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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 22 of the 2024 season. His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
There are only six weeks left in the fantasy baseball regular season. For some, it is less because of playoffs. This means that there is only a handful of waiver wire pickups to acquire from now until the end of the year. This is also the time of year when we start hearing that some injuries to players could mean that they do not return to the playing field anytime soon.
We are now starting to hear injury updates saying that players are hopeful to return this year. When a player update states this, as opposed to having a specific date of return given, this is a red flag. The one thing you have to keep in mind now, and throughout the whole season when picking up and dropping players, is whether that player you drop will be picked up the following week. If the answer is most likely no, the player could be dropped in full confidence. I will continue to highlight those types of injured players, as well as players with more definite return timelines, to help you make these decisions.
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
Jazz Chisholm (3B/OF, NYY)- Elbow: Chisholm was placed on the IL with a UCL injury in his left elbow. The Yankees have not yet decided whether he will require surgery and be done for the year or go the rehab route. DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza should fill in at third base for the Yankees for now.
For those who didn’t see what led to the Jazz Chisholm injury, here’s the slide from last night’s game.
Chisholm was seen in the dugout following this slide doing arm circles and stretching out his left arm in particular. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/euuOeLotbx
— Jeff Middleton (@jjmid04) August 13, 2024
Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)- Calf: Bichette is on the IL with a moderate right calf strain. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Bichette is "progressing well," and the club is hoping he can resume baseball activities within the next week. There is no current timeline for his return.
Christian Walker (1B, ARI)- Oblique: Walker is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Walker is now asymptomatic (no pain) and has begun hitting off a tee. He should now be able to begin ramping up activities. There is no timeline for his return, and Josh Bell will continue to sub for him at first base.
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Oblique: Muncy has been on the Il since mid-May with an oblique strain. He is on a rehab assignment now. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that he expects Muncy to be reinstated from the 60-day IL at some point next week.
Max Muncy doubled home Tommy Edman in OKC
Both are on rehab assignments pic.twitter.com/MHCISDaolc
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 11, 2024
Carlos Correa (SS, MIN)- Foot: Correa is on the IL with plantar fasciitis. He has begun sprinting but will not go on a rehab assignment until he sees how his foot responds to this increase in activity.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Hip: Buxton was placed on the IL this week with right hip soreness. Buxton does not have any structural damage as a result of a hip injury he suffered this past week. However, he has had lingering soreness and the Twins decided to be cautious with him.
Austin Martin and Manuel Margot should get more playing time with Buxton out. Buxton is eligible to return on August 23.
Tyler O'Neill (OF, BOS)- Illness: O'Neill was placed on the IL this week due to an infection in his lower left leg. He has resumed baseball activities and could be activated from the IL next week.
Injury updates from Aoex Cora:
- Liam Hendriks could start a rehab assignment this weekend
- Nick Pivetta is set to start Thursday in Baltimore
- Tyler O’Neill probably won’t play in Baltimore
- “as of now, no” on Triston Casas joining the Red Sox tomorrow
— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) August 14, 2024
Austin Hays (OF, PHI)- Hamstring: Hays was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. The severity is not yet known. Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas will see more playing time with Hays out.
Christian Yelich (OF, MIL)- Back: Yelich was placed on the IL on July 24 with low back inflammation. He had a history of lumbar disc bulges in his back. Yelich has decided to go forward with back surgery and is done for the year. This is being done with being fully healthy in 2025 in mind. Gary Sanchez and Tyler Black will continue to serve in a platoon as designated hitters for the Brewers.
An update I was hoping to avoid. Be back stronger. @Brewers pic.twitter.com/HWT0OOiJVo
— Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) August 15, 2024
Tommy Edman (2B, LAD)- Wrist: Edman continues to recover from off-season wrist surgery. He is on a rehab assignment and could make his season debut next week for the Dodgers.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Back: Bryant was again placed on the IL with a low back strain. This is his third trip to the IL and the second for a low back issue. Jordan Beck was called up and could see some time in the outfield for the Rockies.
Anthony Rizzo (1B, NYY)- Forearm: Rizzo is on the IL recovering from a forearm fracture. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said this week that Rizzo recently hit "full bore" off a Trajekt pitching machine to go along with batting practice. There is still no timetable for his return.
Gabriel Moreno (C, ARI)- Groin: Moreno is on the IL with a left adductor (groin) strain. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said this week that Moreno is expected to miss several weeks of action. Jose Herrera and Adrian Del Castillo will be handling the catching duties with Moreno out.
Torey Lovullo on if Gabriel Moreno could be out for the season:
"I want to remain optimistic. He'll return before the season's over, that's my gut feel. I'm getting a lot of really positive responses when I ask that same question." pic.twitter.com/rJWbKLCrLK
— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) August 9, 2024
Brooks Lee (2B, MIN)- Shoulder: Lee is on the IL with right biceps tendonitis. An MRI of the shoulder showed no structural damage, but he received a cortisone shot for his right biceps. Lee will wait for the cortisone shot to take effect before resuming throwing. There is no timetable for his return. Willi Castro, with Austin Martin and Kyle Farmer, are in the mix for playing time at second base.
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU)- Shin: Tucker is on the IL with a right shin contusion. Tucker had an extended workout this week and is building up for a return. He has been out since early June, and there is no timetable for his return.
Riley Greene (OF, DET)- Hamstring: Greene is on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and could be able to return to the Tigers next week.
