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Opening Day of the 2023 MLB season was just under two months ago, so naturally, there have already been flurries of injuries affecting fantasy baseball lineups. The season is a marathon and each week will present new injury-related challenges, so staying in the know about who is banged up and who is set to come back is paramount for success. Let's take a look at injured hitters including Manny Machado, Luis Robert Jr., Ty France, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and C.J. Cron.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters as of May 24, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. 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 hitters.
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Manny Machado Injury Update
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (hand) was recently placed on the 15-day injured list. On Tuesday, Machado was able to progress to taking swings off a tee. The 30-year-old is currently recovering from a small fracture in his left hand. It doesn't sound like Machado is going to require a rehab assignment before returning to the Padres roster. He's eligible to return to the active roster as early as Friday.
Fantasy managers will have to wait and see if Machado is able to get back on the field that quickly.
Luis Robert Jr. Injury Update
Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hip) was removed from Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians with hip tightness, according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Before his exit, he was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. It isn't what fantasy managers want to hear, as Robert Jr. is putting up outstanding numbers, slashing .273/.328/.557 with 13 home runs, 34 runs, 29 RBI, and two steals across 49 games.
The 25-year-old has yet to play more than 98 contests in a season due to injury troubles, and he's already dealt with a hamstring issue this year. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more news on Robert Jr.'s status.
Ty France Injury Update
Seattle Mariners first baseman Ty France (hand) exited Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Athletics in the bottom of the eighth inning after getting hit by a fastball in his left hand. Sam Haggerty replaced him on the basepaths. France had gone 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a strikeout before exiting.
His X-rays came back negative, but fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more updates tomorrow regarding his availability. The 28-year-old has not yet tapped into his power this season but has still slashed .261/.341/.380 with three HR and 21 RBI.
Jose Altuve Injury Update
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said that second baseman Jose Altuve (illness) left Tuesday's game early against the Milwaukee Brewers because he was feeling sick. The team is evaluating him. The move to pull the 33-year-old All-Star was a precaution after he went 1-for-3 before departing. Mauricio Dubon replaced him at the keystone. Fantasy managers should consider Altuve day-to-day for now, and hopefully he'll be back in action on Wednesday.
Altuve just returned from a fractured thumb that he suffered in the World Baseball Classic, and he was playing in just his fourth game of 2023 on Tuesday night. When he's on the field, Altuve remains a must-start in fantasy lineups.
Carlos Correa Injury Update
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (heel) was scratched from the starting lineup on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants with a bruised left heel that has been bothering him. It doesn't sound like a very serious ailment, so hopefully Correa will be back in Minnesota's lineup on Wednesday after a bit of rest. In his absence, Kyle Farmer is starting at shortstop and hitting sixth against Giants right-hander Alex Cobb.
Correa has gone 6-for-24 (.250) with two doubles and an RBI in his last seven games, which is actually an improvement over his year overall. In total, the 28-year-old shortstop has struggled to a .213/.302/.396 slash line with 11 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 24 RBI in 192 plate appearances and 44 games. Make sure to remove him from your starting fantasy lineups on Wednesday.
C.J. Cron Injury Update
Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (back) has yet to begin baseball activities, as the back spasms he endured on May 14 and forced him onto the 10-day injured list are taking longer to heal than first expected. The 33-year-old wanted to be back in action by May 25, but clearly, that won't happen.
That's bad news for fantasy managers, as they'll be without the slugger for a while longer. Cron hasn't produced the same numbers as he has the past two seasons, batting .228 with six bombs, 19 runs, and 20 RBI over 36 games before the injury. Mike Moustakas should continue to see time at first base in his absence, but he hasn't been a contributor with the bat since 2020 and is hitting .239 with two homers across 28 games in 2023.
Brandon Lowe Injury Update
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that second baseman Brandon Lowe (neck) was scheduled to be in Tuesday's starting lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays, but he was scratched after waking up with a stiff neck.
In his place, Taylor Walls got the nod at the keystone and will hit sixth against Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios. The 28-year-old Lowe can be considered day-to-day for now. He's right at the Mendoza Line (.200) this year with five doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 24 RBI, two stolen bases and 24 runs scored in 42 games played.
Eloy Jimenez Injury Update
Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that outfielder Eloy Jimenez (abdomen) will spend three to four days on a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham this week before the team evaluates him. Infielder Elvis Andrus (oblique) will also need a rehab assignment, and it probably won't come until next week. If everything goes well for Jimenez at Birmingham, he could come off the injured list to join the White Sox this weekend.
The 26-year-old slugger has been sidelined since early May after having an emergency appendectomy, so fantasy managers may want to prepare for some rust when he returns. He's played in 25 games this year and has hit .258 (25-for-97) with four doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI. When healthy, Jimenez is an everyday player for the Pale Hose.
Brandon Marsh Injury Update
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (shoulder) was scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 25-year-old didn't play on Monday due to a shoulder issue.
It's unclear if his absence on Tuesday is for the same reason, but it's assumed that's why he has been pulled from the lineup. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Wednesday for another update on Marsh.
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