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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 16, 2024. His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
The July 4th celebrations are now in our rearview mirrors. But that does not mean that the fireworks for the baseball season are over. This is the time of year that the All-Stars are announced, and we get to celebrate this year's best during the Mid-Summer Classic. This is the time of year when injured players get a chance to get some needed rest to be able to push through the rest of the year.
This extra rest may come as IL stints. We are already hearing how many injured players could be back "after the All-Star Break." This next week will be tricky for fantasy owners as other injured players, who may not be that "hurt," could get a little extra time to recover on the IL. It is very important to watch for injury reports this weekend to try to help you navigate this week and not have an empty active roster spot. I will continue to highlight those players and other injured players to try to help you this week and beyond.
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!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Bryce Harper (1B, PHI)- Hamstring: Harper was placed on the IL with a low-grade left hamstring strain. He is currently going through drills at 70-70% intensity. The earliest Harper could be activated from the IL is July 9. Kody Clemens has been filling in at first base for the Phillies.
Kyle Schwarber (OF, PHI)- Groin: Schwarber was placed on the IL with a mild left groin strain. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Schwarber is going through drills at 90% intensity. Whit Merrifield and Cristian Pache could be in line to get playing time with Schwarber out.
J.T. Realmuto (C, PHI)- Knee: Realmuto is on the IL following right knee surgery. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said this week that Thursday that Realmuto is working out at 70-75% intensity. The Phillies have not ruled out Realmuto coming back before the All-Star Break, but it is more likely for him to return after the break.
Triston Casas (1B, BOS)- Ribs: Casas is on the IL with torn cartilage in his left ribcage. Casas has begun taking dry swings in the batting cage but remains at least two weeks away from a rehab assignment. Casas could return to the Red Sox by the end of July.
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Oblique: Muncy is on the IL with a Grade 1 right oblique strain. Muncy is still experiencing soreness and will not return when first eligible on August 2.
Max Muncy is still swinging off a tee, but his progress is “slow,” Dave Roberts said. Still dealing with some soreness in his oblique. Definitely something that’ll last longer than the 60 days on the IL.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 4, 2024
Michael Harris II (OF, ATL)- Hamstring: Harris is on the IL with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Harris began some light running this week, the first time since his injury. There is still no timetable for when Harris could begin a rehab assignment.
#Braves CF Michael Harris II getting some work in today. pic.twitter.com/UMNLJMBtFG
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) July 2, 2024
Royce Lewis (3B, MIN)- Groin: Lewis is on the IL with a Grade 2 right adductor strain. This was noted on MRI. This type of injury could sideline Lewis for four to six weeks; however, no timeline was given. Brooks Lee was called up and should get a shot to start at third base for the Twins.
"This is out of my control... I'm probably not that optimistic, to be honest with you." #MNTwins
– Royce Lewis pic.twitter.com/98eCzNbU0Q
— Declan Goff (@DexsTweets) July 3, 2024
Joey Ortiz (3B, MIL)- Neck: Ortiz was placed on the IL with neck inflammation, retroactive to July 1. Severity is not yet known and there is no timeline for his return yet. Vinny Capra was called up, and Andruw Monasterio has been seeing regular time at third base.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B, TOR)- Knee: IKF was placed on the IL this week with a left knee sprain. MRI confirmed this with no other damage noted. There is no timeline for his return yet. Leo Jimenez was called up.
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU)- Leg: Tucker is on the IL with a bruised right shin. Astros manager Joe Espada said that Tucker will not return from the IL until after the All-Star Break.
Josh Jung (3B, TEX)- Wrist: Jung is on the IL with inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist. He has not yet begun swinging a bat, and his return has been ruled out at least until after the All-Star Break. He was also shut down and saw a specialist who has confirmed no structural damage.
Giancarlo Stanton (DH, NYY)- Hamstring: Stanton was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Stanton did some hitting this week for the first time since his injury. He is still expected to be out for about four weeks.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Knee: Marte was placed on the IL this week with a right knee bone bruise. Manager Carlos Mendoza has said that Marte will be out for at least four weeks. DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor are getting more playing time.
Evan Carter (OF, TEX)- Back: Carter has been on the IL since late May with low back tightness. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Carter has begun swinging a bat and could face live pitching soon. There is still no timetable for his return.
Javier Baez (SS, DET)- Back: Baez is on the IL with lumbar spine (low back) inflammation. Baez has begun a rehab assignment. The earliest he could return to the Tiger lineup is July 8. 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. Edman is scheduled to take batting practice this weekend. If all is well, Edman could begin a rehab assignment soon and then be activated from the IL after the All-Star Break.
Thairo Estrada (2B, SF)- Wrist: Estrada was placed on the IL with a left wrist sprain. There were reports that Estrada was playing through multiple injuries. The severity is not yet known. Tyler Fitzgerald was called up, and Nick Ahmed figures to see the biggest jump in playing time while Estrada is sidelined.
Henry Davis (C, PIT)- Concussion: Davis is on the concussion IL, and his rehab assignment was paused due to recurring symptoms. He has again been cleared for his rehab assignment and could return to the Pirates before the All-Star Break, barring any setbacks.
