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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 12, 2024. His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
This has been a rough week in the injury department for pitchers. Four fantasy-relevant pitchers were scheduled for Tommy John surgery. Another two pitchers were placed on the IL with the unlucky injury called "forearm/flexor tendon strain." I thought this would be a good week to talk a little about elbow injuries and pitchers. When a pitcher, or any player, has a sprain (injury to the ligaments that connect bones at a joint) or strain (injury to a muscle or tendon that occurs when it is stretched too far), there is always some sort of mild to moderate ripping or tearing of either muscle or tendon fibers. This does not necessarily constitute a "tear," but it could be listed also as a partial tear.
The words sprain and strain have a less ominous sound to them when compared to a partial tear. Think of a tendon as if it is a big rope on a ship. A sprain/strain is when a very small amount of those rope fibers are ripped. A "partial tear" has more of a significant amount of fibers torn. That is the difference. It may not seem like much, but it does change the course of treatment and rehab for the player. Rehab for this injury constitutes rest, rehab, injections, and then finally Tommy John surgery, or a replacement of that tendon. Each pitcher has a different situation and treatment methods work differently for each player. Each give different timelines for that player's return to the baseball diamond. I will continue to highlight these players, and all fantasy-relevant players, in the hopes that your roster management is optimal.
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. 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
Trea Turner (SS, PHI)- Hamstring: Turner is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Turner had a minor setback when he felt some leg soreness following a high-intensity workout May 25. He was originally thought to be able to return next week, but this may push him back a week or two.
Michael Massey (2B, KC)- Back: Massey was placed on the IL this week with a low-back ligament sprain. He visited a specialist and received multiple injections. There is no timetable for his return.
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Oblique: Muncy was placed on the IL with an oblique strain. Muncy said last Sunday he had been shut down from swinging for the past 7-10 days after he felt a "twinge" around his rib cage. There is no timetable for his return.
Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET)- Back: Carpenter was placed on the IL with lumbar spine inflammation. He now has been diagnosed with a lumbar spine stress fracture. His absence may be a long one now, with a return counted by months as opposed to weeks. Matt Vierling and Akil Baddoo should continue to see playing time rise while Carpenter remains on the IL.
Evan Carter (OF, TEX)- Back: Carter was placed on the IL with lower-back tightness. Manager Bruce Bochy said this week that Carter is expected to miss another month due to the injury. Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran, and Robbie Grossman should get more playing time with Carter out.
Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL)- Oblique: Nootbaar was placed on the IL with an oblique strain. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Nootbaar is expected to miss several weeks. While he's sidelined, Alec Burleson should serve as St. Louis' everyday right fielder, while Matt Carpenter should see more time at DH.
Andrew Benintendi (OF, CHW)- Achilles: Benintendi was placed on the IL with left Achilles tendinitis. The severity is not known and the use of the word tendinitis compared to a strain may bode well for a quicker return. Oscar Colas was called up and Dominic Fletcher may both benefit with an increase in playing time with Benintendi out.
Vaughn Grissom (2B, BOS)- Hamstring: Grissom was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. It is considered mild and may only miss the minimum time on the IL. Enmanuel Valdez and David Hamilton may be the main options to pick up starts at second base while Grissom is out.
Marco Luciano (SS, SF)- Hamstring: Luciano was placed on the IL this week with a right hamstring strain. The severity is not yet known. Casey Schmitt was called up and should split time with Brett Wisely while Luciano is out.
Wilyer Abreu (OF, BOS)- Ankle: Abreu was placed on the IL this week with a right ankle sprain. Abreu is hoping to return in the minimum 10 days after he sprained his ankle in the Red Sox's dugout during last Sunday's game. Tyler O'Neill was recently activated from the IL to take his spot in the Red Sox outfield.
