FANTASY BASEBALL INJURY NEWS AND UPDATES: MAX FRIED, OZZIE ALBIES, JOSH JUNG, MASON MILLER, ROYCE LEWIS AND MORE...
This past week, Ozzie Albies injured his left wrist. After testing, it showed that he fractured his left wrist. The Braves put him on the IL and gave him a timeline of about eight weeks to return. The normal time to return from this type of injury is anywhere between six to eight weeks. The Braves opted not to put him on the 60 day IL and only put him the 15-day IL. Eight weeks comes out to 56 days, just four days short of 60 days. I was curious as to why the Braves did not put him on the 60 day IL so I asked one of their beat reporters why this was done, and this was his response.
This is a concept that is important to fantasy players at this point in the season. The Braves feel that Albies will have value to them before the 60 day IL stint would expire. This is why the Braves did what they did, he is "too valuable". We, as fantasy players have to think along the same lines. Are the injured players on our roster valuable to our team for the rest of the year based on when they will come back from injury. If the answer is yes, then the player should be stashed. If the answer is no, the player could be dropped. There are a lot of factors to consider while making this decision (standings, playoffs, roster construction). I will continue to give updates on these fantasy relevant players in order to help you make better decisions with your roster.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning 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 17+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I have also been playing fantasy baseball during that same time. This 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 24/7 push notification alerts!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA)- Ankle: Rodriguez was placed on the IL this week with a sprained right ankle. He injured it running into the centerfield wall. Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said this week that Rodriguez will be re-evaluated around August 1, when he is eligible to return. Victor Robles has been starting in center field for the Mariners with Rodriguez out and the Mariners also just acquired Randy Arozarena.
Michael Harris II (OF, ATL)- Hamstring: Harris continues to recover from his hamstring strain and has been out since June 14. Harris felt soreness as he increased his running activities recently. He continues to do baseball activities. He is on the 60-day IL and is not eligible to return until August 14.
Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL)- Wrist: Albies suffered a left wrist fracture while trying to tag out a stolen base attempt. He is on the IL and is expected to miss approximately eight weeks. He was not placed on the 60 day IL as the Braves hope he will be able to return sooner than that. Nacho Alvarez Jr. was called up and should play second for the Braves and Whit Merrifield may get some playing time there as well.
Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)- Calf: Bichette was placed on the IL for the second time this month with a right calf strain. An MRI showed a moderate strain and may miss "multiple weeks" due to the injury. Leo Jimenez, Addison Barger and Ernie Clement could be in the mix to handle shortstop duties for the Blue Jays.
Mookie Betts (2B, LAD)- Hand: Betts is on the IL with a fractured left hand. He is fielding soft grounders and has recently been cleared to begin swinging.
Anthony Rizzo (1B, NYY)- Forearm: Rizzo is on the IL with a fracture to his right forearm. He has been restricted in his recovery, limited to activities in the weight room. Rizzo has now also begun agility drills. Ben Rice has been getting most of the time at first base for the Yankees with Rizzo out.
Mike Trout (OF, LAA)- Knee: Trout continues to rehab following left knee surgery. He was pulled off his rehab assignment after feeling soreness in the knee. There is no timetable for his return as the Angels medical staff will re-evaluate him this weekend.
Christian Yelich (OF, MIL)- Back: Yelich was placed on the IL with lower back inflammation. He has so far chosen rest and rehab for his back with no timetable for his return. Surgery is on the table for him. Yelich has been dealing with back issues since 2015 when he was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his back, which usually does not resolve on its own.
Josh Jung (3B, TEX)- Wrist: Jung continues to recover from wrist surgery. He took batting practice this past week and is close to facing live pitching. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy noted that Jung "looks good," while adding that "the strength is back" in his wrist. An early August return might be more realistic for Jung.
Starling Marte (OF, NYM)- Knee: Marte is on the IL with a bone bruise to his right knee. Marte is hoping to begin a running program this week. There is no timeline for his return.
Triston Casas (1B, BOS)- Ribs: Casas is on the IL with torn cartilage in his left ribcage. Casas has been taking batting practice and could begin a rehab assignment next week.
