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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 18 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
The second half of the baseball season has begun, or at least the post-All-Star break portion of the season has started. The next baseball season milestone coming up is the trade deadline. Knowing injury timelines will become that much more important because of the continuing search we have for playing time. Injured players have begun to come back while other star players continue to get hurt. The injury bug has lightened up a bit, but that does not mean that much if your team is the one being decimated.
This week, I continue to highlighted players on the IL with their hopeful return time frame. Some teams still do not give us enough information to have a time frame for a few of the previously-injured players on the IL and their hopeful return time frame. All of these return dates are subject to change based on how certain teams want players to "build up" and also could change based on setbacks.
A word about starting pitchers coming back from injury. Due to the fact that there have been a lot of starters getting injured, there has also been an increase in bullpen games by a lot of teams this year. Most commonly, pitchers coming back from injury tend to have a few rehab assignment starts prior to being activated from the IL. This trend may begin to change a little as teams are thinking about possibly having these starters "rehab" in the majors and act as their openers. Knowing this, putting a starting pitcher coming off of an injury back into your lineup right away may not always be the best idea as they may be on a pitch/inning count. Please take this into consideration when starters are activated off of their teams' IL. Now, let's look at the latest injury breakdown as we enter Week 18 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season.
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Injured Players - New Listings
Jacob deGrom- (SP, NYM): deGrom is on the IL with forearm tightness. He has said that he will not return until the tightness has subsided, which means no current timeframe. His MRI was clean.
Francisco Lindor (SS, NYM): Lindor is on the IL with an oblique strain. An MRI showed it to be a grade 2 oblique strain. The Mets have said that this is not a day-to-day thing, but more of a week-to-week thing. Luis Guillorme and Jonathan Villar should continue to fill in for Lindor while he is out. Jose Peraza was subbing for him, but fractured his right middle finger and could miss a month or more.
Nick Castellanos- (OF, CIN): Castellanos has a right wrist microfracture, seen on CT scan. He could be sidelined for a couple of weeks. He had one at-bat on Tuesday night and hit a shot to the warning track in RF, one-handed, but that is not ideal. Shogo Akiyama could see more playing time with Castellanos out.
Brandon Crawford- (SS, SF): Crawford was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. Severity is still not yet known. Thairo Estrada could see more playing time for the Giants at shortstop.
Zach Eflin- (SP, PHI): Eflin was placed on the IL with right patella tendinitis. Eflin had surgery in 2016 to repair both patellar tendons which makes you think that there is a strong chance that his knee is acting up. The Phillies aren't particularly concerned with the injury despite Eflin's history of knee troubles, but it's evidently enough of an issue for him to miss at least one to two starts. The Phillies went with a bullpen day for his first missed start. The earliest Eflin could be activated is July 28.
Danny Duffy- (SP, KC): Duffy was placed on the IL with a left flexor strain Tuesday. Duffy was hit in the knee by a comebacker, but it does not seem related. This is Duffy's second IL stint this year for an elbow/forearm issue, which does not bode well. Given the history here, there is a chance he may not come back this year.
Brady Singer- (SP, KC): The Royals placed Singer on the IL this week due to right shoulder fatigue. It is not yet known how much rest he will require and whether or not he has gone for any additional testing.
Alek Manoah- (SP, TOR): Manoah was placed on the IL with a bruised back. He injured himself after slipping on the dugout steps. He felt fine after playing catch and is expected to return to the Blue Jay rotation this coming week.
Alex Kirilloff- (OF, MIN): Kirilloff was placed on the IL with a ligament tear in his right wrist. Kirilloff is expected to require eight weeks of rehab after undergoing surgery on his right wrist and will not return this year. Willians Astudillo was called up and Nick Gordon may see more time in the Twins outfield.
Christian Arroyo- (2B, BOS): Arroyo landed on the IL with a left hamstring strain Monday. Severity is not yet known. Franchy Cordero may end up being the player benefitting the most with an increase in playing time.