Ivan Herrera (C, STL)- Back: Herrera is on the IL with lower-back tightness. He has begun a rehab assignment and could return from the IL by July 9. His role is to be determined as both Willson Contreras and Pedro Pages are both active now.
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 been ruled out to return from the IL before the All-Star Break. He has been playing catch but has not thrown off of a mound in three weeks.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Yamamoto is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. He is now “pain-free” and could begin a throwing program soon. Based on this timeline, the earliest Yamamoto could return would be sometime in August.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to start playing catch “late next week,” per Dave Roberts. Has been doing plyo work, his first activity since getting shut down.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 4, 2024
Jared Jones (SP, PIT)- Lat: Jones was placed on the IL with a strained right lat. The severity is not yet known. Luis L. Ortiz could take his spot in the Pirates rotation.
#Pirates Jared Jones discusses leaving early w lat injury pic.twitter.com/uyVz4xDdV8
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) July 4, 2024
Casey Mize (SP, DET)- Hamstring: Mize was placed on the IL with a strained left hamstring. The severity is not yet known. Keider Montero has taken Mize's spot on the roster for now.
Kodai Senga (SP, NYM)- Triceps: Senga is on the IL with a right posterior shoulder capsule strain. He then dealt with right triceps tightness. However, Senga has now begun a rehab assignment and could enter the Mets rotation for the first time this year by the end of July.
A pair of strikeouts for Kodai Senga in a scoreless first 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QbZ0yo0MT0
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 3, 2024
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Kershaw continues to recover from November 2023 shoulder surgery. Kershaw threw a 30-pitch bullpen session this week and could throw a sim game over the weekend. If all goes well, he could have only two to three rehab starts prior to his activation from the IL.
Clayton Kershaw said he threw close to 30 pitches in his bullpen session and threw his full mix of pitches. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 5, 2024
Blake Snell (SP, SF)- Groin: Snell was placed on the IL with a mild left groin strain. Snell made his final rehab start and is expected to be activated from the IL this week.
Edward Cabrera (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Cabrera continues to recover from right shoulder impingement. Cabrera was seen in the Marlins clubhouse this week and could be activated from the IL this weekend.
Bryan Woo (SP, SEA)- Hamstring: Woo is currently on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Woo has been cleared for a rehab start, and he may only require one rehab start before activation from the IL. If that is the case, Woo could return to the Mariners rotation as soon as next weekend.
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, ARI)- Shoulder: Rodriguez has been on the IL since straining his left shoulder in spring training. His initial throwing program was shut down in April due to shoulder tightness. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Rodriguez is scheduled for a follow-up MRI this weekend to check his healing. Rodriguez extended his throwing program out to 105 feet earlier in June, and Lovullo noted that Rodriguez could start throwing off a mound depending on the results of the MRI.
Jordan Montgomery (SP, ARI)- Knee: Montgomery was placed on the IL this week due to right knee inflammation. The severity is not yet known. He is eligible to return from the IL the day before the All-Star Break, and the Diamondbacks will probably wait until after that to activate him.
AJ Smith-Shawver (SP, ATL)- Oblique: Smith-Shawver has been on the IL since May with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. He has been cleared for a rehab assignment. If all goes well, Smith-Shawver could return to the Braves rotation after the All-Star break.
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Elbow: Darvish is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. He began light throwing this week but needs to be cleared by further testing in order to return to the Padres rotation.
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 the Nationals will send Gray for an MRI until around the All-Star break. Gray began feeling elbow discomfort and more fatigue than normal during his latest rehab start. There is no timeline for his return until he gets the MRI.
Chris Paddack (SP, MIN)- Forearm: Paddack was placed on the IL this week with right forearm fatigue. Paddack threw a bullpen session, and he hopes to return after the All-Star Break.
Ryan Weathers (SP, MIA)- Finger: Weathers was placed on the IL with a left index finger strain. Weathers is expected to be re-evaluated in one to two weeks with the hope of beginning a throwing program. There is no concrete timeline for his return.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)- Elbow: Romano was placed on the IL with right-elbow inflammation on June 1. Romano had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow this week to repair an impingement in his elbow and will be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks. Given the fact that is the timeline for him only to begin a throwing program, Romano may not return to the Blue Jays bullpen until September.
Jordan Romano had a “successful scope” for a right elbow impingement. He will not throw for at least 6 weeks per John Schneider #BlueJays
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) July 3, 2024
Yimi Garcia (RP, TOR)- Elbow: Garcia was placed on the IL this week with right elbow ulnar neuritis. Garcia is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and could return as the possible Blue Jays closer next week instead of Chad Green.
David Bednar (RP, PIT)- Oblique: Bednar is on the IL with a strained left oblique. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said this week that Bednar has progressed to throwing from 120 feet and should soon resume mound work. If there are no setbacks, the earliest he could return to the Pirate bullpen is July 8. This would also mean that Bednar could skip a rehab assignment. Aroldis Chapman looks to be the closer for the Pirates until Bednar returns.
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