Howdy, Razzfolks!
Thanks for stopping in for another update on all those dadblasted injuries going around. There’s some good news in the works for several players, but of course, we’ve had some Irritating List additions (can’t believe it’s taken me til mid-June to come up with that one) as well.
Trying a slightly tweaked format this week just to streamline the reading process a little. Organized by generic infielders/outfielders/starters/relievers subheadings and then alphabetized by first name.
And if you’re curious, it’s Four Roses neat bourbon tonight as I touch this up. First time having it, and I approve!
Infielders
Adalberto Mondesi: IL (hammy) — Must have cursed him last week, cuz he wasn’t on the IL yet even though I made a brilliant DL pun with his name as the headline. And now here he is actually on the list after all. But who are we kidding, we had to know he was headed there, right? That’s just the way of fantasy baseball this year. Mondesi has been taking BP and doing some other activities, so he might be back relatively soon. Can’t say much else right now, though.
Cavan Biggio: IL (neck) — Sounds like Cave Man Biggio (that’s what my brain always wants to say when I first see his name) will most likely be activated sometime this weekend if not already by the time you see this. The numbers aren’t even a little impressive and the metrics aren’t either (other than BB% of course; his forte). But if he comes back fully healthy, Biggio could turn back into the guy you thought you were drafting. I’ve personally always kind of been in Camp Overrated when it comes to him, but he’s obviously one of the better 2B to own, given his double-digit HR/SB potential. Mos def a great option in OBP leagues.
J.D. Davis: IL (hand) — Hand is still bothering him, so no telling when he’ll be back in action. Le sigh.
Jeff McNeil: IL (hammy) — Better news on this front, at least! McNeil is doin the rehab thang and could be back with the Mets next week. Boy do they need him. They need a lot of things. There’s still potential for elite BA and sneaky power even if he’s not having the studly year I thought he might be having by now.
Kolten Wong: IL (oblique) — Not much of an update, but he should at least return before end of June sometime.
Luke Voit: IL (oblique) — Could start a rehab assignment tomorrow. If that happens, Aaron Boone said he’ll need a week of rehab games before returning to the Yanks.
Mike Moustakas: IL (heel) — Moose ran and took some infield drills yesterday. He’ll start a rehab stint next week sometime. Not too far from a return at this point unless he suffers a setback. It would be very 2021 for Moose to have a setback…
Nick Madrigal: IL (hammy) — Ughhhhhhhh. Nasty nasty hamstring tear has already landed Madrigal on the 60-day IL. He’s surprised us with a couple HR no one ever thought would come, plus 21 RBI. Only 1 SB, sadly, but the BA/OBP have been what we hoped. He’s been a nice little boost for my TGFBI squad, but thankfully I have McNeil coming back from injury soon to fill that void.
Travis d’Arnaud: IL (thumb) — Tentative target of the first half of August for a return. Early enough to help make a late push if you need a C to stash (and can afford said stash).
Outfielders
Billy Hamilton: IL (oblique) — *Undertaker GIF* would aptly portray Hamilton’s 2021 season, but alas it’s been put on pause with an oblique injury. It’s tough to say what kind of timeline we’re looking at, but I’d bet he misses most of the rest of the month, if not more. Adam Engel‘s time to shine, and he already has a HR.
Byron Buxton: IL (hip) — Headline Boy is very close to coming back. Smacked two dongs Thursday night in a AAA rehab game. Just needs to get up to snuff stamina wise but sounds like all systems are a go. I am so here for this.
Rehabbing @Twins OF Byron Buxton homers twice for the @StPaulSaints!
It's the first multi-HR game in the Minors for the former No. 1 overall prospect. pic.twitter.com/JLfCbM1LQO
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 11, 2021
George Springer: IL (quad) — Don’t have exact details yet, but Springer has been said to be very close to kicking off a rehab stint. Not much to hang your hat on, but it’s something!
Michael Conforto: IL (hammy) — Getting closer, but still needs to start running bases and doing strength tests. Said he hopes to start that stuff during this weekend’s series. Then if all that goes well, we could be seeing a rehab assignment in the following days. Sometime before the end of June is the target date for now.
Mike Yastrzemski: IL (thumb) — On track to be activated today! A very good walk rate has kept his OBP respectable despite only batting .222 on the year. A fully healthy Yaz could do some thangs for teams, so if you’re in need of outfield help, see if he’s out there. Good buy-low target if he’s owned.
Ramon Laureano: IL (hip) — Took BP Thursday and has been doing full workouts. Wants to rehab to build up stamina, but it sounds like he’d only do two or so games at the most. A return is imminent! RazzSlam squad needs him.
Trent Grisham: IL (heel) — Currently rehabbing for AAA El Paso. Might get called back to the Padres this very weekend and will look to continue his very strong 2021 season.
Starters
Adbert Alzolay: IL (blister) — This IL trip is just to get someone else on the roster but doesn’t figure to be a very long one. Alzolay had been haunted by walks his whole career but has seemingly fixed that for the most part this season. His K% has dipped from last year, but that’s not as important as dropping your BB% from 14.9 to 6.9 (nice). His H/9 was elite last year (5.06) and remains ace-like this year (6.87).