Garrett Cooper- (1B, MIA): Cooper was placed on the IL this week with a sprained left elbow. An MRI confirmed the initial diagnosis and it is unclear when he will be able to return. Jesus Aguilar should benefit with an increase in playing time.
Jazz Chisholm- (SS, MIA): Chisholm was placed on the IL this week with a left shoulder sprain. He was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left shoulder following an MRI. This is good news as there is no fracture or ligament tears which may have made his stay on the IL extended. It is possible that he may be able to return when first eligible or soon thereafter. He will have a few rehab games prior to his activation. Isan Diaz will get more playing with Chisolm out.
Tim Locastro- (OF, NYY): Locastro tore his right ACL this week and was placed on the IL. Locastro was scheduled to have surgery on his right knee and is done for the year. Greg Allen was called up to help with outfield depth for the Yankees. He is a good option for speed. Also, keep an eye on Giancarlo Stanton as Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently said that he will start playing the outfield for the Yankees.
Jake Rogers- (C, DET): Rogers was placed on the IL this week with soreness in his right arm. Rogers will need longer to recover than previously expected and will be shut down from baseball activities for the foreseeable future. He has a pronator teres strain in his right forearm. Initial reports indicated he'd be out only two to three weeks. The Tigers do still hope he can return by the end of the season. Grayson Greiner and Eric Haase will continue to fill in for Rogers.
J.P. Feyereisen- (RP, TB): Feyereisen was placed on the IL this week with right shoulder discomfort. Feyereisen had an MRI performed this week that showed no structural damage to his shoulder, though he is dealing with some biceps tendinitis. There is no timetable for his return or rehab. Pete Fairbanks and Diego Castillo should continue to see the bulk of the save opportunities for the Rays.
Injured Players - Updates
Spencer Turnbull (SP, DET): Turnbull has opted for Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of this season and possibly all of next year.
Ian Anderson (SP, ATL): Anderson was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to July 13. There is no timeline for return yet but he has been able to start playing catch. He is feeling better and will be re-evaluated in a few days. Touki Toussaint has been filling in for him.
Manuel Margot- (OF, TB): Margot was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and could be back by next week.
Clayton Kershaw- (SP, LAD): Kershaw was placed on the IL with left forearm inflammation. It was originally called left elbow inflammation but the MRI revealed forearm inflammation instead. Kershaw has begun a throwing program but there is still no timeline for his return.
Mike Trout- (OF, LAA): Trout has been on the IL with a calf strain. Trout took batting practice and has been doing baseball activities as well as running the bases. Watch for him to start some rehab games soon with a possible return around the beginning of August.
Alex Bregman- (3B, HOU): Bregman was placed on the IL with a left quad strain. Bregman said on Tuesday that he will run the bases a few more times at high intensity before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. If all goes well, he could be activated by the end of next week.
Tejay Antone- (RP, CIN): Antone is on the IL with a forearm strain. He received a PRP injection. He is expected to begin throwing bullpen sessions next week.
Tommy La Stella- (2B, SF): La Stella was on the IL rehabbing from a hamstring injury when he fractured his thumb. La Stella is currently on a rehab assignment. His rehab assignment was paused because he began having pain in his thumb again.
Lucas Sims- (RP, CIN): Sims is on the IL with an elbow strain. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week and possibly return by next weekend.
Luis Robert- (OF, CHW): Luis Robert was diagnosed with a Grade 3 strain of his right hip flexor and has been on the IL. He has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment but it is not known how long it could last. Expect him to be back by mid to late August.
Eloy Jimenez- (OF, CHW): Jimenez had surgery late March for a torn left pectoral muscle. Jimenez is currently doing well on a rehab assignment at Triple-A, and he is expected to be back by the beginning of August.
Nick Anderson- (RP, TB): Anderson is on the IL with a partial tear of his elbow ligament. Anderson has continued throwing bullpen sessions and is set to begin a rehab assignment in the coming days.
Luis Severino- (SP, NYY): Severino is currently on the IL rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year. He then suffered a Grade 2 groin strain during his rehab stint. Luis Severino has been facing hitters but still remains about a month away from returning.
