Howdy, Razzfolks!
Well, *insert “San Andreas Here We Go Again” meme*
So, we know Thursday’s NYY/BOS game was postponed due to a few positive COVID-19 cases with Yankees players. There were actually more before the All-Star Game. Six in total, and three are fantasy relevant names: Aaron Judge, Gio Urshela, and Jonathan Loaisiga. Now we’ve got an issue with the Rockies, but so far no one terribly fantasy relevant is affected. But the point is this: COVID is absolutely a thing again. And it will continue to be. This delta variant ain’t no joke; be careful out there, y’all.
This week is a quality-over-quantity type injury report. Not as many names as in past editions, but this week’s names are big ones. Arguably the biggest of ones.
Infielders
Adalberto Mondesi: IL (oblique) – Tiny little update for yinz on Mondesi. He’s progressed enough to begin swinging a bat. No timetable yet, but we’re getting closer. You’re probably at a point where you’re having to prioritize who’s on your IL. This guy should be one of ’em.
Buster Posey: IL (thumb) – Posey still isn’t ready to be activated even though he’s now eligible. Giants are considering him DTD right now.
Francisco Lindor: DTD (side) – Lindor left last night’s game with a side injury of some sort. If that’s an oblique, then…oof. Wait and see.
Luke Voit: IL (knee) – Geez. Voit’s knees are about as useful as Mondesi’s obliques. Which is to say, they’re s***. Some kind of bone bruise this time, apparently. They don’t even know how it happened lol. That’s the Yankees medical staff for ya! No timeframe for a return, cuz of course there isn’t.
Outfielders
Eloy Jimenez: IL (pectoral) – Eloy has been rehabbing all week, homering a week ago in the first game. You absolutely have to need to must add and stash if you can. Do it this very instant.
Nick Castellanos: DTD (wrist/hand) – Casty left last night’s game after getting hit by a pitch. Look liked his right wrist or maybe his hand. Stay tuned for any updates on severity.
Ronald Acuna Jr.: IL (knee) – Well, there you have it. 2021 went 3021 on our asses. You’ve heard of blockbuster trades? I call these blockbuster rosterbusters. Acuna had to be carted off the field last Saturday. Torn ACL. He’s done for the year and will probably miss a good chunk of the first half of 2022. He’s the consensus #1 overall pick in my book, and now you’re without him for the crucial part of the season. Two of my teams are. Loveeee itttttttt.
Starters
Aaron Nola: IL (COVID) – Nola was scheduled to start Sunday but then wound up on the COVID-IL that same day. He’s scheduled to start Tuesday, though.
Chris Sale: IL (TJS recovery) – Sale looked masterful in his first rehab start Thursday, striking out 5 in just three scoreless innings. Not high-level competition, but still gotta be amped if you’ve got him stashed away for a second-half run. Also, cuz this:
Chris Sale is "a lot stronger" than he was a few seasons ago
?https://t.co/96uf1kkxq1— NESN (@NESN) July 16, 2021
Clayton Kershaw: IL (forearm) – MRI was encouraging so hopefully he’s not out too long, but Kershaw has no timetable right now for getting back into the Dodgers rotation.
Ian Anderson: IL (shoulder) – More like IL Landerson, amirite? Lol good one. But yeah, Anderson is now on the IL with shoulder inflammation.
John Means: IL (shoulder) – One of 2021’s best feel-good stories is getting mighty close to returning to the Orioles. Means went 3 innings (needed 74 pitches…but he’s rusty!) Thursday and there were no issues after. So the good news here is he ramped up his pitch count and is feeling fine. He should rejoin the O’s early this coming week most likely.
Sonny Gray: IL (rib) – Gray should be activated tomorrow! More like Sonny Yay, amirite?!
Yu Darvish: IL(hip) – Darvish has been dealing with a hip injury but is expected to be activated Monday.
Yusei Kikuchi: IL (COVID) – Add another one to the COVID-IL. Kikuchi landed there back on Sunday. Poor feller had to miss the All-Star Game, but he should be back with the Mariners this weekend sometime.
Relievers
Lucas Sims: IL (elbow) – Apparently it’s already clear that Sims won’t be back until August now at the earliest. It was sounding like late July until news broke yesterday that that will not be the case. Keep them Heath Hembree shares.
Michael Lorenzen: Lorenzen was activated yesterday. He was on my radar entering the year but then got hurt. The Reds pen is still without Tejay Antone and now Sims for longer than expected, so Lorenzen should get late-inning work. Hembree is killing it as closer, finishing out the first half in very strong fashion as one of fantasy’s best RP over the last two weeks (raw stats-wise and metrics-wise). Wouldn’t expect Lorenzen in the save mix because of that, but if you need holds, he could be a good add.
Nick Anderson: IL (elbow) – Anderson threw live BP yesterday. That’s all I got, but it’s not bad news!
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.
Any word on Schwarbs?
He was in last week’s piece. Gonna be a whiiiiiiile. Late August most likely.
Ketel Marte? He still alive? I haven’t seen a single update on him since the day he hit the IL
Saaaaaaame
Castellanos’ X-rays came back negative so he should be ok sooner than later
I. H2H league Galen coming off Il who would u drop jaws Chisholm Jorge palonco conforto or Tyler O’Neil?
Conforto. Struggling a ton. Could always snap out of it but he’s the odd man out here for me.
Thanks. I was thinking either him or Oniel
I lost acuna , jiminiez and Luis Robert
Left with Mullins kaureano and Brandon Lowe in the outfield quiet a drop off
Ooooof bummer. Keep O’Neill
I’ve got Acuna in my limited keeper auction league (keep up to five players for up to three years each at their auction salary). I kept Acuna this year at $21, and next year would be the last year I could keep him (again at $21). Do I stash him for next year or let him go? We do not have IL spots in my league, only 5 Bench spots. I’ve needed my bench spots for lots of injuries (currently Mondesi and Bieber are using up two spots) so having the flexibility of the bench spot that Acuna would take up would be valuable this year (I’m in third place currently, still have hopes of making a run at 1st.). I know it’s early, but any thoughts on whether he comes back strong at the start of 2022? Or is he going to take half a season to get up to speed, so using up a bench spot this season to keep him at $21 doesn’t make sense? (It’s a $260 auction budget, 5×5 roto, 14 batters, 9 Ps starting.) Thanks for your thoughts.
I think someone of his caliber is worth stashing whatever it takes. Generational talent!
Lost Acuna…switching to dominant pitching team in place of that. I was offered a trade for Bauer. Do you think he will pitch again this year?
Highly doubt it
I was offered Conforto-Jeter Downs and Libratore…what are your thoughts…18 team dynasty 5×5 thank you!
For Duran…..
That’s more a question for The Itch and Hobbs…prospects aren’t my specialty. Gut tells me to hold.
What is your Ian Anderson expectation? Is this truly promising news or is “tired shoulder” (on a young pitcher) and a “non-Accuna” Atlanta -> he’ll be essentially idled much of remaining season (i.e, heavily pitch-count/inning limited)?
I imagine they’re careful with him. They’ve lost Acuna and aren’t exactly a playoff team right now.
Any updates on Lou Bob or Kyle Lewis? They were both early picks ( and early drops) for me.
Nothing new on those guys since the last time I brought them up. Robert should start rehab sometime this month, barring any setbacks. Lewis may or may not play again this season. Sounding like he could later in August or September but who knows. Was never all that high on him anyway.