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Ambulance Chasers: Bo Knows Tendinitis

August 5, 2023 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Injury Report | 3 Comments

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Howdy Razzball Friends!

This is the biggest week of injuries we have had in a while, with several top 100 players on the list.

Where are my “Bo Believers” at? My RazzSlam team is pretty stinky right now, but like many of you, I have Bo (I do this year after year) and waited with bated breath to find out if he sustained serious injury on Monday.

Luckily, Bo dodged a bullet called “structural damage”. You can read all about that and more starting RIGHT NOW.

Notable Injuries: Week of July 29-August 4

Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)

Bo Bichette sustained a right knee injury (patellar tendinitis) while rounding first base on Monday. Luckily, the injury is reportedly not structural. Yet, the Blue Jays have not shared a timeline for Bichette’s return. Dr. Google says it can take up to six weeks to heal, but Bo has already been recorded doing some supervised sprinting again.

The Blue Jays picked up Paul DeJong at the trade deadline to supplement Bichette’s absence on the roster. DeJong has slashed .233/.297/.412 with a 92 wRC+.

Utility player Luis Rengifo could be one utility option to cover Bichette in the interim. However, Rengifo’s time may be brief as Brandon Drury returns to the Angels roster. Jon Berti is another option. Berti has been on a streak since the All-Star Break, slashing .472/.500/.611. However, Berti has been playing more in the outfield rather than his usual infield positions.

Brendan Donovan (INF, STL)

Donovan is out with the season after receiving elbow surgery for a flexor tendon injury in his pitching arm. Donovan has served as an important utility piece for the Cardinals and, in Paul DeJong’s aforementioned departure, had a chance for a bigger role this season.

If you are missing Donovan in your roster, Wilmer Flores has been on a hot streak. Flores has been hitting career highs: .305/.360/.545 with a 143 wRC+. The downside to Flores is that he is expected to regress sometime in the near future. Ryan O’Hearn is another option. O’hearn is hitting .333/.377/.542 and 136 wRC+ in 72 PA.

 

Nathan Eovaldi (SP, TEX)

Nathan Eovaldi’s hot season started to cool off as his velocity started to go down starting around July 18. Not long after, he was sent to the IL with a right forearm strain. Bruce Bochy said he expects Eovaldi to be back around the end of the second week in August.

The Rangers acquire Max Scherzer, which may alleviate some strain from Eovaldi’s absence. That won’t necessarily help your roster. However, Nick Pivetta might fill the Eovaldi-shaped void.

Pivetta has been on a tear. In his last 28.3 IP, he has a 1.91 ERA and 2.65 FIP with 43 strikeouts to 6 walks. Woah.

Liam Hendriks (RP, CWS)

Liam Hendriks season has been more about transcending the game. Hendriks battled cancer and announced his remission in April. After an emotional return to the mound, Hendriks struggled with only 5 IP and a 5.40 ERA on his record, and he hit the IL again on June 11. Earlier this week, the White Sox announced Liam Hendriks underwent successful Tommy John surgery.

Hendriks will likely be out until the 2025 season (with a late season 2024 return possible). My hypothetical children will be off at college, and my hair will be snowy white by then. But, hey, I’m just happy Liam is alive and cancer-free.

Jonathan India (2B, CIN)

A slumpy Jonathan India hit the IL with plantar fasciitis but is expected to be back around August 8. In the last month, India has hit .202/.287 /.333. Still, his overall 2023 performance is slightly better than his 2024 performance.

Matt McClain will be covering 2B the most, but Spencer Steer, Nick Senzel, and Kevin Newman could also see playing time at 2B as well.

This is another spot where Luis Rengifo or Wilmer Flores could play a supporting role while a player, in this case India, is absent.

Alex Kirilloff (1B/OF, MIN)

Alex Kirilloff has a right strained shoulder. A mild or moderate strain can take 1-2 weeks to heal. So, Kirilloff may be back as soon as he is eligible on August 9.

The Cubs’ Mike Tauchman might be an interesting player to look at if you need outfield support. Tauchman has been on a hot streak, hitting .365/.404/.673 with 3 homers and 17 RBIs in his last 15 games.

If you need INF coverage, Ryan O’Hearn and maybe even Joey Votto (8 homeruns in his last 83 AB!) could provide coverage.

https://twitter.com/homers_mlb/status/1553157359098368004

Shane McClanahan (SP, TBR)

It seemed like this was coming, and here we are: McClanahan has joined the IL with forearm soreness. The timetable is unknown, but the club shared that McClanahan would be evaluated over the next few days.

The Rays have been riddled with pitching injuries, including season-ending injuries for Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs.

St. Louis’s Steven Matz has a 2.17 ERA and 29 strikeouts and 6 walks in his last 27 IP. Maybe he is the one for you.

Anthony Rizzo (1B, NYY)

There is not a ton of good news in the Razzball Ambulance Chasers series, but Anthony Rizzo’s experience post-concussion syndrome is a really tough one to write about. The Yankees shared they think Rizzo sustained the concussion in late May after colliding with Fernando Tatis Jr. Despite performing the proper protocols, there was no concussion detected. Rizzo has reported feeling fogginess and delayed reaction time over the past few months, which might explain his .172/.271/.225 performance since the end of May.

