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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 24 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
The weather is changing and so is the calendar. September has begun and it is time to start fantasy football, right? Wrong! This is the month to finish your fantasy baseball season strong. This is the month to be able to get bragging rights in your home league for the next six months. It is a shame that some Major League baseball teams do not care as much about September if they are not in the playoff race. This makes setting a fully active roster that much harder. Players are being called up from the minors as their season winds down as well.
The question is, as it should be throughout the season, who is getting the playing time down the stretch? A combination of teams shutting down young players, teams wanting to know "what they have" with young players, and players being shut down due to injury are just a few things fantasy managers have to deal with. The one aspect that could be managed the best is the injury aspect. I will continue to highlight the players who are injured, when and if they are coming back, and who could benefit from their new situations.
Here's a little about myself for new 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!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)- Quad- Bo Bichette was placed on the IL with a right quadriceps strain, retroactive to Aug. 28. He was out with tightness but the strain was diagnosed on MRI. No word on how long he will be out for. Mason McCoy was called up and Santiago Espinal or Ernie Clement will see most of the time at shortstop while Bichette is out.
J.D. Martinez (DH, LAD)- Groin- J.D. Martinez is on the IL this week with left groin tightness. He is expected to have a two game rehab assignment and then return to the Dodgers. The earliest he could return is around September 8.
Jarren Duran (OF, BOS)- Toe: Jarren Duran is on the IL with a torn flexor tendon in his left big toe. He underwent successful surgery but is done for the year.
Matt McLain (SS, CIN)- Oblique: Matt McLain was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. The severity is not known and as such, there is no timeline for his return. If it is a Grade 1 strain, he could come back this year, but a Grade 2 should knock him out for the remainder of the season.
Matt Chapman (3B, TOR)- Finger: Matt Chapman was placed on the IL with a right middle finger sprain. He initially suffered the injury two weeks ago in a weightlifting incident, and the issue flared up. He batted just .152 while attempting to play through the injury. Santiago Espinal, Davis Schneider, and Cavan Biggio are the likely candidates to pick up playing time while Chapman is out.
C.J. Cron (1B, LAA)- Back: C.J. Cron is on the IL with lower back inflammation. He is still experiencing soreness and has not yet resumed baseball activities. He remains out and without a timeline to return.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Hamstring: Byron Buxton was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Buxton is on a rehab assignment and has played centerfield. He could return to the Twins sometime this week.
Jake Cronenworth (1B, SD)- Jake Cronenworth was placed on the IL with a right wrist fracture. He is not expected to need surgery to repair his fractured right wrist but he will be in a cast for a few weeks. Chances are slim that he will be able to return before the season ends.
Dylan Carlson (OF, STL)- Oblique: Dylan Carlson is on the IL with both a Grade 2 left oblique strain and a lingering left ankle injury, the latter of which could eventually require surgery. He received an injection for the ankle and has been ramping up activities since then. Carlson is still holding out hope to return this year.
Jarred Kelenic (OF, SEA)- Foot: Jarred Kelenic is on the IL after fracturing his left foot. He has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated within the week, depending on how many at bats the Mariners want him to get first.
Jonathan India (SS, CIN)- Foot: Jonathan India is on the IL with left foot plantar fasciitis. He is scheduled to begin running and get a new MRI of his foot. Barring any setbacks, he could return by the first or second week of September.
Brandon Crawford (SS, SF)- Forearm: Brandon Crawford is on the IL with a strained left forearm. He is with the team and could be activated this weekend.
Joey Votto (1B, CIN)- Shoulder: Joey Votto is on the IL with left shoulder soreness. At first, it was said that he could make an early September return. However, he remains shut down from baseball activities at this point. Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jake Fraley should continue to see more playing time with Votto out. Jake Fraley would likely be the designated hitter against righties until Votto is ready.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Elbow: Yu Darvish was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. This injury occurred during his most recent outing and subsequent bullpen sessions. He is not eligible to return until September 10 and he does not yet have a timeline for his return. Rich Hill could be moved back into the rotation for the Padres.
Adrian Houser (SP, MIL)- Elbow: Adrian Houser was placed on the IL with an elbow injury. Manager Craig Counsell said, "the hope is Houser will miss a couple starts then be ready to rejoin the rotation." No word on who will replace him in the Brewers rotation.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Walker Buelher is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery from last year. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. No word on how long the assignment would be as the Dodgers do plan to use him as a starter.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Tony Gonsolin was on the IL with an elbow injury. He is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery and is done for the year and most of next year as well.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP, TEX)- Forearm: Nathan Eovaldi was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. He threw another bullpen session this week and felt some side tightness. The Rangers are being cautious and pushing his possible return for about a week.
Matthew Liberatore (SP, STL)- Back: Matthew Liberatore was placed on the IL this week with lower-back tightness. He threw 78 pitches in a rehab start and could return to the Cardinals within the next seven to ten days.
Mason Miller (SP, OAK)- Elbow: Mason Miller is on the IL with a mild UCL sprain in his elbow. He will need one more rehab start and then be activated, if there are no setbacks.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Hamstring: Ranger Suarez was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He is scheduled to be activated to start September 3.
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Tibia: Nick Lodolo is on the IL recovering from a stress reaction in his tibia. Lodolo, on his rehab assignment, was diagnosed with another stress reaction in his left tibia and is out for the year.
Julio Teheran (SP, MIL)- Hip: Julio Teheran is on the IL with right hip impingement. He has made one rehab start so far and could be activated very soon. He may take Adrian Houser’s rotation spot.
Marcus Stroman (SP, CHC)- Ribs- Marcus Stroman is on the IL with a right rib cage cartilage fracture. He played long toss this week but is running out of time to return this year and be fantasy relevant.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Felix Bautista (RP, BAL)- Elbow: Felix Bautista was placed on the IL with a UCL injury. The severity is not yet known. There is no timeline for his return and with an injury like this, he may be done for the season. Yennier Cano has already begun to fill in for the Orioles at closer.
Erik Swanson (RP, TOR)- Back: Erik Swanson was placed on the IL with thoracic spine (mid back inflammation). The Blue Jays are optimistic that he will need only a minimal stay on the IL.
Edwin Diaz (RP, NYM)- Knee: Edwin Diaz continues to rehab from spring knee surgery. He threw a bullpen session this week, sitting at 93-95 MPH. Diaz maintains that he will come back and pitch this year.
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