Howdy, Razzfolks!
Kinda bonkers it’s already August. Not only cuz baseball is past its trade deadline and the fantasy baseball season is rounding the final bend, but also cuz I’m a teacher and school starts for me the day after tomorrow. Teacher week is the best. Not. But it’s predictable, at least! When the kids get there, well, that’s a different story. But that’s what makes it fun! Most of the time…
Anyhoodles. You don’t give three soggy turds about that. You’re here for injury updates, and injury updates thou shalt receive!
Infielders
Adalberto Mondesi: IL (oblique) – Welllllllll. Dang. This tweet kinda sucks.
Dayton Moore asked by @bobfescoe if he can count on Mondesi in 2022.
"No. You can't. … We're learning that we're going to have to manage his workloads in ways that he may not be a guy that plays more than 100 games. … We can't count on him as an everyday player." #Royals
— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) August 2, 2021
But! Mondesi has started rehab, so the above tweet should only worry you next year (and beyond). If you’ve still got him on your IL this year in redraft…YOLO!!!
Alex Bregman: IL (quad) – Bregs was pulled from rehab after experiencing tightness in his hamstring. He’s on the IL for a quad injury, and last year he injured his other hammy, so this is not a nice trend we have going here. But, still, he’s doing well enough again that he’ll rehab through this weekend and then go from there. Could still be back with Houston in the coming days.
Anthony Rendon: IL (hammy) – Season-ending hip surgery is in order. More like Anthony Ren-done. Nothing else to say other than the obvious: he’s a drop in non-dynasty leagues. Not even worth a keeper right now in my book.
Brandon Belt: IL (leg) – Belt should be back soon. Said it before, I’ll say it again: not a bad 1B option if you’re lacking in the department.
Cavan Biggio: IL (neck/back) – Biggio landed on the Infuriating List, adding more salt to the wound that is his crappy af 2021 season. I’ve never been much of a fan outside of OBP leagues, anyway. Sure, blah blah blah he’s young and shown potential blah blah blah. I don’t care. I’m either taking Ozzie Albies or Mike Moustakas as my 2B or I’m just fading the position. You do you, though, Biggio truther.
Evan Longoria: IL (shoulder) – Longo started rehab Thursday. He was absolutely raking early on in the year, so maybe he can provide a decent little boost at the hot corner down the stretch.
Fernando Tatis Jr.: IL (shoulder) – Aaaaaand here it is. Many warned this day would come, but I don’t think anyone who did would have said it’d be almost August before it happened. All that being said, he’s apparently making great progress. Already hitting again in a batting cage and could shift to field hitting soon. I’m fairly confident he’s got gears and wires under there instead of human muscles and ligaments. Doesn’t mean I’m not concerned as an owner, though (my only share of him got traded to B Don soon after the first injury that scared us all to death).
Gary Sanchez: IL (COVID) – Sanchez has tested positive for COVID-19, but since it was rapid test, he also got a lab test done. He wasn’t feeling well, so odds are solid the lab test will also be positive. That would mean at least 10 full days of IL time before he could come back.
Jared Walsh: IL (chest) – Looks like Walsh will be ready to go once eligible to be activated. Which is today!
Josh Rojas: IL (finger) – Rojas is just about ready to start rehab. Barring setbacks, we will likely see him back with the Diamondbacks this coming week.
Luke Voit: IL (knee) – Rehab started back on Tuesday. My balloon of Voit hype-ness has definitely deflated quite a bit.
Ryan Mountcastle: DTD (concussion) – Mounty left yesterday’s game and is being evaluated for a concussion. Stay tuned for updates.
Travis d’Arnaud: IL (thumb) – TDA is mega close to a return. Like, probably Tuesday. Smash that add button if you need a C down the stretch.
Outfielders
Andrew Benintendi: DTD (shoulder) – Benny Baseball is DTD with a shoulder injury after sliding awkwardly into second. Happens all the time on the band bus.
Andrew McCutchen: IL (knee) – Cutch has been enjoying a turning-back-the-clock season but landed on the IL on Monday. Knee inflammation. Could be back when eligible, but could also need more time. Not real clear yet.
Byron Buxton: IL (hand) – Some news at last! Maybe Buck is getting close? He’s started swinging a bat again, hitting off a tee. We’ll see if he can progress to big boy ABs soon.
Eddie Rosario: IL (abdomen) – You may have forgotten all about Rosario since he’s been out for a while and totally missed he got traded to the Braves. I wouldn’t blame you. He’s taken batting practice and has felt good after, so he’ll go on rehab sometime in the next few days.
Luis Robert: IL (hip) – Although rehab has gone well, LuBob won’t be activated this weekend. Monday is very possible, though!
Starters
Chris Sale: IL (TJS recovery) – Another rehab start is on tap today for Sale. Assuming this one goes well (in the feels-good-afterward sense), then it’ll probably be his last one. We’ll see Sale in a Boston uniform this coming week, folks.
Clayton Kershaw: IL (forearm) – Hmm. The latest update on Kershaw was that he’s in “idle mode.” That’s…lame. I guess it’s better than hearing he’s gotten worse.
Roberts said Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin are "in idle mode" they are not playing catch, and haven't picked up a baseball yet. #Dodgers
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) August 4, 2021
Domingo German: IL (shoulder) – Rotator cuff strain for German. He’ll be completely shut down for a week (or maybe a little more) and then go from there.
Huascar Ynoa: (L (hand) – Rehabbing in Triple-A now. Won’t be long!
Ian Anderson: IL (shoulder) – Rehab began Thursday. He’ll likely need a few outings to get up to game speed again.
Jack Flaherty: IL (oblique) – Rehab start yesterday went FILL IN BLANKS!!! He’ll back activated this week!!! Woohoo!!!!
Luis Severino: IL (groin) – Severino is trending toward a late-August or early-September return. Another rehab start is scheduled for tomorrow.
Noah Syndergaard: IL (TJS recovery) – Thor is juuust about ready to progress to facing live batters. Good sign, but doesn’t mean he’s close, mind you. Dude’s been out, ramped up, shut down, and now needs to ramp up again. We’re still looking at early September for a return.
Tyler Glasnow: IL (Tommy John) – Welp, Glasnow had the ol’ Tommy John after all. That ruins all 2022 value he might have carried. See ya in 2023, you sexy bastard.
Relievers
Collin McHugh: IL (arm) – McHugh should be activated by, like, today. I like sexy RPs that can be slotted as an SP in lineups. This guy is one of ’em. Pretty much a must-own in SVHD leagues, but I’d argue he’s valuable in all formats.
Jeffrey Springs: IL (knee) – My goodness. Another Rays reliever on the IL. Good thing McHugh is about to come back. Springs has been a surprising source of wins, holds, and strikeouts all season long. I pretend like I’m a wizened old fantasy baseball stud muffin but there are plenty of guys I’d never heard of doing awesome things this year and Mr. Springs is most definitely on that list.
Josh Hader: IL (COVID) – Geez. COVID really is about to wreck the last part of the fantasy season, y’all. Hader landed on the COVID-IL back on Monday. Side note: Delta variant sucks, even if you’re vaccinated. Our little kiddos are catching it left and right (which was not the case with the OG strain). Please consider masking again in public and getting vaccinated if you haven’t been already.
Matt Barnes: IL (COVID) – Barnes is experiencing symptoms but tested negative for COVID. He should be back in the coming days.
Tejay Antone: IL (forearm) – Antone should kickstart a rehab stint in the next day or so. Obvs will slot right back into high-leverage work for Cincy. A definite must-own in SVHD leagues, but you know I love RPs that can moonlight as SPs in any format.
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.
