Corey Dickerson was one of several high-profile players making injury news this week

First, I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to say thank you to our veterans, our active servicemen and servicewomen, and their families. Too often we take for granted how lucky we are to have the freedoms we do because of the bravery and sacrifice that those men, women, and their families made and continue to make. One of my favorite parts of any visit to Cooperstown is to see the plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame that honors former MLB players for their military service.

The outfielders take center stage in this week’s injury report and two starting pitchers are dealing with labrum issues. Here are some thoughts about significant fantasy players heading into Memorial Day weekend.

• Corey Dickerson (COL OF) was placed on the 15-day DL because of the plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The rest will be beneficial for Dickerson, and he should be productive upon his return. Remember, however, this is a chronic condition so Dickerson owners will have to be prepared for absences at various points in 2015.

• Coco Crisp (OAK OF) left Tuesday’s game with neck stiffness and, after missing Wednesday’s contest, had an MRI and is scheduled for an appointment with a neck specialist. Crisp missed 36 games in 2014 with a neck issue, and with various reports indicating the remainder of his season could be in doubt Crisp is safe to drop in all formats.

• Jacoby Ellsbury (NYY OF) was placed on the disabled list because of a sprained right knee, which Ellsbury injured during Tuesday’s game. He will visit with team physicians on Friday to determine the severity of injury, which will help determine the timetable for his return.

• Yan Gomes (CLE C) will be activated from the disabled list prior to the Indians’ game against the Reds on Sunday. The Indians have indicated that they won’t play him in back-to-back games at first so keep that in mind when comparing him to the current catching options on your roster.

• Josh Hamilton (TEX OF) should be activated in time for Monday’s series-opener against the Indians. Hamilton has had no issues with his shoulder during his rehab assignment so, if you need outfield help, get Hamilton in your lineup.

• Austin Jackson (SEA OF) will not be activated from the disabled list this weekend, with the Mariners playing in Toronto. The playing surface at the Rogers’ Centre continues to be a black eye for the Blue Jays organization, and I would hope this is addressed soon. The Mariners then travel to Tampa Bay. The Rays also play on artificial turf and I would not be surprised to see Seattle limit Jackson’s activity there to protect against a re-injury to his right ankle sprain. In weekly leagues play it safe and keep Jackson on your bench.

• Victor Martinez (DET DH) was placed on the disabled list because of inflammation in his left knee. Martinez has struggled this season statistically, and it appears as if his surgically-repaired left knee is a primary reason. While I would not rush to trade for him, if Martinez does get dropped in your league he is worth stashing if you have the room on your bench or DL.

• Justin Morneau (COL 1B) will not return for a few more days because of residual concussion symptoms. Morneau does have a previous history with concussions so the Rockies will be extremely conservative with their first baseman. At this point don’t look for Morneau back in action until later next week, at the earliest.

• Wil Myers (SD OF) was placed on the disabled list because of the tendinitis in his left wrist. He recently indicated that he has been dealing with a bone spur in that wrist since middle school. Until that bone spur is removed Myers will always be at risk of inflammation in his wrist, with the tendons of the wrist rubbing against that spur. With the chronic nature of this injury, and with a high chance of reoccurrence, I don’t think you can consider Myers to be anything more than a 4^th outfielder.

• Albert Pujols (LAA 1B) left Wednesday’s game after being hit on the left wrist by a Drew Hutchison (TOR SP) pitch. X-rays were negative but he is still suffering from swelling and there have been reports that he has some difficulty gripping the bat. Consider him day-to-day, and, unless the Angels report a setback, expect Pujols back in action at some point over the weekend. Don’t overreact to this situation but keep in mind that this is the same wrist Pujols injured in 2011.

• Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD SP) had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum (a ring of cartilage that helps deepen the “socket” of the ball-and-socket joint in the shoulder complex) in his left shoulder. Drop him in all formats.

• Pablo Sandoval (BOS 3B) left Tuesday’s game early after being hit by a pitch on his left knee. X-rays were negative, though “Kung Fu Panda” did sit out Wednesday, as well. Sandoval did pinch-hit on Thursday and it is expected that he will be back in the starting lineup on Friday. Plan on having him available this weekend.

• Drew Smyly (TB SP) decided against surgery to repair his torn left labrum and will try the “rest and rehab” route instead. Barring setbacks, he is expected back in eight weeks. While tests showed that the tear in the labrum wasn’t significant now, Smyly does run the risk of further injury because of the stresses placed on the shoulder joint during the pitching motion.

• Masahiro Tanaka (NYY SP) pitched well in his first rehab start and will meet with the Yankees sports medicine team on Friday to outline the plan for his next few rehab starts. Expect him to need at least three more rehab starts before he is activated.

• Shane Victorino (BOS OF) was scratched from Thursday’s start because of soreness in his left calf. He has done nothing to increase his trade value and it would not be shocking to see the Red Sox turn to Rusney Castillo at some point in the next few weeks.

• Jayson Werth (WAS OF) was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to May 16^th, with a left wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch. Structurally, Werth’s wrist is fine, as X-rays and an MRI revealed no damage, so it should be safe to get the Nationals’ outfielder in your lineup when the team activates him at the end of the month.

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