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Ambulance Chasers: Things Are Looking Oblique

April 20, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball | 16 Comments

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Razzfam, here are the cold hard facts: ¼ of the notable injuries in this edition of Ambulance Chasers are oblique injuries: Carlos Correa, Seiya Suzuki, Jake Burger, and Garrett Whitlock.

Someone even pointed out that the various Lowes have all suffered oblique injuries this season.

100%. Of. Lowes. No one is safe.

Last week, we talked about the increase in elbow injuries, but some of the same reasons that influence pitching elbow injuries also influence a rise in oblique injuries among batters. Pitchers are throwing faster. Batters have to respond faster.

Unfortunately, oblique injuries often linger and recur. Even a minor oblique strain can keep a player out for a couple of weeks. So, if you have a player that is on this list, you may see them here again for the same reason in the coming weeks and months. 

Give your core a nice stretch and hop in.

Notable Injuries

AL Central

Carlos Correa (SS, MIN), oblique: Correa experienced side tightness after a checked swing. The tightness turned out to be a mild oblique injury. Correa likely won’t be back until May. Willi Castro and Kyle Farmer have been playing at SS in Correa’s absence, but they aren’t going to do it for your roster.

I mentioned him last week, and I will mention him again: Amed Rosario could be a good pick-up here. In the last 7 days, he hit 462/.462/.808 with 2 HR, and he has a 159 wRC+. Is it sustainable? Meh, but I am here for the streak at a minimum.

AL East

Jon Berti (SS/3B, NYY), groin: Jon Berti became an important asset to the Yankees when DJ LeMahieu went down with his foot contusion, but now Berti has hit the IL with an adductor injury. Kevin Smith was promoted to take Berti’s spot on the roster before being DFA’ed to make room for Taylor Trammell. DJ

LeMahieu may begin his rehab assignment soon, but Yankees utility piece Oswaldo Cabrera may be available in your league. Cabrera is hitting .309/.356/.545 this season so far, but he has fallen off a little in the last 7 days.

Tyler O’Neill (OF, BOS), concussion: O’Neill is on the IL following concussion protocol after colliding with Rafael Devers while they both tried to catch a pop fly. O’Neill needed 8 stitches to close up a wound sustained in the collision. O’Neill is eligible to return April 23.

If you need help in O’Neill’s absence, Jesse Winker is on a heater and likely available in your league. In 68 PA, Winker has a 196 wRC+ and is batting .364/.485/.582 with 2 HR.

Garrett Whitlock (SP, BOS), oblique: Whitlock hit the 15-day IL with a strained oblique injury. Alex Cora shared that the strain is “slight”. A mild strain can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to heal. Joe Jacques initially took Whitlock’s spot on the roster but was quickly DFA’ed. Cam Booser takes Jacques’ spot now. Booser, who has quite the injury history, is making his MLB debut at 31. In 6.2 IP in the MiLB, Booser has a 2.70 ERA and 0.60 WHIP with 15 SO.

I mentioned Cody Bradford as an SP pick-up last week. He should still be available to roster in some leagues. In 19.3 IP, Bradford has a 1.40 ERA and 0.62 WHIP with a 2.25 FIP. His K/9 is 7.01 and BB/9 is 0.93.

AL West

Brandon Drury (1B/2B, LAA), hamstring: Brandon Drury experienced a hamstring injury, but he is back in the Angels line-up and served as the DH yesterday. He should be back in the field soon.

Robert Stephenson (RP, LAA), shoulder: That escalated quickly. Stephenson will be out with a season ending elbow injury.

If you’re down Stephenson, A.J. Minter currently has a 2.00 ERA and 0.33 WHIP. He has 11 K/9 and…. 0 BB/9. He is very likely available in your league.

NL Central

Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC), oblique: Seiya Suzuki will be out about 4 weeks with a moderate oblique strain. The Cubs called up Alexander Canario, who has 1 R and 1 RBI in his 2 PA.

Here is another spot where Jesse Winker would be helpful. Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn may be helpful here as well. O’Hearn is hitting .319/.385/.660 this season so far. He had 3 HR in the last 7 days. Get him while he’s hot and available.

NL East

Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL), toe: Albies was HBP which resulted in a fractured toe. Luckily, surgery won’t be needed, but he will be out 2-3 weeks. Braves David Fletcher and Luis Guillorme are platooning 2B. 

This could be another place where Amed Rosario would be helpful for your roster. Washington’s Luis Garcia is another option. Garcia is hitting .294/.321/.490 with 8 RBIs and 3 SB.

Jake Burger (3B/1B, MIA), oblique: Burger hit the IL with an oblique injury (another one!). There is no current timetable for his return. 

If you need a replacement, I mentioned Oswaldo Cabrera above. Another option is Ranger Josh H. Smith. Smith is hitting .320/.433/.400 with a 151 wRC+.

Keibert Ruiz (C, WSH), influenza: Ruiz has had a nasty flu that required a stint on the IL. He is eligible to return April 22, and he should supposedly be back in action then. Riley Adams has been performing better than Ruiz over the season. Adams is hitting .273/.294/.455 currently.

However, if you’re looking to upgrade your catcher in general, Ivan Herrera and Connor Wong are two potential options for you. Wong is hitting .342/.342/.605 with 3 HR and 8 RBIs in 38 AB.

NL West

Kris Bryant (OF, COL), back: Familiar face Kris Bryant strained his lower back after crashing into the outfield wall while catching a ball by Vlad Jr. Bryant is eligible to return on April 24.

This is another chance to upgrade your roster with Jesse Winker.

Yu Darvish (SP, SDP), neck: Darvish was moved to the IL with neck tightness. In an interview, Mike Shildt shared that the Padres do not expect Darvish to be out more than 15 days. If that is the case, we will see Darvish back around April 30.

Padre Logan Gillaspie was recalled from the minors to take Darvish’s spot on the roster, but he will fill a bullpen spot.

One option could be the Cub’s Javier Assad. Assad has a 2.16 ERA with 9.72 K/9 and 2.70 BB/9. Assad is expected to regress with Steamer showing a 4.49 ERA and some control issues.

Injury Updates

Here are some injury updates. There are a lot of players heading in the right direction, but there is some bad news about Alex Cobb, Braxton Garrett, John Means, and Christian Yelich.

  • Alex Cobb (SP, SDP), hip: rehab on hold because of mild shoulder inflammation.
  • Jhoan Duran (RP, MIN), oblique: may return to the Twins before the end of April.
  • Braxton Garrett (SP, MIA), shoulder: rehab set back because of arm.
  • Vaughn Grissom (SS, BOS), hamstring: began rehab assignment last week.
  • DJ LeMahieu (1B/3B, NYY), foot: rehab assignment soon.
  • Josh Lowe (OF, TBR), oblique: rehab assignment.
  • John Means (SP, BAL), forearm: struggling in rehab.
  • Trevor Megill (RP, MIL), concussion: rehab assignment.
  • Nick Pivetta (SP, BOS), elbow: not pitching off the mound yet.
  • Luis Robert (OF, CWS), hip flexor: timeline to return is 6 weeks.
  • Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), back: early May return.
  • Justin Steele (SP, CHC), hamstring: throwing again; early May return is still expected.
  • Framber Valdez (SP, HOU), elbow: expected back later this month.
  • Justin Verlander (SP, HOU), shoulder: he’s back!
  • Gavin Williams (SP, CLE), elbow: throwing in sim games; late April or early May return seem likely.
  • Christian Yelich (OF, MIL), back: timeline uncertain.

Let me know if I missed anything or you would like additional updates in the comments. Have a great week!

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