Injuries continue to sweep through the league. This article will highlight notable injuries over the past week and where we can look to replace their production on your fantasy rosters.
Baltimore Orioles
John Means (SP – BAL) – Forearm
Means landed on the 10-day IL on Friday after suffering from a sprained left elbow. On Sunday, the Orioles transferred him to the 60-day IL, and he is without an official timetable to return.
Cincinnati Reds
Jonathan India (2B – CIN) – Hamstring
After initial indications that the hamstring injury would not be serious, India has been held out of the lineup for three straight games. As of now, the Reds do not see it necessary to move him to the injured list; however, that could change on Monday when they prepare to play the Padres.
Colorado Rockies
Garrett Hampson (2B, OF – COL) – Hand
Hampson was placed on the 10-day IL with a bruised right hand, and follow-up tests did not reveal any fractures in bones. The initial indications are that Hampson will only require the minimum amount of time on the injured list before returning to the Rockies lineup.
Detroit Tigers
Javier Baez (2B, SS – DET) – Thumb
Javier Baez was held out of the lineup for two consecutive days before the Tigers placed him on the 10-day IL with a bruised thumb. Baez stated that he sustained the injury during his walk-off hit for the Tigers. Since the move is retroactive, Baez could return this upcoming weekend.
Matt Manning (SP – DET) – Shoulder
After two innings in his last start, Manning was removed after a ball deflected off his shoulder against the Royals. Manning clarified that he is not concerned with the injury and looks to make his next scheduled start for the Tigers against the Rockies on Friday.
Casey Mize (SP – DET) – Elbow:
Mize was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday with an initial diagnosis of a right elbow sprain, and further tests revealed a sprained medial collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. While there is no timetable for his return, Mize has stated that he is not feeling as sore as previously. The Tigers will hope to have Michael Pineda (SP – DET) take his spot in the rotation until he is ready to return.
Houston Astros
Ryan Pressly (RP – HOU) – Knee
Pressly is currently dealing with right knee inflammation and was placed on the 10-day IL by the Astros on Friday. While we are not sure when he will be ready to return, he will have about two weeks to heal. Hector Neris (RP – HOU) looks to be the next man up for the Astros.
Los Angeles Angels
David Fletcher (2B, SS – LAA) – Hip
After leaving the game against the Marlins, Fletcher was diagnosed with a left hip strain and is not traveling with the Angels on their current road trip. The head athletic trainer for the Angels stated that this is an injury he has been dealing with since Spring Training. He does not have a timetable set to return.
Mike Trout (OF – LAA) – Hand
Trout was hit-by-pitch on his hand in Sunday’s game against the Rangers and was removed from the game. Initial X-rays on his hand were negative, but the Angels plan on doing more tests before determining whether he will need an IL stint. The Angels will now look to have Jo Adell (OF – LAA), Brandon Marsh (OF – LAA), and Taylor Ward (OF – LAA) roam the outfield for them should Trout not be able to go.
Minnesota Twins
Byron Buxton (OF – MIN) – Knee
Buxton came up lame while sliding into second base on Saturday against the Red Sox. Further testing revealed that Buxton would need “a couple of days” before making a possible return to the lineup. Buxton is optimistic that the injury will keep him off of the IL. The Twins are currently working on a plan to see when Buxton could return to the lineup.
Sonny Gray (SP – MIN) – Hamstring
Initially, Gray was only considered day-to-day with the hamstring injury that had him removed from his last start. The diagnosis was a low-grade strain of his right hamstring and is not regarded as severe. He is optimistic he will only be on the IL for the minimum amount of time.
Alex Kirilloff (1B, OF – MIN) – Wrist
Kirilloff is still dealing with the wrist injury that he had surgically repaired last season. The Twins are not putting a timetable on his return, and he will undergo further testing to figure out the severity of the injury. He received a cortisone shot on Friday. Trevor Larnach (OF – MIN) was recalled and will look to replace him in the lineup.
New York Mets
Taijuan Walker (SP – NYM) – Shoulder
Walker is currently dealing with right shoulder bursitis and was placed on the 10-day IL by the Mets. He quickly said that “everything is all good” and has recently started playing catch again. He will look to throw a few bullpens in the upcoming days before they figure out when he will be able to return.
St. Louis Cardinals
Yadier Molina (C – STL) – Soreness
Although there is no concern for an actual injury, Molina has been held out of the lineup for three games. Manager Oliver Marmol has stated that he is dealing with overall “soreness.” Molina had a late start to Spring Training, so he could just be trying to get his body back into baseball shape. He is supposed to make a return to the lineup in the upcoming series against the Marlins.
Tampa Bay Rays
Luis Patino (SP – TB) – Oblique
A strained left oblique has landed Patino on the 60-day IL for the Rays. He was removed after 13 pitches in his last start and is now looking at a potential mid-to-late June return to the Rays rotation. Josh Fleming (SP – TB) has been announced as his replacement in the rotation and should see a decent opportunity to make starts for Tampa going forward.
Toronto Blue Jays
Teoscar Hernandez (OF – TOR) – Oblique
Teoscar suffered an oblique injury in last Wednesday’s game against the Yankees. The injury was confirmed post-game after he underwent an MRI. The Blue Jays quickly placed him on the injured list, and Bradley Zimmer (OF – TOR) took his spot in right field for the Jays. He and Cavan Biggio (3B, OF – TOR) should now split time out there until Teoscar returns to the Jays lineup.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (SP – TOR) – Forearm:
MRI results confirmed that Ryu is dealing with left forearm inflammation. The diagnosis was quick to land him on the 10-day IL, but he looks to miss more time beyond the minimum amount of days. The Jays have shut him down for the next few days before deciding how to proceed with him going forward. Ross Stripling (SP – TOR) is expected to take his spot in the rotation until he is ready to return.
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Cristian Crespo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Cristian, check out his archive.