Yasmani Grandal- (C, CHW): Grandal was placed on the IL with a torn tendon in his left knee. He has had surgery and is progressing well in his rehab. He is expected to return mid August.
Maikel Franco- (3B, BAL): Franco was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could return next week.
Chris Sale- (SP, BOS): Sale is on the IL rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year. Sale has begun a rehab assignment and has done well so far. Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush has said that Sale will not be activated from the IL until he is stretched out to throw five to six innings.
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU): Urquidy is on the IL with a shoulder injury. Urquidy threw a side session on flat ground on Wednesday and needs one more of these prior to going out on a rehab assignment. He is still about two to three weeks away from activation.
Corey Kluber (SP, NYY): Kluber is on the IL with a subscapularis strain, or a shoulder strain. Yankees GM Brian Cashman said last week that he does not expect Kluber to return from the IL until September. Kluber was scheduled to throw a bullpen session this weekend.
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA): Rendon is on the IL with a hamstring strain. He recently suffered a setback and may not be able to return for a few more weeks. Rendon may now be looking at a return date in mid-August.
Joe Ross (SP, WAS): Ross is on the IL with a forearm strain. He threw one bullpen session and had some pain afterward but was not shut down. He is scheduled for another bullpen session soon.
Carlos Carrasco- (SP, NYM): Carrasco has been on the IL since the start of the season with a hamstring injury. Carrasco has pitched two rehab starts and it is possible that the Mets could build him up to start in either the minors or in the majors as they are in need of starters to throw innings.
Tyler Glasnow (SP, TB): Glasnow is on the IL with a partial tear in his UCL. He has been feeling good after playing light catch. There is still a chance he could return by September.
Ketel Marte (OF, ARI): Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Marte had an MRI this week which showed he is "near a full resolution." Marte then took a few batting practice at-bats. Marte still needs to ramp up his running and then a rehab assignment before activation from the IL
Huascar Ynoa- (SP, ATL): Ynoa is on the IL with a broken hand. He is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment next week and could be ready to pitch in the Braves rotation in about two to three weeks after he is built up a little.
Michael Fulmer (RP, DET): Fulmer is on the IL with a neck strain. He has recently begun a rehab assignment and could be activated as early as the end of next week.
Corey Seager- (SS, LAD): Seager is currently on the IL after fracturing the fifth metacarpal on his right hand. Manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday that Seager's hand "feels good" but remains without a set date to be activated from the injured list.
Adalberto Mondesi (SS, KC): Mondesi is on the IL with a left oblique strain. There is no timeline for his return yet, but he is progressing well and has begun swinging and was taking grounders.
Shane Bieber (SP, CLE): Bieber is on the IL with a subscapularis strain. This week he began playing catch which is the first step in his rehab. There is still no timetable for his return.
Aaron Civale (SP, CLE): Cleveland placed Civale on the IL with a finger injury in late June. Civale is now throwing from 105 feet and remains about one to two weeks away from being sent on a rehab assignment. This means he is about three to four weeks away from being able to return to the Indians' rotation.
Carson Kelly (C, ARI): Kelly is on the IL with a fractured right wrist. Kelly went through a full pre-game batting practice session this past Monday. He has been out since June 19. Kelly has now hit and thrown, which means he's closing in on a return but he will need a rehab assignment first.
Jack Flaherty (SP, STL): Flaherty is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Flaherty will throw one more bullpen session before facing live hitters. He has already thrown a few bullpen sessions. He is not eligible to be activated from the IL until the start of August. Flaherty could begin rehab games soon in order to ramp up for his return.
Carlos Martinez (SP, STL): Martinez landed on the IL with a torn thumb ligament. Manager Mike Shildt said this week that Martinez underwent surgery to repair the torn ligament in his right thumb. Following this surgery, there is a chance that Martinez may not return this season.
Corey Dickerson (OF, TOR): Dikcerson is on the IL with a foot injury. He took batting practice this week for the first time since his injury. There is still no timeline for him to come back. Even when he does, he does not have a clear path to playing time in the Blue Jays outfield.
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