LOGIN
keelinbillue

Ambulance Chasers: So Many Elbow Injuries It’s Humerus

April 12, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball | 3 Comments

by:

Ambulance Chasers associates, let’s cut to the chase: it was a brutal week in injuries. Specifically, elbow injuries.

I am up to my eyeballs in elbow injuries, and now my youngest cries out every night “Why is mommy gone?” and her dad tells her “Mommy went away because she could only rock back and forth in a corner repeating ‘The pitch clock! Sticky stuff!’ over and over again.

The heat on elbow injuries got cranked to boiling over the last week. As a result, we have been privy to more information about what is going on from within and around the league. The pitch clock, ever-increasing velo, pitching methods, and pitching volume have all been named as culprits.

Dr. Keith Meister, who has been busy just this week with Shane Bieber, Eury Pérez, and Spencer Strider, shared that a focus performance over availability is one reason for the increasing elbow issues. An increase in pitches like sweepers and power changeups, which reflect the aforementioned performance aspect, is adding stress to the elbow. Meanwhile, the MLB continues to defend some of the decisions it has made like the pitch clock with one year’s worth of injury data.

We’re watching science in action here, which is always frustrating but interesting. One thing is certain: This all sure does suck for fantasy baseball managers (unless it’s your opponent with the misfortune hehehe).

Let’s take a look at the damage.

Notable Injuries

AL Central

Shane Bieber (SP, CLE), elbow: We need a wellness check on CoolWhip, who saw the Bieber renaissance but not the Bieber downfall.  Bieber will be out for the season and has received Tommy John surgery. As a strikeout leader, he will be a tough one to replace. Texas’s While he won’t be close to Bieber, Cody Bradford is one option that could be available in your league.

In the last 14.3 IP, Bradford has 11 K, 6.9 K/9, and 0.6 BB/9.

For those that need division-specific options, this is the AL Central. So, options are limited on this one. You’ll get low IP and bad FIP (Angel Zerpa and Matt Manning). I kind of hate that I am about to say I am curious where Bailey Ober goes. After making a big stinky early in the season, maybe he is figuring something out.  I am not saying it’s a GOOD idea, but it’s an idea.

John Brebbia (RP, CWS), calf: Brebbia is on the IL with a right calf strain. This is a recurring injury. So, while Brebbia may return by around April 11, it may be time to think beyond Brebbia. Houston’s Seth Martinez has had some solid outings and is sitting with a 0.00 ERA and 0.25 WHIP in the last 7 days (2.71 ERA, 0.43 WHIP for the season).

Shelby Miller of Detroit may also be an attractive option for you. Miller has 12 K/9 with a small 3 IP in the last 7 days. He does have BB/9 6.0. So, not perfect here, but like Ober above, he is a division specific option.

Max Kepler (OF, MIN), knee: Kepler sustained a right knee contusion (ball fouled off the knee) on Opening Day. He played through it, and let’s be honest, he was stinking it up. Hopefully, some time on the IL will help him heal up, but until then, Manuel Margot will be playing for Max Kepler.

Colton Cowser is hot right now and only 27% rostered. In the last 7 days, Cowser has 2 HR, 10 RBIs, and 1 BB in 18 PA.

Yoán Moncada (3B, CWS), groin: In the least surprising news this week, Moncada is on the IL with an adductor strain. Moncada likely won’t be back until after the All-Star break. Moncada joins Eloy Jiménez in the adductor strain club, with Eloy’s injury being less serious.

As someone who suffers as a fan of this team, I cannot in good conscience, recommend any offensive players. A non-White Sox player to consider is Josh H. Smith, who I will write a little bit more about in the Trevor Story entry below.

Luis Robert Jr. (OF, CWS), hip flexor: Join me in promoting the “Can The White Sox Get to 1B Without Exploding?” Challenge. In more devastating news, Robert strained his hip flexor and will be out for 6-8 weeks. This is a recurring injury for Robert. Some folks are interested in Gavin Sheets right now, which would be worth a shot. I would not expect it to be sustainable.

Colton Cowser, who I wrote about above, and Jurickson Profar are other outfield options. Profar has 2 HR, 10 RBIs, and 7 BB in 19 AB.