Brandon Marsh (OF, PHI)- Hamstring: Marsh was placed on the IL this week with a right hamstring strain. The severity is not yet known. The Phillies called up David Dahl and Weston Wilson, as Kody Clemens was also placed on the IL the same day.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Rib: Bryant was placed on the IL this week again with a left rib contusion. He had missed the three prior games with back soreness. The severity is not yet known. Greg Jones was called up by the Rockies.
Jorge Mateo (SS, BAL)- Head: Mateo is currently on the seven-day concussion IL. He was inadvertently hit on the back of the helmet by teammate Cedric Mullins, who was swinging in the on-deck circle alongside him. Mateo will be able to return when he is symptom-free and passes the concussion protocol.
Francisco Alvarez (C, NYM)- Thumb: Alvarez underwent surgery on April 23 to address a torn UCL in the thumb on his glove hand. Alvarez has begun a rehab assignment and could return to the Mets lineup within the next week, barring any setbacks.
Francisco Alvarez catches a combined no-hitter in Brooklyn!
The pitchers were Dakota Hawkins, Joey Lancellotti, and Joshua Cornielly pic.twitter.com/kx46pwcLl4
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) June 5, 2024
Jung Hoo Lee (OF, SF)- Shoulder: Lee had successful surgery this past week to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Rehab is expected to take six months, so he should be ready for the start of spring training, barring any complications.
The Giants say everything went as planned with Jung Hoo Lee’s shoulder surgery. It’s a six-month timetable for his rehab.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) June 5, 2024
Tommy Pham (OF, CHW)- Ankle: Pham sprained his left ankle sliding into Brewers catcher William Contreras and is now on the IL. It is not clear how long Pham might be out; however, he may return when first eligible.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Gerrit Cole (SP, NYY)- Forearm/elbow: Cole has been on the IL to start the season with an elbow injury/inflammation. Cole has begun a rehab assignment, throwing 45 pitches and hitting 97 on the radar gun. He will need a few more rehab starts and then could be activated by mid-to-late June.
Gerrit Cole said he felt great during today's rehab appearance.
Added that he didn't know many many more he might need, but a return "should be around the corner." #Yankees
— Brendan Kuty 🧟♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) June 5, 2024
Zac Gallen (SP, ARI)- Hamstring: Gallen was placed on the IL due to a right hamstring strain. He has already begun a throwing progression, which is a quick first step in his injury recovery. Gallen could be out as little as one start or up to six weeks, based on severity.
Max Scherzer (SP, TEX)- Back: Scherzer continues to rehab from offseason back surgery. He threw a live batting practice session this week. This was the first time he has faced hitters since he had to be pulled off a rehab assignment in early May following a nerve problem with his throwing arm. There remains no timetable for his return.
Max Scherzer was seen throwing live earlier at Globe Life Field, via NTT #BallparkCam 👀 pic.twitter.com/MrGleGv7Kl
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 4, 2024
Cristian Javier (SP, HOU)- Forearm: Javier was placed on the IL due to right forearm discomfort. Javier was scheduled for a bullpen session but he was pulled after experiencing discomfort in his right forearm. He is now scheduled for Tommy John surgery and is done for the year.
The Astros announced that both Cristian Javier and José Urquidy are undergoing "elbow surgery" and are out for the remainder of the season. Urquidy is having his today. Javier, as reported yesterday, will have his on Thursday.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 5, 2024
Gavin Williams (SP, CLE)- Elbow: Williams is on the IL with right-elbow discomfort. He has begun a rehab assignment and may need a few more starts before being activated, barring any setbacks.
Blake Snell (SP, SF)- Groin: Snell was placed on the IL with a mild left-groin strain following an MRI. There is no timetable for his return yet. Keaton Winn could return from the IL to take his spot in the Giants rotation.
Joe Musgrove (SP, SD)- Elbow: Musgrove was placed on the IL with right-elbow inflammation. Musgrove was able to return from the IL after 16 days following his first issue with elbow problems in May, but the Padres will likely bring him back slower this time around to ensure his elbow is back to 100 percent the next time he takes the mound. Randy Vasquez was called up to take his spot in the Padres rotation.
