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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 15, 2024. His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
This past week, I celebrated a birthday, and it got me thinking: I have been playing fantasy baseball for almost twenty years at this point. Is there anything that could be learned about injuries when it comes to managing your roster? The answer to the question is an easy one: the timelines that are given for players to return are rarely correct. So what can one do to try to combat this "poor" information?
The type of injury and the type of player who is injured can tell us more than a timeline given to us. If a player has a history of poor injury recovery time or being a fast healer can get us a better idea as to how long the player will be out. Also, if the injury affects the player's most important fantasy quality (i.e., speed, power, arm stamina, etc.), it is important. Even if the player comes back, we want that player to come back and produce numbers the way we thought he would when we drafted him. I will continue to highlight injured fantasy-relevant players and go over their timelines for when they really should be expected to return from their injuries.
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 17+ 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
Fernando Tatis Jr. (OF, SD)- Quad: Tatis was placed on the IL this week due to a right femoral stress reaction in his quadriceps. Tatis himself said that it is possible he could be out until after the All-Star break. David Peralta looks to get more playing time in the outfield for the Padres.
Bryce Harper (1B, PHI)- Hamstring: Harper injured his left hamstring running out of a ground ball. This injury occurred as I was putting this article together, but it looks pretty serious. As seen in the video below, it looks like Harper strained his left hamstring and could miss some time with an IL stint probable. The severity would be known based on test results.
On the final play of the game, #Phillies Bryce Harper comes up with an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/eMlNsWx8sT
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) June 28, 2024
TJ Friedl (OF, CIN)- Hamstring: Friedl was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Reds manager David Bell said that he expects Friedl to return from the IL in about two to three weeks. Levi Jordan was called up, and Stuart Fairchild could see more playing time.
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU)- Leg: Tucker is on the IL with a bruised right shin. Tucker did not travel with the Astros to New York this weekend but could be activated next week.
Some updates from Espada:
- Verlander is "improving" but won't travel with the team to NY- Tucker will travel to NY with hopes he can get on field soon. He took 30 swings off the tee yesterday.
- Garcia will make a rehab start Friday or Saturday in Florida. Likely 2 innings.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 26, 2024
Giancarlo Stanton (DH, NYY)- Hamstring: Stanton was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Stanton has already received a PRP injection to try to help speed up the recovery time. He is expected to be out for about four weeks. Trent Grisham may get more outfield time for the Yankees as the Yankees may opt to DH Aaron Judge more with Stanton out.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Knee: Marte was placed on the IL this week with a right knee bone bruise. This injury was confirmed via MRI. He was told to rest for fifteen days and then begin baseball activities. This puts him on a timeline to return after the All-Star break. DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor should get more playing time with Marte out.
Charlie Blackmon (OF, COL)- Hamstring: Blackmon was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He is traveling with the Rockies and could be activated this weekend.
Joey Gallo (1B, WAS)- Hamstring: Gallo was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Gallo has begun a running program but still remains a long way from returning to the Nationals lineup.
Gary Sanchez (C, MIL)- Calf: Sanchez was placed on the IL with a left calf strain. It is considered to be a low-grade strain and could return when eligible on July 4. Eric Haase was called up to back up William Contreras.
#Cubs Javy Assad is going on the 15-day IL with a right forearm extensor strain. They’ve signed RHP Vinny Nittoli who will take his spot on the roster. Also, Yency Almonte has been moved to the 60-day IL.
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) June 27, 2024
Will Brennan (OF, CIN)- Oblique: Brennan was placed on the IL with a strained oblique. The severity is not yet known. Daniel Schneemann, Gabriel Arias, and Jhonkensy Noel could all pick up more at-bats while Brennan is out.
Javier Baez (SS, DET)- Back: Baez is on the IL with lumbar spine (low back) inflammation. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Baez will not be activated from the IL soon. Hinch noted that Baez will require an "extensive" rehab assignment prior to being activated. Zach McKinstry and Ryan Kreidler have been splitting time at shortstop for the Tigers.
Tommy Edman (2B, STL)- Wrist/Ankle: Edman is on the IL recovering from right wrist surgery. He sprained his ankle while taking grounders this week, which will set back his recovery timeline.
Elias Diaz (C, COL)- Calf: Diaz is on the IL with a left calf strain. Diaz has not yet resumed running, and there is no timeline for his return. Manager Bud Black said that Diaz should be out for at least another week.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Neck: Verlander was placed on the IL with neck discomfort. Astros manager Joe Espada said that Verlander has not yet resumed playing catch. The Astros will likely wait and see if Verlander is able to take any meaningful steps in his recovery from the injury over the next few days
Zac Gallen (SP, ARI)- Hamstring: Gallen was placed on the IL due to a right hamstring strain. Gallen had a recent bullpen session, and if all goes well, he could be activated from the IL this weekend.
