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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 15 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
As we move past the July 4th weekend and make our way to the All-Star game, there continues to be an increase in injuries this year compared to prior years, particularly of the soft tissue variety. 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
Brandon Belt- (1B, SF)- Knee- Belt was placed on the IL with right knee inflammation. He is dealing with minimal structural damage and is expected to avoid surgery. No clear timetable for his return has been set yet. Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, and Lamonte Wade should fill in at first base for the Giants.
Dinelson Lamet-(SP, SD)- Forearm- Lamet was placed on the IL this week with right forearm inflammation. It is unclear if the current injury is something new or a recurrence of the previous issue. Ryan Weathers has been recalled and should fill in for the Padres.
Jose Urquidy- (SP, HOU)- Shoulder- Urquidy was placed on the IL this week with shoulder discomfort. The MRI showed tightness and inflammation in his shoulder, but no structural damage. Urquidy has said that he does not expect to be on the injured list for long.
Josh Naylor- (OF, CLE)- Leg- Naylor had surgery Friday to repair multiple fibula fractures and ligament tearing following a collision in the outfield during a recent game. More will be known about his recovery time after the surgery. Oscar Mercado was called up and could see time in the outfield.
Ketel Marte- (2B/OF, ARI) - Hamstring- Marte was placed on the IL retroactive to June 27 with a left hamstring strain. Severity is not fully known. Pavin Smith should see more time in the outfield for Arizona, especially since they just traded Tim Locastro to the Yankees.
Mark Canha- (OF, OAK)- Hip- Canha is currently on the IL with a left hip strain. The MRI showed that he has left hip tendinitis. He received a PRP injection to both of his hips. Athletics manager Bob Melvin said that it's "probably a stretch right now" for Canha to return from the IL before the All-Star break. Tony Kemp and Seth Brown with continue to see more playing with Canha out.
Freddy Galvis- (SS, BAL)- Galvis was placed on the IL after being diagnosed with a right quad strain, confirmed by MRI. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Galvis is expected to be out between one and two months. Ramon Urias and Domingo Leyba could fill in while Galvis is out.
Willie Calhoun- (OF, TEX)- Forearm- Calhoun was placed on the IL with a fracture of the ulna bone in his left forearm. Calhoun had surgery on his fractured left forearm this week. The Rangers have yet to specify a timeline for his return.
Michael Fulmer- (SP/RP, DET)- Neck- Fulmer was placed on the IL with a right cervical spine strain in his neck. Severity is not known and there is no current timeline for his return.
Jonathan Villar- (3B, NYM)- Calf- Villar was placed on the IL with a right calf strain, retroactive to June 22. He began his rehab assignment this week. Until his return, Luis Guillorme has seen an increase in playing time. Once Villar gets back, his playing time may diminish as he is on the same timeline as J.D. Davis, the everyday 3rd baseman for the Mets.
Colin Moran- (1B, PIT)- Wrist- Moran landed on the IL with a fractured left wrist. The Pirates have not provided a timeline for Moran's return. Expect at least 4-6 weeks absence unless surgery is required, then he could be out longer. Phillip Evans is expected to fill in for Moran.
Injured Players- Updates
Shane Bieber- (SP, CLE)- Elbow- Bieber is on the IL with a right elbow sprain. Bieber isn't expected to resume throwing for a week or two. Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan, and JC Mejia will continue to fill in for Cleveland while both Bieber and Aaron Civale are on the IL.
Corey Seager- (SS, LAD)- Hand- Seager is currently on the IL after fracturing the fifth metacarpal on his right hand. Seager has been experiencing soreness while swinging and has been shut down from hitting for now. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said that Seager "just isn't responding" as the team had hoped.
Travis Shaw- (3B, MIL)- Shoulder- Shaw is currently on the 60-day IL with a dislocated shoulder. Shaw says he is confident he will avoid surgery on his dislocated shoulder and expects to be ready to play when eligible on August 10.
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 known. He did throw a bullpen session this week, but there is still no timetable for when he will return.
Alex Bregman- (3B, HOU)- Quad- Bregman was placed on the IL with a left quad strain. Bregman provided an update on the ultrasound he had on his left quad strain, “Ultrasound went great. Everything looked amazing and way ahead of schedule,” he said. However, the same day, Astros manager Dusty Baker said that he is still a month away from returning. Abraham Toro should continue to fill in for the Astros.
Michael Pineda- (SP, MIN)- Forearm- Pineda was placed on the IL with right forearm tightness. Pineda began a rehab assignment this past week. 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 will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A on Friday.
Franmil Reyes- (DH, CLE)- Oblique- Reyes has been on the IL since May 23 with a left internal oblique strain. Reyes is on a rehab assignment and could be activated over the weekend.
Chris Sale- (SP, BOS)- Elbow- Sale is on the IL rehabbing for Tommy John surgery last year. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sale looked "really good" while throwing a live batting-practice session this past Wednesday.
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 is running full sprints and could return to mound work 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 was on a rehab assignment when he fractured his thumb, pausing his rehab for at least two weeks.
Kole Calhoun- (OF, ARI)- Hamstring- Calhoun is on the IL with a hamstring strain. Calhoun was removed from his rehab appearance on Tuesday due to a possible setback with his left hamstring.
Andrew Benintendi- (OF, KC)- Rib- Benintendi is on the IL with rib fracture Royals manager Mike Matheny said this week that he received positive reports regarding Benintendi's recovery from a right rib fracture and that he could soon resume baseball activities, MLB.com reports. "You can tell he's lost a lot of that -- whether it's coughing or sneezing -- pain that was going with that," Matheny said of Benintendi. "Unfortunately, when you have that injury, you are so subjected to testing it without wanting to. Whatever reason, when you have that injury, seems like you sneeze more than you've ever sneezed in your life. But he says none of that's bothering him anymore." Matheny also said that Benintendi has asked about when he can resume rotational activity and light hitting, an indication that he's not experiencing recurring pain in his rib cage. No timeline as of yet for his return.
Mike Soroka- (SP, ATL)- Achilles- Soroka is on the IL following Achilles surgery last year. Soroka suffered a complete re-tear of his Achilles tendon and will require season-ending surgery. Soroka heard/felt a pop in his surgically repaired Achilles walking into the team clubhouse to rehab.
J.D. Davis- (3B, NYM)- Hand- Davis is on the IL with a sprained left hand. Davis began a rehab assignment this week and could be activated this coming week.
Evan Longoria- (3B, SF)- Shoulder- Longoria is currently on the IL with a sprained left shoulder. Longoria has resumed baseball activities and has a target return date of mid-July.
Madison Bumgarner- (SP, ARI)- Shoulder- Bumgarner is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. Bumgarner threw a 30-pitch simulated game this week. He should be going on a rehab assignment soon. His earliest return date is July 16.
Roberto Perez- (C, CLE)- Finger- Perez has been on the IL since early May after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger on his left hand. Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Perez was set to resume his rehab assignment on Friday.
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