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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 3 of the 2022 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze injured MLB players and their recoveries.
We are coming to the end of April, and May is just around the corner. Injuries are beginning to pile up for some teams and sometimes it could be hard keeping up with all of the fantasy-relevant injuries. I will continue to highlight players on the IL with their hopeful return timeframe and the next man up.
One thing to note for all the fantasy baseball injury news you may hear is what type of IL the players are being placed on. There is still a COVID IL (a few players have already been placed on it). Vaccinated players with close contacts have no minimum stay. Non-vaccinated players still need to stay around seven to 10 days on the IL. The current MLB IL remains at 10 days. Starting May 2nd, which is next week, the IL will be 10 days for hitters and 15 days for pitchers. One can learn a lot about the players' current injury based on which IL they get put on. Teams will be placing injured players on the 60-day IL to create for themselves more roster flexibility as those players do not count against the active 40-man rosters. More importantly, if a player is hurt and is placed on the 15-day IL, the team then believes that the player will be back sooner than the 60 days, or the first to the second week in June. When picking up and dropping players, keep that in mind.
A little about myself for new readers: My name is Reuven Guy and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management Physician Assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 15+ years and have a knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I have also been playing fantasy baseball during that same time period, which has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball which I hope to share with you. Make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24x7 push notification alerts!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS, SD) - Wrist: Tatis is on the IL with a wrist fracture. He had surgery and is expected to be out for about three months. He is expected to start swinging a bat in about two to three weeks. This week, he began simulating fielding groundballs and making throws. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless.
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF, ATL) - Knee: Acuna is recovering from ACL repair last year. Acuna is currently on a rehab assignment and is expected to return to the majors, for the first time since last June, on May 6th. It should be noted that Acuna is not holding back during his rehab and has been stealing bases, which is a great sign.
Teoscar Hernandez (OF, TOR) - Oblique: Hernandez was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. The severity is not yet fully known. He began a hitting progression but still has a ways to go to return. Ramiel Tapia or Bradley Zimmer may continue to benefit with more playing time for the Blue Jays.
Jose Altuve (2B, HOU)- Hamstring: Altuve was placed on the IL with a strained left hamstring. Astros GM James Click said that Altuve could require a minimum-length stay on the IL. Altuve has an MRI which revealed "really good results." He has already begun to take grounders. Aledmys Diaz and Niko Goodrum should fill in for the Astros.
Luis Urias (3B, MIL) - Quad: Urias injured his left quad running the bases earlier this spring and is on the IL. He is running and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.
Evan Longoria (3B, SF) - Finger: Longoria was placed on the 10-day IL following surgery to repair a ligament in his right index finger in mid-March. He is participating in limited baseball activities and is scheduled to begin a hitting progression this week. Wilmer Flores will continue to fill in at 3B.
LaMonte Wade Jr. (1B, SF) - Leg: Wade was placed on the IL with inflammation and a bone bruise. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. Austin Slater and Mauricio Dubon will see more time as Joc Pederson as Steven Duggar hit the 60-day IL with a left oblique strain.
Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW) - Oblique: Moncada was placed on the IL with an oblique strain. White Sox GM Rick Hahn said that it has been diagnosed as a Grade 1 oblique strain and is expected to keep him sidelined for another few weeks as he still feels soreness swinging left-handed. Jake Burger or Leury Garcia should fill in.
Eloy Jimenez (OF, CHW)- Hamstring: Jimenez suffered a "significant" injury on Saturday, but it is not expected to end his season. Jimenez was carted off the field after landing awkwardly on first base while running out a groundball. He will be placed on the IL. Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets will get more playing time with Jimenez out.
Donovan Solano (2B, CIN) - Hamstring: Solano was placed on the IL with a sore left hamstring. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment either Tuesday or Wednesday this week.
Kyle Lewis (OF, SEA) - Knee: Lewis was placed on the IL as he continues to come back from knee surgery last year to repair a torn meniscus. He continues to take live BP and should still need to have a rehab assignment before the Mariners activate him.
Javier Baez (2B, DET)- Thumb: Baez is on the IL with thumb soreness. It is thought his stay on the IL will be short and could be activated as early as April 24.
Alex Kirilloff (OF, MIN)- Wrist: Kirilloff was placed on the IL with a recurrence of the right wrist issues that sidelined him for much of last season. He underwent season-ending surgery on the wrist last summer. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment early this week and could be activated by the end of the week.
Jonathan India (SS, CIN)- India was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to April 16. Manager David Bell previously said India wouldn't rejoin the starting lineup until at least this past Friday. India ran the bases this past Friday, which is a good sign. Brandon Drury could fill in.
Mike Moustakas (3B, CIN)- Moustakas was placed on the IL with a right biceps strain. The severity is not yet known. He will be eligible to be reinstated on April 28. Colin Moran should see more time at third base during his absence.
