. He is out for the rest of this year.
Adalberto Mondesi- (SS, KC)- Oblique- The Royals placed Mondesi on the IL with a strained left oblique. Mondesi missed almost the first two months of the season with a strained right oblique. General manager Dayton Moore was unwilling to provide a timeline on Mondesi's return when he met with the media earlier this week. With Mondesi out, Nicky Lopez should be a regular at shortstop for the Royals.
Max Fried- (SP, ATL)- Finger- Fried was placed on the IL retroactive to June 19 due to a blister on his left index finger. Fried is expected to return on June 30.
Brett Anderson- (SP, MIL)- Knee- Anderson has been diagnosed with a bone bruise on his right knee and was placed on the IL. Severity is not yet known or whether he will have to stay more than the minimum on the IL. Anderson reportedly suffered the injury while hitting. Eric Lauer should fill in for the Brewers until he Anderson returns.
Carson Kelly- (C, ARI)- Wrist- Kelly is on the IL with a fractured right wrist. Kelly fractured his right wrist last Saturday night and will most likely be out through the All Star game (five to six weeks). Daulton Varsho was called up and Stephen Vogt should see most of the time behind the plate for Diamondbacks.
Brandon Belt- (1B, SF)- Knee- Belt is dealing with a right knee injury. The Giants are still waiting for MRI results on Belt's right knee, but there's a "really good chance" that he will be placed on the IL. With Wilmer Flores also managing hamstring tightness, Darin Ruf could see more playing time.
Lucas Sims- (RP, CIN)- Elbow- Sims was placed on the IL with a sprained right elbow. Sims' elbow sprain is expected to keep him out for three to four weeks. Brad Brach was the first reliever out of the Red's bullpen to get a save chance following the injury and was successful. Tejay Antone or Amir Garrett could also be used to close for the Reds.
Injured Players- Updates
Garrett Cooper- (1B, MIA)- Back- Cooper has been on the IL with a lumbar strain. Cooper began a rehab assignment this past Wednesday and could be activated soon.
Kyle Lewis- (OF, SEA)- Knee- Lewis was placed on the IL with a meniscus tear in his right knee. Lewis had surgery on his right meniscus and was placed on the 60-day IL. The earliest he could be activated now is August 1.
Alex Bregman- (3B, HOU)- Quad- Bregman was placed on the IL with a left quad strain. Bregman is still "at least two or three weeks or more" away from returning. Abraham Toro should continue to see increased time at third for the Astros.
Matthew Boyd- (SP, DET)- Forearm- Boyd was placed on the IL with left arm discomfort. He was diagnosed with muscular tendinitis and won't return before the All-Star break. Matt Manning and/or Wily Peralta will continue to fill in the rotation for the Tigers.
Michael Pineda- (SP, MIN)- Forearm- Pineda was placed on the IL with right forearm tightness. Pineda threw a bullpen session this week and a day earlier than expected. Barring any setback, Pineda will progress to a sim game and then a rehab assignment. Look for him to return early to mid-July.
Rafael Dolis- (RP, TOR)- Finger- Dolis was placed on the IL with a finger strain. Dolis completed a bullpen session and still experienced minor numbness in his right hand. There is no timetable for his return.
Michael Kopech- (RP, CHW)- Hamstring- Kopech has been placed on the IL with a strained left hamstring retroactive to May 28. Kopech is scheduled for a sim game over the weekend.
Corey Seager- (SS, LAD)- Hand- Seager is currently on the IL after fracturing the fifth metacarpal on his right hand. Seager is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment this Monday and return in early July.
Didi Gregorius- (SS, PHI)- Elbow- Gregorius was placed on the IL with a right elbow impingement. Gregorius was on a rehab assignment but had it paused due to soreness. He began it again this past Thursday.
Mike Soroka- (SP, ATL)- Achilles- Soroka is on the IL following Achilles surgery last year. Soroka is still wearing a protective boot following a second procedure on his Achilles tendon in late May, but has resumed throwing exercises and the tendon itself is fully healed.
Sonny Gray- (SP, CIN)- Groin- Gray was placed on the IL with a right groin strain. Gray will now make his rehab start this weekend after he woke up with a stiff back earlier this week. This will push back his return a few days.
Franmil Reyes- (DH, CLE)- Oblique- Reyes has been on the IL since May 23 with a left internal oblique strain. Reyes will begin a rehab assignment next Tuesday.
Chris Sale- (SP, BOS)- Elbow- Sale is on the IL rehabbing for Tommy John surgery last year. Sale threw a bullpen session this week Tuesday and will face hitters for the first time this weekend.
Luis Severino- (SP, NYY)- Elbow- Severino is currently on the IL rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year. Manager Aaron Boone said this week that Severino suffered a Grade 2 groin strain during his rehab stint. Severino ran full sprints this week as he recovers from this issue.
Kole Calhoun- (OF, ARI)- Hamstring- Calhoun is on the IL with a hamstring strain. Calhoun said this week that he plans to begin a rehab assignment next week. If this is the case, he could be activated by the end of next week.
Tommy La Stella- (2B, SF)- Hamstring- La Stella was placed on the IL with a hamstring strain. He was then placed on the 60-day IL. La Stella began a rehab assignment this week and the earliest he could be activated is July 2nd.
Brandon Nimmo- (OF, NYM)- Finger- Nimmo has been on the IL with a finger/tendon injury since May 5. Nimmo is currently on a rehab assignment and could be reinstated from the IL as early as this Monday.
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