Braxton Garrett (SP, MIA)- Forearm: Garrett was placed on the IL this week with a left forearm flexor strain. The severity is not yet known. Kyle Tyler has been called up to take his roster spot.
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Kershaw continues to recover from November 2023 shoulder surgery. He was shut down for at least one week after feeling soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder during a bullpen session. He had a new MRI, which did not show any new damage to his shoulder. The Dodgers hope that this is just a minor setback.
Blake Snell (SP, SF)- Groin: Snell was placed on the IL with a mild left groin strain. Snell has begun rehab games and may need one or two more before being activated from the IL.
Edward Cabrera (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Cabrera continues to recover from right shoulder impingement. Cabrera looked sharp in his last rehab outing but he can not be activated from the IL until July 9.
Keaton Winn (SP, SF)- Elbow: Winn is on the IL with a nerve injury in his right elbow. Winn will be shut down for seven days after an MRI determined his right elbow injury is nerve-related, which is good news as there is no structural damage. This is the second time this year he has been shut down with an arm injury.
Patrick Sandoval (SP, LAA)- Forearm: Sandoval was diagnosed with a high-grade flexor tear and a torn UCL in his left elbow and requires Tommy John surgery. He is done for the year.
Lefty Patrick Sandoval underwent successful surgery to repair his UCL on Wednesday. But the #Angels haven't announced the exact surgery he had just yet. It's unclear if he had a brace inserted or not.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) June 27, 2024
Bryan Woo (SP, SEA)- Hamstring: Woo is currently on the IL with a right hamstring strain. It is considered a low-grade strain, so there is a chance Woo is on the IL for only fifteen days. Emerson Hancock and Jhonathan Diaz are both candidates to fill in for Woo.
J.P. France (SP, HOU)- Shoulder: France, who is in the minors, will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder. He has been on the IL in the minors since early May.
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Elbow: Darvish is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. He had an MRI performed this week, which came back clean. He will likely get additional imaging "for peace of mind.” There is no timeline for his return.
Josiah Gray (SP, WAS)- Elbow: Gray continues to rehab his elbow injury. He has made five rehab starts. Manager Dave Martinez said this week that Gray should make two more rehab starts before he will be activated from the IL.
Chris Paddack (SP, MIN)- Forearm: Paddack was placed on the IL this week with right forearm fatigue. The severity is not yet known, but he is expected to be out for a few weeks. Ronny Henriquez was called up by the Twins.
Kyle Harrison (SP, SF)- Ankle: Harrison was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain. Harrison threw a bullpen session this week and will still need a few rehab starts before his activation from the IL.
Dean Kremer (SP, BAL)- Triceps: Kremer is on the IL with a right triceps strain. He made his most recent rehab start this past week, getting to 75 pitches. Kremer may be activated from the IL this week.
Jordan Wicks (SP, CHC)- Oblique: Wicks was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. It is considered to be a Grade 2 strain. He is expected to be out at least until after the All-Star break.
Ben Brown (SP, CHC)- Neck: Brown was placed on the IL with a left-sided neck strain. Brown has begun a throwing program and has a chance of returning to the Cubs rotation prior to the All-Star break.
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Finger: Lodolo was placed on the IL with a left finger blister. There is no timeline for his return as the blister must heal fully. Otherwise, it could recur. Graham Ashcraft should fill in for the Reds.
Spencer Turnbull (SP, PHI)- Lat: Turnbull was placed on the IL with a right lat strain. He is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. Michael Mercado could enter the Phillies' rotation with Turnbull out.
Spencer Turnbull is out 6-8 weeks. Taijuan Walker doesn't have a timetable right now, but it "won't be before the All-Star break."
Next man up is Michael Mercado, who should get a handful of starts -- and maybe more depending on Walker's status.
— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) June 27, 2024
Javier Assad (SP, CHC)- Forearm: Assad was placed on the IL with a right forearm extensor strain. The severity is not yet known. Hayden Wesneski is likely to fill in for the Cubs in their rotation.
#Cubs Javy Assad is going on the 15-day IL with a right forearm extensor strain. They’ve signed RHP Vinny Nittoli who will take his spot on the roster. Also, Yency Almonte has been moved to the 60-day IL.
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) June 27, 2024
Ryan Weathers (SP, MIA)- Finger: Weathers was placed on the IL with a left index finger strain. Weathers is expected to be re-evaluated soon, and begin a throwing program soon after that.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)- Elbow: Romano was placed on the IL with right-elbow inflammation on June 1. He has begun playing light catch and is still not close to returning to the back end of the Blue Jays bullpen.
Yimi Garcia (RP, TOR)- Elbow: Garcia was placed on the IL this week with right elbow ulnar neuritis. He has begun long tossing but has not yet thrown off of a mound since going on the IL.
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