Tyler Stephenson (C, CIN)- Head- Stephenson was removed from Tuesday's game against the Padres after a collision at home plate with Luke Voit. He was placed on the seven-day concussion IL. Aramis Garcia should fill in as the main catcher for the Reds.
Luke Voit (1B, SD)- Biceps- Voit was out of the lineup this weekend as he is dealing with a biceps injury. The extent of Voit's injury is not yet known, but Padres manager Bob Melvin did not rule out a trip to the IL.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jacob deGrom (SP, NYM) - Shoulder: deGrom was officially placed on the IL with a stress reaction in his right scapula. Mets manager Buck Showalter's expectation is the Mets will not know anything until Monday regarding Jacob deGrom, who had an MRI exam and CT scan on Friday.
Lucas Giolito (SP, CHW) - Abdomen: Giolito was placed on the IL with a left abdominal strain. He said he feels significantly better than when he first suffered the injury. He is expected to be activated from the IL on April 24.
Luis Castillo (SP, CIN) - Shoulder: Castillo has been placed on the IL with shoulder soreness. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week and could return within the next 10 days.
James Kaprielian (SP, OAK) - Shoulder: Kaprielian is going through his recovery from AC joint irritation/inflammation and was placed on the IL. He has begun a rehab assignment earlier this week and will make one more rehab start prior to activation.
Taijuan Walker (SP, NYM) - Shoulder- Walker was placed on the IL with right shoulder bursitis. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could be activated this Friday.
Mike Clevinger (SP, SD) - Knee: Clevinger is on the IL due to a sore right knee. He began his rehab assignment this past week and should have one or two more rehab starts prior to activation.
John Means (SP, BAL)- Forearm- Means was placed on the IL with forearm tightness and is scheduled for Tommy John surgery. His 2022 season is unfortunately over.
Jon Gray (SP, TEX)- Knee- Gray was placed on the IL, retroactive to April 20, with a low-grade MCL sprain in his left knee, though it isn't expected to be a lengthy absence. Gray suffered the injury during his last start. Glenn Otto will step into his spot in the rotation for the Rangers.
Blake Snell (SP, SD)- Groin: Snell was placed on the IL with left adductor tightness. Snell has said this injury is "way more minor" than the issue he dealt with in 2021, but he'll still be forced to miss at least one turn through the rotation. Snell was scheduled for a simulated game this weekend. MacKenzie Gore will continue to take his spot in the rotation for now.
Andrew Heaney (SP, LAD)- Shoulder- Heaney was placed on IL with shoulder soreness. He said his shoulder discomfort started earlier this week, after his six scoreless innings this past Sunday. He said he tried to test it by playing catch today. "It didn't go good." Tyler Anderson looks to take his place in the Dodgers rotation.
Matt Manning (SP, DET)- Shoulder- Manning was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Tigers manager AJ Hinch said on Tuesday that Manning is not dealing with any structural damage to his right shoulder. He has already thrown a couple of bullpens since his injury. Michael Pineda was called up to take his spot in the Tigers' rotation.
Casey Mize (SP, DET)- Elbow- Mize is on the IL with a medial collateral sprain or golfers elbow. He is considered day-to-day but remains without an official timeline to begin a throwing program. Beau Brieske looks to take a few turns in the Tigers rotation for Mize.
Hyun Jin Ryu (SP, TOR)- Forearm- Ryu was placed on the IL with left forearm inflammation. He could miss just two or three starts, so maybe a return the first or second week of May. He has already ramped up his throwing program, increasing his intensity and throwing from 120 feet.
Alex Cobb (SP, SF)- Groin- Cobb was placed on the IL with a right adductor strain ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader vs the Mets. He left Game 1 with a groin strain which now seems bad enough for the Giants to be cautious with him and put him on the IL. Sam Long may fill in for the Giants.
Anthony DeSclafani (SP, SF)- Ankle- Desclafani was placed on the IL with right ankle inflammation. In his last few starts, he had decreased velocity. He will undergo an MRI on Monday. DeSclafani dealt with a similar issue last season, though he didn't miss much time after receiving a cortisone injection. No word on who the Giants plan to use as his replacement.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Jorge Alcala (RP, MIN)- Elbow: Alcala was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. The severity is not yet known but he was moved to the 60-day IL.
Dylan Floro (RP, MIA)- Shoulder: Floro has been on the IL with shoulder tendonitis. He began his rehab assignment this weekend and could be activated as soon as this week although his role right when he returns is undetermined.
Ryan Pressly (RP, HOU)- Knee: Pressly was placed on the IL with right knee inflammation. He believes this is why he had a decrease in velocity. He is already throwing bullpens and was eligible to return on April 24th but that has been pushed back. Hector Neris could close for the Astros until Pressly returns.
Blake Treinen (RP, LAD)- Shoulder- Treinen was placed on the IL with right shoulder discomfort. The severity is not yet known. Daniel Hudson should fill in the setup role and occasional closer for the Dodgers until Treinen is able to return.
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