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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 8 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
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.
We continue to see a barrage of injuries in the majors, with an emphasis on soft tissue injuries. These injuries include oblique, groin, hamstring, and back injuries. Not all of the injuries are the same for each player and should be treated and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. They should not be lumped 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.
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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Average Days on IL
The best reference for 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
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
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
Injured Players - New Listings
Jacob deGrom- (SP, NYM)- Side- deGrom was placed on the IL with side/low back tenderness. MRIs were normal, but the Mets are being extremely cautious with him. He is only expected to miss one or two starts while on the IL.
Carlos Martinez- (SP, STL)- Ankle- Martinez was placed on the IL with a right ankle injury. Martinez himself acknowledged after his last start that he was pitching through pain after twisting his ankle. No word on severity. Juan Oviedo could fill in until Martinez is able to return.
C.J. Cron- (1B, COL)- Back- Cron was placed on the IL with a lower-back strain. The severity of the injury is not yet known. Matt Adams and Connor Joe could fill in for the Rockies at first base.
Kevin Kiermaier- (OF, TB)- Kiermaier was placed on the IL with a left wrist sprain which occurred during a stolen base attempt. X-rays were negative. Severity is not yet known. Brett Phillips and Manuel Margot should fill in for the Rays.
Kohei Arihara- (SP, TEX)- Finger- The Rangers placed Arihara on the IL with a right middle finger injury. Severity is not yet known. Arihara experienced discomfort in the finger following his last start on April 30. Hyeon-Jong Yang, Kolby Allard, and Wes Benjamin could fill in.
Colin Moran- (1B, PIT)- Groin- Moran was placed on the IL with left groin discomfort. GM Ben Cherington said that the Pirates might not know the severity of his injury for a few days. He has already resumed baseball activities, which could mean that his stay on the IL will be short.
Grayson Greiner- (C, DET)- Hamstring- Greiner was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Severity is not yet known. With Wilson Ramos also out, Jake Rogers becomes the primary catcher for the Tigers.
Carlos Rodon- (SP, CHW)- Back/Hamstring- Rodon was pushed back from starting on Thursday due to back and hamstring tightness. If this continues to be an issue, he may land on the IL.
Zac Gallen- Elbow- (SP, ARI)- Gallen was placed on the IL with a sprained right elbow. Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said the most likely path forward is a short "no-throw" period, followed by a second round of imaging work to assess healing.
Christian Walker- (1B, ARI)- Oblique- Walker landed on the IL for the second time this year with right oblique soreness. Walker expects to return sooner from his current stay on the IL than before.
Cristian Pache- (OF, ATL)- Hamstring- Pache was placed on the IL with right hamstring inflammation. Severity is not yet known. Ender Inciarte was activated off of the IL and should take his place in the outfield for the Braves.
Jose Urquidy- (SP, HOU)- Shoulder- Urquidy left his last start with posterior shoulder discomfort and had an MRI performed already. No word on the prognosis, but the fact that he needed an MRI shows that it is bad enough that it may require a trip to the IL.
Asdrubal Cabrera- (MI/CI, ARI)- Hamstring- Cabrera was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain which occurred while stealing a base. MRI report is pending. If he has to miss time, it is not known who will be called up as the Diamondbacks only have three healthy players left on the 40-man roster that could be activated. The Diamondbacks are already without their two, three, and four hitters, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and Kole Calhoun.
Injured Players - Updates
Elieser Hernandez- (SP, MIA)- Hernandez has been on the IL with right biceps inflammation since his first start of the season. He is with the Marlins in Arizona. He has been throwing bullpens and was scheduled to face live hitters on Thursday. He could be only 1-2 rehab starts away from activation, or about two weeks.
J.D. Davis- (3B, NYM)- Hand- Davis was placed on the IL with a left hand sprain. He did not come off of the IL when he was eligible. It is expected that he would need at least a few more days before he is activated.
Framber Valdez- (SP, HOU)- Finger- Valdez has been on the IL since the season started with a finger injury. Valdez could throw a bullpen in sometime this week. There is still no clear timeline for his return, but all reports say is that he is improving.
Jordan Hicks- (RP, STL)- Elbow- Hicks is on the IL for a right elbow injury. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said that Hicks is now expected to be sidelined at least 6 weeks after getting a second opinion on his elbow, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. No other word on what other type of treatment will be done during that time.
