Skip to main content

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Adalberto Mondesi, Byron Buxton, Ketel Marte (2021)

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Adalberto Mondesi, Byron Buxton, Ketel Marte (2021)

Week 12 of the fantasy baseball season, and we’ve got a couple of familiar faces (Adalberto Mondesi and Byron Buxton) popping up on the injury report again. Those were the most impactful players to be placed on IL this week, with guys like Jose Abreu, Jesse Winker, and Bryce Harper battling day-to-day-type injuries. It’s the time of the season when the hot stove starts heating up, so managers are going to want to stay plugged into the News Desk on FantasyPros.com for all the latest rumors and news. 

Players injured: Ketel Marte, Max Fried, Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims, Aaron Civale, Michael Fulmer, Adalberto Mondesi, Byron Buxton, Jonathan Villar, Mark Canha, Brandon Belt.

Potential Beneficiaries: Josh Reddick, Amir Garrett, Brad Brach, Cal Quantrill, Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan, J.C. Mejia, Gregory Soto, Jose Cisnero, Nicky Lopez, Luis Arraez, Luis Guillorme, Tony Kemp, Chad Pinder, Skye Bolt, LaMonte Wade Jr., Darin Ruf.

View your league’s top available players with My Playbook partner-arrow

Injury Roundup

Ketel Marte (OF – ARI)
Ketel Marte (hamstring) is having a great season hitting .370/.419/.556 in 135 at-bats. He left Tuesday’s game early with an injured left hamstring after missing six weeks earlier in the season with a right hamstring injury. Marte played on Saturday but had to leave the game early then, too. He’s scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and a trip to the IL is likely unless his hamstring starts feeling better fast. Pavin Smith moves to Center Field while Marte is unavailable, with Josh Reddick coming off the bench to take reps in Right Field. Marte managers can stay tuned for updates.

Max Fried (SP – ATL)
Max Fried (blister) started the season allowing 14 earned runs in 11 innings before succumbing to a hamstring injury. Since returning from the IL on May 5th, Fried allowed 13 earned runs in 46 and 2/3 innings. He pitched well against the Cardinals in his last start but went on the IL retroactive to June 19 with a blister. It’s likely to be a short stay on the IL. Fried’s probable to come off the IL and pitch this Wednesday, June 30th, against the Marlins. 

Tejay Antone (RP – CIN)
Tejay Antone (forearm) had a quick turnaround after being activated from the IL on Tuesday. He went back on, on Saturday. Antone’s been excellent with a 1.60 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP in 22 games this season. It’s worth noting that Antone’s spin rates are down significantly (in two appearances) since the league-wide enforcement of sticky stuff rules.  The 27-year-old has a forearm strain with no timetable to return. Amir Garrett and Brad Brach are on the radar for saves with Antone and Lucas Sims injured. 

Lucas Sims (RP – CIN)
Lucas Sims (elbow) will miss approximately one month with a right elbow sprain. He’s been unlucky this season, pitching to a 5.02 ERA despite a much lower 3.72 xFIP and 3.10 xERA. Cincinnati will use Amir Garrett and Brad Brach to close games while Sims is out, or maybe they will trade for a closer since they’re not yet out of the race for the NL Central. 

Aaron Civale (SP – CLE)
Aaron Civale (finger) left Monday’s start early with a sprained middle finger and will be out at least four weeks. He’s pitched well this season and is tied for the Major League lead with 10 wins. Cleveland’s rotation is in shambles because of injuries to Shane Bieber and Zach Plesac, in addition to Civale. Cal Quantrill, Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan, and J.C. Mejia see a boost in playing time with the injury woes. 

Michael Fulmer (RP – DET)
Michael Fulmer (back) went on the IL on Sunday with a strained back after allowing three runs in one inning on Saturday. There is no timetable for his return to the field. The injury to Fulmer decreases competition at the back-end of the Tigers bullpen, opening the door for Gregory Soto or Jose Cisnero to run away with the closer’s role in what has been a committee thus far. Fulmer has a 4.05 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 25 games this season, including four starts. 

Adalberto Mondesi (SS – KC)
Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) and the IL, name a more iconic duo. I’ll wait. The oft-injured speedster is out again after straining his oblique in a game two Sundays ago. He’s been excellent when healthy, batting .361 with a 1.211 OPS in 36 at-bats this season. It’s his third trip to the IL this season. Oblique injuries are hard to forecast, but it seems reasonable to assume he’ll be out at least a month. Nicky Lopez is the primary beneficiary of the Mondesi injury. 

Byron Buxton (OF – MIN)
Byron Buxton (hand) took a fastball off the hand last Monday and was later diagnosed with a boxer’s fracture. Boxer’s fractures take three to six weeks to heal from, and when you add on a week for rehab, that means Buxton will be out at least a month. It’s unfortunate because he’s been one of the best players in the Majors this season, hitting .369 with a 1.176 OPS in 27 games, and if he weren’t injured, he would make the All-Star team. We didn’t have to wait long to find a more iconic duo than Adalberto Mondesi and the IL. The injury to Buxton keeps Luis Arraez in the lineup since Josh Donaldson is back now too. 

Jonathan Villar (3B – NYM)
Jonathan Villar (calf) is quietly having a nice rebound season for the injury-plagued Mets. He’s hitting .265/.351/.459 with four home runs and five steals since being promoted to the lead-off spot on May 18th. Speed is an important part of his game, so it’s good to see the Mets being cautious with Villar as he deals with an injury that he could have potentially played through. He’s expected back soon after the minimum. His addition to the IL is retroactive to June 22nd, so he may return this week. Villar’s managers need to be aware that the eventual return of J.D. Davis will impact Villar’s playing time, and Brandon Nimmo‘s imminent return might slide Villar down in the batting order considerably.

Mark Canha (OF – OAK)
Mark Canha (hip) went on the IL on Friday with a strained hip. He went for an MRI, but the results haven’t been released yet, so there’s no timetable for his return. He’s been excellent as a table-setter for the A’s this season with a .375 OBP, 11 home runs, and seven steals. Tony Kemp, Chad Pinder, and Skye Bolt will see upticks in playing time with Canha out. 

Brandon Belt (1B – SF)
Brandon Belt (knee) went on the IL on Friday after being injured on Wednesday. The Giants haven’t ruled out surgery for their powerful first baseman. He’s got 11 home runs and a .875 OPS in 55 games this season. LaMonte Wade Jr. was recalled and will split time with Darin Ruf at first base while Belt is out. Belt managers, stay tuned for updates. 

Create MLB DFS lineups with our Lineup Optimizer Tool partner-arrow


SubscribeApple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.

Lucas Babits-Feinerman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Lucas, check out his archive and follow him @WSonFirst.

More Articles

MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Thursday (3/28)

MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Thursday (3/28)

fp-headshot by Josh Shepardson | 1 min read
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jordan Romano, Michael Kopech, Paul Sewald (2024)

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jordan Romano, Michael Kopech, Paul Sewald (2024)

fp-headshot by Austin Lowell | 4 min read
13 Bold Predictions from the Experts (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

13 Bold Predictions from the Experts (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 5 min read
Fantasy Baseball Injury Stash Rankings: Walker Buehler, Matt McClain, Josh Lowe (2024)

Fantasy Baseball Injury Stash Rankings: Walker Buehler, Matt McClain, Josh Lowe (2024)

fp-headshot by Joel Bartilotta | 4 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

4 min read

MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Thursday (3/28)

Next Up - MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Thursday (3/28)

Next Article