For now, Jake Bauers and DJ LeMahieu will share 1B responsibilities.

Jordan Romano (RP, TOR)

Romano has continued to be affected by lower back inflammation like we saw during the All-Star Break. Luckily, Romano is already throwing off the ground and may be able to return August 13. New Blue Jay Jordan Hicks and Yimi Garcia will get some innings during Romano’s absence.

The Brewers’ Joel Payamps may be a good pick-up. In his last 13 IP, he has a 1.39 ERA with 17 strikeouts and no walks.

Joe Ryan (SP, MIN)

Ryan has a nagging groin injury that finally sent him to the IL. A groin strain can take 4-8 weeks to heal, which is a tight timeline for the Twins, who are 1st in the AL Central.

With Ryan on the IL, the Twins promoted familiar face Dallas Keuchel. It has been one year since Keuchel, the 2015 Cy Young winner, played a game in the majors. So, at a minimum, this will be interesting.

Michael Wacha, who is returning to the mound today (as reported at the time of publication), is only 76% rostered. You could try to nab him if he is available in your league. Wacha has a 2.84 ERA so far this season. Nick Pivetta could also fit here.

Marcus Stroman (SP, CHC)

Stro exits The Show with hip inflammation. In the last month, Stroman had a 9.43 ERA and 4.93 FIP in 21 IP with 19 strikeouts to 13 walks. Stroman shared that his hip ailment has affected his performance as he tried to work around the injury.

In his current condition, Stro should not be difficult to replace because there are several better options. In fact, we don’t even need to leave Wrigley to find a better option with Jameson Taillon. Taillon has a 2.97 ERA and 24 strikeouts to eight walks in 30.3 IP. He is also only 42% rostered because of his dismal performance in the first half of the season.

Mike Yastrzemski (OF, SFG)

San Francisco’s Yastrzemski is back on the IL with a strained hamstring. Gabe Kepler shared that Yastrzemski will likely be out for 2-3 weeks. Yastrzemski has visited the IL with hamstring injuries often over his career with three occurrences just this season. Maybe the rest will be good for him because he has been in a slump, hitting .143/.288 /.286 in his last 56 AB.

The Giants currently have Luis Matos, Joc Pederson, and Michael Conforto in the outfield. Joc Pederson would not be a bad option to replace Yastrzemski on your roster. Like Yastrzemski, Pederson has been in a slump, but Streamer projections show him picking up over the rest of the season.

Taylor Ward (OF, LAA)

Taylor Ward sustained facial fractures after a scary HBP from Toronto’s Alek Manoah. Ward will most likely be out for the rest of the season.

Houston’s slider destroyer Chas McCormick is still unrostered in about 15% of leagues. So, there is a slim chance you could pick him up. McCormick has hit .349/.449/.735 in his last 83 AB.

Other Injuries

Here are some more players that hit the IL recently:

  • Austin Adams (RP, ARI), fractured ankle (out for the season)
  • Oneil Cruz (SS, PIT), could begin rehab this month
  • Domingo German (SP, NYY), out for the season for alcohol abuse rehabilitation
  • Tommy Henry (SP, ARI), elbow inflammation
  • Daysbel Hernández (RP, ATL), forearm inflammation
  • Tim Hill (RP, SDP), sprained left ring finger
  • James Kaprielian (SP, OAK), arthroscopic shoulder surgery (out for the season)
  • Ben Lively (SP, CIN), strained pectoral
  • Brad Miller (INF/OF, TEX), strained hamstring
  • Trevor Richards (RP, TOR), neck inflammation
  • Joely Rodríguez (RP, BOS), hip tightness
  • Esteury Ruiz (OF, OAK), rehabbing as DH
  • Julio Teheran (SP, MIL), hip impingement
  • Justin Wilson (RP, MIL), strained lat

Finally, here are a few updates:

  • Shane Bieber (SP, CIN), will reportedly not return until September (same for Triston McKenzie)
  • Max Fried (SP, ATL), returned to the roster
  • Hunter Greene (SP, CIN), rehabbing
  • Aaron Hicks (OF, BAL), due back in the next week or two
  • Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD), will reportedly return next week
  • Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), starting rehab next week
  • J.D. Martinez (DH, LAD), should return today
  • John Means (SP, BAL), could return in September
  • Cedric Mullins (CF, BAL), will reportedly return in a week or two
  • Joe Musgrove (SP, SPD), start was scratched earlier in the week, but he should start next week
  • Trevor Story (2B, BOS), should return soon (Houck and Whitlock are also still out)
  • Mike Trout (CF, LAA), has had dry swings but no timeline for return yet; there are a host of Angels that could return in August including Anthony Rendon, Logan O’Hoppe, and Max Stassi
  • Will Vest (RP/SP, DET), rehabbing
  • Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL), reportedly returning to the Brewers tomorrow
  • Kyle Wright (SP, ATL), out until September

That’s all for this week. Hit me for other updates in the comments.

How is your line-up holding up through the numerous injuries this week? Say “Hi” in the comments or over on Twitter (@keelin_12ft).

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