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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 20 of the 2024 season. His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
The trade deadline has come and gone. Newly acquired players and players remaining on their teams are getting to know what their roles are for the rest of the season. There are only two months left for the baseball season and two months left for you to be able to claim victory in your fantasy leagues.
Because there is only one-third of the season left to play, there are certain injuries that, if you hear them, could mean the end of the season for that player. Most moderate strains (hamstring, oblique, groin, etc.) usually have an eight-week recovery time, and those players may have little fantasy value left for this year. Most fractures, barring the need for surgery, could knock out players for four to six weeks and leave little time for them to retain fantasy value. And for pitchers, being shut down at this point with almost any elbow/forearm issue could mean the end of the road for this year. I will continue to highlight fantasy-relevant players in the hopes of having you maintain a fully healthy lineup during the season's stretch run.
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
Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA)- Ankle: Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a sprained right ankle. He injured it running into the centerfield wall. He has begun baseball activities but does not have a timeline for return from the IL. yet.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (OF, SD)- Thigh: Tatis is on the IL with a right femoral stress reaction. Padres general manager A.J. Preller suggested that Tatis remains without a clear timeline for a return from the IL but is expected to play again this season. "We expect him to be back. Exactly when? That's something we've still got to get more information from our doctors," Preller said. "But every report I've gotten has been really positive." The Padres continue to use the platoon of David Peralta and Bryce Johnson in right field at this time.
Michael Harris II (OF, ATL)- Hamstring: Harris continues to recover from his hamstring strain and has been out since June 14. Harris said last week that he feels confident that he could return when first eligible on August 14. He felt soreness as he increased his running activities recently and continues to do baseball activities.
Jordan Westburg (3B, BAL)- Hand: Westburg was hit by a pitch on his right hand and has a fracture. He was placed on the IL with no definitive timeline given for his return. Hand fractures usually take four to six weeks for recovery but could also result in a dip in his power when he comes back. Ramon Urias, Coby Mayo, and Jackson Holliday could all see more playing time with Westburg out.
The @Orioles lose All Star infielder Jordan Westburg who fractured his hand today getting hit by Yerry Rodriguez with a career era of (8.65)! Yerry had (19) walks in (18.1) innings in the @MiLB this year but…he throws hard right? 🐴 💩#shegone @GreggOlson30 @SimplyAJ10 pic.twitter.com/JRP3th5oxp
— Fryedaddy/Frito (@shegone03) August 1, 2024
Christian Walker (1B, ARI)- Oblique: Walker was placed on the IL this week with a strained left oblique. He had testing performed, which showed only a mild strain. He is expected to miss three to four weeks. Pavin Smith was called up and could see some time at first with the new trade deadline acquisition Josh Bell.
Christian Walker says he hopes he can be back in action in “three weeks-ish” after being diagnosed with a low-grade left oblique strain.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) July 30, 2024
Mike Trout (OF, LAA)- Knee: Trout was rehabbing following his left knee surgery when he suffered a setback. After further testing, Trout was diagnosed with another tear in the same meniscus he had surgery on. He is expected to miss the remainder of the year. Mickey Moniak should continue to play regularly for the Angels.
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) August 1, 2024
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Oblique: Muncy has been on the Il since mid-May with an oblique strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week that Muncy "crossed a hurdle" after visiting a chiropractor and is scheduled to start taking swings. He will need to ramp up and there is a chance he could return to the Dodgers by mid to end of August.
Mookie Betts (2B, LAD)—Hand: Betts is on the IL with a fractured left hand. He began taking batting practice this week. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Betts's return in a couple of weeks is “very realistic.”
Mookie Betts is taking BP these days. Dave Roberts believes Betts can play simulated games before returning. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 31, 2024
Christian Yelich (OF, MIL)- Back: Yelich was placed on the IL with lower back inflammation. He has so far chosen rest and rehab for his back with no timetable for his return. Surgery is on the table for him. For now, if he does decide to have surgery in the offseason, 2025 is not expected to be impacted.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Knee: Marte is on the IL with a bone bruise on his right knee. Marte is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week and could return by the middle of August.
Triston Casas (1B, BOS)- Ribs: Casas is on the IL with torn cartilage in his left ribcage. Casas has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL sometime during the next week or two.
Nolan Jones (OF, COL)- Back: Jones was placed on the IL due to low back strain. He has begun a rehab assignment and could return either this weekend or early next week, from the IL.
Nick Gonzales (2B, PIT)- Groin: Gonzales was placed on the IL with a groin strain. The Pirates have said that they hope to have him back this year. They also said that his absence will be measured in weeks, not days.
Evan Carter (OF, TEX)- Back: Carter is on the IL with low back inflammation. Rangers general manager Chris Young said this week that Carter is not expected to play again during the regular season, with a chance he could return if the Rangers make the playoffs.
Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET)- Back: Carpenter has been on the IL since late June with lumbar spine stress fractures. Carpenter ran the bases this week which could signal a rehab assignment very soon in his future. The earliest he could return to the Tigers is August 6.