 

AL East

Brandon Lowe (2B, TBR), oblique: Seeing Lowe on this list is becoming…a habit. Last week, I shared some information about Curtis Mead and Amed Rosario, who will see more playing time in Lowe’s absence. I felt a little more positive about Curtis Mead at the time, but he has struggled lately. I talk a little more about Rosario in the Trevor Story entry below, but he is an option.

Nick Pivetta (SP, BOS), elbow: Add Pivetta to the elbow list with a strained elbow flexor. Fortunately, the strain has been called “mild”, and Pivetta is supposed to play catch this weekend. Pivetta is eligible to begin play again on April 21. I brought up Cody Bradford as a potential replacement on your roster.  Pittsburgh’s Martin Pérez is another option.

Trevor Story (SS, BOS), shoulder: Story had a nasty shoulder fracture while making a diving catch. As a result, he needed shoulder surgery of the glenoid, which sounds like a collection of guys that are your old next-door neighbor that walk out in their underwear to get the morning paper but is part of the shoulder. Story will very likely be out for the rest of the season. Currently, David Hamilton is playing at shortstop, but there are some other options available.

Ranger Josh H. Smith is a utility option available to pick up. Smith is hitting .333/.440/.381 with 4 RBIs in 21 AB.

There aren’t a lot of league specific options that would be available. Tampa Bay’s Amed Rosario had a decent week (.333/.333/.389 in 18 AB), but in terms of sustainability, the outlook is uncertain.

AL West

Josh Sborz (RP, TEX), shoulder: Sborz is on the 15-day IL with a strained shoulder that may be impacting the rotator cuff. It sounds like this won’t be a long-term stay with the possibility Sborz will be back April 22, per Bruce Bochy. Again, you could look at Seth Martinez, but there are a few other low IP relievers like Steven Wilson and Reed Garrett.

NL Central

Christian Yelich (OF, MIL), back: Yelich was not on the IL at the time of submission, but he was taken out of a game with lower back discomfort. Yelich has a history of back injuries, and Manager Pat Murphy shared Yelich had also been dealing with neck issues earlier in the week.

Yelich could be back in action, but Blake Perkins has been doing quite well and is very likely available on your roster. In his last 11 AB, Perkins is batting 0.455/0.538/0.727 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.

NL East

Spencer Strider (SP, ATL), sprained elbow: Spencer Strider is out with a strained elbow, and while we are awaiting an update, the update will probably be bad when we finally get it.

The Braves recalled Darius Vines yesterday as a replacement to the Allan Winans experience. Vines is coming from Triple-A where he has thrown 12 innings and has an 8.25 K/9. He has some control issues, which he displayed last year in his 20.1 IP with the Braves.

Injury Updates

Let the thunder roll with lightning round updates. If you feel someone is missing from this list or want an update, catch me in the comments.

There were a few other players that I did not cover in depth that will be out with serious elbow injuries: Tejay Antone (RP, CIN), Chris Murphy (SP, BOS), and Chase Silseth (SP, LAA).

  • Kyle Bradish (SP, BAL), elbow: began rehab assignment.
  • Walker Buehler (SP, LAD), elbow: removed from a rehab start after getting hit in the hand.
  • Alex Cobb (SP, SFG), hip: mild flexor strain resulted in a setback.
  • Jhoan Duran (RP, MIN), oblique: could be back at the end of the month.
  • Tommy Edman (2B, STL), wrist: hitting, gently.
  • Sonny Gray (SP, STL), hamstring: back at it and looking great.
  • DJ LeMahieu (3B, NYY), foot: taking BP.
  • Royce Lewis (3B, MIN), quad: no big updates.
  • Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), calf: making debut today.
  • John Means (SP, BAL), forearm: rough time in rehab.
  • Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL), ribs: back in the game; Willson Contreras’s return may be coming soon as well.

Whew! Will we see more elbow injuries next week? It kind of seems like it. See you then!

You can find me right here (look at the comments section below; say “Hi!”), and I am unfortunately on Twitter and neutrally on BlueSky.

Copyright 2007-2024 Razzball LLC. All rights reserved.
Razzball.com and the Razzball logo units are copyright Razzball LLC.