Ambulance Chasers: Steele Trap

Do you ever feel really good about your roster after a draft? You look in the mirror and think “This is it. This is the one.” Then, you watch the game in disbelief as Royce Lewis starts limping to third base. And then Justin Steele isn’t able to stand up after an awkward tumble?

Justin Steele and Royce Lewis on my fantasy team pic.twitter.com/IJcgAYlmLb

— Ben Gordon (@bgordon2000) March 29, 2024

Hopefully, you had a better outcome on Opening Day than @bgordon2000, but the truth is none of us are safe. You should look behind you right now.

Just kidding.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice Opening Day and feels good about baseball being back before you have to deal with any major injuries on your own roster. It feels like the oblique and upper leg danse macabre is really heating up.

Let’s get into the business!

Notable Injuries

AL Central

Jhoan Duran (RP, MIN), oblique: I missed Duran in my previous post. So, let me share some updates. Duran was moved to IL with a moderate oblique strain, which means he could miss all of April. The Twins have a beat-up bullpen with Jorge Alcala coming off of an injury. Fortunately for the Twins, Griffin Jax closed out Opening Day with a strikeout and a save.

Royce Lewis (3B, MIN), quad: Back in January, I shared that Royce Lewis was on my “avoid” list for 2024 in Ambulance Chasers: An AL Central Injury Preview That’s Less Bleak Than You Would Expect. The Royce Lewis Trap is a great temptation, especially when he clobbers meteorite dingers out of the gate on Opening Day. Unfortunately, Lewis injured his hamstring while rounding second after a Carlos Correa double.

Video of #MNTwins Royce Lewis hurting his knee rounding second base. pic.twitter.com/jW3qZ2g2Zr

— Talkin' Twins (@TalkinTwins) March 28, 2024

Lewis had an MRI and seemed upbeat while chatting with the media afterward. Some more information about the severity of Lewis’s injury is supposed to be shared today.

As much of a hater as I may seem, I hope we get to see Lewis meet his potential this season. Serious injuries can’t happen every season. Right? RIGHT?!

In the interim,  Jose Miranda would be the most obvious option to replace Lewis. Currently, Miranda is projected to hit 3 HR and 11 RBIs (.260/.316/.419). Twins prospect Austin Martin would be another option but will likely need more time to find his footing. In 2023, Martin put up .280/.381/.779 with 7 HR, 30 RBIs, and 19 SB in the minors.

AL West

Bryan Woo (SP, SEA), elbow: Woo was put on the IL with elbow inflammation. Luckily, an MRI showed there was no structural damage to the elbow. Emerson Hancock took Woo’s place on the roster. Hancock threw 12 IP with Seattle in 2023. In those innings, he recorded 4.50 K/9 (eesh) and 2.25 BB/9 (eh). Maybe you have an available Paul Skenes in your league?

That didn't take long. Mariners dip into their starting depth as Bryan Woo will start the season on the IL with right elbow inflammtion. Same situation as last year when he spent 18 days on the IL. Emerson Hancock will take his place in the rotation.

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) March 25, 2024

NL Central

Justin Steele (SP, CHC), hamstring: One of the bigger injuries of Opening Day was Justin Steele’s hamstring. Steele injured the hamstring after landing awkwardly and falling while fielding a bunted ball. Although there is no specific timeline for the injury, Steele will be out until at least April 15. Based on the information that it is a hamstring injury, he could foreseeably be out until May.

Steele on the hamstring injury and how he’s feeling. He said spirits are high and he’ll be okay, but obviously bummed he had to leave his first career start this way. #Cubs @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/BSgGPEh8QU

— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) March 29, 2024

The Cubs have Kyle Hendricks, Jordan Wicks, Shota Imanaga, and Javier Assad in their rotation. Jameson Taillon is currently on the IL. Shota Imanaga has been a Razzball favorite lately.

Shota Imanaga finished with a very interesting spring of extremes:

12.2 IP
5.68 ERA
2.56 FIP
2.39 xFIP
17.8 K/9
2.1 BB/9
1.4 HR/9
19.4 GB%

Going to be an intriguing debut MLB season for him. He was 98th percentile K-BB%, 5th percentile GB% last year.pic.twitter.com/NaZB9NAjqc

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) March 27, 2024

NL West

Jordan Lawlar (SS, ARI), thumb: The Diamondbacks top prospect Jordan Lawlar injured his right thumb while fielding a ground ball in the minors. Unfortunately, he tore a ligament and needs surgery to repair the damage, which means he will be out for a few months.

He tore a ligament in his thumb fielding a ground ball in a minor league game. The team expects a full recovery.

— Aaron Hughes (@AaronrHughes) March 27, 2024

Paul Sewald (RP, ARI), oblique: Sewald is on the IL with a Grade 2 left oblique strain that could keep him out until May or June. Kevin Ginkel is expected to step into Sewald’s role some, but Lovullo has not named Ginkel the official closer. Ginkel had an impressive post-season run (15 K, 11 IP). Razzball/Steamer projections currently have Ginkel with a 3.68 ERA 1.26 WHIP in 64.8 IP.

Torey Lovullo says Kevin Ginkel will get some opportunities to close games. But Lovullo isn’t naming him the closer. Will play the matchups.

— Steve Zinsmeister (@Steve_Zins) March 28, 2024

That’s it for notable injuries for Opening Day (and then some).

Injury Updates

Picture it: you are Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in the rain storm. I am the lightning here to help you learn about electricity. This is an analogy. Welcome to the lightening round injury updates:

• Kyle Bradish (SP, BAL), elbow: started season on the 15-IL indicating potential for an earlier return (sometime in May).
• Gerrit Cole (SP, NYY), elbow: targeting a June 1 return.
• Sonny Gray (P, STL), hamstring: could start rehab assignment next week.
• Vaughn Grissom (SS, BOS), hamstring: rehab assignment next week, potentially!
• DJ LeMahieu (1B/3B, NYY), foot: Jon Berti acquired and will play at 3B.
• Nolan Jones (OF, COL), back: back in action! hit in knee
• Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), calf: rehabbin’.
• Josh Lowe (OF, TBR), oblique: will miss the first several weeks of the season.
• Nathaniel Lowe, (1B, TEX), oblique: expected to return later in April.
• Matt McLain (2B/SS, CIN), shoulder: surgery; out for the season.
• Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL), ribs: hitting and fielding again.
• Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, ARI), shoulder: may throw off the mound soon.
• Jordan Romano (RP, TOR), elbow: may return early-mid April.
• Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), back: started season on the 15-IL indicating potential for an earlier return (late April or May).
• Gavin Williams (SP, CLE), elbow: hoping for an April return.
• Justin Verlander (SP, HOU), shoulder: could start a rehab assignment soon.

As we head into week 2, how is your roster faring in terms of injuries? Who else are you curious about? See you in the comments!

You can also find me over at Twitter (@Wh1sk3r_B1scu1t) and/or Bluesky (@keelin12ft.bsky.social).