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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 6 (2023). His medical background helps analyze MLB injuries for hitters and pitchers.
April is just about in the books. The baseball season is officially one-sixth completed. Some teams continue to surprise (Pirates, Rangers and Diamondbacks) while other teams continue to struggle to get their footing (Dodgers, Padres and Phillies). The same goes with our fantasy teams. We may have left our draft feeling great but now your team may be underperforming.
One way of fixing this issue is by using the waiver wire and finding room on your roster for those pickups may mean having to drop injured players. Knowing when players are coming back or how long they will be out for could help. I will continue to 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!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Aaron Judge (OF, NYY)- Hip: Judge left Thursday night’s game with right hip discomfort. This was following an awkward slide into third base the day before. Judge said that he is not concerned that this will be a long-term issue but will still take the next few days off. An IL stint is not yet out of the question as is further testing based on need. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa may see more time in the outfield with Judge out.
Will Smith (C, LAD)- Head: Smith remains on the concussion IL. The Dodgers hope he could return this weekend, if only in a DH role.
J.D. Martinez (DH, LAD)- Back: Martinez missed 4 games this week due to a back injury. Martinez began feeling tightness on the left side of his lower back in last Sunday's game. An MRI may be on tap for him, and an IL stint is not out of the question. The Dodgers seem to be sure that they will make a decision on him this weekend. Will Smith looks to be activated for the Dodgers and fill in as the DH for Martinez.
Miguel Rojas (SS, LAD)- Hamstring: Rojas was placed on the IL with a hamstring strain. He will require a rehab assignment and the earliest he could return is May 1.
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 is expected to miss multiple weeks with a Grade 1+ strain of his right hamstring.
Tim Anderson (SS, CHW)- Knee: Anderson was placed on the IL with a sprained left knee. He is expected to start his rehab assignment this weekend and could return to the White Sox lineup this coming Tuesday, May 2.
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 when eligible on May 2.
Harrison Bader (OF, NYY)- Oblique: Bader is on the IL with an oblique injury. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Bader will not be activated until he is able to play in back-to-back games. He is currently on his rehab assignment at Triple-A. He could be activated by May 5.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW)- Back: Moncada is on the IL with a protruding disc in his lower back. General manager Rick Hahn said that he is improving and surgery is not likely. This still means that Moncada could be due for a multiple week absence. Jake Burger will continue to bat in the middle of the White Sox lineup and man third base.
Chas McCormick (OF, HOU)- Back: McCormick is on the IL with back tightness, and he was also dealing with blurry vision before that. Astros manager Dusty Baker said that McCormick will probably need a rehab assignment before returning. McCormick has hit on the field during pregame warmups and also caught flyballs. The earliest he could return is May 5.
Wil Myers (OF, CIN)- Illness: Myers was placed on the IL, retroactive to April 26, with an undisclosed illness. This usually means that he is on the COVID IL, so he technically could be activated at any time.
Ramon Laureano (OF, OAK)- Groin: Laureano was placed on the IL with a left groin strain. He has begun running and will still need a rehab assignment prior to his activation from the IL. There has been no timeline given for this yet.
Mitch Garver (DH, TEX)- Knee: Garver is on the IL with a left knee sprain, confirmed on MRI. Rangers' general manager Chris Young said that Garver will be out at least another month, and this was after manager Bruce Bochy said Garver would need about four weeks to recover. A return by mid-May seems like the earliest Garver could be back. Jonah Heim and Sandy Leon will share playing time with Garver out.
Logan O'Hoppe (C, LAA)- Shoulder: O’Hoppe was placed on the IL with a shoulder injury. He had surgery this past week and he said that he hopes to be able to return on the early end of his four-to-six-month timeframe of recovery.
Joey Wendle (SS, MIA)- Abdomen: Wendle was placed on the IL with a right intercostal strain. Wendle began a rehab assignment and is currently on track to return to the Marlins this week.
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 began a rehab assignment this week and is scheduled to make his Mets debut next week.
Carlos Rodon (SP, NYY)- Forearm: Rodon is on the IL with a left forearm strain. Rodon has begun throwing off of a mound and will do so a few more times prior to a rehab assignment. A mid-May return looks possible at this time.
Robbie Ray (SP, SEA)- Elbow: Ray was placed on the IL with a flexor strain. Mariners' manager Scott Servais said that he will undergo season ending to repair his flexor tendon. Chris Flexen has been filling in for the Mariners.
Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, HOU)- Forearm: McCullers continues to recover from a forearm strain sustained earlier this spring. He threw 20-to-30 pitches from the front of the bullpen mound this week. Barring any setbacks, he may advance to normal bullpen sessions and then could work to arm strength build up on a rehab assignment. McCullers remains more than a month away from returning.
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 had his first bullpen session. If all goes well, a mid to end of May return could be possible.
Luis Severino (SP, NYY)- Lat: Severino is on the IL with a lat strain. He has been throwing “up and downs” with no issue and could begin a rehab assignment next week. A mid-May return is possible once his arm is built up and barring any setbacks.
Jameson Taillon (SP, CHC)- Groin: Taillon was placed on the IL with a mild-to-moderate left groin strain. He has begun long tossing and could be able to return to the Cubs rotation by mid-May.
Taijuan Walker (SP, PHI)- Forearm: Walker left his last start with forearm tightness. He still could make his next start as scheduled as it was determined that an MRI was unnecessary after Walker was examined this past Thursday. He then played catch with no issues, but this is still a situation worth monitoring.
Adam Wainwright (SP, STL)- Groin: Wainwright was diagnosed with a groin strain and is on the IL. Wainwright has one more rehab start lined up this weekend and could be activated this coming week.
Kenta Maeda (SP, MIN)- Elbow: Maeda left his last start with what was initially thought of as a back issue and now it was revealed that it is actually elbow soreness. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that Maeda will undergo an MRI on his right elbow. The soreness is on the "medial side ... not the side where you would normally be concerned," per Baldelli, adding that Maeda will likely need "some time off" either way. Bailey Ober is an option to fill in for Maeda in the Twins rotation.
Kris Bubic (SP, KC)- Elbow: Bubic was placed on the IL with a left flexor strain. He had Tommy John surgery this week and is done for the year.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Forearm: Suarez is on the IL with a forearm strain. He began a rehab assignment this week and could return to the Phillies rotation by May 12.
German Marquez (SP, COL)- Forearm: Marquez was placed on the IL with a right forearm strain, returned and then injured his triceps and is back on the IL. Pending an MRI, this injury looks to sideline Marquez for an extended period of time. There is no word on who would replace him in the Rockies rotation.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Raisel Iglesias (RP, ATL)- Shoulder: Iglesias is on the IL with low-grade right shoulder inflammation. He has begun a rehab assignment. It is unclear how long this will last and what his role will be when he immediately comes off of the IL.
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