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Week 5 MLB Injury Report for Fantasy Baseball
Sprains, strains, and surgeries. These three words make chills run down the spine of even the most hardened fantasy player. They're the little “what if” clause hanging over every fantasy season, that thing you just can't ever really predict no matter how much predraft research you do. Like it or not, being able to properly deal with injuries is one of the main separators between casual fantasy players and league champions. Given the importance of this aspect of the game, I'll be devoting a weekly column to discussing the latest injury updates pertaining to the fantasy community. Below you will find updates and analysis for all the MLB injuries relevant at the end of Week 5.
A disclaimer before we get started: the sheer size of the fantasy baseball player pool means I won't be able to discuss every injury that might affect teams out there. Furthermore, this article will be tailored towards standard leagues. I'll do my best to cover all the important names, but some guys are going to be inevitably left out. When they are, feel free to bring them up in the comments section below. I'm always happy to chat if there's a player you need to know more about.
Recent Injuries
George Springer: The Astros' star outfielder found himself headed to the 7-day DL after suffering a concussion while making a (rather spectacular) catch in the outfield. While everyone is of course hoping he will only require the minimum time necessary, brain injuries can be difficult things to predict. Springer owners will want to monitor his situation carefully over the course of the next week.
Austin Jackson: The Mariners sent Jackson to the 15-day DL on May 4th with a right ankle sprain. The injury doesn't sound overly serious thankfully. Jackson should be able to make his way back to the team before the start of June.
Stephen Strasburg: After a difficult start in which he was in visible discomfort, Strasburg was pulled early with what the team is calling left shoulder irritation. He is set to see a chiropractor about the issue and the Nationals do not seem to think a DL stint will be necessary. That said, it is quite possible Strasburg could see his next turn in the rotation skipped. Plan accordingly.
Jayson Werth: Werth was held out of the starting lineup on May 5-6th due to right shoulder soreness. The issue doesn't seem serious though. Werth is expected back in the starting lineup on Friday, May 8th.
Everth Cabrera: Cabrera was placed on the 15-day DL on May 7th with a bruised left foot. He is expected to rejoin the team sometime in late May.
Brandon Morrow: The Padres will be hoping to have their breakout starting pitcher back with the team by the end of the month. Morrow has been suffering from right shoulder inflammation of late and was sent to the DL on May 5th to recuperate. The move was backdated to May 3rd.
Evan Longoria: Longoria was scratched from the lineup on May 7th with flu-like symptoms. Don't worry Rays fans, he should be back any day.
Hanley Ramirez: Hanley Ramirez has been absent from the Red Sox lineup ever since crashing into a wall on May 4th. It is reassuring that an MRI showed that there was no structural damage to his shoulder, but if Ramirez isn't ready for action soon, a DL stint may be necessary.
Jose Iglesias: Iglesias was unable to play on May 7th due to groin soreness. His condition is currently listed as day-to-day. The Tigers are hoping the injury is not serious enough to keep him out of their lineup for long.
Ongoing Injury Updates
Sean Doolittle: Doolittle is expected to throw to live batters for the first time during his rehab process on May 8th. A mid-to-late May return is expected, provided that Doolittle experiences no future setbacks.
Ben Zobrist: MLB's Jane Lee reported that Zobrist is hoping to be back by June 1st. He took an important step towards this goal on May 7th, when he hit off a tee for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in April.
Jose Reyes: Reyes is scheduled to undergo an MRI on May 10th or 11th to check on the status of his healing cracked ribs. The good news is that he seems to be feeling strong. Still, Reyes owners will have to wait on those MRI results for a clearer idea of what his return timetable might be.
Jonathan Lucroy: Lucroy had X-rays of his broken left toe taken on May 4th. The Brewers are still targeting a late May return for their star catcher.
Archie Bradley: Bradley is scheduled to throw a simulated game on May 11th. If the Dbacks like what they see there, the team is targeting May 16th for Bradley's return to the majors.
Kenley Jansen: After beginning his rehab assignment on May 1st, the Dodgers say they will likely give Jansen the opportunity to pitch on back-to-back days on May 9th and 10th. The team is targeting May 15th for his return.
Yasiel Puig: Puig will be eligible to return as soon as Sunday, May 10th. It remains unclear if the Dodgers plan to recall him as soon as he becomes eligible, however. Expect an announcement on the outfielder's status to come out shortly.
Hunter Pence: Pence is scheduled to begin a Triple-A rehab assignment on May 8th. If all goes well, the crazy-eyed outfielder will be back to hitting home runs for the Giants sometime in late May.
Christian Yelich: Yelich is expected to rejoin the Marlin's lineup on May 8th. Get him back in your lineups people.
David Wright: While ESPN's Adam Rubin speculated that the Mets were targeting May 15th as possible return dates, the former top 3rd baseman injured his back while rehabbing his hamstring. Wright has been shutdown and there is not much of a timetable to work with right now.
Anthony Rendon: Rendon experienced another setback this past week. This time the Nationals cited a strained left oblique as the reason for shutting him down. Paired together with the MCL strain Rendon was already fighting his way back from and the picture begins to look grim. While it is still possible that he could be ready for action by the end of the month, I'd advise that fantasy owners have a backup plan ready through the start of June just in case.
Alex Cobb: Bad news for the Rays here. Cobb was diagnosed with a partial right elbow ligament tear. Cobb appears to be trying to avoid Tommy John surgery and has elected to pitch through the injury if at all possible. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection last week and is waiting to see if it helps the pain go away. As one might expect, there is currently no timetable for his return.
Nick Franklin: Finally some good news for the Rays. Franklin began a Triple-A rehab assignment on May 5th. If all goes well, he could be little more than days away from a return.
Jake McGee: McGee began a Triple-A rehab assignment on May 5th along with teammate. He is expected back sometime within the next several days.
Devin Mesoraco: Despite just over three weeks of light pinch hitting duties, Mesoraco doesn't seem close to being back to full strength.
"We haven't done any squatting," he told Cincinatti's John Fay. "We're still trying to work our way up to that. I've been getting some injections here and there and doing everything we can to make it better."
The problem is that the hip surgery required to fix his condition would require a 4 month rehab process, virtual ending Mesoraco's season with the Reds. Right now the Reds' catcher is in an awkward state of limbo as he rests and hopes that the injury will heal itself enough to allow him to get back behind the plate soon.
"It's something that down the line, hopefully, is going to get fixed," Mesoraco elaborated. "At this point, that's [surgery is] not an option because of how much of the season we have left. At some point, that's going to come into the picture. It's a four-month type thing, surgery. We're doing everything we can to stop that from happening. We've done PRP (platelet-rich plasma injections). We did cortisone. We did lubricating injections. We're trying to do the best we can to go out and finish the season.”
The Reds still don't seem inclined to place Mesoraco on the DL, however, valuing his pinch hitting abilities late in the game.
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