Ambulance Chasers: Roki Start For The Dodgers Pitchers

It’s a miracle! We have a palatable week of injuries, yet there are injuries nonetheless. We also have plenty of players on the mend, including Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Spencer Strider, and Ronald Acuna Jr, but there are no major notes. Edman and Strider are expected back early next week, while Acuna Jr.’s rehab stint in the minors is going well with multiple hard-hit balls (expect the former 1.01 pick back by late May at this rate).

If there were any injuries missed, feel free to yell at me in the comments or on Twitter/X @RotoSurgeon.

Injuries to Monitor

Oneil Cruz (SS/OF, PIT) Back

Oneil Cruz tweaked his back while running to second base last Sunday and has not played in a game since. The Pirates are calling his injury “day-to-day” but we all know that could mean anything, including a stint on IL. It makes sense for Pittsburgh to manage Cruz carefully, given how valuable he has been but the lack of news since the initial injury update is concerning.

Cruz missing Friday’s game versus a left-handed pitcher is not shocking, but if he remains out against a righty Saturday, I’d expect an IL announcement shortly after.

Carlos Correa (SS, MIN) Concussion

The always-injured duo of Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton ran into each other while tracking a flyball, and the only shock is that Royce Lewis was not involved. Buxton cleared concussion protocol while Correa was placed on the 7-Day IL. Correa has been a shell of himself this season with poor surface and peripheral metrics. Maybe this concussion shakes up his swing back to 2024 form, but the former fantasy stud is a worse version of Javy Baez thus far. If you still roster him for whatever reason, let go.

Seth Lugo (SP, KC) Finger

Seth Lugo will miss his upcoming start due to right middle finger inflammation. This issue leading to an IL stint is possible, but the Royals have not announced anything relating to it yet. On another note, Lugo needs to work on his road rage…

Corey Seager (SS, TEX)

The Rangers star shortstop is back on the Injured List with another hamstring injury. Seager had just returned from the IL in early May and played five games. He hit .348 with two HRs in 23 plate appearances while not playing every day. It is likely that Seager returned before fully healing and reaggravated the injury.

This is always the worst-case scenario for soft tissue injuries since they can be fickle. Not only could the injury recur, but the severity could increase and extend the absence. Hopefully, the Rangers treat Seager with kid gloves moving forward and allow him to fully recover this time.

Aaron Nola (SP, PHI) Ankle

Aaron Nola suffered an “ankle sprain” in his most recent start and has been placed on the 15-Day IL. While Nola’s ankle could be sprained, his 6.16 ERA and loss of fastball velocity are likely a bigger reason for missing time. Nola’s 16.4% K-BB is the worst since his rookie year while his 1.51 WHIP is absurd. Oddly, Nola’s peripherals like xFIP and SIERA appear to paint his start to the season in a positive light (both below 3.70), his xERA is 4.96 suggesting that he is allowing too much hard contact. Depending on who Nola faces upon return, he should be treated as a streamer rather than a must-start ace.

Tyler O’Neill (OF, BAL) Shoulder

Tyler O’Neill was scratched from the lineup Friday due to shoulder soreness. This comes after a stint on the IL due to a neck issue. Either O’Neill has nerve issues that are lingering, or he just needs a massage. Diving for a ball awkwardly on Thursday probably didn’t help, but who knows with that guy. I’m fine with letting go sooner than later given the frustrating start and Baltimore’s even more frustrating offense.

Blake Snell (SP, LAD) 

Blake Snell has started a throwing program and is eyeing a return to the Dodgers’ devastated rotation. Clayton Kershaw is returning to the rotation before Snell and Tyler Glasnow, which is an insane sentence to type out, given that Kershaw underwent foot and knee surgeries in the offseason. Kershaw was viewed as a “break in case of emergency” option for the Dodgers’ rotation after this past offseason, and somehow, they are already in an emergency. Expect Snell back sometime in June since he will need time to ramp up and possibly a rehab start or two.

Roki Sasaki (SP, LAD) 

The Dodgers may have purchased a bill of false goods in Roki Sasaki. The prized prospect SP got worse as the season progressed, and was not that good to begin with this year! Sasaki’s velocity drop is the likely cause of decline, and his IL stint is categorized as a result of his shoulder impingement.

There was a report from Japan that Sasaki was recommended Tommy John surgery a few years ago, but that has not been confirmed. Sasaki’s velocity drop in-season is a continuation of his drop from Japan to the US as he was hitting low-triple digits there, and that has not been reached thus far. Unless your league is deep with multiple IL spots, let go of the once shiny new toy.