Ambulance Chasers: Lodolo Love Fest And NL Central Injury Preview

Hap-hap-happy Saturday (or whatever day it is, wherever you are) Razzballers!

I’ve got a little extra pep in my step because it is the most wonderful time of the year: RazzSlam. I will see a few of you during the draft!

If you don’t have enough fantasy baseball in your life, there is still time to sign up for the Razzball Commenters League (RCL). Sign up to draft with me on March 10. Don’t like me? Fine, but there are other Razzball writers you may like that are also looking for some competition. If you don’t join my draft, I will just tell all of your friends and family you were afraid of being beaten by a lady (unless you sign up for Laura Holt’s draft; then I will wish you good luck because you’ll need it).

Let’s get into the real business.

Injury Report

We have a pretty meager week in terms of notable new injuries, which is good news.

Josh Lowe (OF, TBR) is currently healing from hip inflammation. Kevin Cash shared that the injury should not keep Lowe shut down too long, and we can expect to see him Opening Day and maybe even before.

#Rays Josh Lowe has left hip inflammation, will be shut down from baseball activities for 6 days, likely not play in a game for 10-15 days.
Cash says they’re “not overly concerned” and doesn’t feel it will impact his status for opening day.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 29, 2024

In the event that something goes terribly wrong for Josh Lowe, the Rays have Amed Rosario and Harold Ramírez on their bench. Ramírez had a breakout season last year (.312/.353/.460 with 12 HR in 400 AB) despite not being an everyday player. If the Rays injury track record from the last few seasons continues, we may see trade value for Ramírez again. Hopefully, we have a few months until it gets to that point, but that’s Rays life, baby!

Also of note yesterday, Ronald Acuña Jr. was scratched from the lineup and sent to visit a doctor about a sore knee.  The Braves are saying everything was precautionary and they didn’t want him playing back-to-back days and Snitcker said if it were in seasons he’d probably play.  Sure, sure, let’s go with that.

Ronald Acuña Jr. was scratched from today’s lineup for what #Braves termed a precaution due to right knee soreness.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 1, 2024

Not about to scream fire in the halls of Razzball HQ, but this is an ember worth keeping an eye on.  Should Acuna miss time Forrest Wall is currently destroying spring pitching…ok, let’s face it, nothing I can say here will help.  Let us all pray to our favorite Goddess of healing for Ronald’s knee.

This is where the rest of the article becomes a Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN) piece. Surprise! Welcome to Lodolo Fest 2024.

Lodolo was diagnosed with a stress fracture of his left tibia last spring and did not pitch for the rest of the season. As someone who isn’t a medical professional, that seems like a good amount of time to heal. However, Lodolo is experiencing some lingering issues from the injury that makes his future a little murkier.

David Bell on Nick Lodolo: “We’ll reevaluate it just to make sure we’re completely on track. He’ll have it re-scanned. He’s able to pitch without pain, but the recovery is not perfect yet. We’re trying to make sure we’re on the right track. We met with the doctor today. No major…

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) March 1, 2024

I am not sold on Lodolo because of the seemingly lingering nature of his injury, but maybe I am in the minority and drinking a big ol’ jug of Haterade. Hear me out: Lodolo is a bigger guy (6’6″) making a lot of repetitive movements that cause injuries like stress fractures. I am still a little curious how his mechanics will or have changed to accommodate the lingering effects of previous injury and avoid future injury.

He finished with a 5.79 FIP last season, which his injury probably influenced. In 2022, he finished with a 3.90 FIP. So, I will probably continue to keep my eye on his control and whatever adaptations he may or may not make because of his sort-of-prior stress fracture.

This is a great segue to the next topic: the NL Central Injury Preview.

NL Central Injury Preview

I posed some questions to a panel of other Razzball writers on the state of the NL Central in terms of injuries.

“What NL Central player do you think is going to have a comeback season in 2024?”

Thought we were Lo-done-lo? Nope!

When I asked the panel the above question, it felt a little bit like watching “The Bachelor”, and Nick Lodolo only has so many roses to hand out. The respondents that are in the running for a rose are Grey, Jordan White, Truss, and MarmosDad.

MarmosDad shared some insight into the Lodolo pick: “His strikeout potential is high. Doesn’t throw super hard, but I think it’s more because he’s 6’6″ and can crank it up like Randy did.” In 2022, Lodolo had 29.7% strikeout rate. in 103.1 IP. In the 34.1 IP Lodolo pitched in 2023, he had a 28.3% strikeout rate.

Nothing would make me a believer like seeing Nick Lodolo kill a bird with a pitch.

“What NL Central players are you selling, because of injury this year?”

I also asked the panel what players they are OUT on.

Grey shared he’s out on Tommy Edman. Edman has been dealing with issues with his right wrist, which was surgically repaired in the offseason. There is no timeline for Edman’s return. Beyond that, Edman has been on a general decline in terms of performance over the past few seasons. He is simply not producing from a fantasy perspective.

While MarmosDad is a big fan of one Reds guy, he shared he isn’t so big on Matt McClain. MarmosDad shared that he is worried about “if the oblique thing lingers or if they have him sit for an extended period of time.” Oblique problems have been recurring for McClain. In December, McClain reported he was fully healed from his season ending oblique injury. However, the lie detector test determined that was a lie as McClain is, again, dealing with an oblique injury.

MarmosDad continued “I really hope he’s all good because I’d draft him everywhere if his health was there, but we’re probably better off going with an SS or 2B with a cleaner medical chart.”

What NL Central players are you in or out on?

That’s it for your weekly fantasy baseball injury analysis. For those of you I don’t see in RazzSlam, have a great week! For those I do come across during RazzSlam, imagine me making a lot of mean faces and hissing noises.

Let me know in the comments who you think is going to have a comeback season this year! You can also follow me on Twitter (@Wh1sk3r_B1scu1t) and Bluesky (@keelin12ft.bsky.social)