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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 24 of the 2022 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze injured MLB players and their recoveries.
September is now more than half over. The baseball season is slowly coming to a close. At this point, fantasy players are pushing for their league titles or just playing for pride. Major League Baseball teams continue to do the same and injuries continue to happen, now with the dreaded term "done for the season" attached to reports. Pitchers have a 15-day IL and hitters have a 10-day IL. From mid-September on, if pitchers get added to the IL, they are most likely done for the season while hitters still have some hope of returning.
This concept should help fantasy players be able to make easier decisions on who to drop in redraft leagues. Starting pitchers are also running out of time to ramp up their innings and may be used out of the bullpen instead of as starters. And with the fact that rosters are not as large this September compared to others, there should be a clearer picture of who to keep and who to cut ties with. Knowing when injured players are coming back or how long they will be out is key to your success to help finish your fantasy season on a strong and good note.
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!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Kris Bryant (OF, COL)- Foot: Bryant is on the IL with plantar fasciitis of the left foot. He is out of a walking boot and has been increasing weight room activity. Bryant still has no timetable for his return.
Dylan Carlson (OF, STL)- Thumb: Carlson was placed on the IL with a left thumb sprain. He has been swinging a bat and could begin a rehab assignment this weekend.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Finger: Marte was hit by a pitch and suffered a partial non-displaced fracture of his right middle finger. He has been feeling better with less stiffness but there is still no clear timeline for his return. Mark Vientos was called up and has been seeing more playing time with Marte out.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Hip: Buxton is on the IL with a right hip low-grade strain. He has not yet started baseball activities. Buxton is, however, expected to return this year.
Jorge Polanco (2B, MIN)- Knee: Polanco is on the IL with left knee inflammation. He played catch last week and could return sometime over the weekend.
Brandon Lowe (2B, TB)- Back: Lowe was again placed on the IL with lower back discomfort. His MRI showed some inflammation in his back. The Rays are holding out hope that he could return to play again this year.
Miguel Cabrera (DH, DET)- Biceps: Cabrera was placed on the IL with a left bicep strain. Manager AJ Hinch said that Cabrera is unlikely to return from the IL this week. He has hit off of a tee and has not been shut down for the year yet.
Jorge Soler (OF, MIA)- Back: Soler is on the IL due to low back pain/spasms. Marlins manager Don Mattingly said that Soler is unlikely to return this year. "Soli's kind of been a little bit 'feel 100%, feel 100%, feel a little something, feel 100%, feel 100%, feels a little something,'" Mattingly said.
Anthony Rizzo (1B, NYY)- Back/Headaches: Rizzo was on the IL with a back injury and had an epidural injection. Following that injection, he has been having headaches which have kept him on the IL. He will not play until this weekend at the earliest. Otherwise, he may return at the beginning of next week. Marwin Gonzalez has been getting playing time at first since Rizzo has been out.
Andrew Velazquez (SS, LAA)- Knee: Velazquez was placed on the IL with a right meniscus tear and is done for the year. David Fletcher looks to gain more playing time for the rest of the year.
Avisail Garcia (OF, MIA)- Hamstring: Garcia was placed on the IL with left hamstring discomfort. The severity is not yet known. Jerar Encarnacion and Bryan De La Cruz could get extra playing time down the stretch with Garcia out.
Tim Anderson (SS, CHW)- Hand: Anderson has been on the IL following surgery for a sagittal band tear on the middle finger of his left hand, and is expected to miss the next six weeks. He has resumed baseball activities and could return to the White Sox lineup as early as the end of next week.
Harrison Bader (OF, NYY)- Foot: Bader has been on the IL for the past few months with plantar fasciitis. He has begun a rehab assignment, homering in his first game. Bader could return from the IL as early as the end of next week.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (OF, TOR)- Hamstring: Gurriel was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to September 8. Manager John Schneider indicated that Gurriel's absence may not be brief. The earliest he could be activated is September 20. In the meantime, Raimel Tapia, Whit Merrifield, and Cavan Biggio could see more playing time.
Keibert Ruiz (C, WAS)- Groin: Ruiz was placed on the IL with testicular contusion and is likely out for the year. Tres Barrera and Israel Pineda should split playing time down the stretch.
