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Howdy, ya’ll!

It’s another week which means another fantasy baseball injury report to make or break your season. It’ll be over soon (you choose if that is menacing or hopeful).

Here’s something that feels weird but familiar to say: Jacob deGrom is back and made his first starting appearance since April 2023. In his rehab assignment, deGrom threw 15 SO in 10.2 IP and ended rehab with a 0.84 ERA.

deGrom’s start comes off of Kumar Rocker’s long-awaited debut that went pretty, pretty good. deGrom’s start will be followed by Max Scherzer’s first start in several weeks after dealing with an injured shoulder.

It’s an exciting time for the Rangers, baseball, and fantasy managers everywhere.

Unfortunately, I do come with SOME bad news this week.  Let’s take a look.

Notable Injuries

AL Central

Tarik Skubal (SP, DET), hand: Skubal was hit by comebacker off Brenton Doyle’s bat. While x-rays were negative, Skubal will still be out for further evaluation and to let soreness from the injury subside.

Need a readily available replacement for Skubal? Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo had a great game against the White Sox, but that’s the White Sox. Everyone is a rockstar against the White Sox. If you don’t need an AL specific pitcher, Cincinnati’s Nick Martinez had good performances against Houston and Atlanta recently. He is relatively consistent, and more importantly, available. Maybe his confidence boost can be your gain?

AL East

Jeffrey Springs (SP, TBR), elbow: Springs hits the IL with left elbow fatigue, which is a little unnerving as he returned from Tommy John surgery recovery not too long ago. Luckily, Spring brought it to the attention of the Rays’ pitching staff early. If all goes well, Springs is expected to return later this month for two more starts.

Springs’ teammate Cole Sulser has had a decent run marked with some control troubles. In his last 6.0 IP, Sulser has 7.5 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9. Obviously, there is some work to do there, but he is available for you.

AL West

Jo Adell (OF, LAA), oblique: Adell’s season ends as he is moved to the 60-day IL with a strained oblique. *plays “Taps”*

Osvaldo Bido (SP, OAK), wrist: Well, it was fun to rely on Osvaldo Bido as an injury replacement for a few weeks, but he has joined the other side of Ambulance Chasers: the IL. Bido has right wrist flexor tendonitis. The timeline for his return is uncertain.

Brady Basso was called in to fill in for Bido, and he had a solid performance (scoreless through 6.0 IP) against Detroit in his first start in the Majors League. By the time you read this, we will know the outcome of the White Sox game he started last night (it was not available at the time of publication). I will be at the game and have a feeling I will be crying into a Campfire Milkshake because of Brady Basso (and really, Jerry Reinsdorf).

 

Chas McCormick (OF, HOU), hand: McCormick fractured his right hand when he ran into the right field wall trying to catch a foul ball. The fracture is considered small (source). So, it is possible McCormick will return but maybe not until the playoffs. It’s unfortunate as McCormick was heating up again.

Tampa Bay’s Jonny DeLuca could be a good replacement for McCormick. He has had a similar trajectory as McCormick where his numbers aren’t very strong, but he has been on the upswing recently with 8 H in his last 24 AB. In the last 30 days, he’s had 7 SB. San Francisco’s Jerar Encarnacion is another option here.

Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA), oblique: As a matter of public interest, it is my duty to inform you that Anthony Rendon is back on the IL with a strained left oblique. This is his third IL visit this season and his bajillionth in the last few years.

NL East

Reynaldo López (SP, ATL), shoulder: Reynaldo heads to the IL after experiencing pain related to shoulder inflammation that affected his velocity. It is possible his regular season is over, but there was no official news at the time of publication.

I mentioned Nick Martinez above. Frankie Montas is still available in some leagues and could be helpful here. He has seen a positive uptick in his performance over the past month. Jose Quintana has had a bit of a sleepy season but positive swing in performance over the past week.

 

Jeff McNeil (OF/2B, NYM), wrist: Jeff McNeil is out for the season with a fractured right wrist sustained after being HBP. OF DJ Stewart was recalled to replace McNeil’s spot on the roster.

There are timely options here. Kyle Farmer seemed to wakey-wakey (perhaps because of the return of the Rally Sausage?) and has been putting something together in his last 48 AB. He has 5 HR and 9 RBIs. Will he go back to sleep? Projections say “Yes!”, but if you’re reading this and thinking about it, you may be desperate enough. Another option is Otto Lopez. Butters, once again, did a nice write-up about Lopez in “What’s The Point: Duran Is The Man“. The summary is: if you’re desperate, he works.

Updates From The Infirmary

Here are your lightning-round injury updates. If a top player is not mentioned below, there are no big or helpful updates. If I missed someone you’re curious about, talk to me in the comments.

  • Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL), wrist: running bases but timeline still murky. Whit Merrifield, Albies’ replacement, has a left foot fracture. That leaves…uhhhh…Lucas Williams!
  • Bo Bichette (SS, TOR), hamstring: rehab assignment.
  • Willson Contreras (C, STL), finger: scheduled to have finger evaluated on Monday; then we should get a timeline update.
  • Carlos Correa (SS, MIN), heel: taking live BP; targeting to return towards the end of the regular season (source).
  • Tyler Glasnow (SP, LAD), elbow: threw in a sim game; may return sometime in the middle of next week (source).
  • Austin Hays (OF, PHI), kidney: feeling better but no timeline for return yet.
  • Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS), elbow: out for the season.
  • Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), finger: no injury update despite a scheduled doctor business on Monday.
  • Micheal Lorenzen (SP, KCR), hamstring: rehab assignment.
  • Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KCR), thumb: still a lot of “Will he or won’t he return?” with this one; he has been throwing though.
  • Robbie Ray (SP, SFG), hamstring: throwing bullpen sessions.
  • Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL), lat/teres: throwing bullpen sessions.
  • Corey Seager (SS, TEX), hip: out for the season for sports hernia surgery.
  • Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), shoulder: should return today.
  • Justin Steele (SP, CHC), elbow: throwing off mound.

That’s it for your pain and agony report this week. Who will be out for the season next week? Find out by joining me at the same time in the same place.


  If you are on Twitter or Bluesky, come find me over on Twitter and/or BlueSky.  If you’re not on Twitter or Bluesky, good for for having healthy habits.

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Chucky
Chucky
18 days ago

Bohm starting a weekend rehab with an eye on returning to the Phils lineup on Monday @ Milwaukee and Mets for 7 games. My other option is to play the recently red hot Horwitz with 5 games v RHP?

MarmosDad
18 days ago

Say it ain’t so
I will not Jo
Turn the lights off
Carry him home

Sad emoji.

Mike Couillard
Reply to  MarmosDad
18 days ago

Always I know
You’ll be my Jo
Hitting, stealing
Wildly flailing