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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 4 (2024). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
When it comes to your waiver wire picks, there are different strategies that could be implemented. Some managers like to spend a lot on the top prospects. Some fantasy managers look for certain statistics, while others like to try to get the next closer or stream two-start pitchers. What everyone must do when it comes to the waiver wire, is help balance their lineups and fill in the holes made by injured players. To do this, we all have the following question- if we have to pick up an injury replacement, who is the player we could or should drop?
There are two ways to attack this. The first way to look at it is that if you drop a player, would he be picked up the next week by another team in your league? If the answer is yes, then you probably should not drop them. The second way to look at it is to be aggressive when it comes to dropping injured players. One must take stock and think about how much value you could get from the injured players in the weeks and months to come. One way of knowing which injured players to drop is knowing their injuries better. I will continue to highlight these injured players as well as their possible replacements with the hope that it helps you make the most educated decision in this respect.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning 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. I have also been playing fantasy baseball during that same time period. This 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
Christian Yelich (OF, MIL)- Back: Yelich was placed on the IL this past week with a lower back strain. The severity is not yet known. This is a chronic issue, as this is the fourth time he has landed on the IL in his career due to back issues. The most recent trip to the IL for Yelich due to a low back issue was in 2021. Blake Perkins will likely continue seeing regular playing time in the outfield and Owen Miller was brought up from the minors.
Tyler O'Neill (OF, BOS)- Head: O’Neill was placed on the concussion IL this week after a collision with Rafael Devers. O'Neill has already said that he is feeling better and is aiming for a minimum absence. He must clear concussion protocol prior to being activated from the IL. Wilyer Abreu should see more playing time with O’Neill out.
The Red Sox just placed Tyler O’Neill on the 7-Day Injured List, retroactive to April 16, and reinstated outfielder Rob Refsnyder
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) April 18, 2024
Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL)- Toe: Albies will not require surgery, but he was placed on the IL with a fractured right big toe. He is currently wearing a walking boot. There was no timetable given for his recovery but he could be out around three to four weeks. David Fletcher was called up and he and Luis Guillorme could see more playing time with Albies out.
Luis Robert (OF, CHW)- Hip: Robert was placed on the IL with a Grade 2 hip flexor strain. White Sox general manager Chris Getz said this past week that Robert is trending toward a six-week absence. He was not placed on the 60 day IL, which confirms this belief. Tommy Pham, who was recently signed, could be brought up from the minors as soon as he is ready in order to help the White Sox in their outfield.
Nate Lowe (OF, TEX)- Oblique: Lowe has been placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. Manager Bruce Bochy said this week that Lowe will need "about 30 [at-bats], could be more" during his minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the IL. Based on when he was injured, this should put him on target to return sometime next week.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW)- Adductor: Moncada suffered a Grade 2 left adductor strain while running to the bases. He was placed on the IL and is expected to miss extended time. He was placed on the 60 day IL and is planning on moving his rehab to extended spring training soon. Moncada is eligible to come off of the IL July 19.
Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC)- Oblique: Suzuki was placed on the IL with a moderate right oblique strain. The Cubs are saying he could miss around four weeks. Usually, a Grade 2 strain has a recovery time of about six weeks. Manager Craig Counsell said the Cubs will have a better idea of Suzuki's return timeline once the outfielder is free of symptoms. Alexander Canario was called up but Garrett Cooper could see more playing time with Suzuki out.
Tommy Edman (2B, STL)- Wrist: Edman had wrist surgery this past October and has been on the IL since the start of the season. Edman has begun baseball activities, taking dry swings, but still has a ways to go to build up to being game ready. There is no timeline for his return yet.
Dylan Carlson (OF, STL)- Shoulder: Carlson is on the IL with a sprained acromioclavicular (AC) joint of his left shoulder. He has begun hitting off of a tee but is still a while away from returning, needing a rehab assignment once he is medically cleared.
Max Kepler (OF, MIN)- Knee: Kepler was placed on the IL with a right knee contusion. He began a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL either over the weekend or early next week.