DJ LeMahieu (2B, NYY)- Toe: LeMahieu was placed on the IL with a toe injury. He has been improving and may return to the Yankees lineup early next week.
Dylan Moore (OF, SEA)- Oblique: Moore was placed on the IL with a right oblique strain. He has felt good after taking batting practice and could be activated next week.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Wrist: Rendon had right wrist surgery on June 21 and has been on the IL since. He has now been taking batting practice with the hope he will return this year. However, he must serve a five-game suspension before he can get on the actual field of play.
Jose Iglesias (SS, COL)- Hand: Iglesias was placed on the IL this week with a right-hand contusion. He still does not have a timetable for a return.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Max Scherzer (SP, NYM)- Oblique: Scherzer was placed on the IL with left side tightness and left oblique irritation. Scherzer had a rehab start this past week and is in line to return to the Mets on Monday, September 19.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD)- Forearm: Gonsolin is on the IL with a right forearm strain. Gonsolin threw a bullpen session this week which was “encouraging.” There is still no clear timetable for his return.
Zack Wheeler (SP, PHI)- Forearm: Wheeler was placed on the IL with right forearm tendinitis. Wheeler threw a bullpen session this week and is expected to return next week. Bailey Falter may lose his rotation spot when Wheeler returns.
Tyler Glasnow (SP, TB)- Elbow: Glasnow continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery. He has begun a rehab assignment but will still need multiple additional rehab appearances prior to activation. When Glasnow returns, it remains to be seen if he will be a starter or come out of the bullpen for the Rays.
Tylor Megill (SP, NYM)- Shoulder: Megill is currently on the IL with a shoulder strain. Megill is expected to have one more rehab appearance and then be activated from the IL. When Megill returns, he is aiming to join the Mets’ bullpen.
Luis Severino (SP, NYY)- Severino is on the 60-day IL with a low-grade right lat strain. Severino continues to look strong in his rehab assignment starts and is expected to be activated on September 21.
Graham Ashcraft (SP, CIN)- Biceps: Ashcraft was placed on the IL with right biceps soreness. He has had one rehab start and is scheduled for his second one next week. There is still no timeline for his return.
Justin Steele (SP, CHC)- Back: Steele was placed on the IL with back soreness, retroactive to September 2. Steele has begun a throwing program and it is not yet known whether he will need a rehab assignment as well.
Eric Lauer (SP, MIL)- Elbow: Lauer landed on the IL with left elbow inflammation. He received "very encouraging" MRI results the next day, according to manager Craig Counsell. Based on the injury type though, it may be a long shot for him to return during the regular season. He has begun throwing off of flat ground but still has a ways to go.
Tyler Mahle (SP, MIN)- Shoulder: Mahle is on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He landed on the IL earlier this year due to shoulder fatigue and then lasted just two innings when he returned. He is trending toward not being able to return for the rest of the regular season.
Chris Archer (SP, MIN)- Pectoral: Archer was placed on the IL with a pectoral injury. The severity is not yet known; however, Archer said he is confident he will be ready to return from the IL after the minimum time. No word on who will take his spot in the Twins’ rotation.
Alex Wood (SP, SF)- Shoulder: Wood has been on the IL with a left shoulder impingement. He is scheduled to resume throwing this weekend, and he expects to come to a decision about whether he will pitch again this season based on how he fares during the session.
Keegan Thompson (SP, CHC)- Back: Thompson was placed on the IL with lower-back tightness. Thompson is expected to start a rehab assignment this weekend and should return to the Cubs before the season ends.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Blake Treinen (RP, LAD)- Shoulder: Treinen is on the IL with right shoulder tightness. He threw a bullpen session this week and is expected to face live hitters soon. He may not require a rehab assignment before he is activated from the IL.
Joe Barlow (RP, TEX)- Finger: Barlow was placed on the IL with a right index finger blister. He began throwing off a mound this week and still could return this year. Jose Leclerc has taken over closing duties for the Rangers and may hold that position until the end of the season
David Bednar (RP, PIT)- Back: Bednar has been on the IL for about five weeks with low back inflammation. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could return in the coming days.
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