J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA)- Finger: Crawford is on the IL with a fractured left pinky finger. He began light throwing this week but will probably still not be able to return until the first week in September at the earliest.
Jacob Wilson (SS, OAK)- Hamstring: Wilson was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Wilson is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and could return from the IL sometime next week.
A’s No. 1 prospect Jacob Wilson will head to Las Vegas to work out with the team later this week and could begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A as early as Saturday.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) August 13, 2024
Wenceel Perez (OF, DET)- Oblique: Perez is on the IL with a grade 2 left oblique strain. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged this past week that Perez is uncertain to play again this season.
"I'm just bummed for him," Hinch said of Perez. "I don't know how long it's going to be or what we can salvage from the season. We'll do our best to get him healthy and hopefully get him back in some games before the end of the year." Akil Baddoo, Zach McKinstry, and Ryan Vilade should see more playing time with Perez out.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Max Scherzer (SP, TEX)- Arm: Scherzer was placed on the IL due to right shoulder fatigue. He will undergo an MRI on Monday as he has not progressed as hoped, so he was sent back to Dallas for further evaluation. There is no timetable for his return.
Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL)- Lat: Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a mild right lat strain. Orioles general manager Mike Elias said this week that Rodriguez will be shut down from throwing for 10 days and hopes he will be back sometime in September.
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Neck: Verlander was placed on the IL with neck discomfort. Verlander has made a few rehab starts and could be activated from the IL sometime next week.
Reynaldo Lopez (SP, ATL)- Forearm: Lopez was placed on the IL with right forearm inflammation. He threw 71 pitches in a rehab start and could be activated from the IL as early as this weekend.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Back: Suarez is on the IL with a low back strain. Suarez threw a simulated game this week and is again scheduled to do so over the weekend. He may then have one rehab start and possibly be activated around August 24.
Ranger Suárez threw a simulated game this afternoon. He’ll face hitters again Sunday — either in a sim game or at Triple A. That would put him in line to pitch sometime during Kansas City series Aug. 23-25.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 13, 2024
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Yamamoto is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. Yamamoto threw to live hitters this week. He will still need multiple rehab assignments before activation, maybe sometime in September.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a 40-ish pitch bullpen today and will meet the Dodgers in St. Louis on Friday to face hitters, Dave Roberts said.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 13, 2024
Luis Garcia (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Garcia continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery in May 2023. He has yet to resume throwing since being shut down, and Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged that Garcia is running out of time to return this year.
Jared Jones (SP, PIT)- Lat: Jones is on the IL with a lat strain. He is on a rehab assignment and could return as early as next week for the Pirates.
Reese Olson (SP, DET)- Shoulder: Olson is on the IL with a right shoulder strain. The Tigers announced that Olson continues to make progress in his throwing distance and volume off flat ground. There still remains no clear timeline for his return from the IL.
Ben Brown (SP, CHC)- Neck: Brown is on the IL with a neck strain. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said this week that Brown has been shut down from throwing "for the time being." Counsell did note that the situation is not season-ending, and he expressed confidence that rest will be enough for Brown to recover.
Lance Lynn (SP, STL)- Knee: Lynn is on the IL with a knee strain. He will throw another bullpen session this weekend. He will still require a rehab assignment before being activated from the IL.
River Ryan (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Ryan was placed on the IL this week with a torn UCL in his pitching elbow. He will have Tommy John surgery and is done for this year and most of next year.
James Paxton (SP, BOS)- Calf: Paxton was placed on the IL with a calf injury. An MRI revealed a partially torn right calf; it is unclear if Paxton will be able to return to the Red Sox rotation before the end of the year. Cooper Criswell is set to fill in for Paxton.
James Paxton has a partial tear of the right calf muscle. Timetable doesn’t look good to return this season, but Paxton is not ready to give up on the season.
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) August 13, 2024
Clarke Schmidt (SP, NYY)- Lat- Schmidt is rehabbing a lat injury that forced him on the IL almost two months ago. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said this week Schmidt will begin a rehab assignment around August 22 and is tracking toward a return from the 60-day injured list in the second week of September.
Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)- Elbow: deGrom is on the IL recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He threw a live batting practice session for the first time since his surgery.
Assuming it goes well, deGrom will then progress to a two-inning live batting practice session early next week, after which he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment. DeGrom will then need multiple rehab starts before rejoining the Rangers rotation this year.
de🐐
First pitch today was reportedly 99mph. pic.twitter.com/2qjCOxqruP
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 13, 2024
Casey Mize (SP, DET)- Hamstring: Mize continues to rehab from his hamstring injury. He made a few rehab starts and could return to the Tigers by August 30.
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 begin a rehab assignment this weekend.
Trevor Megill (RP, MIL)- Back: Megill is on the IL with a low back strain. He was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this past Thursday and could return to the Brewer bullpen next week.
Big leaguers heading up to Grand Chute to begin rehab assignments with the @TimberRattlers: Trevor Megill today, Enoli Parades tomorrow.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 15, 2024
A.J. Minter (RP, ATL)- Hip: Minter is on the IL with left hip inflammation. He saw a specialist, and surgery is one option for him at this time, which would end his 2024 season.
A.J. Minter saw the specialist. He needs surgery on his hip. The Braves won’t know the severity until Minter is operated on, Brian Snitker said. The manager couldn’t say for sure whether Minter would miss the rest of the year.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) August 14, 2024
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