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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 3 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
We are now a full ten days into the baseball season. Trends are starting to take shape. Some players have been able to carry over their good spring to a good start to the season. Others are hitting that bump in the road early on. A lot of it may have to do with playing with injuries.
Over the course of the first few days of the season, many players sometimes try to “overcompensate” for injuries and end up getting a stint on the IL for their actions. Others are trying to take the safe route and erring on the side of caution when it comes to these early season physical ailments. There is a lot of information coming out, from the players, managers and team sources. This makes it hard for you to navigate as a fantasy player. I will highlight players on the IL with their hopeful return timeframe 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!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Michael Harris II (OF, ATL)- Back: Harris was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said this weekend that Harris should be able to return from the IL when first eligible. He can be activated as early as April 17. Sam Hilliard, Kevin Pillar and Eli White could see more playing time for the Braves.
Josh Donaldson (3B, NYY)- Hamstring: Donaldson was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to April 6. Manager Aaron Boone believes that he could miss only the required ten days on the IL. With Donaldson’s history of how he recovers from injuries (calf), I find this hard to believe. DJ LeMahieu should be the main third baseman while he is out with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswaldo Cabrera in the mix also.
Eloy Jimenez (OF, CHW)- Hamstring: Jimenez was placed on the IL with a low grade left hamstring strain. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said this week that he hopes Jimenez will only miss two weeks. Jimenez has already played catch and did some running. He even said afterward that he would be able to pinch-hit Thursday if he was on the active roster. Gavin Sheets will see more playing time with Jimenez out.
Mitch Haniger (OF, SF)- Oblique: Haniger started the the season on the IL due to a Grade 1 oblique strain. He was recently shut down for about a week due to back tightness. He is limited to hitting off a tee. Manager Gabe Kapler expects Haniger to be ready for activation at some point during a road trip April 14-19,
Jorge Polanco (2B, MIN)- Knee: Polanco began the season on the IL due to a left knee injury status post surgery. He is currently playing in rehab games as he gets closer to activation. No timeline has been given for his return yet.
Leody Taveras (OF, TEX)- Oblique: Taveras is on the IL with a left oblique strain. He has begun a regan assignment and could be activated this coming week.
Randal Grichuk (OF, COL)- Groin: Rockies manager Bud Black said this past week that Grichuk is taking part in hitting, running and fielding work at the team's spring training complex in Arizona without any issues although he has not yet resumed playing in simulated games. His return from the 10-day injured list shouldn't be viewed as close.
Bryce Harper (DH, PHI)- Elbow: Harper took batting practice this week on the field but has yet to be cleared for other activities such as sliding. The Phillies are hoping he could return before the end of May. In this tweet, you can also see Rhys Hoskins using a crutch to move around following his ACL surgery.
Jose Siri (OF, TB)- Hamstring: Siri was placed on the IL with a strained right hamstring. The severity is not yet known. He was injured while making a catch at the wall. Josh Lowe is likely to see more playing time with Siri out. .
Austin Meadows (OF, DET)- Anxiety: Meadows was placed on the IL with anxiety. In a statement released by Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris, the Tigers "fully support Austin's decision to step away from the team and prioritize his mental health." Akil Baddoo should see more playing time with Meadows out.
Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL)- Nootbar has been on the IL since the first week of the season with a left thumb contusion. It is thought that he may not need rehab games and could be activated as early as Monday. ,
Max Kepler (OF, MIN)- Knee: Kepler was placed on the IL with right knee tendinitis. He has not played since last Monday. There is no timetable for his return. Matt Wallner was called up to give the Twins outfield depth.
Alex Kirilloff (1B, MIN)- Wrist: Kirilloff is on the IL because of his lingering wrist issue. He continues to play in extended spring training games but the Twins have not yet set a date for his rehab assignment to begin. It looks like the earliest he could return would be the last week in April or the beginning of May.
Harrison Bader (OF, NYY)- Oblique: Bader is on the Il with an oblique injury. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said this weekend that Bader could begin a rehab assignment in the next week to ten days, barring any setbacks. This could give him an end of April or beginning of May return timetable. Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero will continue to see more playing time but watch for them being taken out of games early for defensive improvement.
Jared Walsh (1B, LAA)- Head: Walsh is on the IL with headaches and insomnia and has recently begun swinging again. There is no timetable for his rehab stint or his return. Brandon Drury and Jake Lamb will continue to share first base duty for the Angels until Walsh is able to return. .
Luis Urias (3B, MIL)- Hamstring: Urias was placed on the IL with a hamstring strain and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. This opens up playing time for a few players. Mike Brosseau could see time at third but Brian Anderson could be the main option there. With Anderson going to third, Joey Wiemer could see more at bats in the outfield for the Brewers.
Joey Bart (SF, SF)- Back: Bart is on the IL with a back injury and started a rehab assignment this weekend. With Roberto Perez being placed on the 60 day IL with a shoulder injury, look for Bart to be activated as soon as possible, probably this week.
Joey Votto (1B, CIN)- Shoulder: Votto continues to rehab from his shoulder surgery that was performed last year. He began a rehab assignment over the weekend and could be activated sometime this week.
Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC)- Oblique: Suzuki is recovering from an oblique injury sustained early on in Spring Training and has been playing on a rehab stint for the Cubs. He is expected to be activated from the IL some time next week.
Joey Wendle (SS, MIA)- Abdomen: Wendle was placed on the IL with a right intercostal strain. Severity is not yet known. Jon Berti figures to handle the bulk of starts at shortstop in the meantime.
Omar Narvaez (C, NYM)- Calf: Narvaez was placed on the IL, retroactive to April 6, with a left calf strain. He has been diagnosed with a medium-to-high grade strain and is expected to be sidelined eight or nine weeks. Francisco Alvarez was called up but the Mets have said that Tomas Nido will remain their primary catcher.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Justin Verlander (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: Verlander was placed on the IL with a low-grade teres major strain. He has increased his throwing to 75% intensity and had positive results on his most recent MRI. He expects to be back by the end of April. Until then, Tylor Megill will continue to fill in for him.
Carlos Rodon (SP, NYY)- Forearm: Rodon is on the IL with a left forearm strain. He is currently going through the rehab process and is scheduled to throw a live batting practice this week. Rodon is on track for an early May return.
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Hamstring: Fried is on the IL with a strained left hamstring. He has begun throwing but has not yet progressed to running There is no timeline for his return. Bryce Elder remains the top candidate for his replacement for now.
Ryan Pepiot (SP, LAD)- Oblique: Pepiot was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. He could resume throwing this coming week and an end of April return is not out of the question yet.
Robbie Ray (SP, SEA)- Elbow: Ray was placed on the IL with a flexor strain. An MRI showed that he is dealing with a Grade 1 flexor strain. He will be shut down for two weeks while receiving daily treatment and then will be reevaluated. There is no estimated timetable for Ray to return. Chris Flexen is expected to take his spot in the Mariners rotation.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD)- Ankle: Gonsolin sprained his left ankle during Spring Training and is on the Il for this injury. He has been throwing bullpen sessions but there is no word on when his rehab stint is scheduled to begin. There is no timeline for his return.
Kyle Wright (SP, ATL)- Shoulder: Wright was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He is scheduled to make his season debut on April 11th.
Garrett Whitlock (SP, BOS)- Hip: Whitlock had hip surgery September 2022 and was built up slowly. He is now scheduled to make his season debut April 11th.
JT Brubaker (SP, PIT)- Forearm: Brubaker continues to have forearm/elbow discomfort. He is a candidate for Tommy John surgery and could miss the rest of the year.
Joe Musgrove (SP, HOU)- Toe: Musgrove is on the IL due to a fractured big toe. He will need one more rehab start and should be activated from the IL at the end of this week or the beginning of next week.
Brayan Bello (SP, BOS)- Forearm: Bello is on the IL with forearm tightness. He has had a few rehab starts with his next one coming next week. If all goes well, he could be activated off of the IL by next week.
Luis Severino (SP, NYY)- Lat: Severino is on the IL with a lat strain. He has been throwing from 120 feet and flat ground and there is no timeline for his return. Jhony Brito will continue to fill in for him.
Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, HOU)- Forearm: McCullers is on the IL with a forearm strain. He declared himself “ahead of schedule” this past week after throwing 90mph on back to back days. That being said, there still remains no timeline for his return.
Michael Lorenzen (SP, DET)- Groin: Lorenzen is on the Il with a groin strain and started a rehab assignment this weekend. He should need about three to four rehab starts before he is activated, probably the beginning of May.
James Paxton (SP, BOS)- Hamstring: Paxton is scheduled to make a rehab start this weekend and may require only one or two more rehab starts before he could be activated. This may be the week, if he is available on your waiver wire, to pick him up cheap if you want to take a stab at it.
Adam Wainwright (SP, STL)- Groin: Wainwright was diagnosed with a groin strain and is on the IL. He has been throwing bullpen sessions and could start a rehab assignment soon. There is no timeline for his return as of yet.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Forearm: Suarez is on the IL with a forearm strain. He has been throwing bullpen sessions and could start his rehab assignment soon. Suarez will probably need two or three rehab starts before he is activated, which could be early May.
Aaron Ashby (SP, MIL)- Shoulder- The Brewers placed Ashby on the IL, retroactive to March 27 with a left labrum tear and impingement. Ashby had surgery this week and is expected to miss most if not all of this season.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Daniel Hudson (RP, LAD)- Knee: Hudson continues to rehab rom ACL surgery from June 2022. His rehab has been deemed as “slow” and there is no timeline for his return.
Raisel Iglesias (RP, ATL)- Shoulder: Iglesias is on the IL with low-grade right shoulder inflammation. He is still in “rest mode” and has not yet begun a throwing program. There is no timeline for his return. A.J. Minter has been the main beneficiary to this injury although Jesse Chavez did vulture one save this past week. i
Liam Hendriks (RP, CHW)- Illness: Hendriks continues to work out with the White Sox and threw a bullpen recently. Hendriks is battling with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and began his last round of chemotherapy this past week. He was not placed on the 60 day IL which means the White Sox are hopeful he could return earlier than June.
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