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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 18 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
The good news regarding players coming back after the All Star break already seems like a long time ago, as many new players have hit the IL. The extent of their injuries range from a possible short stint on the IL to being out until mid September. At this point in the season, when you hear injuries that contain the words "fracture", "shoulder", "elbow" and "oblique", you should be concerned. Those injuries could take anywhere between one to two months to recover from and could mean their value to your fantasy team is limited.
Also, there are a few pitchers that will be coming back from injuries soon that have kept them out for significant periods of time. The best advice I could give would be is to be patient with those pitchers and do not necessarily put them in your lineups right away. That initial start off of the IL may be a brief one and there could be some bumps in the road as they reacclimate themselves to the majors. I will continue to highlight the injured players, when they will return and what you could expect from them from here on out to help you continue to be relevant in your fantasy leagues.
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: Aaron Judge was placed on the IL with a sprained right big toe. Judge ran the bases for the first time since he injured his toe. There is still no timetable for his return.
Cedric Mullins (OF, BAL)- Groin: Mullins was placed on the IL with a right adductor groin strain. The Orioles had previously labeled the injury as a right quadricep tightness. Mullins will not be eligible for activation until July 26, and it's possible that he misses more than the minimum amount of time if he is not able to resume baseball activities by this weekend. Aaron Hicks could see more time in the outfield with Mullins out.
Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT)- Back: Ke'Bryan Hayes was placed on the IL with lower back pain. Hayes began baseball activities this week- running, taking grounders and hitting. He will still need a rehab assignment before he is activated from the IL.
Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)- Oblique: Yordan Alvarez is on the IL with a Grade 1 oblique strain. Alvarez was set to begin a rehab assignment over this past weekend but it was pushed off to Wednesday of this past week due to an illness. He could return to the Astros lineup as soon as this weekend.
Jose Altuve (2B, HOU)- Oblique: Altuve was placed on the IL with a “minor” left oblique strain. Altuve took batting practice this week as he ramps up baseball activities. He will still require a rehab assignment before he is activated.
Rowdy Tellez (1B, MIL)- Forearm: Tellez was placed on the IL with right forearm inflammation. Tellez was due to return this week but he suffered a fractured left ring finger while shagging a fly ball last weekend and will be sidelined for another three to four weeks, at a minimum. Owen Miller will continue to see more playing time.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Shin: Rendon was placed on the IL with a left shin contusion, retroactive to July 11. Severity is not yet known. Michael Stefanic and Trey Cabbage were added to the Angels roster to help fill out the Angels infield.
Josh Donaldson (3B, NYY)- Calf: Donaldson was placed on the IL with a calf injury. He was diagnosed with a high-grade strain/small tear in his right calf and is without a timetable for a return. There is a possibility that he could be done for the year and, based on his age, his career may be close to ending. Oswald Peraza was called up and could play third base for the Yankees for the rest of the year.
Jarred Kelenic (OF, SEA)- Foot: Kelenic was placed on the IL with a fractured left foot. Kelenic suffered the injury when he kicked a water cooler following a strikeout in this past Wednesday's game. Severity is not yet known and no timetable for his return was given. Cade Marlowe, AJ Pollock and Dylan Moore could see more action in the outfield for the Mariners.
Ji Hwan Bae (2B, PIT)- Ankle: Bae has been on the IL since the beginning of July with an ankle injury. He will begin a rehab assignment by late July. he could be activated by the first week in August. This ankle injury, though, may affect his speed/steals so watch for what he is able to do during the course of his rehab assignment.
Jose Miranda (3B, MIN)- Shoulder: Miranda was placed on the IL with right shoulder impingement. He received a PRP injection to help speed up the healing process. Miranda will be shut down for at least a week before the Twins decide what to do next.
Brian Anderson (3B, MIL)- Back: Anderson was placed on the IL with low back discomfort. Severity is not yet known. Jahmai Jones was called up and Andruw Monasterio should see more playing time with Anderson out.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Head: Marte was placed on the IL with migraines, retroactive to July 17. The migraines began this week and were thought to only be minor but required him to take some time on the IL. Jeff McNeil will see more time in the outfield as will trade candidate Tommy Pham. Mark Vientos has been called up to take his roster spot.
Brandon Crawford (SS, SF)- Knee: Crawford was placed on the IL with left knee inflammation, retroactive to July 17. Severity is not yet known. Casey Schmitt could see more playing time with Crawford out.
Jorge Polanco (SS, MIN)- Hamstring: Jorge Polanco has been on the IL since late May with a left hamstring strain. He began a rehab assignment this past week and could be activated as early as this weekend.
Ryan Noda (1B, OAK)- Jaw: Noda was placed on the IL with a fractured jaw. He suffered the injury when he took a grounder to the face during pregame fielding practice. It is unclear how long he will be out or if he will require surgery which could sideline him longer. Right now, the thought is that he will be out for three weeks. Tyler Soderstrom and Aledmys Diaz have had the first few chances at first base for the Athletics.
Brandon Drury (1B, ARI)- Shoulder: Drury was placed on the IL with a left shoulder contusion. He has been hitting off of a tee and the earliest he could return is July 27.
Kevin Newman (2B, PIT)- Illness: Newman was placed on the IL with gastritis. He could be activated by July 24.
