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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 22 of the 2022 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze injured MLB players and their recoveries.
September is here. There are only about four to five weeks of regular season baseball left. Teams are jockeying for playoff positioning and hopefully, your fantasy teams are doing the same. With this limited time left, tough decisions must be made about cutting players who are injured to bring in healthy players to help your own playoff and championship push. Listening to certain keywords when it comes to injury recovery is important. Sprains and strains could take three to four weeks to heal and those players may end up being a wasted roster spot down the stretch. Knowing who will come back and IF they will come back this year to help your team is very important to help finish your fantasy season strong.
One tip I always give fantasy players is that you could drop any player if you are almost certain that no one will pick them up next week and can not imagine putting him in your lineup any time soon. And knowing when injured players are coming back or how long they will be out is key to your success from now to the end of the season.
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 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 24-7 push notification alerts!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Wander Franco (SS, TB)- Wrist: Franco is on the IL after having surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist. Rays manager Kevin Cash had said that this past week was the earliest Franco could have his rehab assignment restarted again but that did not happen. The earliest he could have been activated from the IL was September 2.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Hip: Buxton was placed on the IL with a low-grade right hip strain. There is a possibility, based on how Buxton feels, that he could be activated from the IL by September 8. Until then, Gilberto Celestino and Jake Cave could see extra playing time while Buxton is out.
Jazz Chisholm (2B, MIA)- Back: Chisholm is on the 60-day IL with a stress fracture in his back. He is scheduled for a re-evaluation next week. Chisholm has not yet begun taking part in baseball activities since being diagnosed with a stress fracture in late July.
Brandon Lowe (2B, TB)- Triceps: Lowe was placed on the IL this week with a right triceps contusion, retroactive to August 28. Severity is not yet known and Lowe had missed three games prior to being put on the IL. Isaac Paredes, Yu Chang and the now called up Vidal Brujan will see more playing time with Lowe out.
Eric Hosmer (1B, BOS)- Back: Hosmer was placed on the IL this week with low-back inflammation. Hosmer began swinging a bat but has now been shut down with lingering back pain. Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec have seen an increase in playing time with Hosmer on the IL.
Jonathan Schoop (2B, DET)- Ankle: Schoop was placed on the IL this week with a right ankle sprain. Schoop could begin a rehab assignment as early as this weekend. Kody Clemens and Willi Castro have seen an increase in playing time with Schoop out.
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Foot: Bryant is on the IL with plantar fasciitis of the left foot. He is in a walking boot and received a PRP injection. He will be re-evaluated in about a week.
Brandon Belt (1B, SF)- Knee: Belt is on the IL with an inflamed right knee, confirmed by MRI. His injury is being described as a chronic concern that could threaten the longevity of his career. Belt received a second opinion and was recommended surgery. He elected for surgery and his 2022 season is done.
Jorge Alfaro (C, SD)- Knee: Alfaro was placed on the IL with right knee inflammation, retroactive to August 25. Severity is not yet known. Luis Campusano was recalled from the minors while Austin Nola will get most of the time behind the plate for the Padres.
Brett Baty (3B, NYM)- Thumb: Baty was placed on the IL with a right thumb injury. He has a torn UCL in his right thumb and requires surgery. Recovery time for this surgery is about five weeks which basically rules him out for the rest of the season. Eduardo Escobar now reclaims the full-time third base job for the Mets with Luis Guillorme still on the IL as well.
Francisco Alvarez (C, NYM)- Ankle: Alvarez has not played since August 23 and received an injection for his right ankle this week. He is dealing with a loose body in his ankle. The Mets hope he is able to return to baseball activities in the next few days.
Ramon Laureano (OF, OAK)- Oblique: Laureano is on the IL with a left oblique strain. It is a Grade 1 oblique strain. Laureano began his rehab assignment this week and could return at the beginning of next week.
Mike Moustakas (3B, CIN)- Calf: Moustakas was placed on the 60-day IL with a left calf strain. He is done for the year. Donovan Solano should get a lot more playing time due to the injury.
Dylan Moore (OF, SEA)- Oblique: Moore was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. It is considered to be between a Grade 1 and Grade 2 strain. This could take him out around three weeks, if not the rest of the season. Abraham Toro was called up and could see more playing time.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Calf: Verlander was placed on the IL this week with a right calf strain. MRI of the calf revealed fascial disruption, but no muscle fiber disruption to his right calf, which he injured while covering first base. There is no timeline for his return. Cristian Javier will presumably return from the bullpen to take over Verlander's spot in the rotation.
Shane McClanahan (SP, TB)- Shoulder: McClanahan was placed on the IL this week with shoulder impingement, which was confirmed on MRI. He is scheduled to have a cortisone injection for this, Rays manager Kevin Cash said it is possible for him to spend only the minimum time on the IL depending on how he responds to the injection.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD)- Forearm: Gonsolin is on the IL with a right forearm strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he expects Gonsolin to miss only two starts. Gonsolin said he felt tight coming out of his most recent start and the Dodgers seem to have placed him on the shelf out of an abundance of caution.
