A hamstring injury has once again hampered Yasiel Puig

The calendar is turning to September, and it’s time for that final push in your fantasy baseball leagues. Yes, football is starting, but keep your eyes on that prize and finish strong. Here is a rundown of the injuries you need to know about heading into the last month of the fantasy baseball season.

• A.J. Burnett (PIT SP) has made significant progress in his return from a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow. After throwing a brief simulated game, Burnett stated his elbow was “the best it’s felt in a long, long time.” Unfortunately, within the same piece, Burnett did not hint at a return date. “I’m in a good spot. I want to be smart about it. If I need more time, I’ll take more time.” Keep him on your bench for now and hope he makes a return in mid-September.

• Matt Cain (SF SP) received a cortisone injection and was placed on the disabled list because of irritation in a nerve in his pitching elbow. After an MRI, Cain explained, “My elbow looks good. Nothing out of the ordinary. It’s just to try to calm that down and so I’m able to throw with a natural motion.” With his history of elbow injuries, his 6.15 ERA and 1.58 WHIP, Cain can be dropped in all formats.

• Carlos Correa (HOU SS) has not played in the last two games for the Astros because of soreness in his left hamstring. Manager A.J. Hinch elaborated, “It’s not great news to him. He’d like to come to the ballpark and play every day. At this juncture of the season, he’s too important. These games are really important. There’s no reason to risk furthering a little bit of soreness. The grind of this season has taken a little bit of toll on him. Over the course of the last few weeks there’s a little bit of fatigue. We’ll get him back to 100 percent and feeling better.” Look for Correa to make his return at some point this weekend.

• Brandon Crawford (SF SS) is dealing with a mild strain in his left oblique and is not expected to play until early next week, though there is no specific time frame for his return. “It’s always hard to [judge] these obliques and strains on the side,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I’d say maybe a couple of days. I’ve seen these things linger for three, four weeks — sometimes they’re healed in a week. This was a mild strain. We think he’ll be ok after this series.”
  

• Jose Fernandez (MIA SP) threw a bullpen session this week and was so impressive the Marlins think he could return to the rotation in mid-September. “I think it went something like, wow,” manager Dan Jennings said of Fernandez’s 30-pitch session. “I talked to (trainer Sean Cunningham), and he said it was very impressive. He said he’s right on track, looks good, jumped out of his hand. So we’ll start to build that up now.”
  

• David Freese (LAA 3B) should be activated from the disabled list early next week, making his return from a fractured right index finger. Freese could provide power for you if you need a corner infield player in AL-only leagues.

• Randal Grichuk (STL OF) has not yet begun baseball activities in his rehabilitation for the muscle strain and mild ligament sprain in his right elbow. Grichuk will certainly not be activated when he is eligible next week and, based on this most recent news, I don’t expect him back for St. Louis for at least two or three more weeks.

• Matt Kemp (SD OF) landed awkwardly on his surgically repaired left shoulder on while attempting a catch during Wednesday’s game and is considered day-to-day. With San Diego out of the playoff picture, I expect the team to be very conservative with Kemp during the final month of the season.

• Howie Kendrick (LAD 2B) has plateaued in his rehab for his left hamstring strain, delaying his return. Kendrick is at least one week away from returning and manager Don Mattingly indicated the team won’t rush him back. “At this point in the year you’ve got so many at-bats under your belt you don’t worry about the rehab as much as you might earlier in the season,” Mattingly said. “It’s just a matter of getting Howie back to where he feels like he’s ready.”

• Rougned Odor (TEX 2B) lost the fingernail on his right middle finger when a ground ball took a bad hop. Odor’s return will depend on his pain tolerance so consider him day-to-day for now.
  

• Yasiel Puig (LAD OF) strained his right hamstring beating out an infield hit in Thursday’s game and was placed on the disabled list. Previously, a left hamstring strain kept Puig out of action for five weeks so using this time frame as a reference he could be out for the remainder of the regular season. Puig is also not anxious to experience the same setbacks as he did with his left hamstring. “I’m not going to hurry this time because I don’t want what happened to my left hamstring to happen,” he said. Put him on your DL for now and monitor reports out of Los Angeles.

• Danny Salazar (CLE SP) was scratched from his start on Friday due to illness. Consider him day-to-day.

• Miguel Sano (MIN 3B) missed Friday’s game because of a right hamstring strain but he is expected to return at some point this weekend. “I just imagine trying to run him out there and him having to extend himself somehow and get shut down for a large portion, remainder of the season,” manager Paul Molitor said. “I think the risk is a little too high. He’s a guy who wants to play. He thinks he can probably play through it, at least in a DH role. …The risks seems a little too high for me.” Hamstring issues can be tricky (just ask Yasiel Puig) so have an alternative in place should Sano have any setbacks.

• Jorge Soler (CHC OF) was placed on the disabled list on August 24 because of a strained left oblique muscle. Unless the Cubs can find a way to get into the playoffs, I don’t expect Soler to play again this season.

• Denard Span (WAS OF) will have surgery next week to repair the labrum in his hip. He will miss the remainder of the season and can be dropped in all formats.
  

• Giancarlo Stanton (MIA OF) is scheduled to take batting practice early next week and, barring setbacks, could make his return from a left hamate fracture for Miami later in the week. If you are setting your lineups on Monday pay it safe and keep him on the bench this week but it does appear he will be ready to go for the next scoring period.
  

• Michael Taylor (WAS OF) bruised his right knee after crashing into the outfield wall during Thursday’s game. He missed Friday’s game but should make his return at some point this weekend, as all tests were negative. Taylor will replace Denard Span in center field for the Nationals and help you in every roto category except batting average.

• Mark Teixeira (NYY 1B) continues to struggle with a contusion on his right shin. “Running is still a big struggle for me. I can’t run. It’s very frustrating,’’ Teixeira said. “It’s not where it needs to be.’’ Keep him benched for now.

• Taijuan Walker (SEA SP) left Friday’s start early because of a cramp in his right hip flexor. “It just cramped up and gave out on me and I fell,” Walker said. “I came back in here and everything was fine.” Don’t be surprised if Walker misses one start but this does not look like a long-term issue.

Jeremy Tiermini is a correspondent at FantasyPros. Follow Jeremy @JeremyTiermini.