Kerry Carpenter is running bases. That's typically the last step before going on a rehab assignment. That's an encouraging sign
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) August 1, 2024
Thairo Estrada (2B, SF)—Wrist: Estrada was placed on the IL with a sprained left wrist. This is the same injury that sidelined him late in June. The severity is not yet known. Casey Schmitt was called up and should split time with Brett Wisely until Estrada returns.
Melvin pregame notes: Canha will be active Friday in Cincinnati … Birdsong will return to rotation Tuesday … Estrada isn’t close to returning, Schmitt and Wisely will split 2B for now.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 31, 2024
Carlos Correa (SS, MIN)- Heel: Correa is on the IL with right plantar fasciitis. He did participate in limited hitting drills and worked out on a treadmill this week. He could soon progress to running on the field. He was using a walking boot before and still remains one to two weeks away from a rehab assignment.
Jacob Wilson (SS, OAK)- Hamstring: Wilson was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He tweaked it while running the bases. Severity is not yet known. Abraham Toro was activated from the IL while Max Schuemann is likely to take over as Oakland's primary shortstop.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Back: Rendon was placed on the IL due to lower-back inflammation. The severity is not yet known. Rendon played only 14 games between IL stints.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Forearm: Fried was placed on the IL with left forearm neuritis. Fried has thrown a bullpen and is a candidate to return to the Braves rotation as early as this weekend.
Grant Holmes will start Saturday as the #Braves face Miami this weekend.
Max Fried is eligible to come off the IL on Friday and is a candidate for Sunday.
Reynaldo Lopez is still considered day-to-day according to Brian Snitker.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) August 1, 2024
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Neck: Verlander was placed on the IL with neck discomfort. Verlander has thrown a few bullpen sessions and will throw against hitters soon. There remains no timetable for his return.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Yamamoto is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. He is now “pain-free” and was playing catch from 200 feet. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this weekend. There is no definitive timeline for his return.
Jared Jones (SP, PIT)- Lat: Jones is on the IL with a lat strain. He threw his 2nd bullpen session this past week. Jones is scheduled to throw at least one more bullpen session after which point he should be sent out on a rehab assignment.
Here’s Jared Jones (grade 2 right lat strain) throwing out to roughly 90-120 feet pic.twitter.com/ULZmvFzHa1
— Andrew Destin (@AndrewDestin1) July 22, 2024
Jon Gray (SP, TEX)- Groin: Gray was placed on the IL with a right groin strain. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said this week that Gray could miss up to a month of action. Gray had tweaked his groin during warmups and had to be scratched from last Sunday's start. Dane Dunning, Jose Urena and Cody Bradford are options to fill Gray's rotation spot for now.
Lance Lynn (SP, STL)- Lynn is on the IL with right knee inflammation. Cardinal manager Oliver Marmol said this week that Lynn had imaging come back clean. He also received an injection. Lynn will be shut down for a few days. There is no timeline for his return. Newly acquired Erick Fedde will take his rotation spot.
Per Oli Marmol; the imaging done on Lance Lynn’s inflamed right knee showed no structural damage. Lance got an injection to help with the inflammation and they’ll let it sit for a couple days. #STLCards
— Jim Hayes (@TheCatOnBallyTV) August 1, 2024
Ryan Pepiot (SP, TB)- Knee: Pepiot is on the IL with a right knee infection. He continues to ramp up and may need either a rehab start or a sim game before he is activated from the IL.
DL Hall (SP, MIL)- Knee/Forearm: Hall is on the IL for knee issues as well as a bruised forearm, which occurred during his rehab. Hall continues to pitch on a rehab assignment and could return as early as August 6.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Buehler: Buehler is on the IL with right hip inflammation. He began a rehab assignment and may need one more start before returning to the Dodgers rotation.
Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)- Elbow: deGrom continues to rehab following his second Tommy John surgery performed last year. He threw another bullpen session this past week. Rangers general manager Chris Young said that the Rangers goal is to have deGrom be activated from the IL sometime in August.
Joe Musgrove (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Musgrove was diagnosed with a bone spur in his pitching elbow. He has begun a rehab assignment and may need a few starts before being activated from the IL.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Mason Miller (RP, OAK)- Finger: Miller was placed on the IL after breaking his left pinky finger, non-throwing hand. He is wearing a cast but continues to throw bullpen sessions as the injury is to his non throwing hand.
Reed Garrett (RP, NYM)- Elbow: Garrett is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. He has been cleared for a rehab assignment, as he hit 97 mph in his last bullpen session.
Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS)- Elbow: Hendriks continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery. He is going to meet with his surgeon and hopes to be cleared to face hitters. He has thrown a bullpen session and had issues afterward.
Liam Hendriks threw a 35 pitch bullpen yesterday with fastballs, changes & breaking balls. His surgery was a year ago Friday. He’s going to Texas to meet with his surgeon and hoping to get cleared by him to start facing hitters. He’s been throwing two bullpens a week for a month
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) July 31, 2024
Trevor Megill (RP, MIL)- Back: Megill was placed on the IL with a lower back injury. Further testing will show the extent of the injury. There is no timeline for his return and he has most probably lost his closer role back to Devin Williams.
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