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Happy Saturday (or…whatever day it is wherever you are), Razzpeeps!

This week has been a brutal week in terms of injuries: Yordan Álvarez, Pete Alonso, Jacob deGrom (technically that was last week, but it was announced after publication), and Aaron Judge.

Mama mia.

One thing that will change is that you will not be reading much about Jacob deGrom in this series for the next year to year-and-a-half.

He has been a source of interest from the injury standpoint for so long that, honestly, it is relieving in a weird way to learn about a definitive injury and treatment. Obviously, it is never good to hear a player needs Tommy John surgery, but maybe this means that deGrom might have a chance to be something closer to the deGrom of yesteryear. It may be wishful thinking, but stranger things have happened especially in this golden age of late 30s (and Justin Verlander) starting pitchers.

deGrom may be out, but don’t worry! A lot of other guys are stepping up in his place and getting injured. Let’s talk about those folks now.

Notable Injuries (Week of June 3-June 9)

Pete Alonso (1B, NYM)

Pete Alonso went to the IL with a wrist contusion this week. The HR leader will be out for an undetermined amount of time (though some early reports are saying 3-6 weeks) after being HBP from Charlie Morton. This is a double whammy as Pete Alonso was on track for a 60 HR season, and the Mets were already spiraling pre-Pete injury. In the interim, Mark Vientos will cover Pete’s spot at 1B, but is that sustainable? Short answer- no. Vientos is slashing .162/.180/.243 in 39 PA.

At the time of publication, it was expected the Mets would call up Luis Guillorme. Guillorme has slashed .233/.267/.590 in 68 PA with the Mets.

If you lost Alonso on your roster, he will be difficult to replace at this point. In the past week, Joey Wiemer (MIL) has been hot (.444/.531/.926 in 32 PA) and is only 42% rostered. Jace Peterson and Gary Sánchez are some other options that are hot as of now that could be available if you are in a bind and willing to take some risks.

Yordan Álvarez (DH/LF, HOU)

Álvarez is out with right oblique discomfort and will be out of action for at least 10 days.

Álvarez largely carries the Astros offense this year and is second only to Aaron Judge in HRs in the AL. So for the ‘stros and your roster, alike, he is irreplaceable.

César Salazar was called up to replace Álvarez. Corey Julks and Chas McCormick might see more playing time in the OF. In 169 PA, Julks is slashing .258/.278/.399. McCormick is slashing .240/.325/.452. They are 8th and 7th in team fWAR respectively.

Some of the same players I mentioned above may work here too.

Byron Buxton (DH/OF, MIN)

Byron Buxton has stayed off the IL this season until recently (thanks to his time as DH). Buxton sustained a rib contusion after being HBP. Trevor Larnach was recalled to replace Buxton.

This is tough news for the Twins who also lost Joey Gallo to the IL with a hamstring strain. Kyle Garlick was recalled for Gallo.

Additionally, Carlos Correa has been dealing with plantar fasciitis.

If you pick up any Twins replacements, Larnach has a slight edge over Garlick, but it is nothing to write home about.

Eddie Rosario (.333/.333/.778 in the last seven days) and Luis Rengifo (.421/.421./.789 in the last seven days) might be an option if you are looking for hitting plus a few extras. For Rosario, a large boost to his number is thanks to a grand slam against the Diamondbacks.

 

Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX)

Who could have ever foreseen this? deGrom has not looked right for about 50 years, and we have all watched it happen. So, when it was announced deGrom was going to be out indefinitely for Tommy John Surgery, it was not a surprise and, in a sad way, provided some copium for those who need answers and reason for deGrom’s performance (it was me).

With deGrom out, the Rangers have Nathan Eovaldi, Martín Pérez, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning, and Cody Bradford in their rotation.

Dane Dunning was on quite the tear until a game against the Cards recently. The rest of the starters (with the exception of Heaney) are all something worth looking at right now. However, it is likely they will not be available in your league. If that is the case and you took a risk on deGrom, Brady Singer (SP, KCR) has been hot lately. Surprisingly, A.J. Minter (ATL but an RP) seems to be coming out of a rough start to the season. Both have only played 4-5 IP in the last seven days. So, it is uncertain how well they will stick. Taylor Rogers is a reliever, but he could also be an option depending on what you can shift around for pitching.

Aaron Judge (OF, NYY)

Pete Alonso’s time on the IL would have given Aaron Judge a chance to become the MLB HR leader. However, Judge is also on the IL with a sprained toe. Judge alone is a huge loss, but the Yankees are also down OFs Harrison Bader and Greg Allen.

That leaves the Yankees with Willie Calhoun, Jake Bauers, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the outfield.

The Yankees say they will be able to give an update about Judge’s timeline at the end of this weekend.

Brandon Lowe (2B, TBR)

Lowe was originally listed as being on the IL with lower back inflammation. However, that diagnosis was updated, and Lowe has a herniated disc. Lowe is restricted from baseball activities for 2-3 weeks, per Marc Topkin.

Currently, the Rays have Taylor Walls in at 2B. Walls has slashed 208/.318/.409 this season. Those numbers were stronger until he moved into a deep slump. In the past 7 days, Walls slashed .000/.148/.000 (27 PA).

Noah Syndergaard (SP, LAD)

Thor is going to be out because of a blister, which is a recurring issue for Syndergaard at this juncture. It will make it tough on the Dodgers, who are already down Julio Urías.

Syndergaard has had a really rough season as displayed by a 7.16 ERA. I would be surprised if you have him (unless you just have that level of hope in you), but there are plenty of options out there that I listed above.

Other Injuries and Injury Updates

I covered some high impact players above, but there are a few more folks that joined the IL:

  • Greg Allen (OF, NYY), strained hip flexor
  • Phil Bickford (RP, LAD), lower back tightness
  • Calvin Faucher (RP, TBR), elbow inflammation
  • Joey Gallo (UTIL, MIN) strained hamstring
  • Mychal Givens (RP, BAL), shoulder inflammation
  • Trevor Gott (RP, SEA), lower back spasms
  • Joely Rodríguez (RP, BOS), shoulder inflammation
  • Nick Senzel (UTIL, CIN), knee discomfort
  • Josh Staumont (RP, KCR), strained neck
  • Darin Ruf (UTIL, MIL), knee laceration
  • Tyrone Taylor (OF, MIL), sprained elbow
  • Trayce Thompson (OF, LAD), strained oblique
  • Ryan Weber (RP, NYY), strained forearm

Here is some news out of the healing and rehabilitation front:

  • Graham Ashcraft (SP, CIN), knee- out until at least June 16
  • Cody Bellinger (OF, CHC), knee- out until at least June 19
  • Adam Duvall (OF, BOS), fractured wrist- Activated!
  • Joe Barlow (RP, TEX), kidney stones- rehab
  • Nelson Cruz (DH, SDP), strained hamstring- rehab
  • Max Fried (SP, ATL), forearm- out until at least July 14
  • Lourdes Gurriel (LF, TOR), groin- return imminent
  • Danny Jansen (C, TOR), strained groin- rehab
  • Victor Robles (OF, WSN), strained back- rehab
  • Chris Sale (SP, BOS), shoulder- headed to the 60-day IL
  • Tarik Skubal (SP, DET), flexor tendon surgery- rehab
  • Julio Urías (SP, LAD), leg- supposedly back this Sunday, but that was retracted
  • Mitch White (RP, TOR), shoulder- reinstated from 60-day IL

That’s it for this week’s Razzball Ambulance Chasers!


Have you made any recent moves in RazzSlam or TGFBI? Share with me in the comments or on Twitter: @keelin_12ft.