Carlos Carrasco: IL (hammy) — I guess Cookie has fully plateaued in progression? They still can’t give a reasonable timeline for a return, and he’s reportedly stopped throwing off a slope. I can’t find anything that says he’s gotten worse, but he’s certainly not getting better. I’m starting to feel like he’s $AMC stock and I’m gonna get caught hodling the bag. The tweet below is about as inspiring as Patches O’Houlihan throwing wrenches at you during dodgeball practice.
Zack Scott said Carlos Carrasco has been shut down after a PRP injection. July reactivation still a possibility.
— Laura Albanese (@AlbaneseLaura) June 11, 2021
Chris Sale: IL (TJS recovery) — Sale tossed a pen session Friday and apparently impressed. He’s not too far away. Stash him if you need SP and have room. Could be a second-half league winner. Duh.
Jacob deGrom: DTD (elbow) — deGOAT did deGOAT things Friday for six innings before getting yanked. He was seen talking to the trainer in the dugout and now it’s known there was some kind of injury. Unlike the tweet above, this tweet below does kind of put me at ease. Will have to wait and see, of course.
Jacob deGrom says he felt his flexor injury this week between starts. "I'm not too concerned about it," deGrom said.
"I've had a couple elbow issues before, and I know what that feels like. So my level of concern is not too high."
Says he hopes to miss no time at all.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 12, 2021
John Means: IL (shoulder) — Some injuries just bum you right out, don’t they? Sure, no-hitters and almost-no-hitters have been very frequent this year, but they’re still fun, and it was still really cool to see this guy get one. Reportedly no structural damage so maybe this stint won’t be terribly long. Hopefully we’ll see him sometime again this month. Fun fact: I had multiple shares but dropped him early this year after a tiny bit of a rocky start. Shucks.
Kenta Maeda: IL (arm/groin) — Made a rehab start Wednesday and looked very good. Struck out five and allowed just one run in 4 IP. He’ll be back with the Twins soon. Monday, in fact. I’d be buying low on him if I needed SP help.
Lance McCullers, Jr.: IL (shoulder) — Rehab start Thursday went well. He’ll be back very, very soon.
Max Scherzer: DTD (groin) — Scherzer left Friday’s start in the 1st inning and is DTD with a groin injury. Keep an eye out for updates on severity. Obviously a major blow if he’s out for any amount of extended time.
Sonny Gray: IL (groin) — A groin injury will force Gray to miss at least two starts. Hasn’t quite been the ace we wanted, but he’s allowed 3 ER or less in all but one outing.
Spencer Turnbull: IL (forearm) — There’s no structural damage to his arm. Just an inflammation-type deal. Nothing to worry too much about (yet), so looks like he’ll be back sooner rather than later, though the timeline isn’t clear. He’s rocking a 4-2 record with a 2.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. Oh, and had himself a no-no. Totally predicted that.
Stephen Strasburg: IL (neck) — Sighhhh. Stras isn’t close. Not even throwing still. Lower-body workouts only. *Sad face emoji*
Zac Gallen: IL (elbow) — Gallen will throw a sim game today. Goshdarnit if I’m not plumb shook by the fact he’s still progressing in a positive manner. I still expect something bad to happen cuz that’s my nature and that’s 2021 fantasy baseball in a nutshell, but can’t deny it any longer: so far so good.
Relievers
Ian Kennedy: IL (hammy) — Kennedy catapulted to fantasy superstardom early on with a buttload of saves. He had 11 through May 17 but has only had one single save since (and a blown save tossed in there). Now he’s on the shelf with a hamstring injury. The man is no spring chicken at 36, so who knows how long he’ll be out. Look for Josh Sborz and Brett Martin to get the majority of chances given Sborz is a righty and Martin is a lefty. Maybe John King and/or Demarcus Evans get opportunities sprinkled hither and thither, but my money is on Sborz/Martin for fantasy purposes.
Michael Fulmer: IL (shoulder) — No structural damage and is not expected to be out long. For now, Jose Cisnero seems to be favored; he’s gotten 2 SV this past week.
Michael Kopech: IL (hammy) — He stopped throwing due to some discomfort but will start pen sessions again soon. Then from there he’ll progress to a sim game. Rehab may or may not be necessary, but at least we’re seeing good progress. A return isn’t far away.
Tejay Antone: IL (forearm) — Cincy’s pen ace hit the IL yesterday after not pitching almost the entire week. Turns out it’s some forearm inflammation but it’s not thought to be serious. Sounds like he’ll be ready to go when first eligible to be activated.
Trevor Rosenthal: IL (shoulder) — Reportedly “rapidly progressing” through strength program but has yet to throw. Mid-August is a tentative return date. It’s a ways away, but something to keep in mind if you’re a Jake Diekman or Lou Trivino owner.
Find me on Twitter: @jkj0787. DMs are always open for questions, comments, concerns, complaints, etc. Odds are good I’m drinking black coffee, dark beer, or some form of bourbon at any given time.
