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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 16 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
Hopefully the next installment of this article series will have a lot more positive news (players returning) than newly injured players. It also happens to be that a good amount of players' return timelines coincide with the All-Star break. Please keep checking for injury updates as lineups lock next week.
Also, please keep in mind that some players that were placed on the IL this past week may only be out the minimum amount of time (again, based on injury) because this way players are able to "rest up" for 10 days and miss as few games as possible due to the All Star break.
Now, let's look at the latest injury breakdown as we enter Week 16 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season.
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Injured Players - New Listings
Carlos Martinez- (SP, STL) Martinez was placed on the IL with a torn ligament in his right thumb. There is yet no timeline for his treatment or return plan. If surgery is needed, he could miss up to two months or more. No word on his replacement yet
Clayton Kershaw- (SP, LAD) Kershaw was placed on the IL with left forearm inflammation. It was originally called left elbow inflammation. No word on severity or how much time he could miss. No word on who would replace him in the Dodgers rotation, but it appears David Price will return to a starting role, at least for the time being.
Eddie Rosario- (OF, CLE) Rosario was placed on the IL with an abdominal strain. Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti described the injury as "mild," so there is a chance he could return post All-Star break. Daniel Johnson was called up and could see time in the outfield along with Oscar Mercado.
Justus Sheffield- (SP, SEA)- Sheffield was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. The severity is not yet known. He will not return when first eligible. Erik Swanson was activated from the IL in a corresponding move and could fill in for the Mariners.
Sonny Gray- (SP, CIN)- Gray was placed on the IL on Thursday with a rib cage strain. Gray pitched well on Wednesday to pick up a win. No word on severity yet or when it occurred.
Anthony Rendon- (3B, ANA) Rendon was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to July 5. This is his third IL stint this year. No word on severity. Jack Mayfield was called up and Jose Rojas should see more time at third for the Angels.
Maikel Franco- (3B, BAL) Franco was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain. Ankle sprains typically take two to four weeks to heal. Kelvin Gutierrez was called up and Domingo Leyba should see time at the hot corner for the Orioles.
Yasmani Grandal- (C, CHW) Grandal was placed on the IL with a torn tendon in his left knee. He has already had surgery on it and is expected to miss about five weeks. Zack Collins will be the primary catcher for the White Sox until Grandal's return.
Manuel Margot- (OF, TB) Margot was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Severity is not yet known. He is eligible to return after the All Star break.
CJ Abrams- (SS, SD) Abrams has been diagnosed with a fractured left tibia and sprained left MCL. He will miss the rest of the season. Estimated recovery time is about three months.
Joe Ross- (SP, WAS) Ross was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation retroactive to July 7. Severity of the injury is not yet known. Paolo Espino will start in his place for the Nationals.
Injured Players- Updates
Mike Trout- (OF, ANA) Trout has been on the IL with a calf strain. Trout took batting practice on the field this past Monday and has been doing baseball activities. The earliest he could be activated is July 17.
Eloy Jimenez- (OF, CHW) Jimenez had surgery late March for a torn left pectoral muscle. Jimenez will begin a rehab assignment this weekend and is expected to be back by the end of July or beginning of August.
Brandon Belt- (1B, SF) Belt was placed on the IL with right knee inflammation. He is dealing with minimal structural damage and is expected to avoid surgery. Belt began baseball activity this week. There is still no clear timetable for his return yet. Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, and Lamonte Wade will continue to fill in at first base for the Giants.
Dinelson Lamet-(SP, SD) 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. There was a report that he is playing catch and that the inflammation has gone down. There is still no timetable for his return.
Jose Urquidy- (SP, HOU) 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 said this past week that he will remain shut down from throwing for at least two weeks. There is no further timetable than that.
Ketel Marte- (2B/OF, ARI) Marte was placed on the IL retroactive to June 27 with a left hamstring strain. Severity is not fully known. He has been taking batting practice, but has not begun to run yet.
Mark Canha- (OF, OAK) 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 he is progressing well but will not return prior to the All Star break. Tony Kemp and Seth Brown with continue to see more playing with Canha out.
Michael Fulmer- (SP/RP, DET) 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. He did visit a doctor this week and confirmed that there is no shoulder issue.
Corey Seager- (SS, LAD) Seager is currently on the IL after fracturing the fifth metacarpal on his right hand. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday that Seager has resumed swinging and is expected to begin a rehab assignment sometime shortly after the All-Star break.
Alex Bregman- (3B, HOU) Bregman was placed on the IL with a left quad strain. Bregman has begun running and was taking batting practice earlier this week. There is still no clear timetable for his return.
Adalberto Mondesi- (SS, KC) Mondesi is on the IL with an oblique strain. Mondesi participated in light fielding drills this week and has resumed some baseball activities, but there is still no clear timetable to return.
Tejay Antone- (RP, CIN) Antone is on the IL with a forearm strain. He recently received a PRP injection and is expected to return from the IL at the end of July.
Lorenzo Cain- (OF, MIL)Cain is on the IL with a hamstring strain. He has begun his rehab assignment and it will go through the All Star break. He could be activated as early as right after the All Star break.
Austin Nola- (C, SD)Nola is on the IL with a knee sprain. Padres manager Jayce Tingler said this week hat it's "safe to assume" Nola will not return until after the All-Star break.
Tommy La Stella- (2B, SF) La Stella was on the IL rehabbing from a hamstring injury when he fractured his thumb. La Stella could re-start his rehab assignment during the All-Star break.
Lucas Sims- (RP, CIN)Sims is on the IL with an elbow strain. He was expected to miss three to four weeks. He is now expected to return from the IL in late July.
Sixto Sanchez- (SP, MIA) Sanchez is on the IL with a shoulder injury. He will undergo shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the 2021 season.
Carlos Carrasco- (SP, NYM) Carrasco has been on the IL since the start of the season with a hamstring injury. Carrasco's velocity hit the mid-90s during his live batting practice session this week and he is on track to return in late July.
Chris Sale- (SP, BOS)Sale is on the IL rehabbing for Tommy John surgery last year. Pitching coach Dave Bush said this week that Sale will not be activated from the IL until he is stretched out to throw five to six innings.
Luis Severino- (SP, NYY) Severino is currently on the IL rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year. He then suffered a Grade 2 groin strain during his rehab stint. Severino threw another bullpen this week and may progress to pitch to live hitters this weekend.
Kole Calhoun- (OF, ARI) Calhoun is on the IL with a hamstring strain. Calhoun was removed from his rehab appearance a few weeks ago, but his rehab assignment has begun again.
J.D. Davis- (3B, NYM) Davis is on the IL with a sprained left hand. Davis is expected to be activated after the All Star break.
Evan Longoria- (3B, SF)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, right after the All Star break.
Madison Bumgarner- (SP, ARI) Bumgarner is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. Bumgarner is currently on a rehab assignment. His earliest return date is July 16.
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