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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 19 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
This is the week in baseball when, even if your team is not in it, you pay attention. The week of the trade deadline. Big names and small names may get traded, freeing up playing time and taking away playing time. Injured players or rehabbing players may be traded. Last year, Harrison Bader was traded when he was injured. This year, Noah Syndergaard, who is on a rehab assignment, was already traded.
Playing time is the keyword for this time of year in the baseball season. Rookies will get a "shot" and teams will try to play the "hot hand" to make the playoffs. Injured players may have two labels now- players who will be coming back to make the playoff push and players who may be out for the majority of the rest of the season. Knowing which players fall in each category will help you in your fantasy league playoff push. I will continue to highlight these fantasy-relevant players.
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. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience.
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Cedric Mullins II (OF, BAL)- Groin: Mullins was placed on the IL with a right adductor groin strain. There is no timetable for his return but he has begun running, hitting, and throwing. Because of the nature of his injury, Mullins may require a rehab assignment (only a few games) to ensure his health before he is activated from the IL.
Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT)- Back: Ke'Bryan Hayes was placed on the IL with lower back pain. Hayes is on a rehab assignment and could be activated either this weekend or at the beginning of next week.
Rowdy Tellez (1B, MIL)- Forearm: Tellez was placed on the IL with right forearm inflammation. Tellez was due to return from the IL but suffered a fractured left ring finger which also required stitches. He had the stitches removed this week but is still about two weeks away from activation from the IL.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Shin: Rendon was placed on the IL with a left shin contusion, retroactive to July 11. Angels manager Phil Nevin said that Rendon would be shut down from baseball activities for at least two weeks after an MRI revealed a deep bone bruise in his left shin with bleeding in the bone. At that point, they will reassess his condition. Michael Stefanic, Trey Cabbage, and Eduardo Escobar could see more playing time.
Jesse Winker (OF, MIL)- Back: Winker was placed on the IL this week with back spasms. The severity is not yet known. Abraham Toro was called up. Sal Frelick has seen more playing time since he was called up.
Ji Hwan Bae (2B, PIT)- Ankle: Bae has been on the IL since the beginning of July with an ankle injury. He is expected to begin his rehab assignment this weekend.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Finger: Bryant was placed on the IL with a fractured left index finger. No word on how long he will be out for. If surgery is not required, he could be out for four weeks. If surgery is required it could be up to eight weeks. Elehuris Montero was called up and Randal Grichuk should get more consistent playing time with Bryant out.
Esteury Ruiz (OF, OAK)- Shoulder: Ruiz is on the IL with a left shoulder subluxation. He has begun swinging and fielding and could begin his rehab assignment this weekend. If all goes well, he could be activated this week.
Brian Anderson (3B, MIL)- Back: Anderson was placed on the IL with low back discomfort. He was placed on the injured list just after the All-Star break because of lingering back discomfort. Anderson has begun hitting in the cage and could return sometime in early August, around August 7.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Head: Marte was placed on the IL with migraines, retroactive to July 17. He was not activated when first thought and continues to do pregame drills. He could have returned over this weekend but he is expecting a child soon so his activation may be pushed off further. He is also going for a second opinion for his migraines.
Brandon Crawford (SS, SF)- Knee: Crawford was placed on the IL with left knee inflammation, retroactive to July 17. The severity is not yet known. He did not require an injection and is reporting improvement. Until his return, Casey Schmitt could see more playing time, and top prospect Marco Luciano was called up.
Thairo Estrada (2B, SF)- Hand: Estrada is on the IL with a left-hand fracture. He was given a four to six-week timetable for his return. It is now four weeks in and he has begun hitting and fielding. Estrada will probably also require a rehab stint. He is about two weeks away from returning.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (OF, MIA)- Oblique: Chisholm is on the IL with a left oblique strain. He has been doing plyometric work but has not started hitting as of last week. There is still no definite timeline for his return.
Trevor Story (SS, BOS)- Elbow: Story has been out this year following elbow surgery this past January. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could return to the active roster over the weekend or next week.
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. He has begun taking batting practice already and has a follow-up next week with his oral surgeon. Right now, the thought is that he will be out for another two to three weeks.
Brandon Drury (2B, ARI)- Shoulder: Drury was placed on the IL with a left shoulder contusion. He has been hitting and recently began fielding grounders. He could return from the IL sometime next week.
Charlie Blackmon (OF, COL)- Hand: Blackmon has been on the IL since mid-June with a right-hand fracture. He has now been cleared to swing a bat as he gains more strength in the hand. He could be back for the Rockies in mid-August.
Taylor Walls (SS, TB)- Oblique: Walls was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. The severity is not yet known. Isaac Paredes should see more playing time and Vidal Bruján was called up.
Jose Trevino (C, NYY)- Wrist: Trevino has a torn ligament in his right wrist and required surgery to repair it. He was placed on the IL and is done for the season. Kyle Higashioka will be the Yankees primary catcher moving forward.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Shane Bieber (SP, CLE)- Forearm: Bieber was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. He was transferred to the 60-day IL and will be out until mid-September.
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Forearm: Fried is on the IL with a left forearm strain. Fried had moved his rehab to Triple-A last week. He was scheduled for his final rehab start this past week but he was under the weather. Fried will be activated this coming week.
Chris Sale (SP, BOS)- Shoulder: Sale has been on the IL since early June with a stress reaction in his left scapula. Sale will begin a rehab assignment next week if he gets through his next live batting practice session with no issues. Sale could be trending to an early August return to the Red Sox rotation.
Hyun-jin Ryu (SP, TOR)- Elbow: Ryu is rehabbing following Tommy John surgery. He threw a bullpen session this week and could be activated to start for the Blue Jays next week.
Michael Wacha (SP, SD)- Shoulder: Wacha is currently on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He threw a bullpen session this week, only fastballs and changeups. He is expected to use the rest of his pitches during the next session. Wacha will probably require a rehab assignment and could return to the Padres rotation in mid-August.
Hunter Greene (SP, CIN)- Hip: Greene has been on IL since mid-June with right hip discomfort. He threw a side session this week as part of a core stability program. Reds manager David Bell said Greene has one more level to achieve in the program. Once the right-hander finishes that, Greene will throw a live batting practice session and then start a rehab assignment. "It could all happen really fast," Bell said. "Any day, it's going to happen."
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN)- Leg: Lodolo has been on the IL since May with a left tibia stress reaction. He threw a bullpen session this week but is not expected to be an option for the Reds until September.
José Urquidy (SP, HOU)- Shoulder: Urquidy is on the IL with shoulder inflammation. He has made three rehab starts, the last one throwing 53 pitches. He will require one more start before being activated from the IL.
Nestor Cortes Jr. (SP, NYY)- Shoulder: Cortes has been on the IL since May with a rotator cuff strain. He has been pitching on a rehab assignment. The earliest he could be activated would be August 3.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
A.J. Minter (RP, ATL)- Shoulder: Minter was placed on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He has begun a rehab assignment and could return this weekend to the Braves bullpen.
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