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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 5 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
It is hard to believe, but this coming week is the last week of April already. The baseball season is almost a full month old. The baseball season is 15% over, with a lot more baseball still to come. There are many surprise teams doing well and there are many players who are surprising us as well, good and bad. A lot of the players underperforming for us in fantasy may be doing so because of injury.
Injuries could be holding back a player's potential and even keeping them off of the field. Knowing when players are coming back or how long they will be out could help. I will highlight players on the IL, their expected missed time, and the next man up.
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!
Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Michael Harris (OF, ATL)- Back: Harris was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Harris is “Just rehabbing. Not there yet.” Harris has not even started hitting in the batting cages yet. There is no timetable for his return.
Giancarlo Stanton (OF/DH, NYY)- Hamstring: Stanton was placed on the IL this week with a left hamstring strain. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said this week that the Yankees hope he could return in six weeks. Willie Calhoun could fill in at DH and Isiah Kiner-Falefa could see more time in the outfield for the Yankees.
Will Smith (C, LAD)- Head: Smith remains on the concussion IL. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters before this past Tuesday's game that Smith is "days away" from being activated from the IL. While he has a chance to return this weekend, there are no guarantees when coming back from a head injury.
Miguel Rojas (SS, LAD)- Hamstring: Rojas was placed on the IL with a hamstring strain. The severity is not yet known. With Gavin Lux out for the year, Chris Taylor dealing with an injured muscle on his side, Luke Williams will see more time at shortstop. Mookie Betts is also an option to play there with a chance to gain eligibility at another position.
Randal Grichuk (OF, COL)- Groin: Grichuk is on the IL and playing on a rehab assignment this week. He is expected back sometime over the next few days.
Josh Donaldson (3B, NYY)- Hamstring: Donaldson was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He was pulled off of his rehab assignment and sent for further testing on his hamstring. His timeline for a return may be based on those results.
Tim Anderson (SS, CHW)- Knee: Anderson was placed on the IL with a sprained left knee. He is expected to miss two to four weeks. He has begun jogging and there is a possibility that he may not need a rehab assignment. If that is the case, he may return closer to the two-week timeline he had instead of the four-week timeline.
Jose Siri (OF, TB)- Hamstring: Siri is on the IL with a strained right hamstring. He is likely to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and could be activated next week.
Alex Kirilloff (1B, MIN)- Wrist: Kirilloff is on the IL because of his lingering wrist issue. He has moved his rehab to Triple-A and may return to the Twins sometime this coming week.
Harrison Bader (OF, NYY)- Oblique: Bader is on the IL with an oblique injury. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Bader is scheduled to start a rehab assignment this weekend. There is still a chance he could return to the Yankees by the end of April.
Garrett Mitchell (OF, MIL)- Shoulder: Mitchell was placed on the IL this week after suffering multiple left shoulder subluxations late in Tuesday's game. He is scheduled for an MRI and his treatment and length of stay on the IL are yet to be determined. Joey Wiemer and Owen Miller are expected to be the primary options to fill in. Also, Tyrone Taylor is on a rehab assignment now and could factor in as well.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW)- Back: Moncada has been sidelined with back soreness and is expected to be placed on the IL. There is no timeline for his return but he is not expected back this week. Jake Burger will continue to see more time at third base for the White Sox.
Ramon Laureano (OF, OAK)- Groin: Laureano was placed on the IL with a left groin strain. He was previously believed to be dealing with hamstring trouble but landed on the IL due to the groin issue, Connor Capel could see more time in the Athletics outfield.
Joey Wendle (SS, MIA)- Abdomen: Wendle was placed on the IL with a right intercostal strain. Wendle has begun baseball activity but there is no timeline for his return yet. Jon Berti will continue to see more playing time as a result.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL)- Shoulder: Woodruff is on the IL with a shoulder injury. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said last weekend that Woodruff has been diagnosed with a sub-scapular strain in his right shoulder. It is said he will not require surgery but he is expected to be shut down from throwing for a while. There is no timetable given for his throwing program yet. Woodruff is scheduled to visit with a specialist early next week.
Justin Verlander (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: Verlander was placed on the IL with a low-grade teres major strain. He is beginning a throwing program and could start a rehab assignment this week and would be on pace to now return in early May.
