Fantasy owners were dealt a tremendous blow on Thursday night as they watched Corey Knebel go down grabbing his hamstring in an 8-0 loss to the Cubs. He underwent an MRI on Friday and is expected to miss at least six weeks. The Brewers will need someone else to close out their games for at least the short-term. Josh Hader is probably the most intriguing option, but he is too valuable in his current multi-inning role to use as a closer. Jacob Barnes, Jeremy Jeffress, and Matt Albers could all be candidates for saves over the next couple of months. Jacob Barnes blew a save in their first opportunity on Saturday after the Knebel injury.
Wil Myers had a scare this week when he had to leave Monday’s game with potential nerve problems in his right arm. Luckily, Myers received good news from a specialist that said the injury could resolve itself with rest, and he could be back when first eligible to return on April 13.
Fantasy owners that have been without Nelson Cruz this week are getting some good news. Cruz went on the DL with an ankle sprain on April 3. The swelling is gone and he is set to resume baseball activities. It has not been reported if he will go on a rehab assignment, but he should be able to return later this week.
Christian Yelich came out of Thursday’s game with oblique tightness and has missed the last few games with the issue. The Brewers were hopeful he could return on Monday, but they went ahead and put him on the disabled list on Sunday for roster flexibility. This should be a minimum stay on the DL.
Here are a few more injuries that we are tracking from the previous week of action.
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Eugenio Suarez (3B – CIN)
Suarez was removed from the Reds’ game on Sunday after being hit by a pitch. He has been diagnosed with a fractured thumb. He has no timetable set for a return, but he will obviously require a lengthy DL trip.
Matt Wieters (C – WSH)
Matt Wieters was placed on the DL April 3 for an oblique strain. Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported that Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Wieters was doing “much better,” this weekend. It looks like he could return after the minimum stay on the DL.
Gregory Polanco (OF – PIT)
Polanco wasn’t in the Pirates’ lineup Saturday with discomfort in his foot. He was in the lineup Sunday, so he should be safe to start this week.
Matt Shoemaker (SP – LAA)
Shoemaker hit the DL on April 3 with a strained right forearm. His MRI came back clean, but he is scheduled to undergo more tests this week. This is something to keep an eye on as Shoemaker missed the second half of the 2017 season with a similar issue with his right forearm. He eventually had surgery to release the radial nerve. He doesn’t have a set timetable to return.
Adam Eaton (OF – WSH)
Adam Eaton left the Nationals’ home opener early with an ankle injury. The X-rays were negative, but he was out of the lineup on Friday and Saturday. He pinch-hit on Saturday and returned Sunday.
Yulieski Gurriel (1B – HOU)
Gurriel ended up being placed on the disabled list after serving his suspension and is currently on a rehab assignment. Gurriel is returning from left-hand surgery he had in February. He could be back in the lineup on April 13.
Joe Musgrove (SP/RP – PIT)
Musgrove went on the DL April 2, retroactive to March 30 when he informed the team he was having shoulder issues. He has a muscle strain in his shoulder and has been shut down from throwing for the next 5-to-7 days. His timetable is not clear at this point.
Jake Lamb (3B – ARI)
Jake Lamb sprained the AC joint in his shoulder when he was diving to make a catch on Monday. He is set to rehab the injury this week at the Diamondbacks’ extended Spring Training facility, but he still has no set timetable to return.
Charlie Blackmon (OF – COL)
Blackmon left Saturday’s game with back tightness and is day-to-day. He was also held out of Sunday’s lineup.
Anthony Rizzo (1B/2B – CHC)
Rizzo was out of the lineup on Friday and Saturday with back tightness. He is considered day-to-day.
Brandon Drury (2B – NYY)
Drury was placed on the DL on Saturday with severe migraines. He complained of blurred vision and the Yankees are concerned this could be something more serious. He had an MRI that was clean. He is out indefinitely.
Miguel Cabrera (1B – DET)
Cabrera left Thursday’s game with hip flexor tightness. Cabrera struggled with a back injury in 2017, so this could be something to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks. It should be noted that he was back in the lineup on Saturday and knocked in three runs. He should be a safe start in weekly leagues.
Updating Previous Injuries
Delino DeShields Jr. (OF – TEX) Hand
Deshields underwent surgery on Monday and could miss up to six weeks.
Jacoby Ellsbury (OF – NYY) Hip, Oblique
Ellsbury was shut down during the rehab of his oblique with a separate hip issue. He is set to see a hip specialist and is out indefinitely.
Aaron Hicks (OF – NYY) Ribs
On another Yankees note, Hicks is on a rehab assignment and played in a minor league game on Sunday. He is scheduled to play in another on Monday. If all goes well, it is possible he could return to the Yankees on Tuesday when first eligible to return.
Michael Brantley (OF – CLE) Ankle
Michael Brantley made his 2018 debut for the Indians on Friday and drove in two runs. He was recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP – BOS) Knee
Eduardo Rodriguez made his first start of the season for the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. He is returning from knee surgery he had in October.
Steven Souza Jr. (OF – ARI) Pectoral
Steven Souza is playing long toss and hitting. He is ahead of schedule and could go on a rehab assignment as early as this week. It is possible he could return April 15.
Mark Trumbo (OF/DH – BAL) Quadriceps
Trumbo played in an extended Spring Training game on Thursday and should have a minor league rehab assignment sometime in the next week. He could be back in the next couple of weeks.
Daniel Murphy (2B – WSH) Knee
Daniel Murphy did some agility drills to test his injured knee before the Nationals’ game on Saturday and has been running this week. A more clear timetable should be coming soon.
Drew Pomeranz (SP – BOS) Flexor Strain
Drew Pomeranz made a rehab start on Sunday and could make a start for the Red Sox next weekend against the Orioles.
Ian Kinsler (2B – LAA) Groin
Kinsler has been taking batting practice and fielding grounders while recovering from a groin injury. He still has no timetable for a return.
J.T. Realmuto (C/1B – MIA) Back
Realmuto is dealing with a lower back contusion. He is beginning his rehab assignment this Wednesday and is expected to return April 19 or 20.
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Shane McDonald is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Shane, check out his archive or follow him @coachshanemac.
