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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 2. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
Injuries are commonplace in all sports. 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. The mechanism of injury is one of the ways of diagnosing the problem.
I grew up playing baseball, watching baseball and wanting to go into medicine. I was able to combine both of my loves. I am a practicing physician 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 15 years. Having this base of knowledge, it is easier to “predict” what the injury could be and how long a player will be out.
During the course of the season in this weekly article, I will be going over MLB player injuries. I will be hunting down the latest updates and have sources to back me up. I will be highlighting the type of injury it is, try to diagnose an injury that has not been diagnosed yet, 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. This year, I will also have a listing of all fantasy-relevant players affected by COVID-19 and COVID-19 protocols. Hopefully, this will help you create and manage a more competitive fantasy lineup.
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Injury "Guy"de for the Week of July 26, 2020
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA) - Oblique - Manager Joe Maddon was unsure if Rendon would be ready for Opening Day. It turns out he wasn't in the lineup against the Athletics, with David Fletcher taking his place. Rendon was not placed on the IL to start the season. Last year, when a hitter went on the IL for an oblique injury, the average time on the IL was 35 days.
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD) - Back - Kershaw was placed on the IL with back stiffness. The severity of the injury is not yet known as he was placed on the IL on Opening Day with no warning. Dustin May was called up to take his place on the roster and started Opening Day. This is the 4th time in 4 years Kershaw has ended up on the IL because of his back.
Aaron Hicks (OF, NYY) - Elbow - Hicks noted that he feels "really, really good" and batted leadoff on Opening Day. He will be the first, and hopefully, only MLB player ever to have Tommy John surgery and not miss even a single game.
Masahiro Tanaka (SP, NYY) - Concussion - Tanaka threw one simulated game and is scheduled for a second on July 26. He has been placed on IL and will miss at least one start. The Yankees have decided to go with a bullpen game for his start.
Brett Anderson (SP, MIL) - Finger - Anderson was placed on the IL on July 20 with a blister on his left index finger. Anderson was cleared to play catch on July 19 so he may be able to return after the minimum time on the IL.
Brandon Belt - (1B, SF) - Heel/Achilles - Manager Gabe Kapler said that Belt will not be ready for Opening Day. Belt was wearing a walking boot as late as July 14.
Evan Longoria (3B, SF) - Oblique - Longoria will start the season on the IL dealing with an oblique issue. He is able to take grounders in practice but is not game ready. With both Belt and Longoria out, Wilmer Flores, Pablo Sandoval, Donovan Solano could fill in at the corners. Sleeper- Darin Ruf (1B/OF) - He played in the KBO for the last three years and hit 86 home runs over that time period.
A.J. Puk (SP, OAK) - Shoulder - Puk will be out at least 2 weeks after receiving a cortisone injection. Rest following the injection is common which may mean even longer if Puk has to build up arm stamina in order to start.
Chase Anderson (SP, TOR) - Oblique - Manager Charlie Montoyo announced Anderson will start the season on IL with a strained oblique suffered last week. He has thrown from 120 feet and is scheduled for a bullpen session. Anthony Kay made the Opening Day roster and will be the fifth starter out of camp but Nate Pearson may come up as early as July 29.
Cole Hamels (SP, ATL) - Triceps - Hamels will begin the season on the IL with triceps tendonitis. Hamels was dealing with shoulder issues earlier this year, the first Spring Training. There is no timetable for his return.
Jordan Zimmermann (SP, DET) - Forearm - Zimmermann was placed on the 45-day IL with forearm tightness. The official diagnosis was a strain. No word on MRI. Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire was optimistic that Zimmermann could this season.
John Means (SP, BAL) - Arm - Means is dealing with arm fatigue. He will not be able to start Opening Day but has not been placed on the IL yet. He also missed an exhibition start this past Sunday due to this. Tommy Milone will start.
Tom Murphy (C, SEA) - Foot - Murphy has a fractured bone in his foot and will start the season on IL. GM Jerry Dipoto said he doesn't believe it will be a significant absence. Foot fractures usually could take three to five weeks to heal, based on severity. Aaron Nola will start in his place.
Jake Odorizzi (SP, MIN) - Back - Odorizzi will begin the season on the IL. Odorizzi missed his last intrasquad game due to mild back soreness and will miss at least the 1st turn through the rotation. He may be activated as soon as next week when the Twins will need a 5th starter.
Michael Fulmer (SP, DET) - Elbow - Fulmer was activated off of the IL. Manager Ron Gardenhire confirmed that Fulmer would be a part of the Tigers Opening Day rotation, operating as a "opener type" in front of a primary pitcher, most likely Tyler Alexander. Fulmer had Tommy John surgery March 2019.
Daniel Mengden (SP, OAK) - Elbow - Mengden has been activated off of the IL and will open the season as the Athletics 5th starter. Mengden had arthroscopic right elbow surgery February 12, 2020.
