When can fantasy owners expect Jake McGee to return to action?

Fantasy baseball owners have been bombarded by a significant number of injury reports during the first two weeks of the season. Here are some of the situations to watch that will have the most significant impact for fantasy players.

• Jake McGee (TB, RP) threw an inning during an extended Spring Training game but the team has not announced when he will begin a rehab assignment. McGee’s return after his December surgery to remove bone fragments should not be expected until the first week of May, at the earliest.

• Henderson Alvarez (MIA, SP) was placed on the 15-day DL because of inflammation in his right shoulder. An MRI did not reveal any structural damage and the team is optimistic that he might only miss the minimum number of days before returning to the rotation. While the reports indicating no structural damage is a positive, the inflammation is a symptom of some injury. Inflammation in the throwing shoulder always concerns me for pitchers, and I would not be surprised if Miami is cautious with him upon his return, limiting his pitch counts or skipping starts.

• Xander Bogaerts (BOS, SS) had an MRI on his right knee after injuring it rounding third base during Monday’s game against Washington, but returned to action on Wednesday. He should be in the starting lineup in all formats.

• Michael Brantley (CLE, OF) has played in just two of Cleveland’s games this season, limited by back issues that plagued him during Spring Training. Numerous reports indicate the team does not think he needs a DL stint, and they are hopeful he returns to action this weekend. The team has not indicated the specific nature of the injury, and has described it as a “stabbing pain.” Both of those are concerning, so Brantley’s owners won’t be in the clear until he is back on a full-time basis.

• Alex Cobb (TB, SP) started throwing with increased intensity while playing catch, but Tampa Bay has not indicated any timetable for his return from the tendinitis in his right forearm. At this pace I don’t expect Cobb back until the first week of May, at the earliest.

• Brett Gardner (NYY, OF) suffered a bone bruise in his right wrist after being hit by a pitch during Monday’s tilt against Baltimore. He is expected to return to action at some point this weekend. Despite last year’s power outburst, don’t expect many home runs from Gardner upon his return. In AL-only leagues, Gardner’s return pushes Chris Young back into a bench role for the Yankees.

• Carlos Gomez (MIL OF) was placed on the disabled list with an injury that the Brewers are calling a “defect” in his right hamstring. While running to first base during the ninth inning of Wednesday’s game, Gomez felt a pop in the distal end of his hamstring, near the knee. The injury was diagnosed as a tear and Gomez received a cortisone shot. While the team has not announced a timetable for his return this sounds like a significant injury for the Brewers and for fantasy owners. Based on the words “pop” and “tear” I am presuming that this is a second-degree strain and, because of the location near the knee, it could involve the junction where the hamstring muscle meets the tendon. Stash him on your DL for now and monitor reports out of Milwaukee. Don’t make any rash decisions because we don’t have all of the medical information but, if you are looking at a return time, don’t be surprised if we don’t see Gomez active again until mid-to-late May.

• J.J. Hardy (BAL, SS) is cleared to take batting practice with Baltimore’s Double-A affiliate, but has not yet been cleared for game activity. If there are no setbacks during batting practice, Hardy could resume game activity late next week and, barring setbacks, should return to the Orioles lineup before the end of April.

• Ian Kennedy (SD, SP) reported no issues after throwing a bullpen session this week, and is slated to throw another this weekend. If there are no issues with his left hamstring he should start a minor league rehab assignment next week and could be back for the Padres next weekend.

• Devin Mesoraco (CIN, C) has battled left hip/quadriceps issues since the tail end of Spring Training, and remained in Cincinnati to receive treatment rather than travel with the team to Chicago. The Reds do not believe a DL stint is necessary, but they have also not announced a return date. Some reports indicate Mesoraco would be out for another week, which would make him a risky play in weekly leagues during the next scoring period.

• Yasiel Puig (LAD, OF) finished Monday’s contest, but has not played for the Dodgers since. He injured his left hamstring while making a catch. Puig is expected to return this weekend against Colorado, and should be active in all formats.

• Jose Reyes (TOR SS) left Thursday’s game with soreness in his left oblique, which has bothered him this week. Per reports on MLB.com, Reyes tried a special compression jacket under his uniform to try and alleviate the symptoms but it appears to not have worked. After leaving the game, Reyes slammed his helmet to the ground in the dugout in frustration. Like with Carlos Gomez, we don’t have all of the information but it certainly sounds like a trip to the disabled list is in Reyes’ future. Because of the torque created in the torso, especially during batting and throwing, oblique injuries can linger for the duration of the season. Once Toronto reveals the severity of the injury a better fantasy prognosis can be offered but keep Reyes on your bench for now.

• Garrett Richards (LAA, SP) had surgery to repair a damaged patellar tendon in August and is expected to make his return to the Angels roster on Sunday. He allowed 5 runs in 5 innings during his last minor league start on Tuesday, walking 4, so Sunday’s start will give his owners a free preview to see if he is ready to get MLB hitters out. If he posts a quality start he should be worth owning in all formats.

• Alex Rios (KC, OF) suffered a fractured left pinky after being hit by a pitch in Monday’s game. He was placed on the 15-day DL. The good news is that it was a non-displaced fracture, so the broken ends of the bone remained in the correct alignment. The bad news is the team has not announced a timetable for his return. I expect him to miss 4-6 weeks.

• Pablo Sandoval (BOS, 3B) left Tuesday’s contest after being hit in his left foot by a Stephen Strasburg pitch. X-rays were negative, and he sat out Wednesday’s game with a left foot contusion. With an extra day off on Thursday, as Boston did not play, I expect him to be fine moving forward.

• Michael Saunders (TOR, OF) suffered hamstring tightness during a minor league contest, where he was rehabilitating his left knee after surgery to repair a damaged meniscus. As a left-handed batter the left knee is Saunder’s push-off leg, helping to generate power. Toronto also has an unforgiving playing surface at the Roger’s Centre. Because of those two factors I am not optimistic about Saunder’s fantasy prospects for 2015.

• Justin Verlander (DET, SP) had to stop his simulated game on Wednesday because of fatigue in his triceps. This means he will need more time to complete a throwing program to build up arm strength, which should push his return into May. Don’t plan on him until then, at the earliest.

• Matt Wieters (BAL, C) continues to make progress in extended Spring Training, playing long toss and increasing the number of at-bats he is taking. He has yet to do any type of throwing that simulates game conditions. If he continues to make progress he could start a minor league rehab assignment during the first week in May, with a mid-May return to Baltimore as a current realistic possibility.

• David Wright (NYM, 3B) had an awkward slide trying to steal second base in Tuesday’s game, and the Mets placed him on the 15-day DL with a mild right hamstring strain. The team indicated he had a cortisone shot and would resume baseball activities, as tolerated, after two days of rest. The best-case scenario for Wright is a return during the first few days of May, assuming this is just a mild strain and he has no setbacks during the rehabilitation process.

• Ben Zobrist (OAK, OF) sat out Wednesday because of a bruised heel. Oakland had an off-day Thursday so Wednesday’s absence gave Zobrist two days of rest. Fantasy owners can expect him back in action for the Athletics on Friday.

Jeremy Tiermini is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Jeremy, check out his archive and follow him @JeremyTiermini.