Robbie Ray (SP, SEA)- Elbow: Ray continues to recover from Tommy John surgery last May. He has begun a rehab assignment and will require multiple outings as he builds back up. With the 30-day rehab window, it looks like he could make it back before the All-Star break.
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Groin: Darvish was placed on the IL with a left-groin strain. The severity is not yet known. Depending on the strain, Darvish could miss anywhere between three weeks or six weeks.
Robert Gasser (SP, MIL)- Forearm: Gasser was placed on the IL with a left-flexor strain. Initial testing on Gasser's left elbow provided encouraging results, but Gasser is traveling to Los Angeles to receive a second opinion on his injured left elbow from Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Trevor Williams (SP, WAS)- Forearm: Williams was placed on the IL this week with a right-flexor strain. The severity is not yet known, as is a return timetable. DJ Herz was called up from Triple-A to start instead of Williams.
Trevor Williams said his arm didn’t recover like it normally does after his last start. MRI showed flexor muscle strain. Doesn’t know how long the full recovery will be, but said he won’t be throwing for two weeks.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) June 4, 2024
John Means (SP, BAL)- Forearm: Orioles general manager Mike Elias announced last week that Means will undergo surgery to repair the UCL in his left elbow and will miss the rest of the season.
Tyler Wells (SP, BAL)- Forearm: Orioles general manager Mike Elias announced last week that Wells will undergo surgery to repair his right elbow's UCL and will miss the remainder of the season.
Chase Silseth (SP, LAA)- Elbow: Silseth is on the IL with right-elbow inflammation. He has begun a rehab assignment and could be activated from the IL within the next two weeks.
Bobby Miller (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Miller continues his rehab from a shoulder injury. He is scheduled to make only one more rehab start after which time he could be activated from the IL.
Sixto Sanchez (SP, MIA)- Shoulder: Sanchez was placed on the IL with right-shoulder inflammation. The severity of the injury is unclear and there is no timeline for his return.
Michael Wacha (SP, KC)- Foot: Wacha was placed on the IL this week with a non-displaced left foot fracture, which occurred on a comebacker off the bat of Luis Arraez. Timeline for this type of injury is usually four to six weeks to heal and then rehab, if surgery is not needed. Daniel Lynch was called up to take his rotation spot.
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU)- Forearm: Urquidy is on the IL with a forearm strain. He is now scheduled for Tommy John surgery and is done for the year.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Edwin Diaz (RP, NYM)- Shoulder: Diaz was placed on the IL this week with right-shoulder impingement. Diaz is beginning a rehab assignment now and could return as early as June 11 to the Mets. Reed Garrett and Adam Ottavino likely represent the best candidates for saves out of the Mets bullpen with Diaz out.
THE COMEBACK REPORT 🎺
Edwin Diaz will start his rehab outing tonight at 7:00 PM.
📍 Coney Island, NY @HSpecialSurgery pic.twitter.com/CDTxVWm5Lb
— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) June 6, 2024
Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)- Elbow: Romano was placed on the IL with right-elbow inflammation. His MRI showed no structural damage and he has received a cortisone injection for the elbow. There is no timeline for his return yet. Yimi Garcia is considered the front-runner to be the closer for the Blue Jays in Romano's absence.
Andres Munoz (RP, SEA)- Back: Munoz has been dealing with a lower-back injury over the past few weeks and aggravated the injury during his collision this past Tuesday. The initial concern following Munoz's removal from that game was with his right ankle/leg, but the issue now appears to be linked to his ongoing back problem. Manager Scott Servais said Munoz will head in for an MRI to determine the severity of his latest flareup.
Andrés Muñoz has been dealing with a lower back issue, which flared up during the collision. Scott Servais said that he’ll undergo an MRI.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) June 5, 2024
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