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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 14 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
June is just about in our rearview mirror. The All-Star game is fast approaching, as is the MLB trade deadline. With the new playoff format, there are more teams than ever vying for a playoff spot. This makes the number of teams that are "selling" to be less than normal. Some of these teams that are trading off commodities may be doing so to replace injured players on the "buying" teams.
Knowing when injured players are coming back is essential for these teams as well as our own as "known" playing time down the stretch can mean the difference between winning and losing. I will continue to highlight when and if injured players will return to help you manage your fantasy team with this issue.
Here's a little about myself for new 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 16+ years and have a knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I have also been playing fantasy baseball during that same time period, which 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
Aaron Judge (OF, NYY)- Toe: Judge was placed on the IL with a sprained right big toe. Manager Aaron Boone said this week that Judge experienced "a little bit of a breakthrough" after his second platelet-rich plasma injection. Boone believes Judge is “starting to turn a corner” in his recovery. The first PRP injection Judge was given earlier this month didn't knock out all of the pain/swelling but it would appear the second shot did help more. He has not yet been cleared for baseball activities and there is no timeline for his return. He has begun pool/strengthening work at this time.
Brandon Lowe (2B, TB)- Back: Lowe was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. He was shut down for just under two weeks but has begun playing catch. Lowe is still a while from returning, at least until July.
Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)- Oblique: Alvarez is on the IL with a Grade 1 oblique strain. Alvarez has begun stretching but is still shut down for at least another two weeks.
Ryan Mountcastle (OF, BAL)- Head: Mountcastle was placed on the IL with vertigo, retroactive to June 10. He has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated this weekend. Ryan O'Hearn has been filling in well and may get to keep some playing time even when Mountcastle returns.
Bryan Reynolds (OF, PIT)- Back: Reynolds was placed on the IL with lower back inflammation. The Pirates originally thought he would not have to be placed on the IL. Josh Palacios and Henry Davis should benefit from more time in the Pirates' outfield with Reynolds out.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Wrist: Rendon was placed on the IL with a left wrist contusion. He was hit by a pitch and had missed three games prior to his placement on the IL so this move is retroactive to June 16. The severity is not yet known. Luis Rengifo will likely continue to serve as the main replacement at third base for the Angles while Rendon is out.
Alejandro Kirk (C, TOR)- Hand: Kirk was placed on the IL with a laceration and bruising of his left hand. This occurred after he was hit by a pitch last Sunday. The severity is not fully known but this could be a short IL stint for him. Tyler Heineman was called up to back up Danny Jansen until Kirk can return.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (OF, MIA)- Toe: Chisholm is currently on the IL with turf toe on his right foot. He has begun a rehab assignment and could return to the Marlins this weekend. Even after he returns, Chisholm will have to undergo surgery after the season to repair the issue so he will have to manage it the rest of the year.
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Hamstring: Muncy has a grade 2 strain of his left hamstring. Muncy has been able to run and take grounders. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said they could activate Muncy sometime this weekend.
Jean Segura (3B, MIA)- Hamstring: Segura is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He has begun running but there is no timetable for his return. Joey Wendle and Jon Berti have seen an uptick in playing time with Segura sidelined.
Charlie Blackmon (OF, COL)- Hand: Blackmon was placed on the IL with a fractured right hand, a fifth metatarsal fracture. Blackmon has been using a bone stimulator to speed up the healing process and Blackmon thinks he could beat the initial four-to-six-week timeline he was originally given.
Zach Neto (SS, LAA)- Oblique: Neto was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. He has not resumed baseball activities yet. Andrew Velazquez has been filling in for the Angels.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW)- Back: Moncada was placed, again, on the IL due to a low back issue. He has dealt with a herniated disc in his back since spring training and already spent more than a month on the IL with the issue. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said this week that there is still no telling exactly how long Moncada will be out for.
Gio Urshela (3B, LAA)- Pelvis: Urshela has been diagnosed with a left pelvic fracture. He visited a specialist earlier this week and was told that no surgery is needed but that he will miss the remainder of the year.
Victor Robles (OF, WAS)- Back: Robles was placed on the IL again with low back spasms. He was out for about five weeks due to a back issue before he returned from the IL last week. Given the recurring nature of the injury, the Nationals could look to take a cautious approach with Robles and keep him on the shelf beyond the minimum of 10 days. The Nationals called up Derek Hill and he and Stone Garrett could both benefit from a playing-time standpoint.
