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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 10. 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.
My name is Reuven Guy. 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 September 20, 2020
Ken Giles (RP, TOR) - Forearm - Giles was again placed on the IL with a right flexor strain. He had recently returned from the IL when he was dealing with a mild strain of the flexor mass in his right forearm. Giles is done for the year.
James Paxton (SP, NYY) - Forearm - Paxton was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. He recently had a setback in his recovery and is done for the regular season as he was placed on the 45 day IL.
Keone Kela (P, PIT) - Forearm - Kela was placed on the IL with forearm tightness. Kela has thrown off of a mound and is trying to return before the season ends.
Yandy Diaz (1B/3B, TB) - Hamstring - Diaz was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Diaz played catch this week but his progress has been slow. Diaz may not be able to return this regular season for the Rays.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Blister- Buehler was placed on the IL, retroactive to Sept 9 with the same blister issue that sidelined him earlier this year. He is expected to make only one more start this regular season. Tony Gonsolin has been filling in for him quite well.
Chris Paddack (SP, SD)- Ankle- Paddack left his last start due to a sprained right ankle and is considered day-to-day. X-rays were negative. He has been cleared to start this weekend.
Zack Wheeler (SP, PHI)- Finger- Weeler was scratched from his start last weekend because he had a problem with his middle finger nail but he pitched this week without having any issues afterwards.
Jake Odorizzi (SP, MIN)- Abdomen/Finer- Odorizzi returned from the IL this past only to exit his start early due to a finger/blister issue. He is day to day.
Eric Hosmer (1B, SD)- Finger - Hosmer was diagnosed with a fractured left index finger after getting hit in the hand with a pitch trying to bunt. Hosmer recently stopped wearing the splint on his finger and took live batting practice this week. He is trying to back for the last week of the season.
Jon Gray (SP, COL)- Shoulder- Gray was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Sept. 2. He has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Chi Chi Gonzalez or Jose Mujica could fill in for the Rockies.
Ketel Marte (OF, ARI)- Wrist- Marte was placed on the IL with left wrist inflammation. He began hitting off of a tee this week.
Shin-Soo Choo (OF, TEX)- Hand- Choo was placed on the IL with a sprained right hand. He has been slow to recover and it looks unlikely that he will return this year.
Dallas Keuchel (SP, CHW)- Back- Keuchel was placed on the IL with back spasms, retroactive to Sept. 7. Keuchel could be activated to start this weekend in order for the White Sox to set their playoff rotation.
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Forearm- Verlander is on the IL with a forearm strain. Manager Dusty Baker said about Justin Verlander: "Hopefully, if everything goes well, he could be back at the end of the month." He threw 75 pitches this week.
Spencer Howard (SP, PHI)- Shoulder- Howard was removed from a start last weekend with right shoulder stiffness and landed on the IL. There is no word of what the timeline for his recovery is.
Jorge Alfaro (C, MIA)- Head- Alfaro was hit in the mask by a foul ball earlier this week. He was cleared of having a concussion after the came. However, concussive symptoms could appear a few days after the injury so this is something to watch. He did return to action on Friday.
Mike Yastrzemski (OF, SF)- Calf- Yastrzemski was taken out of the game earlier this week with right calf tightness. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday. No word on severity otherwise. Darin Ruf could fill in for the Giants.
Austin Meadows (OF, TB)- Oblique- Meadows was taken out of game 1 of the Rays doubleheader on Thursday with left oblique soreness. Obliques could be very tricky and could knock him out for the rest of the regular season.
Dakota Hudson (SP, STL)- Elbow- Hudson left Thursday night's game with right elbow tightness. He had pitched two shutout innings prior to being removed. X-Rays were negative and he is scheduled for further testing.
Jake Arrieta (SP, PHI)- Hamstring- Arrieta was placed on the IL this week with a right hamstring strain. MRI was performed and results are pending. He has been ruled out for the rest of the year.
Rhys Hoskins (1B, PHI)- Elbow- Hoskins was placed on the IL with a UCL injury to his left arm. There is a possibility of him needing Tommy John surgery. He is done for the year. Jay Bruce could fill in at 1B as he was recently activated from the IL himself.
