RADIO
The MLB playoffs will be here before we know it, and it's crunch time for fantasy baseball. There are plenty of key injuries to monitor this week. Let's take a look at the top injured players including Julio Rodriguez, Bo Bichette, George Kirby, Byron Buxton, Kris Bryant, Ty France, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters and pitchers as of August 30, 2023. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy baseball player news page, and download the free RotoBaller fantasy baseball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the injury updates for the top fantasy baseball players.
Featured Promo: Get any MLB Premium Pass FREE ($119 value) AND up to a $200 deposit match when you sign up with Rival Fantasy. Rival offers 6 and 12-team Best Ball, weekly and daily contests, for as little as $3 per entry. No roster management, just draft and Rival sets your best lineup automatically. Playing fantasy baseball has never been easier! Sign Up Today!
Julio Rodriguez Injury Update
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (foot) was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Oakland Athletics due to left-foot soreness. Until we know more about the severity of Rodriguez's foot injury, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day and check back to see if he's in Wednesday's lineup.
The 22-year-old has been as hot as they come in the month of August and he's currently riding a 13-game hitting streak in which he's gone an incredible 32-for-62 (.516) with five home runs, six doubles, 21 RBI, eight stolen bases and 13 runs scored. The hot streak this month has raised J-Rod's season slash line to .286/.346/.482 with an .828 OPS, 24 homers, 87 RBI, 35 stolen bases and 82 runs scored in 535 at-bats. The red-hot M's can ill-afford to lose one of the best young talents in the game for an extended stretch.
Bo Bichette Injury Update
The Toronto Blue Jays placed shortstop Bo Bichette (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 28) with a right-quadriceps strain on Tuesday and selected the contract of infielder Mason McCoy from the minors in a corresponding move. Bichette injured his quad on Sunday and will return to the IL after recently missing time with patellar knee tendinitis.
The good news is that the 25-year-old's quad injury isn't related to his knee, so hopefully he can return when he's eligible early in September. Ernie Clement is getting another start at the 6 for Toronto on Tuesday, but Santiago Espinal is another candidate to see playing time at shortstop until Bichette returns. Bichette is one of the best fantasy shortstops in the game when healthy, so he needs to remain stashed in all leagues.
George Kirby Injury Update
Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby (illness) was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics due to an illness. It was a tough break for fantasy managers, as Kirby should have been locked into all starting lineups in a pristine matchup against the worst team in the league.
You'll have to check back later this week to see if the 25-year-old will be able to take the hill for his next scheduled start on Monday in a much tougher matchup against the Cincinnati Reds. Kirby made the All-Star team in just his second year in the bigs in 2023 and is currently 10-8 with a nice 3.28 ERA (3.22 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, 14 walks and 142 punchouts in 156 1/3 innings over 25 starts.
Byron Buxton Injury Update
Minnesota Twins outfielder/designated hitter Byron Buxton (hamstring) and outfielder Alex Kirilloff (shoulder) will both start minor-league rehab assignments with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday. Buxton is scheduled to play center field in his first rehab game, likely for around seven innings.
The oft-injured 29-year-old has been sidelined with a right-hamstring strain since Aug. 4 but could return to the team early next month, barring a setback in the minors. When he returns, he should play regularly for the Twins, at least as the designated hitter like he's done all year in Minnesota. Buxton is barely hitting over the Mendoza Line in 2023 but does have 17 home runs and nine stolen bases in 304 at-bats.
Kris Bryant Injury Update
Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant (finger) had another X-ray on his injured finger on Monday, and the team will take him out of his splint to see how he responds. Bryant had the splint on his broken finger since late July, but he appears to finally be making some progress. It's a little late, though, with just over a month before the end of the 2023 season.
It's unknown what the 31-year-old's next steps will be, but he won't be able to return to the big-league roster without testing the finger without facing live pitching and perhaps a minor-league rehab assignment. The former Rookie of the Year and MVP has been riddled with injuries since joining the Rockies in 2022. He's played in only 65 games in 2023 and is hitting .251 (61-for-243) with eight home runs, seven doubles, 23 RBI and 27 runs scored in 275 plate appearances.
Ty France Injury Update
Seattle Mariners first baseman Ty France (wrist) left Tuesday night's game against the Oakland Athletics early with a left-wrist contusion. The injury occurred when France was hit in the wrist on a pickoff attempt in the second inning, so his removal from the game was most likely precautionary. Before departing prematurely, France went hitless in his only at-bat. He was replaced at first base by Mike Ford.
Fantasy managers should consider the 29-year-old to be day-to-day until further notice. Check back on Wednesday to see if he's back in action. France hasn't been nearly as good as he was in 2022 when he made his first All-Star team. In 128 games (548 plate appearances) this year coming into Tuesday's game, he was hitting .256 (124-for-484) with 10 home runs, 51 RBI and 68 runs scored for the M's.
Marcus Stroman Injury Update
Chicago Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman's (hip, ribs) exam showed that his right-rib cartilage continues to heal and he's doing light activity, but there remains no timeline for his return to the starting rotation. Stroman is trying to return from a fracture in his right-rib cartilage, but the 32-year-old could still have a ways to go before returning and he isn't a lock to make it back before the end of the regular season.
He initially went on the injured list on Aug. 2 with right-hip inflammation and he'll need to slowly build his arm back up with hopes that the Cubs can secure a berth in the 2023 postseason. Stroman had mostly been strong for Chicago and fantasy managers this year before going down with injury, as he was 10-8 with a 3.85 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings over his 23 starts.
Lars Nootbaar Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (groin), who has been out since Aug. 16 after fouling a ball off his groin, has progressed to the point that he will work out with the Cardinals for a second straight day on Tuesday before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. Barring a setback in minor-league action, Nootbaar could return from the 10-day injured list by Friday.
Thumb, back and groin injuries have limited him to 90 games in 2023, and he's hit .283 with 12 home runs, 39 RBI and an .835 OPS. In the second half, Nootbaar has been great, hitting .330 with seven long balls, 14 RBI and a 1.027 OPS in 30 games, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues will be hoping he can pick up where he left off if he returns this weekend. (MLB.com)
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