Nolan Jones (OF, COL)- Back: Jones was placed on the IL due to low back strain. He has taken batting practice but there is no timeline for his return. Sean Bouchard and Sam Hilliard have been filling in for the Rockies.
Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU)- Leg: Tucker is on the IL with a bruised right shin. Astros general manager Dana Brown said this week that the Astros are optimistic that Tucker will be back before September.
Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET)- Back: Carpenter has been on the IL since late June with lumbar spine stress fractures. Carpenter was transferred to the 60 day IL and now has August 6th date as the earliest he could return to the Tigers. He will require a rehab assignment before then.
Esteury Ruiz (OF, OAK)- Wrist: Ruiz is on the IL with a left wrist sprain/strain. He was pulled off of his rehab assignment as he continues to feel discomfort in his injured wrist. There is no timeline for his return.
Jorge Mateo (SS, BAL)- Elbow: Mateo is on the IL with a partially dislocated elbow after a collision with Gunnar Henderson. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Mateo will miss "a significant amount of time." The Orioles will not know more about a return timetable until the swelling goes down, and surgery is a possibility. Jordan Westburg and Connor Norby will handle the work at second base for now with Jackson Holliday looming.
Chris Taylor (3B, LAD)- Groin: Taylor was placed on the IL with a left groin strain. Severity is not yet known. Enrique Hernandez will get more playing time at third for the Dodgers and James Outman was called up.
Wilmer Flores (1B, SF)- Knee: Flores was placed on the IL with right knee tendinitis. Flores had just returned from the same injury a little over two weeks ago. There is no timetable for his return.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Max Fried (SP, ATL)- Forearm: Fried was placed on the IL with left forearm neuritis. MRI of his left forearm came back clean but the full severity is not yet known. He began feeling this issue when he was warming up for the All Star game. Dylan Dodd was called up to take his rotation spot for the Braves.
Justin Verlander (SP, HOU)- Neck: Verlander was placed on the IL with neck discomfort. Verlander has thrown a few bullpen sessions, but there remains no timetable for his return.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Yamamoto is on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain. He is now "pain-free" and is playing catch from 200 feet. There is still no definitive timeline for his return.
Ryan Pepiot (SP, TB)- Knee: Pepiot is on the IL with a right knee infection. He was admitted to a hospital in New York at the time but has since been discharged. He is currently trending to a return near his possible activation date of August 3.
Braxton Garrett (SP, MIA)- Forearm: Garrett is on the IL with a left forearm strain. He has begun a throwing program but is still several weeks away from returning to the Marlins rotation.
DL Hall (SP, MIL)- Knee/Forearm: Hall is on the IL for knee issues as well as a bruised forearm, which occurred during his rehab. Hall threw 49 pitches in his latest rehab outing and may require two more outings before being activated off of the IL.
Reese Olson (SP, DET)- Shoulder: Olson was placed on the IL this week with a right shoulder strain. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said this week that Olson's right shoulder injury is considered mild after undergoing further testing. That being said, Olson remains without a timeline to return.
Walker Buehler (SP, LAD)- Buehler: Buehler is on the IL with right hip inflammation. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and should require at least one more rehab start before returning to the Dodgers rotation.
Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)- Elbow: deGrom continues to rehab following his second Tommy John surgery performed last year. He threw two bullpen sessions this week and will then throw a few live batting practice sessions before going out on a rehab assignment.
Chris Paddack (SP, MIN)- Forearm: Paddack was placed on the IL this week with a right forearm strain. There is no timetable for his return as the extent of the injury is not yet known.
Joe Musgrove (SP, HOU)- Elbow: Musgrove was diagnosed with a bone spur in his pitching elbow. He has thrown a bullpen session but there remains no clear timeline for his return.
Christian Scott (SP, NYM)- Elbow: Scott was placed on the IL with a right elbow UCL sprain. Scott plans to rest for two weeks and then rehab with hopes to return to the Mets later this season. Kodai Senga will take his rotation spot this week.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Mason Miller (RP, OAK)- Finger: Miller was placed on the IL after breaking his left pinky finger, non-throwing hand. He injured his finger when he was working out after a loss and punched a table. He may miss up to a month, depending on whether he would require surgery. Lucas Erceg is the favorite to close for the Athletics.