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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 6 (2024). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
The first month of the season is in the books. May has begun and the summer is right around the corner. Your fantasy teams and leagues have been taking shape. This is a great time of year to re-evaluate your team and where you stand. This may be a good time to make a big move, either via waiver wire pickups of players being called up or via trade.
Take a look at your roster. Take a look at which players are overperforming and which are underperforming. This may be the time to trade players who are overperforming their expected value and get a return that could help your team in multiple categories. This may be a time to take a risk and trade for an injured player who will be coming back soon as a buy-low player. Having injury knowledge could help you have an advantage over other teams in your league. I will continue to highlight fantasy-relevant injured players and when they should and could return in order to help give you an advantage this way.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning 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. 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
Mike Trout (OF, LAA)- Knee: Trout was placed on the IL with a torn meniscus in his left knee and will require surgery. He was not put on the 60-day IL, which means the Angels hope that he could be back within two months. Given his injury history, the Angels actually felt the need to come out and said he would be back this year. Typically, an athlete could recover from this type of surgery in about five weeks. Mickey Moniak looks to get more at-bats with Trout out.
Nolan Jones (OF, COL)- Back: Jones was placed on the IL this past week with a low-back strain. The move was retroactive to April 29. The severity is not yet known, Prospect Jordan Beck was called up and should see playing time with Jones out.
Austin Hays (OF, BAL)- Calf: Hays is on the IL with a calf strain. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said this week that Hays has been showing improvement but has yet to take part in much physical activity since landing on the IL. Colton Cowser has been starting with Hays out and there is no word as to when Hays will return.
Brandon Hyde said he's hoping Austin Hays begins playing in some minor league games "pretty soon" #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) May 2, 2024
Christian Yelich (OF, MIL)- Back: Yelich was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. Yelich has been throwing and doing on-field work. There remains no timeline for his return.
Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC)- Oblique: Suzuki was placed on the IL with a moderate right oblique strain. He has increased his baseball activity but is not close to a rehab assignment yet per Cubs manager Craig Counsell.
Zack Gelof (2B, OAK)- Oblique: Gelof was placed on the IL this past week with a strained left oblique. The severity is not yet known. He has begun baseball activity but has not yet swung a bat. Abraham Toro has been getting more playing time with Gelof out.
Gio Urshela (3B, DET)- Hamstring: Urshela is on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Urshela is still doing his running program but has not yet been sent for a rehab assignment. Matt Vierling has seen more playing time with Urshela out.
Triston Casas (1B. BOS)-Rib: Red Sox manager Alex Cora has said that Casas has been diagnosed with a fracture in his left ribcage and will be "out a while." He was transferred to the 60-day IL, and the earliest he could return would be June 21.
Dylan Carlson (OF, STL)- Shoulder: Carlson is on the IL with a sprained acromioclavicular (AC) joint of his left shoulder. Carlson has begun a rehab assignment and could be back by the end of next week at the earliest.
TJ Friedl (OF, CIN)- Friedl is recovering from a fractured right wrist from spring training. He has been on the IL since Opening Day. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could be back with the Reds in ten days to two weeks.
The #Reds today sent OF TJ Friedl (right wrist fracture) and LHP Alex Young (low back disc degeneration) to Triple-A Louisville on a rehab assignment. pic.twitter.com/WLeC25Rx7f
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 2, 2024
Masataka Yoshida (OF, BOS)- Thumb: Yoshida was placed on the IL with a left thumb sprain. The severity is not known but it is known that he is going for at least a second opinion on his injury. Manager Alex Cora said the surgery is a possibility for Yoshida. Dominic Smith was added to the Red Sox active roster.
Both Yoshida and Cora have declined to rule out surgery on his hand when asked. They’ve said they’re still gathering information.
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) May 2, 2024
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Back: Bryant was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. Bryant has still not been cleared for baseball activities. There is no timetable for his return.
J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA)- Oblique: Crawford was placed on the IL with a Grade 1 right oblique strain. Crawford has begun jogging and fielding grounders. There is no timetable for his return.
Josh Lowe (OF, TB)- Oblique/Hamstring: Lowe has been on the IL with an oblique strain. While rehabbing, he injured his right hamstring. Lowe seems to be recovering pretty well and has again begun a rehab assignment. Lower should return to the Rays lineup sometime next week, barring any setbacks.