Jazz Chisholm- (SS, MIA)- Hamstring- Chisolm was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He began a rehab assignment earlier this week and could be activated next week. He has already stolen a base on his rehab assignment, which means he is healthy.
Brendan Rodgers- (2B, COL)- Hamstring- Rodgers was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain at the start of the season. He began extended spring training this week and continue playing in simulated games. No timeline yet for when he will be activated.
Taylor Widener- (SP, ARI)- Groin- Widener was placed on the IL a groin strain. He has begun a throwing program, but has yet to throw off a mound. No timetable for his return yet.
Mike Soroka- (SP, ATL)- Achilles- Soroka is scheduled to undergo an exploratory procedure on his right Achilles next week after he experienced renewed discomfort during his recent workouts. More will be known following this procedure. He has been out with Achilles surgery since last year.
Miles Mikolas- (SP, STL)- Shoulder- Mikolas has been on the IL since the season started with right shoulder soreness. Mikolas is scheduled for a rehab start with Triple-A on Sunday, and if all goes well, he could be back within 2-3 weeks.
Brandon Nimmo- (OF, NYM)- Finger- Nimmo was placed on the IL with a bone bruise on his left index finger which occurred during a swing. He is expected to be activated over this weekend.
Julian Merryweather- (RP, TOR)- Oblique- Merryweather was placed on the 60-day IL with a left oblique strain. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said that Merryweather has resumed playing catch off flat ground. The earliest he could return is June 10.
Alejandro Kirk- (C, TOR)- Hip- Kirk was placed on the IL with a left hip flexor strain. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said that Kirk has resumed throwing and hitting off a tee. His timeline for return is in about two to three weeks.
Cody Bellinger (1B/OF, LAD) - Calf - Bellinger was placed on the IL due to a left calf injury. He was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his left fibula. Bellinger has made "very encouraging" progress, but the Dodgers still don't know when he'll be able to return.
Ketel Marte (2B/OF, ARI) - Hamstring - Marte is on the IL with a hamstring strain. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.
Stephen Strasburg (SP, WAS) - Shoulder - Strasburg is on the IL with a shoulder strain and inflammation. He threw a 62-pitch sim game on Tuesday and the Nationals said he needs at least one more rehab start before activation.
Anthony Santander (OF, BAL) - Ankle - Santander was placed on the IL with a left ankle sprain. Manager Brandon Hyde said Santander has resumed running the bases at their extended spring training facility. He could be a short rehab assignment away from activation.
Christian Yelich- (OF, MIL)- Back- Yelich returned to the IL this week with stiffness/soreness of his low back. No timetable for his return yet. However, he has begun to do baseball activities.
Adalberto Mondesi- (SS, KC)- Oblique- Mondesi has been on the IL since the season began. He began a rehab assignment in Double-A this week. He could be seven to ten days away from activation.
Byron Buxton- (OF, MIN)- Hip- Buxton was placed on the IL last week with a Grade 2 hip strain and was said that he would be be out for multiple weeks. Buxton has already been cleared to throw and is expected to begin hitting in the batting cage soon.
Edwin Rios- (3B, LAD)- Shoulder- Rios will undergo surgery for a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.
A.J. Puk- (SP, OAK)- Biceps- Puk is on the IL with a strained left biceps. Athletics pitching coach Scott Emerson said Puk began a rehab assignment at Triple-A and will need "a couple more outings" before returning from the IL.
Kyle Freeland- (SP, COL)- Shoulder- Freeland is on the IL with a left shoulder strain. He pitched in a simulated game on last week and is scheduled for another rehab start over this weekend. Freeland has been sidelined since late in spring training and may return in about ten days.
George Springer- (OF, TOR)- Quad- Springer was placed on the IL with a right quadriceps strain, retroactive to May 3. He had a similar injury while rehabbing his earlier oblique injury. Springer has been able to swing but isn't expected to start running until the end of this week.
Anthony Rendon- (3B, LAA)- Knee/leg- Rendon was placed on the IL with a left knee contusion after fouling a ball off his leg on Monday. MRI was normal. Rendon could return this weekend.
Ian Happ- (2B, CHC)- Rib- Happ was placed on the IL with a left rib contusion following a collision with Nico Hoerner. Hoener has since been activated from the IL. Manager David Ross said that Happ is "a tick behind" in his recovery process and unlikely to return this weekend. David Bote will continue to fill in.
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