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As the fantasy baseball playoffs inch closer, fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on the ever-growing injury report. There is no shortage of high-impact fantasy baseball studs dealing with bumps and bruises, so let's take a look at the top injured players, including Shohei Ohtani, Anthony Volpe, Walker Buehler, Jared Jones, Josh Lowe, Justin Verlander, Merrill Kelly, and more
This is the next edition of this year's fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters and pitchers as of August 9, 2024. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, all players should be monitored ahead of the start of the week.
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.
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Shohei Ohtani Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow) had an intense game of catch on Monday at Dodger Stadium as he recovers from a second major elbow surgery. Ohtani began his throwing program with soft tosses from no more than 30 feet away in late March and has progressed to throwing from 150 feet at 85% intensity. His program will soon grow from three days a week to four, then to five. By early September, Ohtani could start throwing off a mound again.
The hope is that the Japanese MVP can briefly face live hitters in some capacity before the postseason in October before shutting it down and restarting in the offseason. A return to pitching in 2025 aside, Ohtani is on track to become the first full-time designated hitter to win an MVP award, and he's likely to post the sixth 40-40 season in MLB history. He's tied for the National League lead in batting average (.302), leads in homers (34), and is second in RBI (81). (ESPN.com)
Anthony Volpe Injury Update
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (foot) left Thursday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Angels in the Bronx with left foot pain after fouling a ball off his foot in the second inning. He is currently being examined by head physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad, and Oswaldo Cabrera replaced Volpe at shortstop to begin the eighth inning. Until more information is known about the extent of Volpe's injury, fantasy managers should label him day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the defending champion Texas Rangers. Since the All-Star break, the 23-year-old former top prospect is batting a potent .333 with five home runs, five doubles, 13 RBI, and five stolen bases in 17 games (72 at-bats).
Anthony Volpe left tonight's game with left foot pain after fouling a ball off his foot in the second inning. He is currently being examined by Yankees Head Team Physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 9, 2024
The Yankees could explore giving Jazz Chisholm Jr. some reps at short if Volpe needs to miss additional time. UPDATE: Manager Aaron Boone said Volpe's X-rays came back clean, and it's just a contusion as of now. Boone isn't sure if Volpe will play on Friday.
Walker Buehler Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (hip) made his third and final minor-league rehab start on Thursday, working 5 1/3 innings and tossing 85 pitches for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 30-year-old looked good in this one, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out five and walking three. Buehler has been recovering from left-hip inflammation that has kept him out of action since mid-June, but he appears to be set to return to the Dodgers rotation sometime next week.
Walked the first batter then retired next 13 in order, 15 of 17 thru 5 IP. 1 hit allowed was a solo HR https://t.co/bwLWQtP0qk
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 9, 2024
Although this was a solid start, he had a rough season and hasn't been great on his rehab assignment either, so Buehler will need to show he still has what it takes before being inserted back into fantasy lineups.
Jared Jones Injury Update
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (lat) began a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk with three strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings of work. More importantly, Jones threw 47 pitches in Thursday's outing, so the Pirates could opt to have him make one more appearance in the minors to build up his pitch count further.
Working his way back from a Grade 2 right lat strain, Jones should be able to re-enter Pittsburgh's rotation sometime in mid-August. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander owns a strong 3.56 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 98 strikeouts and 27 walks through 91 innings (16 starts) this season, so there's no reason for him to be on waiver wires in any fantasy leagues. (MiLB.com)
Josh Lowe Injury Update
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (knee) exited with a right knee contusion in Thursday's series finale against the hosting St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Initial X-rays on Lowe's right knee came back negative for any fractures, so fantasy managers can consider him day-to-day as he deals with a bruise ahead of Friday's series opener against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles. Lowe fouled a pitch from Cardinals right-hander Kyle Gibson off his knee in the first inning of Thursday's finale against St. Louis.
#Rays say it's a bruised right knee for J. Lowe, and that x-rays were negative
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 9, 2024
He was able to stay in the game and finish the at-bat but was replaced in left field by Kameron Misner in the next frame. 2024 has been an injury-plagued year for the 26-year-old right fielder, but he is batting .310 (18-for-58) with two home runs, eight RBI, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases in his last 17 games. Misner and Jonny DeLuca would likely create a platoon for at-bats in right field for any additional time Lowe may need to miss.
Justin Verlander Injury Update
Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) will make a minor-league rehab start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday at Constellation Field. Verlander is set to start his rehab assignment after throwing a 37-pitch, two-inning simulated game on Sunday and a successful bullpen session on Wednesday. Because he's been on the injured list since the middle of June, the 41-year-old future Hall of Fame will likely require more than one rehab start to build up his arm after recovering from a neck injury.
Justin Verlander will make a minor-league rehab start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday at Constellation Field.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 8, 2024
But barring a setback in the minors, Verlander should be ready to rejoin Houston's starting rotation before the end of August. The three-time Cy Young winner no longer has a strikeout rate above 30% like he did in his prime, but he can still be dominant at times in the right matchups. Before hurting his neck, he had gone 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 10 starts (57 innings).
Merrill Kelly Injury Update
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said on Thursday that starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Friday at Chase Field ahead of the series opener against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. It appears that Kelly's minor-league rehab assignment has concluded, and the hurler now lines up to potentially return from the injured list for Sunday's series finale against Philadelphia. He allowed three runs in four innings for the High-A Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, throwing 62 pitches in the outing.
Torey Lovullo said Merrill Kelly will throw a bullpen on Friday at Chase Field. He lines up to potentially return from the injured list on Sunday.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) August 8, 2024
The 35-year-old veteran right-hander has been on the injured list since April 23 due to a strained right shoulder, and although he belongs on all rosters in fantasy leagues for the stretch run, he'll carry a bit of risk in his first start back against the first-place Phillies. Over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) for the D-backs this season, Kelly holds a strong 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB.
Joe Musgrove Injury Update
San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow), who is getting close to a return from the injured list, will not make his return to the Padres' starting rotation this weekend on the road against the Miami Marlins, with left-hander Martin Perez and right-handers Matt Waldron and Dylan Cease scheduled to start in the three-game series. Instead, Musgrove is now likely to return and start on Monday at Petco Park against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. The 31-year-old tossed 3 1/3 innings (43 pitches) in a minor-league rehab start with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Sunday.
And the #Padres rotation
Fri: LHP Martín Pérez
Sat: RHP Matt Waldron
Sun: RHP Dylan Cease— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) August 8, 2024
Because of the fact that he's been out since late May with a bone spur and bruise in his right elbow, Musgrove is likely to be on a pitch limit and will be a very risky fantasy option next week. Musgrove wasn't exactly pitching all that well in 10 starts before his injury, either, with a 5.66 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 49 1/3 frames.
Gabriel Moreno Injury Update
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (groin) is going to be out for "weeks," manager Torey Lovullo said on Thursday. There's still more information to come as the club awaits more details from imaging on the severity of the injury, and Lovullo said he's going to remain optimistic that Moreno can return before the end of the season. Moreno left Monday's game against the hosting Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in the second inning after running out a ground-ball single before being placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a left groin strain.
Gabriel Moreno is going to be out “weeks,” manager Torey Lovullo said. More to come as they await more details from imaging.
Lovullo said he’s going to remain optimistic that Moreno can return before the end of the season.
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) August 8, 2024
The 24-year-old former top prospect had been hitting well in his last month of action before going down, batting .345 (30-for-87) with three homers, 17 RBI, and 14 runs scored in his last 26 games since June 21. While Moreno is sidelined, the switch-hitting Jose Herrera should absorb the bulk of at-bats behind the plate for the D-backs.
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