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The MLB season is moving along quickly, and it's never been more important to follow the latest injury headlines around the league. Fantasy baseball contenders must lock in to keep their places at the top of the standings, while bubble teams need to make the correct lineup decisions to ascend when it matters most. Let's take a look at the top injured players including Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Byron Buxton.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters and pitchers as of September 6, 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.
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Shohei Ohtani Injury Update
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow, oblique) has been out of the lineup for the past two contests. But according to Jeff Fletcher of the SoCal News Group, an injured list stint won't be necessary for the two-way star. Fantasy managers can still consider him day-to-day, though, as test results revealed some inflammation in his right oblique.
Ohtani's had a rough few weeks, as the club shut him down from pitching for the rest of the 2023 campaign after he suffered a partial tear in his UCL in late August and will eventually need surgery to repair it. Still, fantasy owners can take advantage of his bat when he returns to action, as he's slashed .304/.412/.654 with 44 bombs, 102 runs, 95 RBI, and 20 steals across 135 games.
Mike Trout Injury Update
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (wrist) said he expects to return this year. He initially returned from the injured list on Aug. 22 after missing 38 games with a fractured left hamate bone, but he played in just one game before going right back on the injured list on Aug. 25. Trout admitted he returned too soon from the injury, but further testing on his hand showed no structural damage on Sept. 4.
It will be about pain tolerance for Trout once he's ready to resume swinging a bat again. With the Angels now well out of playoff contention with the end of the season quickly approaching, fantasy managers may not get the 32-year-old perennial All-Star back again this year. (MLB.com)
Clayton Kershaw Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) continues to pitch through shoulder trouble, but said that "if he is able to take the baseball, he's gonna take the baseball" for the rest of the season. Roberts said Kershaw's shoulder injury is impacting both his velocity and command, but that a break at this point wouldn't help.
In a no-decision on Tuesday against the Miami Marlins, the future Hall of Famer allowed three earned runs on five hits (two home runs) while walking five and striking out three in five innings of work to raise his season ERA to 2.61. The Dodgers have likely lost Julio Urias for the rest of the year, so they can ill-afford to lose another starter. Kershaw has been great when healthy in 2023, but he'll be riskier down the stretch while still dealing with left-shoulder issues.
Max Scherzer Injury Update
Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (forearm) is lined up to start on Wednesday this week against the division-rival Houston Astros. Scherzer admitted after his last start that he was dealing with some right-forearm tightness, but it's nothing concerning right now and he's taking steps to prevent it from turning into something worse.
Despite not feeling 100 percent on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, he still tossed six shutout innings and gave up just one hit while walking two and striking out seven. The 39-year-old has looked like his Cy Young self since coming to Texas in a trade from the New York Mets, allowing just nine earned runs while walking 12 and striking out 47 in 36 2/3 innings over six starts.
Byron Buxton Injury Update
Minnesota Twins outfielder/designated hitter Byron Buxton (knee) will pause his minor-league rehab assignment for now to let the patellar tendinitis in his right knee subside, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Buxton didn't accompany Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Baldelli said he didn't know whether Buxton's knee soreness will end the team's hopes of allowing him to play center field this year.
The 29-year-old's knee issues have kept him from playing center field all year in the big leagues, and he's running out of time to help fantasy managers out down the stretch. In 304 at-bats with Minnesota in 2023, Buxton has slashed .207/.294/.438 with 17 home runs, 17 doubles, a triple, 42 RBI, nine stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 85 games. He has still played in over 100 games in a season once in his nine big-league campaigns. (StarTribune)
Kris Bryant Injury Update
Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant (finger) took batting practice on the field on Monday for the first time since fracturing his left index finger in late July. It's good progress for Bryant, but there's still no timetable for his return from the injured list. The 31-year-old should make it back to the Rockies' lineup before the end of the regular season this month, but he won't be of much help to fantasy managers.
The Rockies will also likely ease him in at first base. The former Rookie of the Year and MVP hasn't been able to stay healthy in his two seasons so far in Colorado, playing in just 107 games the last two years combined. In that time, he's hit .273 (110-for-403) with 13 home runs, 19 doubles, 37 RBI and 55 runs scored in 456 plate appearances.
Anthony Rizzo Injury Update
The New York Yankees are shutting down first baseman Anthony Rizzo (concussion) for the rest of the year, according to manager Aaron Boone. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise with the Yankees eight games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League entering play on Tuesday. The 34-year-old left-handed slugger had been making progress from his concussion issues, so he should be fine for the start of spring training in 2024.
He's been out since landing on the concussion injured list on Aug. 3 with post-concussion syndrome. DJ LeMahieu will likely continue to serve as the team's primary first baseman the rest of the way. Rizzo will finish his 2023 campaign with a disappointing .244/.328/.378 slash line with 12 home runs, 41 RBI and 45 runs scored in 99 games.
C.J. Cron Injury Update
Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin said "it will be a little bit of time" before first baseman C.J. Cron (back) can return to the team. Cron said on Monday that he has yet to start swinging a bat, but he's hoping that he can still return before the end of the season. He also dealt with back issues earlier this year before being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Rockies at the deadline in early August.
The 33-year-old tried to play through lower-back inflammation before he was put on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 18 (retroactive to Aug. 16). With very little time left this year, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Cron to make it back. The Angels called up rookie Nolan Schanuel, a first-round pick this year, to help fill in at first base with Cron sidelined. (MLB.com)
Merrill Kelly Injury Update
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (leg) turned in another great start but was also stopped short again in Monday's 4-2 win over the Rockies. Kelly earned his 11th win of the season, allowing one run on four hits and a walk with 12 strikeouts over seven innings pitched. However, it was the third time in the past month that Kelly has had to exit a start due to cramping.
The 34-year-old has still pitched very well despite this and now owns a 3.22 ERA and a 9.65 K/9 rate in 25 starts on the season. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for any further news related to his health and next start, but he is currently lined up for a tough matchup at the Cubs.
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