Jorge Soler (OF, KC)- Oblique- Soler is on the IL with an oblique injury. He looked good after taking live at-bats Thursday and was scheduled to hit again on Friday. Soler looks to be on track to return next week.
Mitch Garver (C, MIN)- Intercostal strain- Garver had a setback in his attempt to come back from the IL from a right intercostal strain. Garver got hit below the belt with a foul ball while catching at Minnesota's alternate training camp in St. Paul. He has been out since August 19 but still could return next week.
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. Also please note that the COVID IL can range from a few days to weeks and symptomatic players with negative COVID testing will miss fewer games.
Alcantara, Sandy (SP, MIA)- Returned
Alvarez, Yordan (DH, HOU)- Returned
Astudillo, Willians (C, MIN)- Returned
Beer, Seth (1B, ARI) - Returned
Blackmon, Charlie (OF, COL) - Returned
Brito, Socrates (OF, PIT)- Returned
Brinson, Lewis (OF, MIA)- Returned
Cabrera, Genesis (RP, STL)- Returned
Calhoun, Kole (OF, ARI) - Returned
Cano, Robinson (1B/2B, NYM) - Returned
Chapman, Aroldis (RP, NYY)- Returned
Cessa, Luis (RP, NYY)- Returned
Chirinos, Yonny (SP/RP, TB)- Returned
Cooper, Garrett (1B/OF, MIA)- Returned
d’Arnuad, Travis (C, ATL)- Returned
Davidson, Matt- (DH, CIN)- Returned
deJong, Paul (SS, STL)- Returned
DeShields, Delino (OF, CLE)- Returned
Diaz, Elias (C, COL)- Returned
Dietrich, Derek (1B/OF, CHC)- Returned
Dozier, Hunter (3B/OF, KC)- Returned
Drury, Brandon (3B, TOR)- Returned
Elias, Roenis (RP, SEA)- Returned
Engel, Adam- (OF, CHW)- Returned
Flowers, Tyler (C, ATL)- Returned
Freeman, Freddie (1B, ATL) - Returned
Garica, Jarlin (RP, SF)- Returned
Gimenez, Andres (2B/SS/3B- Returned
Glasnow, Tyler (SP, TB) - Returned
Gomber, Austin (P, STL)- Returning
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)- Returned
Kela, Keone (RP, PIT)- Returned
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 (SP, TB)- Returned
Mahtook, Mikie (OF, DET)- Returned
Margot, Manuel (OF, TB)- Returned
Martinez, Carlos (SP/RP, STL)- Returned
Mateo, Jorge (SS, SD)- Returned
Mazara, Nomar- (OF, CHW)- Returned
Meadows, Austin (OF, TB)- Returned
Mengden, Daniel (SP, OAK)
Moncada, Yoan (3B, CHW) - Returned
Molina, Yadier (C, STL)- Returning
Neris, Hector (RP, PHI)- Returned
Nido, Tomas (C, NYM)- Returning
Nola, Aaron (SP, PHI) - Returned
Norris, Daniel (SP, DET)- Returned
O'Hearn, Ryan (1B, KC)- Returned
Oviedo, Johan (SP, STL)- Returned
Perez, Salvador (C, KC)- Returned
Pham, Tommy (OF, SD) - Returned
Quinn, Roman (OF, PHI)- Returned
Robles, Victor (OF, WAS)- Returned
Rodriguez, Eduardo (SP, BOS)- Returned but out for the year with COVID complications. He flew to Boston for a checkup. "Yeah, he's doing well actually," said Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke. "He flew back to Boston, just got into town.... I don't know what the results were on the tests that he took, but I can find that out...he seems to be doing well."
Rojas, Miguel (SS, MIA)- Returned
Ruiz, Keibert- (C, LAD)- Returned
Sano, Miguel (1B/3B, MIN) - Returned
Senzel, Nick- (2B, CIN)- Returned
Smith, Caleb (SP, MIA)- Returned
Smith, Will (RP, ATL)- Returned
Soto, Juan (OF, WAS)- Returned
Suero, Wander (RP, WAS)- Returned
Teheran, Julio (SP, LAA)- Returned
Toussaint, Touki (SP/RP, ATL)- Returned
Urena, Jose (SP, MIA)- Returning
Urias, Luis (2B/SS, MIL)- Returned
Urquidy, Jose (SP, HOU)- Returned
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