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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 8 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
We are at the midpoint in May. Is it time for you to start screaming "MAYDAY, MAYDAY" about your fantasy team? It seems like it is for some major league teams like the Mets and Cardinals. Injuries have taken their toll on both of those teams, but that is what could happen when you roster older players or injury-prone players.
If you add that together with players who are underperforming, the results could be disastrous. If this sounds like your fantasy team, you may not be alone. However, it is still only May and there are still four-plus months left to try to turn your fantasy team around. One way of doing this would be by examining your roster and cutting bait with some players. Knowing when injured players are coming back would help greatly and I will highlight some of those players that could be affecting you.
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 24x7 push notification alerts!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Eloy Jimenez (OF, CHW)- Appendix: Jimenez underwent an emergency appendectomy in Cincinnati last Saturday and was placed on the IL He is expected to miss four to six weeks. Billy Hamilton was called up and subsequently landed on the IL himself. Jake Marisnick was then called up.
Corey Seager (SS, TEX)- Hamstring: Seager has been on the IL since early April due to a left hamstring injury. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Seager is expected to return “early” during the Rangers' homestand next week. Seager began a rehab assignment this past Thursday.
Jake Burger (3B, CHW)- Oblique: Burger, who was Moncada’s replacement, went on the IL this week with a left oblique strain. He has started a rehab assignment and could come off the IL as early as Sunday.
Jose Altuve (2B, HOU)- Thumb: Altuve continues to rehab from his fractured thumb which occurred during the World Baseball Classic. He has been cleared to field ground balls and test his grip on a bat and now has begun taking live batting practice at Triple-A.
Tyler O'Neill (OF, STL)- Back: O’Neill was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told reporters that O’Neill could begin a rehab assignment as soon as next Tuesday. The severity of the injury, though, is not known. Juan Yepez, not Jordan Walker, was called up by the Cardinals
Oswald Peraza (SS, NYY)- Ankle: Peraza was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain. The severity is not known but he could begin a rehab assignment within the next few days. If he's able to progress without setbacks, a return when first eligible, on May 16, is possible.
Seth Brown (1B, OAK)- Oblique: Brown is currently four weeks into his four to six-week recovery timeframe for his left oblique strain. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment over the weekend and could be activated sometime over the course of next week.
Tomas Nido (C, NYM)- Eye: Nido was placed on the IL with Dry Eye Syndrome. He is expected to miss only a small amount of time. Francisco Alvarez will continue to be the main starter at catcher with Michael Perez backing him up. Of note, Gary Sanchez was signed and is currently at Triple-A as organizational depth which should be worth noting.
Ramon Urias (3B, BAL)- Hamstring: Urias was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. The severity is not yet known but Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that Urias will "miss a good bit of time" after being placed on the IL.
Jared Walsh (1B, LAA)- Head: Walsh is on the IL because of recurring headaches and he has not yet played this year. Walsh is starting a rehab assignment this weekend and could be a week away from returning.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)- Elbow: deGrom is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. deGrom was scheduled to begin playing catch during their current road trip but now it is reported that he will miss at least two to three more weeks.
Max Scherzer (SP, NYM)- Neck: Scherzer had skipped his last start due to neck spasms which first started this past Sunday and got worse on Monday. He said he hopes to be back over the weekend and avoid the IL.
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Forearm: Fried was placed on the IL with a strained left forearm. Fried has been shut down and is expected to miss at least two months. Jared Shuster projects as the rotation replacement for Fried and Mike Soroka is waiting in the wings to be called up as well.
Tyler Glasnow (SP, TB)- Oblique: Glasnow has been on IL since the spring with a strained oblique. He left his last rehab start with mild left side tightness and was taken out as a precaution. He is still scheduled to continue his rehab assignment.
Luis Garcia (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Garcia was placed on the IL with discomfort in his right elbow. Garcia is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery and is done for the year.
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU)- Shoulder: Urquidy was placed on the IL with right shoulder discomfort. An MRI revealed inflammation in his right shoulder. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Urquidy has a chance to return from the IL "somewhere around the All-Star break." With both him and Luis Garcia being out, Brandon Bielak and JP France will get some time in the Astros rotation.
Johnny Cueto (SP, MIA)- Biceps: Cueto was placed on the IL with a right biceps injury during his season debut on April 3. He is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment this weekend. He sprained his left ankle during his latest rehab start and now there is no timeline for his return.
Carlos Carrasco (SP, NYM)- Elbow: Carrasco was placed on the IL and was diagnosed with a bone chip in his right elbow. He received an injection. Carrasco is scheduled for a second rehab start after which he could be activated from the IL by the end of next week.
Luis Severino (SP, NYY)- Lat: Severino is on the IL with a lat strain. Severino is currently on a rehab assignment. If all goes well, a late May return is possible.
Kyle Wright (SP, ATL)- Shoulder: Wright was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. This is his second trip to the IL this year and for the same type of injury. Wright said that he expects to be sidelined for at least two months. This is probably because this injury (strain) is a recurrence of a previous injury. He will remain shut down until the shoulder fully heals before slowly ramping things back up.
Mason Miller (SP, OAK)- Elbow: Miller was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Miller felt discomfort in his throwing elbow following his last start. He had an MRI and there is no structural damage in the joint and he is expected to try a side session this weekend. The Athletics are playing it safe here with one of their top pitching prospects. Zach Neal and Luis Medina were called up.
Noah Syndergaard (SP, LAD)- Finger: A decision on whether Syndergaard will be placed on the IL will come before Friday. He was removed from his last start after just one inning because of a cut on his right index finger. He was able to play catch Wednesday by covering the finger and also using the topical skin adhesive Dermabond. Neither of those things would be allowed while Syndergaard pitches, though.
Garrett Whitlock (SP, BOS)- Elbow: Whitlock was placed on the IL With right elbow Neuritis. He hopes that he can return after only a minimal stay on the injured list. He is scheduled to start a rehab assignment next week.
Tyler Mahle (SP, MIN) Elbow: Mahle was placed on the IL With an elbow injury. He was diagnosed with right arm posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain and will have Tommy John surgery and is done for the year.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jose Alvarado (RP, PHI)- Elbow: Alvarado was placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation. He underwent an MRI which showed no structural damage and just inflammation. He will be shut down for a few days before being re-evaluated. The Phillies plan to "take it slow" with the reliever, so it seems likely to be longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Craig Kimbrel is the favorite to close until Alvarado could come back. Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto also have closing experience.
Liam Hendriks (RP, CHW)- Illness: Hendriks completed his final round of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma over the winter and completed his final round of chemotherapy in April. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could be activated this week.
Trevor May (RP, OAK)- Personal: May was placed on the IL due to anxiety-related issues. He has begun a rehabilitation assignment and may need a few more before he is activated from the injured list but his rehab has now “been put on pause.”
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