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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 21 of the 2024 season. His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
As preseason football kicks off, this is the time of year when fantasy baseball players start to tune out. If a fantasy player is not doing well in his or her league, they may start to turn their full attention to fantasy football. Is this the correct thing to do- just stop actively playing fantasy baseball, a league you drafted four months ago? Is this ethically correct? Whether it is the right thing to do or not, there is a way to be able to take advantage of those fantasy players who have given up and give yourself an edge down the stretch.
Take a look at who has been active on the waiver wire or trading for the last few weeks. Take a look and see who has been setting their lineup and who has an illegal lineup. This will help you know which other teams in your league you will be fighting with for future waiver wire pickups. This would also help you figure out how much of your remaining FAAB you should spend for the next few weeks. Knowing how you should allocate your funds over the next few weeks and into September could be the difference between winning your league or just missing out. I will continue to highlight injured players who may have been dropped a while ago and may be coming back soon. This, along with updates of other injured players, should give you that needed boost to get you across the finish line.
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
Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA)- Ankle: Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a sprained right ankle. He has begun swinging a bat and doing light running. There is still no timeline for return from the IL, and the soonest he could return is around August 19.
Michael Harris II (OF, ATL)- Hamstring: Harris continues to recover from his hamstring strain and has been out since June 14. Harris has begun a rehab assignment and could return to the Braves when first eligible on August 14.
Money Mike, money for @GoStripers 💰
The @Braves center fielder picks up three knocks in his second rehab outing. pic.twitter.com/3jwr9RzstB
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 8, 2024
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Oblique: Muncy has been on the Il since mid-May with an oblique strain. Muncy is finally beginning a rehab assignment this weekend. Barring any setbacks, Muncy could return by August 19.
Carlos Correa (SS, MIN)- Foot: Correa is on the IL with plantar fasciitis. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said this week, “He's ramping up his running right now…He's not sprinting yet. When he's able to sprint and run the way he needs to, he's going to go on a rehab assignment and go get some at-bats. Then he'll be on his way back at that point. He has not hit that point yet." There is no timetable for his return.
https://t.co/Kq2h5jOu8F It appears unlikely Carlos Correa will rejoin the Twins in time for their weekend series against the Guardians.
The latest injury update, plus more on Louie Varland, Matt Wallner and Justin Topa:
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) August 8, 2024
Tyler O'Neill (OF, BOS)- Illness: O’Neill was placed on the IL this week due to an infection in his lower left leg. If it clears up soon, he could be activated from the IL in the middle of next week.
Heston Kjerstad (DH, BAL)- Head: Kjerstad was placed on the concussion IL this week. This is the second stint on this IL, the first being from July 13 to July 20. Evidently, Kjerstad is still dealing with lingering symptoms of the concussion nearly a month later and these need to resolve before he starts playing again.
Mookie Betts (2B, LAD)—Hand: Betts is on the IL with a fractured left hand. He is expected to be activated from the IL next week and will now bat second behind Shohei Ohtani.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Knee: Marte is on the IL with a bone bruise on his right knee. Marte has started a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL as early as August 13.
Starling Marte with a hit and a stolen base in the first inning! pic.twitter.com/NMX1bblrQC
— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) August 7, 2024
Luis Rengifo (2B, LAA)- Wrist: Rengifo was placed on the IL with right wrist inflammation. He ended up needing wrist surgery and is done for the year.
Tommy Edman (2B, LAD)- Wrist: Edman continues to recover from off-season wrist surgery. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and is expected to be on the assignment for at least one week.
Max Muncy and Tommy Edman will begin playing rehab games this weekend. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 8, 2024
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU)- Shin: Tucker is on the IL with a right shin contusion. Astros manager Joe Espada said this week that Tucker remains unable to sprint but has been jogging without issue. He has been out since early June, and there is no timetable for his return.
Nick Gonzales (2B, PIT)- Groin: Gonzales was placed on the IL with a groin strain. Gonzales is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week and could be back from the IL by August 22.
Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET)- Back: Carpenter has been on the IL since late June with lumbar spine stress fractures. Carpenter is on a rehab assignment and could now return as soon as August 13.
Riley Greene is with the Tigers in Seattle. Just took BP on the field. I suspect Kerry Carpenter starts his rehab gig in Toledo tonight.
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) August 6, 2024
Riley Greene (OF, DET)- Hamstring: Greene is on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He began taking batting practice off of Casey Mize, who is also rehabbing. He still may need a rehab assignment to see how he plays in the outfield before he could return from the IL.
J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA)- Finger: Crawford is on the IL with a fractured left pinky finger. He continues to wear a protective cast and was able to take infield practice with his one capable hand. He is scheduled for an updated x-ray next week to see how he is progressing. There is no current timetable for his return, but he could be expected back in about three weeks from now.
