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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 4 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
There has been an injury trend that is hard to miss to start the 2021 season. There have been a lot of muscle/tendon sprains/strains to start the season. These injuries include oblique, groin, hamstring, and back injuries. Not all of the injuries are alike for each player and should be treated and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. They should not be lumped all together. Key words to listen for while getting updates on these injuries include what grade the strain is to determine how severe it is. That is the best way to help evaluate how long that player will be out for.
Baseball has seen the rate of injury continue to rise over the past few years. In fantasy, if someone is not in the medical field, it is hard to gauge how long a player will be out and whether they need to be replaced in a lineup. Sometimes this could mean playing a dead roster spot and losing the opportunity to have a full week of stats. Watching a play and watching the mechanism of injury can say a lot about the type of injury that has been sustained.
I am a practicing physician's assistant in the state of New York in the fields of orthopedics and physical medicine/pain management. I have been treating patients with the same type of injuries that have been affecting athletes in a private practice setting for the past 16 years. Having this base of knowledge, it is easier to “predict” what the injury could be and how much time a player may miss. During the course of the season, I will continue to provide the latest injury updates with diagnoses and discuss the extent of injury and how long the player will be out. I will also be listing the “next man up” when it comes to playing time if the player will be out.
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Although injuries should not be lumped together as each case is different, we can learn from past seasons. The best reference of how long players are out for certain injuries would be the last full season, 2019. Below is a listing of how long players (broken down by hitters and pitchers) spent on the IL based on the type of injury.
HITTERS
Body Part Average Days on IL
Hamstring 29
Hand/Finger 46
Neck/Back 50
Oblique 35
Knee 84
Shoulder 62
Concussion 30
Groin/Hip 57
Wrist 35
Calf 49
Ankle 29
Quad 37
Foot/Toe 68
Elbow 45
Biceps/Arm 51
PITCHERS
Body Part Average Days on IL
Shoulder 51
Elbow 92
Arm 71
Back/Neck 37
Knee 53
Oblique 35
Hamstring 28
Finger 25
Biceps 75
Hip 56
Groin 24
Wrist 98
Pectoral 46
Foot/Toe 41
Calf 28
Injury "Guy"de for the week of April 18, 2021
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS, SD) Shoulder - Tatis was diagnosed with a left shoulder subluxation. The Padres are going to try the resting/strengthing , wait-and-see method with shoulder girdle strengthening. There is no harm in doing this because if surgery is needed, Tatis would be done for the year regardless. Tatis has been doing full pregame workouts on the field, including fielding and hitting. It is possible that he could return sooner rather than later, but this type of injury could pop up at any time.
Cody Bellinger (1B/OF, LAD) Calf - Bellinger was placed on the IL due to a left calf injury. He is not yet running at full speed and may be out longer than anticipated. Chris Taylor will continue to see more time in center field for the Dodgers until he comes back.
James Paxton (SP, SEA) Forearm- Paxton was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. Tommy John surgery is recommended.
George Springer (OF, TOR) - Oblique- Springer was placed on the IL to start the season with a Grade 2 oblique strain. While Springer was rehabbing, he injured his quad. MRI showed a low-grade quadriceps strain. Springer will not travel with the BlueJays on their upcoming road trip that runs through April 25. Randal Grichuk will continue to fill in for the Blue Jays.
Carlos Carrasco (SP, NYM) - Elbow- Carrasco was placed on the IL to start the season due to a hamstring injury. Mets manager Luis Rojas said Carrasco recently threw four innings, totaling 65 pitches, yesterday in Florida: "He looked good. He did his up, downs. He's building up correctly." Rojas was quoted as saying. He'll pitch five innings next and possibly face some live batters at the alternate site.
Kwang Hyun Kim (SP, STL) - Back- Kim started the season on the IL with low back tightness. Kim threw 86 pitches in a simulated game on Sunday and will be returning soon.
Dinelson Lamet (SP, SD) Elbow- Lamet is currently on the IL recovering from an elbow injury. Lamet was scheduled to throw a 70-pitch sim game Thursday. Lamet continues to build up arm strength slowly and could return end of April/beginning of May.
Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT) - Wrist- Hayes has been out since April 4 due to left wrist inflammation. He has been making progress at the team's alternate training site and started swinging earlier this week. He has not yet faced live pitching.
Nate Pearson (SP, TOR) - Groin- Pearson started the season on the IL with a groin injury. Pearson is now "absolutely pain free" and throwing at 100% intensity on the mound, per general manager Ross Atkins. He may return by the end of April or the beginning of May.
Lorenzo Cain- (OF, MIL) - Quad- Cain was placed on the IL with a left quad strain. Cain was dealing with a similar quad issue during the course of spring training. The severity is still not yet known. Jackie Bradley and Billy McKinney should see increased playing time while Cain is out.
Julian Merryweather-(RP, TOR)- Oblique- Merryweather was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. The severity is not yet known. Jordan Romano or Rafael Dolis could fill in as closer for the time being for the Blue Jays.
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Hamstring- Fried was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain which he injured while running the bases. Severity is not yet known. Tucker Davidson was called up, but Bryse Wilson is a candidate to fill in for the Braves.
Cristian Pache (OF, ATL)- Groin- Pache has been placed on the IL with left groin tightness. The earliest he is eligible to return is on April 24. Ender Inciarte should see an increase in playing time in the outfield for the Braves.
Archie Bradley (RP, PHI)- Oblique- Bradley was placed on the IL with an oblique strain. Severity is not known, but the Phillies have said that he will miss three to four weeks. Hector Neris will assume the closer role until he comes back.
Christian Walker (1B, ARI)- Oblique- Walker was placed on the IL with a strained right oblique. No word on severity. Andrew Young was recalled. Asdrubal Cabrera and Pavin Smith may see additional time in his absence.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Rendon was placed on the IL with a groin strain that at first was labeled minor. No word on severity or how long he is expected to be out. Jose Rojas should see more time until Rendon returns for the Angels.
Dexter Fowler (OF, LAA)- Knee- Fowler suffered an ACL tear in his left knee and will require season-ending surgery. Jon Jay was called up for the Angels to help fill in.
Julio Teheran (SP, DET)- Teheran has been placed on the 60-day IL due to a right shoulder strain. No word on severity or test results yet, but being put on the 60 day as opposed to the ten day IL is significant. Spencer Turnbull could be the full time fill in until Teheran is able to return.
Ketel Marte (2B/OF, ARI)- Hamstring- Marte is on the IL with a hamstring strain. He continues to get treatment and has not yet begun baseball activities, doing light activity only. It is not likely that he will return when first eligible on April 18. Tim Locastro continues to fill-in for the for the Diamondbacks.
Johnny Cueto (SP, SF)- Lat- Cueto was placed on the IL with a a grade one lat strain. It is considered be a "low level strain", which hopefully means less time of the IL. No timeline for a return has been given yet. Logan Webb could fill in for the Giants in their rotation.
Nomar Mazara (OF, DET)- Mazara was placed on the IL after suffering a left abdominal strain on a swing. Severity is not yet known. Joe Jimenez was called up. Victor Reyes and JaCoby Jones should see more time in the outfield for the Tigers.
Drew Smyly (SP, ATL) - Forearm- Smyly was placed on the IL with forearm inflammation. The inflammation/injury is not considered particularly serious and may only cost him one start. Smyly did have Tommy John surgery in 2017. Kyle Wright will fill in for Smyly for the time being.
Aristides Aquino (OF, CIN)- Aquino was placed on the IL after having surgery because of a hamate fracture in his left wrist. It is unclear when he suffered the injury. Recovery time from this type of surgery is usually four to six weeks.
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