Carlos Rodon (SP, NYY)- Forearm: Rodon is on the IL with a left forearm strain. He was going through the rehab process and suffered a setback due to back tightness. It is still bothering him and is scheduled to go for testing for his back. This will push his return date even more.
Jeffrey Springs (SP, TB)- Elbow: Springs was placed on the IL with ulnar neuritis and was then diagnosed with a left elbow flexor strain. He is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery. Springs is done for this year and possibly the beginning of next year.
Ryan Pepiot (SP, LAD)- Oblique: Pepiot was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. He has not yet resumed throwing. A mid to late May return now seems in the cards for him.
Robbie Ray (SP, SEA)- Elbow: Ray was placed on the IL with a flexor strain. Ray has not yet begun a throwing program. Mariners General Manager Jerry DiPoto has said he believes that Ray could return by the middle of May.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD)- Ankle: Gonsolin is on the IL with a sprained left ankle. His timeline for return was pushed back to mid-May as he began his rehab assignment this week.
Carlos Carrasco (SP, NYM)- Elbow: Carrasco was placed on the IL and has been diagnosed with a bone chip in his right elbow. He received an injection and hopes to avoid surgery. Joey Lucchesi will be activated to start in the majors for the first time since his Tommy John surgery.
Luis Severino (SP, NYY)- Lat: Severino is on the IL with a lat strain. He threw a bullpen session and threw live batting practice this week. Barring any setback Severino should be able to return to the Yankees early to mid-May.
James Paxton (SP, BOS)- Hamstring: Paxton has been on the IL with a hamstring strain. He is scheduled to make his final rehab start soon and then could be activated by the Red Sox.
Jameson Taillon (SP, CHC)- Groin: Taillon was placed on the IL with a mild-to-moderate left groin strain. He has already played catch, which is a good sign and could indicate a return around the time he's first eligible.
Adam Wainwright (SP, STL)- Groin: Wainwright was diagnosed with a groin strain and is on the IL. Wainwright had his first rehab start this past Wednesday and is scheduled for one more early next week. He could be activated to start next weekend.
Kris Bubic (SP, KC)- Elbow: Bubic was placed on the IL with a left flexor strain. The Royals have some "underlying concerns” about his health and will have him get another checkup. Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Bubic will require a second opinion on his elbow. This is due diligence on the part of the team and Bubic and does not necessarily change the outcome of his treatment plan.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Forearm: Suarez is on the IL with a forearm strain. He threw live batting practice to Bryce Harper and his next step may be a few rehab outings prior to coming off of the IL.
German Marquez (SP, COL)- Forearm: Marquez was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain. He has been scheduled for a bullpen session and, most probably, at least one rehab start until he could return for the Rockies.
Alex Wood (SP, SF)- Hamstring: Wood was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He is expected to “miss several weeks”. Tristan Beck was called up and pitched in relief this past Thursday. Ross Stripling is expected to be called upon to take Wood’s spot in the Giants' rotation.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Daniel Hudson (RP, LAD)- Knee: Hudson continues to rehab from ACL surgery in June 2022. His rehab has been deemed as “slow” and there is no timeline for his return. He was moved to the 60-day IL making his return to the Dodgers to be more around June/July.
Raisel Iglesias (RP, ATL)- Shoulder: Iglesias is on the IL with low-grade right shoulder inflammation. He has had one bullpen session this week and will have one more session prior to going out on a rehab assignment. There is still no clear timeline for his return.
Trevor May (RP, OAK)- Anxiety: May was placed on the IL with anxiety-related issues. No word on the current treatment plan as this is not like other injury-related placements on the IL.
Dany Jimenez (RP, OAK)- Shoulder: Jimenez was placed on the 60-day IL with a shoulder strain. Although the complete diagnosis is not known, it is known that he will be out until at least late June. With both May and Jimenez being out, Zach Jackson seems to be the likely candidate to close for the Athletics. Transferred to 60-day IL
Andres Munoz (RP, SEA)- Shoulder: Munoz continues to rehab from a shoulder injury that landed him on the IL. He threw off of a mound this week at around 80 percent effort in advance of a rehab assignment. He may require two to three rehab outings prior to his activation.
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