Nick Madrigal (3B, CHC)- Hamstring: Madrigal was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He began running the bases this week. He will begin a rehab assignmenet this weekend and could be activated soon thereafter.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Shane Bieber (SP, CLE)- Forearm: Bieber was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. He will go two weeks without throwing and, as of now, will not require surgery. His injury is considered week to week. Once he starts to ramp up again, we will have a better idea of when he could return.
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Forearm: Fried is on the IL with a left forearm strain. Fried has moved his rehab to Triple- A this week. If there are no setbacks, Fried could be activated from the IL next week.
Hyun Jin Ryu (SP, TOR)- Elbow: Ryu is rehabbing following Tommy John surgery. He has one more rehab start to get through this weekend at which point he could be activated to start next week for the Blue Jays.
Wade Miley (SP, MIL)- Elbow: Miley was placed on the IL with left elbow discomfort. He last pitched on July 9. No word on the severity yet. Colin Rea is the likely candidate to fill in for Miley until he is able to return.
Zach Davies (SP, ARI)- Back: Davies was placed on the IL with lower-back inflammation. Severity is not yet known. He will be out until at least early August. An MRI is pending.
Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL)- Shoulder: Brandon Woodruff has been on the IL dealing with a shoulder issue for more than two months. Woodruff is beginning his rehab assignment this weekend and could return by mid August, after he builds up his pitch count.
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU)- Shoulder: Jose Urquidy is on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Urquidy made his second rehab start this week. He is trending to return to the Astros during the first week in August.
Kolby Allard (SP, ATL)- Shoulder: Allard was placed on the 60-day IL with left shoulder nerve inflammation. This takes his season to a possible mid September return and probably not as a starter. This would not leave him enough time to build up his arm strength.
Brad Keller (SP, KC)- Shoulder: Keller has been on the IL since May with right shoulder impingement. He has been on a rehab assignment but not as a starter, as a reliever. This will change his fantasy value going forward if this is how the Royals plan on using him.
Nestor Cortes (SP, NYY)- Shoulder: Cortes has been on the IL since May with a rotator cuff strain. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he expects Cortes to require three rehab outings, likely setting the pitcher up to return when first eligible on August 3 if all goes well.
Adam Wainwright (SP, STL)- Shoulder: Wainwright was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. Wainwright received two cortisone injections in his shoulder and back after landing on the injured list earlier this month with a right shoulder strain. He's felt dramatically better since then, including Tuesday during his first mound work since the injury. "I'd like to go ahead and pitch tomorrow after I felt the way I felt today," Wainwright said.
Merrill Kelly (SP, ARI)- Calf: Merrill Kelly was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right calf and was placed on the IL. Kelly is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL at the beginning of next week.
Noah Syndergaard (SP, LAD)- Finger: Syndergaard was placed on the IL with a blister on his right index finger. He has begun his rehab assignment and will need a few more starts before being activated from the IL.
Kyle Freeland (SP, COL)- Shoulder: Freeland was placed on the IL with a right shoulder subluxation/dislocation (non throwing shoulder). He completed a 40-pitch bullpen session this week. He is hoping to let the injury heal naturally, and he took his first step back toward a return during an "aggressive" throwing session. There is still no timetable for his return.
Dustin May (SP, LAD)- Forearm: May had right flexor tendon and UCL reconstruction revision surgery this past week and is expected to miss the next 12 months. This surgery was a UCL revision of his previous Tommy John surgery. With the operation being more invasive than expected, May is expected to be sidelined for a full year, putting his estimated return date roughly around the All-Star break next season.
Kyle Wright (SP. ATL)- Shoulder: Wright is on the 60 day IL with a right shoulder strain. He is not expected to be an option for Atlanta until early September. He has not had a setback but the Braves are being extra cautious. Wright is expected to begin throwing shortened bullpen sessions early next week and then regular bullpen sessions by the end of next week.
Andrew Painter (SP, PHI)- Forearm: The Phillies announced this week that Painter has been recommended for Tommy John surgery. This could knock him out of this year and the majority of next year.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jose Alvarado (RP, PHI)- Elbow: Alvarado was placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to July 7. He played catch this week and has been feeling better following a cortisone injection. There is still no timetable for his return.
Hunter Harvey (RP, WAS)- Elbow: Harvey was placed on the IL with a right elbow strain. He felt soreness in both his forearm and triceps last Saturday, and the Nationals have since identified his elbow as the main source of his discomfort. He will undergo further testing and that should let us know the severity of his injury and give us a timetable for his return. Kyle Finnegan will probably be the primary closer for the Nationals at this point.
Liam Hendriks (RP, CHW)- Elbow: Hendriks is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Thursday that Hendriks peaked at 93.8 mph in his simulated game Wednesday. Grifol said that Hendriks' velocity was "up" in the session. He will now speak with the trainers to make a plan to see what their next step is.
A.J. Minter (RP, ATL)- Shoulder: Minter was placed on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He was taken out of his last appearance with pectoral tightness, but it now appears to be his shoulder that is bothering him. There is no timetable for his return.
Ryan Helsley (RP, STL)- Forearm: Helsely is on the IL with a right forearm strain. He threw a bullpen session this week, his first step in his return from the IL. He continues to ramp up his throwing program. He could be ready to face hitters soon. Jordan Hicks has been the Cardinals closer since Giovanny Gallegos faltered as the closer.
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