Razzballers and Shotcallers,
I hope you all had a wonderful Opening Day where none of your real life team or fantasy roster were taken out by injuries (unless you are my competition, and in that case, too bad, sucker!).
Last week, many of you shared thoughtful feedback in the comments about ways to improve formatting moving forward. I will try to implement some changes this week and intend on creating an injury tracker table as well. Please continue to share feedback.
Finally, I want to issue a disclaimer: this series is published after midnight on Saturday. There is a chance I might miss some injuries that occur in later games or that are still uncertain at the time this piece is published.
All right, let’s jump in! This week there were a lot of players moved to the IL. This is normal for Opening Day for a variety of weird reasons but mainly to open up space on the roster. I wrote a little more about that at the end of this article, but let’s get the nasty news of this week out of the way first:
American League Injuries
AL East
Toronto Blue Jays
Ryan Borucki (RP): Borucki was placed on the IL-10 retroactively for a hamstring strain.
Nate Pearson (SP): Pearson was placed on the IL-10 retroactively with a case of mononucleosis. Pearson is reportedly feeling better and expected to “resume activities soon”.
AL Central
Detroit Tigers
Jose Cisnero (RP): Cisnero has been moved to the IL-60 with a strained shoulder. This creates issues for the Tigers bullpen. Cisnero joins Andrew Chafin, Kyle Funkhouser, and Spencer Turnbull on the IL.
AJ Hinch said José Cisnero alerted staff to shoulder issues after his last outing.
"The more we examined him, and the more we got doctors to look at him, the more we realized it was a more significant injury than simply needing a 10-15 day stretch. So he'll be out for a while."
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 7, 2022
Riley Greene (OF): Last week, I shared that Greene was injured. However, the status or severity of his injury was uncertain. Greene was ultimately diagnosed with a right foot fracture that does not require surgery. However, he may be out for 6 to 8 weeks. Luckily, the Tigers picked up Austin Meadows to take over for Greene.
Chicago White Sox
Ryan Burr (RP): Burr was moved to the IL with a torn labrum that will require surgery. His timetable for return is undetermined. Matt Foster will join the roster in Burr’s place
Lucas Giolito (SP): Giolito left a game on Friday with abdominal tightness. The source was undetermined at the time this article was published, but it sounds like an injury we talk about frequently: strained oblique. Regardless, it sounds like Giolito will be out for at least a week if the injury is mild. Stay tuned for updates.
Lucas Giolito is still getting evaluated postgame. No details on severity yet but Tony La Russa said there’s concern simply that he would leave the game, knowing his competitiveness.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) April 8, 2022
Lance Lynn (SP): Lynn has a slight tear in a tendon in his knee. The positive estimate is that Lynn will return to the mound in 4 weeks, but he will have to be built up. With Lynn and Giolito down, you can expect the Sox to rely on Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo Lopez, and Dallas Keuchel.
Yoan Moncada (3B): The Sox 3B starter will be out for 3 weeks with a strained oblique. Jake Burger was assigned the 3B spot for the Sox Opening Day.
Yoán Moncada said he was fine up until feeling something in the batting cage a couple of days ago. His proposal to the team was to see if he’s feeling better tomorrow and possibly play. Obviously that proposal was turned down. pic.twitter.com/OjA0WwC0rf
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) April 7, 2022
AL West
Los Angeles Angels
Taylor Ward (OF): Ward suffered a minor left groin sprain after sliding for a catch. He should return in 10 days, and Joe Maddon mentioned that Ward will start in RF, but for now, Jose Rojas will cover for Ward.
Taylor Ward said he suffered a minor left groin strain while trying to get to a ball in the gap on Tuesday. Said he should be ready to return in 10 days.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 7, 2022
Texas Rangers
Garrett Richards (RP): Richards was moved to the IL-10 with a blister on his right middle finger. The Rangers added RPs Greg Holland and Matt Bush to finalize their roster.
They have finalized roster. Only IL was Garrett Richards, who has a real blister on his finger & probably could use a slight bit more buildup before activation on April 14. https://t.co/aOYtQmCpYo
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) April 5, 2022
National League Injuries
NL Central
Chicago Cubs
Alec Mills (SP): Mills was added to the IL-10 with a low back strain. Cubs Manager David Ross said the move was more of a precaution, and this gave Michael Rucker a chance to start an Opening Day game. Although no specific date was given, Ross’s insight indicates that Mills should be back in less than a week.
Wade Miley (SP): Miley was also retroactively placed on the IL-10 with left elbow inflammation. Miley’s recovery is not expected to be long. The Cubs may rely on their current rotation including Kyle Hendricks, Justin Steele, Marcus Stroman, Drew Smyly, and Keegan Thompson.
Rivas would definitely be a piece the Cubs want to keep around, but with the short ramp up period + Wade Miley’s injury, I’d assume they just want to have more arms who can eat innings https://t.co/cBYG3Qdkcn
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) April 2, 2022
Andrelton Simmons (SS): Simmons was also added to the Cubs IL-10 with right shoulder inflammation. Nico Hoerner, Nick Madrigal, and Johnathan Villar will have increased stock in Simmons absence.
https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/1512069525709066240
Cincinnati Reds
Max Schrock (INF/OF): Schrock will be out 4-6 weeks with a strained calf. Brandon Drury will serve in Schrock’s place for the interim.