LaMonte Wade Jr (OF, SF)- Side: Wade has missed the last few games with right side tightness. He went for an MRI and the results are not yet known. If an oblique issue is found, he may end up on the IL.
Riley Greene (OF, DET)- Leg: Greene is on the IL with a stress fracture in his left fibula. Greene is still wearing an air cast to protect the stress fracture in his left fibula and wasn't going all out with his sprints but he has begun a running program. There is no timeline as of yet given for when Greene will be able to return from the IL.
Zac Veen (OF, COL)- Hand: Rockies prospect Zac Veen had surgery this week to repair a torn and frayed ligament in his left hand. It was thought that Veen may have been able to make it to the majors this year. Because of the surgery, he is out for the season.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Carlos Rodon (SP, NYY) - Back: Rodon continues to make progress from his low back injury that has him on the IL at this time. Rodon has thrown one rehab game so far and is scheduled to throw his next over the weekend. The way he has been progressing, an early July activation from the IL is possible.
Ross Stripling (SP, SF)- Back: Stripling has been out since mid-May with a low back strain. Stripling has begun a rehab assignment and may need two more rehab starts before he is activated.
Hunter Greene (SP, CIN)- Hip: Greene was placed on the IL with right hip pain/discomfort. Greene has battled the hip issue for a few weeks now, having a start skipped at one point and feeling renewed discomfort during his last start. The severity is not yet known. There is no timetable for his return. The thing to watch for here is whether his mechanics get affected by the hip issue which could lead to other issues.
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU)- Shoulder: Urquidy is on the IL with shoulder inflammation. He threw a bullpen session this week and is expected to throw two more sessions. After that, barring any setbacks, he would begin a rehab assignment to build up to his return to the Astros rotation.
Jose Quintana (SP, NYM)- Rib: Quintana has been on the IL from the start of the season following rib surgery. He has had two rehab starts so far and is on track to be activated from the IL in early July.
Triston McKenzie (SP, CLE)- Elbow: McKenzie was diagnosed with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament. He will be shut down from throwing for at least several weeks. McKenzie guesses it would probably be four to six weeks. McKenzie was coming back from a lat issue when he began having elbow pain. This new injury should keep him out at least until late August or early September.
Matt Manning (SP, DET)- Foot: Manning sustained a right foot fracture on April 11. He is currently on a rehab assignment and may need only one more rehab start before he returns to the Tigers' starting rotation.
Tarik Skubal (SP, DET)- Elbow: Skubal continues to rehab his elbow injury for the Tigers. He has been on a rehab assignment and is on the 60-day IL. The earliest he could be activated is on July 1.
Graham Ashcraft (SP, CIN)- Calf: Ashcraft was placed on the IL with a left calf contusion. He is expected to return today.
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, DET)- Finger: Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a left index finger pulley rupture. Rodriguez is scheduled to throw a live batting practice this weekend and barring any setbacks, he could begin a rehab assignment in the near future.
Julio Urias (SP, LAD) - Hamstring: Urias is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He is scheduled to have a rehab start this weekend after which time the Dodgers will decide if he needs any further rehab starts or if he will be activated from the IL.
Mike Clevinger (SP, CHW)- Biceps: Clevinger was placed on the IL with right biceps soreness/inflammation. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said this week that he is hopeful that Clevinger will be ready to resume throwing by the end of this week. There is no timeline for his return.
Tanner Houck (SP, BOS)- Face: Houck was hit in the face by a comebacker. He will undergo surgery next week to repair his facial fracture. The procedure will involve the insertion of a plate in his right cheek where he got struck. There is no timetable for his return but he is expected to return this year.
Corey Kluber (SP, BOS)- Shoulder: Kluber was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. The severity is not yet known and there is no timeline given for his return.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Liam Hendriks (RP, CHW)- Forearm: Hendriks was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said this week that Hendriks can resume a throwing program within the next week or so. He has been given both a cortisone shot and a platelet-rich plasma injection to help speed up the healing process. There is no timeline for his return but expect him to be out at least one to two months.
Matt Moore (RP, LAA)- Oblique: Moore is on the IL with a grade 2 oblique strain since the end of May. He threw a bullpen session and will throw a simulated game over the weekend. Moore could return to the Angels' bullpen sometime next week.
Ben Joyce (RP, LAA)- Wrist/Hand: Joyce was placed on the IL with right ulnar neuritis. He was on the IL earlier this month for the same issue. There is no timeline for his return but he did say he is no longer experiencing numbness and tingling in his fingers.
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