Vaughn Grissom (SS, BOS)- Groin: Grissom is on the IL with a groin strain. Grissom has begun a rehab assignment but has not yet played back-to-back days and has not yet played the field at the time this article was written. Once he hits these milestones, he will be ready to return to the Red Sox infield.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Back: Bryant was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. The severity is not yet known, and the earliest he could be activated from the IL is April 24. Brenton Doyle will get more extended playing time while Bryant is on the IL.
The #Rockies hope the time Kris Bryant misses with his current back injury is minimal.@Feinsandhttps://t.co/1PH7vYeyT9
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) April 18, 2024
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Neck: Darvish was placed on the IL with neck tightness. This may have become an issue during a side session between starts. The earliest Darvish could be activated from the IL is April 30. Logan Gillaspie was called up from the minors to take his rotation spot for the Padres.
Garrett Whitlock (SP, BOS)- Oblique: Whitlock was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. The severity is not known, but it sounds like it's a low-grade strain, and the Red Sox are just being extra cautious. Chase Anderson could take his rotation spot until Whitlock returns.
Tyler Wells (SP, BAL)- Elbow: Wells was placed on the IL this week with right elbow inflammation, retroactive to April 13. There is no word on what exactly Wells is dealing with as of yet. Albert Suarez has filled in so far for the Orioles and Wells. John Means is also a candidate to be activated from the IL soon as well as Means has already had four rehab starts in the minors.
Framber Valdez (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Valdez was placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation. He has begun playing catch, but he still seems unlikely to return after missing only two starts. This is what the Astros had previously hoped for.
Braxton Garrett (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Garrett started the season on the IL with left shoulder soreness. Garrett has gone through a few rehab starts but now manager Skip Schumaker said this past Monday that Garrett experienced a "dead arm" after his last bullpen session. The issue is not related to the left shoulder injury but could push back his season debut.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Elbow: Buehler continues to recover from Tommy John surgery that he had in August 2022. He is scheduled to make one more rehab start before being activated from the IL.
Nick Pivetta (SP, BOS)- Forearm: Pivetta was placed on the IL this week with a flexor strain in his right forearm. Pivetta is scheduled for a bullpen session this week. He may require a few of these, followed by a rehab start prior to activation from the IL.
Pivetta is throwing at 120 feet today and tomorrow and is checked for a bullpen on Saturday.
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) April 18, 2024
Kyle Bradish (SP, BAL)- Elbow: Bradish was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his pitching elbow. He has begun a rehab assignment. Bradish may need a few more rehab starts before he could join the Orioles rotation.
Kyle Bradish (right UCL sprain) feels good coming out of his 1st rehab start with Double-A Bowie last night, per #Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.
All reports came back well and Bradish’s stuff looked good. All encouraging so far.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) April 17, 2024
Chase Silseth (SP, LAA)- Elbow: Silseth was placed on the IL with a right elbow strain. An MRI revealed inflammation only and is he currently hoping to return in only three weeks. Jose Soriano has taken his rotation spot for the Angels.
Taijuan Walker (SP, PHI)- Shoulder: Walker was diagnosed with right shoulder impingement and began the season on the IL. Walker has made two rehab starts and could be activated after a bullpen session over the weekend.
Taijuan Walker is going to throw a bullpen session Friday. There’s a chance he is activated from IL after that. Stay tuned.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) April 17, 2024
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Paul Sewald (RP, ARI)- Oblique: Sewald is on the IL with a Grade 2 oblique strain. He has thrown two bullpen sessions so far. It is unclear what the next step will be, but Sewald will probably require throwing live batting practice before heading out on a rehab assignment.
Jhoan Duran (MIN, RP)- Oblique: Duran is on the IL with a Grade 2 oblique strain. He has thrown a bullpen session already but will still need to face live hitters and go on a rehab assignment before he is cleared to return from the IL.
Matt Brash (RP, SEA)- Elbow: Brash is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. He had a live bullpen session that “went well.” He has not yet begun a rehab assignment but should do so soon.
Robert Stephenson (RP, LAA)- Shoulder: Stephenson is on the IL with right shoulder soreness/discomfort. However, it was announced this week, that he will be undergoing elbow surgery. It is unclear if it will be Tommy John surgery or another type of elbow surgery, but it is clear that he will miss the remainder of the season.
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