Jacob Wilson (SS, OAK)- Hamstring: Wilson was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Wilson took batting practice this week for the first time since his injury. He is not expected back until the end of August.
Wilmer Flores (1B, SF)- Knee: Flores is on the IL with right knee tendonitis. He had a Tenex procedure on his right knee/quad and is done for the year.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Max Scherzer (SP, TEX)- Arm: Scherzer was placed on the IL due to right shoulder fatigue. The severity is not yet known. The Rangers are playing it cautious with Scherzer and will rest him until he feels ready. Walter Pennington was called up.
Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL)- Lat: Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a mild right lat strain. This was confirmed by an MRI. There is no timetable for his return, but this sort of injury could sideline a pitcher for about four weeks. Albert Suarez will fill in for the Orioles as a starter.
Grayson Rodriguez pregame on-field: "I don't feel right." pic.twitter.com/377c32dIVO
— Avi Miller 🟦 (@AviMiIIer) August 6, 2024
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Neck: Verlander was placed on the IL with neck discomfort. Verlander is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend if he passes one more bullpen session. Verlander may require multiple rehab starts before he could be activated from the IL.
Reynaldo Lopez (SP, ATL)- Forearm: Lopez was placed on the IL with right forearm inflammation after having his start pushed off. An MRI of the forearm revealed no structural damage. Lopez, however, was not progressing as quickly as expected and has not thrown off of a mound since his last start on July 28. Bryce Elder was called up to take his spot in the rotation.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Back: Suarez is on the IL with a low back strain. Suarez threw a side session this week and needs to face live hitters before he is activated. It is not yet known if he will require a rehab assignment. He is not likely to return when first eligible.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Yamamoto is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. Yamamoto threw a 30-pitch bullpen session this week and now hopes to return either late August or early September.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will travel with the Dodgers on this upcoming road trip and face hitters in Milwaukee, Dave Roberts said. First time he’ll do that since going on the IL.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 6, 2024
Luis Garcia (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Garcia continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery in May 2023. Astros manager Joe Espada said that Garcia will not make a minor-league rehab start this weekend due to right elbow soreness. This is a pause in his rehab, but the Astros remain hopeful that he will return this year.
Jared Jones (SP, PIT)- Lat: Jones is on the IL with a lat strain. He was sent out on a rehab assignment and hopes to return to the Pirates rotation by the end of August.
Ryan Pepiot (SP, TB)- Knee: Pepiot is on the IL with a right knee infection. He continues to ramp up and has thrown bullpen sessions and is scheduled to throw a sim game. Pepiot may still require a rehab assignment before he is activated from the IL.
Jesus Luzardo (SP, MIA)- Back: Luzardo is on the IL with a stress reaction in his lower back. He will remain shut down from throwing for at least six more weeks. This will more than likely end his season.
Ryan Weathers (SP, MIA)- Finger: Weathers has been on the IL since June 8 with a left index finger strain. He has done flat-ground throwing this week and is hopeful to resume throwing bullpen sessions in two weeks. September looks to be when he will be able to return, and maybe only out of the bullpen, as he may not have enough time to stretch out to start.
Drew Thorpe (SP, CHW)- Forearm: Thorpe was placed on the IL with a right flexor strain. The severity is not yet known. Based on how the White Sox are doing and how young Thorpe is, he may not return this year.
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 11.
Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)- Elbow: deGrom continues to rehab following his second Tommy John surgery performed last year. He is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session, after which he should play a sim game and then be sent out on a rehab assignment. If all goes well, deGrom could be the Rangers September call-up.
Jacob deGrom will face hitters on Thursday. Not a drill. https://t.co/2XaTrKhfRO
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) August 7, 2024
Joe Musgrove (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Musgrove was diagnosed with a bone spur in his pitching elbow. He has finished his rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL this weekend.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS)- Elbow: Hendriks continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery. He has been cleared to face hitters and could return by the end of August, barring any setbacks.
Brusdar Graterol (RP, LAD)- Hamstring: In his first game of the season coming back from a shoulder injury, Graterol injured his right hamstring. He has a Grade 1 strain in his right hamstring. There is no timetable for his return at this time.
Brusdar Graterol fights back tears as he's helped off the field by his teammates after what appears to be a serious injury to his right leg.
Tonight was Graterol's season debut after missing the first 4.5 months dealing with a shoulder injury.
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) August 7, 2024
Adbert Alzolay (RP, CHC)- Forearm: Alzolay has been on the IL with a forearm strain since May. He was ramping up but then had a setback. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said this week that Alzolay will undergo Tommy John surgery on his injured right elbow. He is done for the year and most of next year as well.
Adbert Alzolay is having Tommy John surgery. No exact timeline given, but he's going to be out for a while and next season is in jeopardy
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) August 7, 2024
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