Zack Wheeler (SP, PHI)- Forearm: Wheeler was placed on the IL with right forearm tendinitis, retroactive to August 22. Wheeler is expected to throw a bullpen session this week with the chance of him returning to the Phillies rotation this coming Tuesday.
Nestor Cortes (SP, NYY)- Groin: Cortes was placed on the IL with a left groin strain Thursday, retroactive to August 22. Cortes is scheduled to throw live batting practice this weekend with a possible activation from the IL on September 6.
Tylor Megill (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: Megill is currently on the IL with a shoulder strain. He is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment soon as he aims to join the Mets’ bullpen when he returns.
Bailey Ober (SP, MIN)- Groin: Ober has made only seven starts this year due to his groin injury. He has begun his rehab assignment this past week and may be ten days to two weeks away from returning..
Nathan Eovaldi (SP, BOS)- Shoulder: Eovaldi is on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Eovaldi threw recently but has not improved as much as the Red Sox would have liked. There is no timeline for his return.
Tyler Wells (SP, BAL)- Oblique: Wells is on the IL with an oblique injury. He has thrown a bullpen session and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment. The Orioles have not said if he will come back as a starter or as a reliever.
Luis Severino (SP, NYY)- Severino is on the 60-day IL with a low-grade right lat strain. He is expected to make his first minor-league rehab start this weekend. The earliest he could return is September 13.
Graham Ashcraft (SP, CIN)- Biceps: Ashcraft was placed on the IL with right biceps soreness. The severity is not yet known. He has begun playing catch. There is no timeline for his return.
Shane Baz (SP, TB)- Elbow: Baz had arthroscopic elbow surgery in March 2022 and was then placed on the 60-day IL with an elbow sprain. Baz has been cleared to begin a throwing program. The chances of Baz coming back as a starter this year are slim but he could still be used by the Rays in their bullpen should he be able to return.
Michael Lorenzen (SP, LAA)- Shoulder: Lorenzen is on the IL with a shoulder strain. Lorenzen is on a rehab assignment and could need only one more rehab start before he could be activated from the IL.
Carlos Carrasco (SP, NYM)- Oblique: Carrasco was placed on the IL with a low-grade left oblique strain. Carrasco is expected to return from the injured list this weekend, September 4.
Jack Flaherty (SP, STL)- Shoulder: Flaherty is on the IL as he continues to rehab from a shoulder injury. Flaherty has completed his rehab assignment and should return to the majors on September 5. Dakota Hudson may lose playing time when Flaherty returns.
Cade Cavalli (SP, WAS)- Shoulder: Cavalli was placed on the IL this week following his only start of the year with shoulder inflammation after experiencing discomfort while playing catch. Cavalli will be shut down from throwing for at least the next two weeks, and if he fails to show much meaningful improvement, his 2022 season could be over.
Kenta Maeda (SP, MIN)- Elbow: Maeda has been on the IL the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He continues to make progress but is not expected to be able to pitch during the regular season this year.
Wade Miley (SP, CHC)- Shoulder: Miley is on the IL with a strained left shoulder. Miley has been on a rehab assignment and could return on September 11. He is on the 60-day IL and that is the earliest he could be activated.
Hunter Greene (SP, CIN)- Shoulder: Greene is on the IL with a shoulder strain. Greene began a rehab assignment this week and could return to the Reds sometime next week.
Mike Soroka (SP, ATL)- Achilles: Soroka has been activated from the IL by the Braves. He was sent to Triple-A and could be called up when the Braves need him later this month.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Tanner Houck (RP, BOS)- Back: Houck was placed on the IL with low back inflammation. He was diagnosed with a disc issue. Houck has been shut down and probably will not return to pitch again this year.
Seranthony Dominguez (RP, PHI)- Triceps: Dominguez is on the IL right triceps tendonitis. Dominguez has begun playing catch and is going to need at least one rehab appearance prior to being activated from the IL.
Dany Jimenez (RP, OAK)- Shoulder: Jimenez was placed on the 60-day IL this week with a right shoulder strain, his second stint on the IL. He is done for the year but he did say that he is not expected to require surgery on his strained right shoulder and is optimistic he will be ready for spring training.
Zach Jackson (RP, OAK)- Shoulder: Jackson was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. The severity is not yet known. With Dany Jimenez also on the IL with a shoulder issue, A.J. Puk is the leading candidate to be the closer for the Athletics.
Brusdar Graterol (RP, LAD)- Elbow: Graterol was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he has "moderate concern" about the injury. Roberts also said he is hopeful Graterol will be ready to return from the IL by mid-to-late September.
Anthony Bender (RP, MIA)- Elbow: Bender underwent Tommy John surgery this past week and is done for this year and, most likely, next year as well.
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