Marcus Stroman (SP, NYM) - Calf - Stroman was placed on the IL with a muscle tear in his left calf. Stroman reported feeling tightness in his calf earlier in this past week. Manager Luis Rojas calls it a "week-to-week" issue. Calf injuries could be tricky as seen by how long Josh Donaldson missed due to his calf issue a few years ago. Corey Oswalt made the Opening Day roster and may start instead of Stroman.
Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) - Side - DeSclafani was placed on the IL with a mild right teres major strain. This is a muscle near the armpit, one of the six muscles within the scapulohumeral muscle group- near the humerus and scapula. Per Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer, the injury isn't thought to be anything overly serious and may miss only one start. Tyler Mahle could slide into the Reds rotation.
Updated List of Fantasy-Relevant Players Affected by COVID-19
Please note: Although a player may have returned, they may not be up to game speed yet and may still be on the IL or not ready to play.
Alvarez, Yordan (DH, HOU)- Returning
Astudillo, Willians (C, MIN)
Beer, Seth (1B, ARI) - Returned
Bethancourt, Christian (C, PHI)
Blackmon, Charlie (OF, COL) - Returned
Brito, Socrates (OF, PIT)
Brinson, Lewis (OF, MIA)- Returned
Cabrera, Genesis (RP, STL)- Returned
Calhoun, Kole (OF, ARI) - Returned
Cano, Robinson (1B/2B, NYM) - Returned
Cessa, Luis (RP, NYY)- Returned
Chirinos, Yonny (SP/RP, TB)- Returned
DeShields, Delino (OF, CLE)
Diaz, Elias (C, COL)
Dietrich, Derek (1B/OF, CHC)- Returned
Dozier, Hunter (3B/OF, KC)
Drury, Brandon (3B, TOR)
Elias, Roenis (RP, SEA)- Returned
Flowers, Tyler, d'Arnuad, Travis (C, ATL)- Both are "under the weather" and have tested negative so far. They were NOT in the COVID protocol at this time. Both were placed on the IL.
Freeman, Freddie (1B, ATL) - Returned
Garica, Jarlin (RP, SF)
Glasnow, Tyler (SP, TB) - Returned
Grichuk, Randal (OF, TOR)- Returned
Guerra, Junior (RP, ARI) - Returned
Hamilton, Billy (OF, SF)- Returned
Haseley, Adam (OF, PHI) - Returned
Hayes, Ke'Bryan (3B, PIT)- Returned
Hernandez, Darwinzon (RP, BOS) - Returned
Hirano, Yoshii (RP, SEA)- Returned
Hunter, Tommy (RP, PHI)- Returned
Jansen, Kenley (RP, LAD) - Returned
Joyce, Matt (OF, MIA)
Kela, Keone (RP, PIT)
Keller, Brad (SP, KC)- Returned
Kendrick, Howie (1B/2B/3B/OF, WAS) - Returned
Kingery, Scott (2B/3B/SS/OF, PHI) - Returned
Lauer, Eric (SP, MIL)- Returned
LeMahieu, DJ (1B/2B, NYY) - Returned
Luzardo, Jesus (SP, OAK) - Returned
McKay, Brendan (P, TB)
Mahtook, Mikie (OF, DET)- Returned
Mateo, Jorge (SS, SD)- Returning
Mazara, Nomar- (OF, CHW)- GM Rick Hahn suggested on July 23 that Mazara’s stint on the IL “could be brief.”
Meadows, Austin (OF, TB)
Moncada, Yoan (3B, CHW) - Returned
Neris, Hector (RP, PHI)- Returned
Nola, Aaron (SP, PHI) - Returned
Norris, Daniel (SP, DET)- Returned
O'Hearn, Ryan (1B, KC)
Perez, Salvador (C, KC)- Returned
Pham, Tommy (OF, SD) - Returned
Robles, Victor (OF, WAS)- Returned
Rodriguez, Eduardo (SP, BOS)- Returned but back on IL. Rodriguez has been shut down from all baseball activities. Manager Ron Roenicke said Boston medical staff found minor complications related to his COVID recovery. Rodriguez is testing negative for COVID, but his body has not yet fully physically recovered. According to the most recent reports, Rodriguez is dealing with a heart condition as a result of COVID-19.
Sano, Miguel (1B/3B, MIN) - Returned
Smith, Will (RP, ATL)- Smith had tested positive and has been asymptomatic for three weeks and still not cleared to return. He has not yet passed 2 COVID-19 tests.
Soto, Juan (OF, WAS)- Tested positive on July 21. According to sources, two rapid tests were performed July 23 and were negative. Could be a false positive but he is still in the COVID protocol.
Suero, Wander (RP, WAS)- Returned
Teheran, Julio (SP, LAA)- Returned
Toussaint, Touki (SP/RP, ATL)- Returned
Urias, Luis (2B/SS, MIL)
Urquidy, Jose (SP, HOU)
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