In another edition of the fantasy baseball injury report, we are going to break down all the injuries you need to know about heading into Week 13 of the fantasy baseball season.
Early in the week there was a major blow to the closer landscape when Hunter Strickland hit a door in frustration after being pulled in a loss to the Marlins. The punch resulted in a fracture in his right hand, and he is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Fantasy owners that may have stashed Mark Melancon all year were hoping this may be the break they needed, but Bruce Bochy does not think he is ready to handle the workload of a closer. Sam Dyson was officially named the closer in Strickland’s absence and has been used as if it is his job, but Melancon may ultimately be the guy to own in the long-term. Regardless, this situation is probably only for those in deeper leagues where there are no saves on the waiver wire.
Michael Wacha was placed on the 10-day DL on June 21 with an oblique strain after being removed from his last start in the fourth inning. An MRI on Thursday showed that the strain is “moderate,” and Wacha will miss several weeks at a minimum. The Cardinals have several options to replace Wacha in the rotation including John Gant, Dakota Hudson, and Daniel Poncedeleon.
Lorenzo Cain was removed from two games early last week with minor groin and hamstring injuries. Cain wasn’t in the lineup on Sunday. The Brewers are off on Monday, so hopefully the extra rest will allow him to make a return on Tuesday. This sounds like a precautionary move by the Brewers, and Cain should be started in all leagues.
Some of the worst news came from the minor leagues as Nick Senzel tore a tendon in his right index finger. He will need surgery to repair the tendon and will miss the remainder of the 2018 season. After a slow start to the season, Senzel was hitting .387 in June and looked to be ready to make an impact in the second half for the Reds. Unfortunately, fantasy owners will have to wait until 2019 to see Senzel at the major league level. Obviously he’s a stash in dynasty and deep keeper leagues, but he can be cut in redraft leagues.
Here are a few more injuries that we are tracking from the previous week of action.
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Dylan Covey (SP – CHW)
Covey had to leave early from his start on Saturday with soreness in his right hip. After the game, Covey said he did not feel any pain and doesn’t expect to miss his next scheduled start. He is currently listed as day-to-day, but check FantasyPros for updates throughout the week before making a decision in daily leagues.
Kris Bryant (3B – CHC)
Bryant missed his second straight game on Sunday with shoulder soreness. Joe Maddon does not think he will need a trip to the disabled list. He is currently listed as day-to-day.
Jean Segura (SS – SEA)
Segura missed his fourth game on Sunday with an infection in his right forearm. He took swings and fielded grounders on Saturday. He was hoping to start Sunday but was held out of the lineup again. He is currently listed as day-to-day and should be able to return to the lineup this week.
Chris Taylor (OF – LAD)
Taylor had to be removed from the game early on June 20 and was held out of the lineup all weekend with hamstring tightness. He is currently listed as day-to-day and could be back early this week.
Jay Bruce (OF – NYM)
After missing three games last weekend with back pain, Bruce was scratched from the lineup on Monday and placed on the 10-day disabled list with hip soreness. He does not currently have a timetable to return, but it will probably be a couple of weeks before he is playing again.
Gary Sanchez (C – NYY)
Sanchez appeared to suffer a groin injury during the team’s game on Sunday. The Yankees later told reporters that the catcher would likely hit the disabled list as a result of the injury. It’s not clear how long he’ll be out with the injury, but it seems like it will be at least a few weeks.
Francisco Cervelli (C – PIT)
Francisco Cervelli was diagnosed with a concussion on Saturday and shut down from all baseball activities. The injury occurred when a foul tip hit his catcher’s mask on June 9. After an exam with a neurologist, it was recommended that Cervelli be placed on the 7-day DL. Cervelli has a long history of concussions, and the symptoms will need to be completely gone before he is able to return to baseball activities.
Arodys Vizcaino (RP – ATL)
Vizcaino has not pitched since last Sunday because of shoulder soreness. He had a cortisone injection early in the week, but he has not responded like the Braves had hoped. Vizcaino was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday.
Tyler Skaggs (SP – LAA)
Skaggs was scratched from his scheduled start on Thursday with hamstring tightness. He is currently listed as day-to-day but is expected to start on Monday for the Angels.
Aaron Sanchez (SP – TOR)
Sanchez bruised his right index finger before his start on Thursday. He was removed after one inning and placed on the 10-day DL on June 23. He currently does not have a set date set for his return.
Mike Soroka (SP – ATL)
Soroka had missed the last month with a similar issue and was placed right back on the 10-day DL on June 22 with right shoulder inflammation. An MRI on Thursday did not show any structural damage, but it is likely Soroka will be shut down for an extended period of time before he is able to return.
Caleb Smith (SP – MIA)
Caleb Smith exited Sunday’s start with what was initially described as a groin injury. It was later determined that he was dealing with a shoulder ailment. It was severe enough that he was placed on the disabled list Sunday prior to further examination, so Smith should be expected to miss at least a few starts.
Updating Previous Injuries
Byron Buxton (OF – MIN) Toe
Buxton was sent on a rehab assignment on June 19 and could return to the Twins sometime this week.
Mike Foltynewicz (SP – ATL) Triceps
Foltynewicz has been on the DL since June 16 with right triceps tightness. He threw a bullpen session on June 16 and is expected to start against the Reds on Monday.
Ronald Acuna (OF – ATL) Knee/Back
Acuna has been on the DL since May 28 with a mild ACL sprain in his left knee and a back contusion. He went 0-for-4 in his second Triple-A rehab assignment on Saturday but is expected to be back with the Braves as early as Monday.
Josh Donaldson (3B – TOR) Calf
Donaldson has been on the DL since June 1 with calf tightness. He has been running at less than full speed this week and is at least another week away from a return to the Blue Jays.
Yu Darvish (SP – CHC) Triceps
Darvish has been on the DL since May 26 with triceps tendinitis in his pitching arm. He has been throwing bullpen sessions and could begin a rehab assignment as early as Monday.
Shelby Miller (SP – ARI) Elbow
Miller is recovering from Tommy John surgery in May of 2017. He was sent on a Double-A rehab assignment on June 4 and is scheduled to start on Monday for the Diamondbacks.
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Shane McDonald is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Shane, check out his archive or follow him @coachshanemac.