#Rays Cash said Josh Lowe - whose expected return Saturday from an oblique strain was further delayed by hamstring tightness- is heading to AAA @DurhamBulls and will play there Thursday, then be evaluated on a day to day basis.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 1, 2024
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL)- Shoulder: In a surprise move, the Orioles put Rodriguez on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He pitched well earlier in the week and there was no sign of any injury. The severity is not known and it may just be the Orioles being cautious. John Means was activated from the IL to take his roster and rotation spot.
Hyde said Grayson Rodriguez woke up the morning after his start with sore shoulder. Underwent tests. More coming. #orioles staying optimistic. Wanna take a couple weeks to “let everything calm down”
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) May 1, 2024
Blake Snell (SP, SF)- Adductor: Snell was placed on the IL with a Grade 2 adductor sprain. Snell threw a bullpen session this week but needs to progress more in his throwing program for activation from the IL to become a reality.
Garrett Whitlock (SP, BOS)- Oblique: Whitlock was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. Whitlock has begun playing catch but there is still no timetable for his return. Whitlock has still not yet thrown off of a mound.
Max Scherzer (SP, TEX)- Back: Scherzer is on the recovery trail from back surgery this past December. He was scheduled to make his second rehab start but it was delayed due to thumb soreness.
Merrill Kelly (SP, ARI)- Shoulder: Kelly was placed on the IL with a shoulder strain. An MRI confirmed this with a diagnosis of a teres major strain. He was placed on the 60-day IL and will now be out at least until June 25.
Kyle Hendricks (SP, CHC)- Back: Hendricks was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. Hendricks has begun a rehab assignment already and could be back for the Cubs as early as next week.
Justin Steele (SP, CHC)- Hamstring: Steele is on the IL recovering from a left hamstring strain. He has already made one rehab start and is scheduled to return from the IL on Monday.
Justin Steele will start Monday for the #Cubs assuming his bullpen goes well tomorrow.
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) May 3, 2024
Brayan Bello (SP, BOS)- Lat: Bello was placed on the IL with right lat tightness. Bello will begin a rehab assignment early next week and could return to the Red Sox rotation as early as May 12.
Jordan Wicks (SP, CHC)- Forearm: Wicks was placed on the IL with a strained left forearm. The severity is not yet known. Hayden Wesneski was scheduled to start in his place and could remain in the rotation while Wicks remains out.
Frankie Montas (SP, CIN)- Forearm: Montas was struck in his pitching forearm by a line drive. Reds Manager David Bell said this week that he expects Montas to be activated from the IL next week.
Cristian Javier (SP, HOU)- Neck: Javier was placed on the IL this past week with neck discomfort. Javier is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment over the weekend. The Astros believe he may only need one rehab start before activation from the IL.
Braxton Garrett (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Garrett started the season on the IL with left shoulder soreness. Following his most recent rehab start, Garrett is expected to be activated from the IL early next week.
Nick Pivetta (SP, BOS)- Forearm: Pivetta was placed on the IL this week with a flexor strain in his right forearm. Pivatta has made one rehab start and is expected to be activated from the IL to start next week.
Jesus Luzardo (SP, MIA)- Elbow: Luzardo was placed on the IL with a mild flexor strain. He has thrown a bullpen session and will be sent out on a rehab assignment next week. It seems logical that he may need a few starts before being activated from the IL.
Jesús Luzardo threw a bullpen today that went well. He won’t be going on the upcoming road trip; instead, he’ll make a rehab start at some point. #Marlins
— Christina De Nicola (@CDeNicola13) May 2, 2024
Taj Bradley (SP, TB)- Pectoral: Bradley has been on the IL since the beginning of the season with pectoral tightness. He is scheduled to have his second rehab start next week. Bradley could be activated from the IL in about two weeks or so.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Matt Brash (RP, SEA)- Elbow: Brash is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Brash was shut down after having a setback during his rehab. He will be going for a second opinion for his elbow troubles.
Pete Fairbanks (RP, TB)- Arm: The Rays have placed Fairbanks on the IL with a “nerve issue”. Testing has come back as normal but there is still no timetable for his return.
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