Oh, sorry, lost in all that. They think it'll be 4-6 weeks for Max Schrock. Tough break for him at the end of spring for the second year in a row
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) April 4, 2022
Pittsburgh Pirates
Greg Allen (OF): Allen went to the IL-60 with a hamstring injury. The Pirates signed Jake Marisknick to replace Allen.
Since making his MLB debut in 2013, only seven outfielders have been worth more Defensive Runs Saved (75), per @fangraphs, than new Pirates OF Jake Marisnick.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) April 6, 2022
NL East
Atlanta Braves
Ronald Acuna Jr. (RF): The Brave officially placed Acuna Jr. on the IL-10 as he recovers from his knee ACL reconstruction surgery. While this injury is not new, the shift to the IL is. The Brave believe Acuna could be the DH before the end of April and ready to play in May.
Luke Jackson (RP): Jackson was added to the IL with UCL damage.
Medical Update on Luke Jackson: pic.twitter.com/vTgEOKCHE4
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 2, 2022
Jay Jackson (RP): Jay Jackson has been placed on the IL-60 with a right lat strain.
Manny Pina (C): Pina is currently dealing with a wrist injury. Travis d’Arnaud and William Contreras are both candidates to step in for Pina.
C Manny Piña was scratched from today’s lineup with a sore left wrist.
Here is the updated #BravesST lineup: pic.twitter.com/Wz2UOkn73E
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 5, 2022
Miami Marlins
Dylan Floro (RP): Floro was added to the 10-day IL right rotator cuff tendinitis. Don Mattingly told the press he did not expect Floro to be out long.
Sean Guenther (RP): The left-handed Guenther will undergo Tommy John surgery and be out the rest of the season. The Marlins picked up Cole Sulser and Tanner Scott to help cover Floro and Guenther.
Sean Guenther underwent Tommy John surgery yesterday. Neal El Attrache performed the operation.#Marlins
— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) April 8, 2022
Philadelphia Phillies
Mickey Moniak (OF): Moniak will be out for 6 weeks with a broken hand. Matt Vierling will start in Moniak’s place.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
Josh Rojas (INF/OF): Josh Rojas was added to the IL-10 with a grade 2 strained oblique. The timetable for Rojas’ return is currently undetermined but will be “weeks rather than days”, with the average return being 4-8 weeks. Drew Harris started for Rojas on Opening Day, and Sergio Alcantra is expected to fill in for Rojas as well.
#Dbacks manager Torey Lovullo with an injury update:
– Nick Ahmed (shoulder) started fielding activity/taking ground balls without throwing and swinging off the tee/soft toss.
– Jordan Luplow (oblique) started light baseball activity.
– Josh Rojas (oblique) has not started yet
— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) April 7, 2022
Colorado Rockies
Lucas Gilbreath (RP), Robert Stephenson (RP): We love when friends do things together! Both Rockies RPs have been placed on the IL for COVID-19 precautions. In their place, Justin Lawrence and Jordan Sheffield will pitch.
The Rockies announced today that they have placed LHP Lucas Gilbreath and RHP Robert Stephenson on the COVID-19 IL and have recalled RHPs Justin Lawrence and Jordan Sheffield from Triple-A Albuquerque.
— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) April 6, 2022
Los Angeles Dodgers
Victor Gonzalez (RP): Gonzales will be out for 3-4 weeks with elbow inflammation.
Roberts said Victor González felt some elbow soreness after a bullpen session last week, but that it has dissipated
González, Phil Bickford, Tommy Kahnle and Caleb Ferguson are all expected back in 3-4.5 weeks
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) April 8, 2022
Are there other injury updates?
Here is your lightning round (feel free to ask about others in the comments):
Kyle Funkhouser (RP): Funkhouser might be back in May!
Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B): Hayes left the Pirates game with an injury after agreeing to an 8-year contract extension with the Pirates. Luckily, the injury was just minor cramping.
Ke’Bryan Hayes tweaked something in the 1st pic.twitter.com/MXv7vYrIyo
— Ryder Cards (@RyderCards) April 7, 2022
Max Scherzer (SP): Max is back.
Luis Urias: Urias is still recovering slowly. Jace Peterson and Mike Brosseau will platoon Urias’ position.
Kirby Yates: Still recovering and expected to be out until August.
When do players get added to the IL?
Last week, commenter “Dude” asked an interesting question:
This may be a stupid question, but when will players be added to the IL? I see guys being added to the 60IL. Is this simply to clear roster space? Does the 10 day not start until opening day? Then we all try to move and add at 3am? Lol
No, actually, Dude, it is a really good and smart question. I can give you a very convoluted answer or a very simple answer with a common thread: moving a player onto the IL is at the discretion of each ball club. Additionally, various platforms update information at different paces.
https://twitter.com/nahjustdutch/status/1512163747334397966
My advice is to stash away injured players if you have IR or bench spots and really want to hang onto them. Additionally, do not be afraid to do your own research. It is difficult to find a single source of truth for injuries sometimes.
That’s it for this week! See ya’ll same time and same place next week.
How has your roster performed since Opening Day? Have you had any injuries affect your team yet? Share in the comments or on Twitter: @keelin_12ft.
