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Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: A.J. Pollock, Starling Marte, Yoenis Cespedes

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: A.J. Pollock, Starling Marte, Yoenis Cespedes

It’s already week seven of the fantasy baseball season, and there is plenty of injury news to discuss around the league. Unfortunately, some of the worst news of the week came early when A.J. Pollock dove for a ball in the outfield and fractured his thumb last Monday. Pollock is expected to miss 4-to-8 weeks and could be back in late June. Jarrod Dyson and Chris Owings are the beneficiaries as far as playing time is concerned, but you may want to look elsewhere on the waiver wire for replacements if you have Pollock.

Some more high profile updates came from Pittsburgh where Starling Marte hit the 10-day disabled list with a right oblique strain. Marte had to be removed from a game on Tuesday with discomfort after swinging at a pitch. He currently does not have a timetable to return, but he does not expect the injury to linger. The other fantasy relevant part of this involves the call-up of the Pirates’ No. 2 rated prospect Austin Meadows. Meadows is likely to be sent down when Marte returns, so hopefully, you didn’t throw all of your FAAB his way.

One of the surprising breakouts of the beginning of the season has been Joey Lucchesi with his 3.23 ERA and 9.13 K/9. Lucchesi hit the DL on Tuesday with a strain of his right hip. He started throwing late last week and could return on May 25.

Yoenis Cespedes is on the 10-day disabled list again with a rip hip flexor strain. Cespedes went on the DL on May 16 and currently doesn’t have a set date to return. He was trying to play through the injury, but the Mets are trying to play it safe with Cespedes as this is his fourth DL trip with a lower-body injury in the last three seasons. Brandon Nimmo will likely have a regular role in the absence of Cespedes, and he is an interesting option in deep OBP leagues.

Here are a few more injuries that we are tracking from the previous week of action.

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Keynan Middleton (RP – LAA)
Middleton looked like he was set to take over the closer role again about a week ago and now his season is over with UCL damage in his right elbow. He is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery. The Angels’ closer situation is now likely a committee. Justin Anderson, Blake Parker, and Cam Bedrosian are all possible candidates for saves.

Josh Reddick (OF – HOU)
Reddick was scratched from the starting lineup on Friday and Saturday with a skin infection on his left knee. He did pinch-hit on Saturday and was back in the lineup on Sunday.

Andrew Triggs (SP – OAK)
Triggs came out of the game on Thursday with nerve irritation in his right arm. He went on the 10-day DL on Friday and does not have a timetable to return.

Paul DeJong (SS – STL)
DeJong was hit with a pitch on Thursday but stayed in the game and appeared to be fine. Unfortunately, DeJong’s injury was much worse than expected, and he underwent surgery to put a plate into his hand on Friday. According to Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, DeJong is expected to miss “significant time.” He does not have an official return date set at this point.

Mike Soroka (SP – ATL)
Soroka has right shoulder inflammation and was placed on the DL on May 17. He is currently without a set date to return.

Ryan Braun (OF – MIL)
Braun was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to May 14 with back tightness. It looks like he could return when eligible on May 24.

Steven Souza (OF – ARI)
Souza has been dealing with pectoral soreness most of the season and had an MRI on May 19 that revealed inflammation. He was supposed to be re-evaluated this weekend and more news should be coming on the injury. It is possible he could return in late May.

Rich Hill (SP – LAD)
Hill returned this weekend, but he only threw two pitches and now he is on the disabled list and could be out until late June. Hill is still dealing with a blister on the middle finger of his left hand. Blisters have plagued Hill for the last year and while frustrating, it makes sense for the Dodgers to be cautious with the injury.

Bradley Zimmer (OF – CLE)
Zimmer was placed on the DL on May 15 with a left rib contusion. He could return as early as May 22.

Adrian Beltre (3B – TEX)
Beltre is still having problems with his hamstring and went back on the DL on May 15. Beltre could return when eligible on May 24, but it’s starting to look like he will be hard to trust this season.

Cole Hamels (SP – TEX)
Hamels was scratched from his start on May 17 with neck stiffness. He is doing better and could pitch on May 22.

Jeimer Candelario (3B – DET)
Candelario has been on the DL since May 14 with left wrist tendinitis. He has been fielding soft ground balls, but is still without a set date to return.

Khris Davis (OF – OAK)
Davis exited Sunday’s game with a groin injury. He’s considered day-to-day, but he could be looking at a stint on the disabled list.

Updating Previous Injuries

Carlos Rodon (SP – CHW) Shoulder
Rodon was sent on a minor-league rehab assignment on May 19 and could be on track to return in early June. Pick him up now if you have the roster space.

Miguel Sano (3B – MIN) Hamstring
Sano was sent on a rehab assignment on May 19. He should be back in action in the next couple of weeks.

Miguel Cabrera (1B – DET) Hamstring
Cabrera is traveling with the Tigers and could return this week.

Dustin Pedroia (2B – BOS) Knee
Pedroia is on a Triple-A rehab assignment this week and could return before the end of May. He has been recovering from knee surgery.

J.D. Martinez (OF – BOS) Illness
Martinez was removed from a game on Thursday with a stomach illness, but returned to the lineup on Friday. He is safe to start in weekly leagues.

Joe Musgrove (SP – PIT) Shoulder
Musgrove has been making starts in Triple-A and could make a start on May 23. He has a right shoulder strain that he has been dealing with since early April. He is worth speculating on in deeper mixed leagues.

Jerad Eickhoff (SP – PHI) Lat
Eickhoff has been on the DL since March 29 with a lat strain and was sent on a Double-A rehab assignment on May 15. He will likely return to the Phillies sometime in May.

Zach Britton (RP – BAL) Achilles
Britton has been throwing live batting practice and is scheduled to pitch a simulated game on May 22. He could return in the next couple of weeks and is a great stash if you are in need of saves.

Daniel Murphy (2B – WAS) Knee
Murphy has been on the DL all of this season after having knee surgery in October. Murphy is reportedly nearing a rehab assignment but is still without a timetable to return.

Todd Frazier (3B – NYM) Hamstring
Frazier has been on the DL since May 8. He was expected to return when first eligible on May 11, but it looks like he will now need a rehab assignment before he returns. Frazier could still return before the end of May.

Madison Bumgarner (SP – SF) Hand
Bumgarner is scheduled to make a Triple-A rehab start on May 26 and could return in June. He underwent surgery in late March on his hand after being hit with a line drive.

Chase Anderson (SP – MIL) Illness
Anderson was placed on the DL on May 13 with an illness but is currently scheduled to start on Monday for the Brewers.

Carlos Martinez (SP – STL) Lat
Martinez has been on the DL since May 10 with a lat strain. Martinez is expected to begin a throwing program on May 21 and could return on May 28.

Alex Reyes (SP – STL) Elbow
Reyes is recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in March of 2017. He was sent on a Double-A rehab assignment last week. Reyes could return on May 29, though it is not clear what his role will be when he returns.

Mark Melancon (SP – STL) Elbow
Melancon threw a live BP session this past week and could return in early June. This is encouraging for fantasy owners with unlimited DL spots. He should probably be owned in leagues where saves are scarce.

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Shane McDonald is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Shane, check out his archive or follow him @coachshanemac.

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