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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 20 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
The second half of the baseball season is in full swing and the race to make the playoffs, whether your favorite MLB team or your fantasy team, is in full swing. Knowing injury timelines is now at a vital part of the fantasy baseball season. There are still many injury questions that have to be answered over the next few weeks while some have been answered already.
This week, I will continue to highlight 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.
Starting pitchers are different when it comes to returning from injury. 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 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 or have a role in the bullpen initially. Now, let's look at the latest injury breakdown as we enter Week 20 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season.
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Injured Players - New Listings
COVID IL- When players go through the protocols, they could be out a few days or as much as 10 days (if COVID positive). This is the guideline one should use when they set their lineups and hear this unfortunate news.
Fernando Tatis, Jr- (SS, SD)- Shoulder- Tatis was placed on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He was injured last weekend and the Padres said that they will reevaluate him ten days after the injury. Tatis is focusing on returning this season but could undergo season-ending surgery if he doesn't make enough progress within those ten days. Tatis was able to play thus far following a shoulder subluxation without needing surgery by changing his swing. We shall see if Tatis is able to overcome this new obstacle.
Tony Gonsolin- (SP, LAD)- Shoulder- Gonsolin was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Severity is not yet known. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he is currently in "idle mode". The Dodgers have not yet named a replacement for him in their rotation.
Joakim Soria- (RP, TOR)- Finger- Joakim Soria is on the IL with inflammation in his right middle finger. Severity is not yet known. Jordan Romano and Brad Hand should continue to close for the Blue Jays.
Domingo German- (SP, NYY)- Shoulder- German is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. Severity is not yet known. He will be shut down and not throw for seven to ten days and then be reevaluated. Luis Gil has been filling in.
Cavan Biggio- (2B/3B, TOR)- Back- Biggio was placed on the IL with neck and back problems. Severity is not yet known. The Blue Jays are hopeful that Biggio will be able to return when first eligible on August 13. Corey Dickerson was activated. Santiago Espinal should fill in for Biggio until he is able to return.
Chris Paddack- (SP, SD)- Oblique- Paddack was placed on the IL with a strained left oblique. The move was made retroactive to Wednesday, making Paddack eligible to return as soon as this weekend. Severity of the injury is not yet known and he may not be healthy to be activated then. Reiss Knehr, who was called up, has taken his spot in the Padres rotation.
Jason Heyward- (OF, CHC)- Finger- Heyward was placed on the IL with index finger inflammation on Friday but has not played since August 3rd. Severity is not yet known. Greg Deichmann was called up and may get some playing time as the Cubs are playing younger players to see what they have.
Injured Players - Updates
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. He continues to throw bullpen sessions. deGrom has said that he plans on pitching again this year but do not expect him back any sooner than September 1.
Ian Anderson (SP, ATL): Anderson was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to July 13. Anderson has begun a rehab assignment and he could be back for the Braves in under two weeks.
Brandon Belt- (1B, SF): Belt was placed on the IL with an inflamed right knee. Belt has been on the IL for about a month. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could be activated within the next week. This may take playing time away from Darin Ruf, who has been hitting well recently.
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 is not currently throwing and will not be doing so until his forearm pain subsides.
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. He has been feeling better but has not yet ramped up his running.
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. Severino has begun his rehab assignment in Double -A. next week. He is still three to four weeks away from returning barring any setbacks.
Luke Voit- (1B, NYY): Voit is currently on the IL with a knee injury. He was been doing well on a rehab assignment but he has no guarantee in playing time after the Yankees traded for Anthony Rizzo and have Giancarlo Stanton at DH.
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. The Red Sox said he needs one more rehab start and could be activated from the IL August 12.
Huascar Ynoa- (SP, ATL): Ynoa is on the IL with a broken hand. Ynoa was scheduled to make the second start of his rehab assignment at Triple-A. If all goes well, his start may be in the Braves rotation around August 16.
Jack Flaherty (SP, STL): Flaherty is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Flaherty will throw about 75 pitches in a rehab outing and will be activated for his next start if there are no setbacks.
Danny Duffy- (SP, LAD): Duffy was placed on the IL with a left flexor strain. He is unlikely to pitch prior to September 1.
Brady Singer- (SP, KC): The Royals placed Singer on the IL this week due to right shoulder fatigue. Singer has made two rehab starts already and could be activated next week.
Travis d'Arnaud- (C, ATL): D'Arnaud has been on the IL for two months following surgery on his left thumb for a torn ligament. He is participating in a rehab assignment and the earliest he could be activated from the IL is this Tuesday, August 10.
Chris Archer- (SP, TB): Archer has been on the IL since the start of the season due to right lateral forearm tightness. He is currently on a rehab assignment but left his last start due to hip soreness. He is scheduled to begin pitching again this weekend.
Jared Walsh- (1B, LAA): Walsh was placed on the IL with a right intercostal strain. Severity is not yet known. Walsh has been able to hit and throw and is not expected to be out for an extended amount of time.
Taylor Rogers- (RP, MIN): Rogers was placed on the IL with a left middle finger sprain. Severity is not yet known. He is getting further evaluations but it is possible he may miss the rest of the season.
Anthony Rendon- (3B, LAA)- Hip- Rendon has been on the IL since July with a left hamstring strain. Rendon was transferred to the 60-day IL and will undergo season-ending surgery to address a right hip impingement.
Tyler Glasnow- (SP, TB)- Forearm- Glasnow was placed on the IL with a forearm injury. Following conservative treatment, Glasnow and the Rays decided to go forward with Tommy John surgery and it was performed earlier this week. He is done for this year and possibly 2022 as well.
Eddie Rosario- (OF, ATL)- Abdomen- Rosario is on the IL with an abdominal strain and was traded to the Braves while on the IL. He has now taken batting practice with the Braves for the past few days and says he feels good. He is likely to begin a rehab stint within the next week, with a return about five to seven days after that.
Alex Bregman- (3B, HOU)- Quad- Bregman is on the IL with a quad strain. He is currently on a rehab assignment and is scheduled to come off the IL next week.
Jose Urquidy- (SP, HOU)- Shoulder- Urquidy has been on the IL with shoulder inflammation. He has begun to throw off a mound. This should be followed by facing live hitters and then a rehab assignment, if there are no setbacks.
Adalberto Mondesi- (SS, KC)- Oblique- Mondesi is on the IL with a left oblique strain. He was on the IL earlier this year with a right oblique strain. Mondesi has begun his rehab assignment at Triple-A. He could return with the next 7-10 days if there are no setbacks.
Dinelson Lamet- (SP, SD)- Forearm- Lamet is currently on the IL with right forearm inflammation. He was scheduled to begin his rehab assignment this past week, Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. The Padres are very intrigued to see how his fastball/slider combo plays in a bullpen role. This means that the Padres may not want him to be a starter and try to use him out of the bullpen. His first rehab outing was only for one inning. Things can change but if you were stashing him (like me) to be a starter when he comes back, make sure to follow this story as his value to you may diminish in the bullpen.
Josh Rojas- (2B, ARI)- Finger- Rojas has been on the IL with a dislocated left finger. Rojas has been taking grounders at shortstop as well as taking batting practice. He should start a rehab assignment soon.
Nico Hoerner- (2B, CHC)- Oblique- Hoerner has been on the IL for an oblique strain for about ten days. Hoerner has begun participating in baseball activities this past Thursday but there is still no timeline for his return.
Evan Longoria- (3B, SF)- Shoulder- Longoria has been on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Longoria began his rehab assignment this past Thursday and could be activated very soon, barring any setbacks.
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