Each week on Monday, we will review the previous week’s injury news and notes and make fantasy recommendations as a result.
I asked before starting this week’s article if there was a word limit, given the amount of shake-up we’ve seen in the first few days of the season. The powers that be said no, so settle in everyone. We’ve got plenty to get through.
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Fantasy Baseball Injury Roundup: Week 1A
How deep is your pitching staff?
We’ve lost a number of pitchers to injury who had ADPs lower than 100 and a few useful ones outside of that. Replacing their production off the waiver wire will be exceptionally difficult, but it’s way too early to call it a season. This isn’t fantasy football.
Here is the roundup.
Somebody out there had a pitching staff with Verlander, Fried, Ray, and McKenzie on it, and to that person, I am very sorry for your loss.
— Kelly Kirby (@thewonkypenguin) April 1, 2023
Justin Verlander (SP – NYM)
The Mets announced that Verlander would hit the IL with a low-grade teres major strain about 30 minutes before the first pitch of Opening Day. The plan is to re-scan him next week, though no one has given a timetable for his return.
What to do: Stash on IL. Tylor Megill was recalled from Triple-A and started Saturday’s game against the Marlins. He pitched five innings giving up two runs on six hits and two walks, and he struck out seven while earning the win. He is worth a pickup but matchup dependent.
Max Fried (SP – ATL)
Fried hurt his hamstring covering first base on Opening Day and will “definitely” go on the IL. To add insult to fantasy injury, however, the Braves are waiting until Wednesday to officially move him, meaning he will take up a spot on your roster for an extra few days.
What to do: Stash on IL. Dylan Dodd is worth a look. He had a 20:4 K/BB ratio in Spring Training and will be in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
Robbie Ray (SP – SEA)
Ray left his first start after 3 1/3 innings, and an MRI revealed a Grade 1 flexor strain that will shut him down completely for two weeks. Best case scenario sounds like five weeks.
What to do: Put him on your IL. Chris Flexen will take his spot in the rotation, but he is a streaming option at best and offers very little in the way of strikeouts. Look elsewhere for options.
Triston McKenzie (SP – CLE)
To be perfectly honest with you, I’d never heard much about the “teres muscle” prior to this week, but now I’ve looked into it a bit, and it is, indeed, important for pitching. The optimistic timeline for McKenzie’s return is in early June. The pessimistic timeline is much longer.
What to do: Stash him on your IL for now. Depending on your roster’s needs, fellow Guardian Aaron Civale has a nice K/BB ratio and is only rostered in seven percent in ESPN leagues.
Other Starters
- Elieser Hernandez (SP, RP – NYM): Right shoulder strain. Will return as a swingman when healthy.
- Griffin Canning (SP – LAA): Left groin strain. No timetable for return.
- Ryan Pepiot (SP – LAD): Left oblique strain. Michael Grove is expected to make multiple starts.
Daniel Bard (RP – COL)
Bard was placed on the 15-day IL with severe anxiety. It is unclear how long he will be out, so it’ll be important to plan for a long absence.
What to do: If you have IL space, you can stash him. In shallow leagues, he is a plausible drop. If you need saves/holds, Brad Hand, Dinelson Lamet, and Pierce Johnson are all on the table in the Rockies bullpen. If you want nothing to do with Colorado, there are plenty of other middling teams with similar situations to pick from.
Giovanny Gallegos (RP – STL)
Gallegos is DTD with lower back tightness but has yet to appear in a Cardinals game. Right now, the assumption is that he will avoid the IL.
What to do: Gallegos is the primary handcuff to Ryan Helsley and should be a boost in SV+HD leagues. With it being so early in the season, ride this out if you can. Jordan Hicks is next on the Cardinals’ depth chart, but through his first 1 1/3 innings, he has given up three hits, three earned runs, and four walks while striking out only one.
Other Relievers
- Joe Mantiply (RP – ARI): Out with a shoulder injury. Possible return in mid-April.
- Ryan Pressly (RP – HOU): Missed two games with an illness. Should be available this week.
Hitters
Luis Urias (2B, 3B, SS – MIL)
Urias went down with a hamstring strain and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. The bigger issue for fantasy managers is that hamstrings can be a lingering problem, so Urias enters a sort of injury purgatory.
What to do: Stash him on the IL. Many fantasy managers roster Urias because of his multi-positional eligibility. Pivoting to someone like Santiago Espinal, Chris Taylor, or Christian Arroyo is certainly a step-down, but all have low rostership and qualify all over.
Lars Nootbaar (OF – STL)
Nootbaar jammed his thumb during a slide on Opening Day and did not play the rest of the weekend. The team has said they’re giving him some extra days off to avoid further injury. Consider him day-to-day, but keep an eye on that very crowded Cardinal outfield.
What to do: Obviously, you’re not dropping Nootbaar after three games, but it does not sound like you’ll have the IL option either. So just hold and hope.
Injury Updates
Here are the latest updates on the already-injured players.
Jose Altuve (2B – HOU)
No 60-day injured list placement for Jose Altuve. He and Michael Brantley will start the season on the 10-day IL. Blake Taylor, Parker Mushinski and Lance McCullers Jr. are on the 15-day IL
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 30, 2023
Brandon Hughes (RP – CHC) | Seiya Suzuki (OF – CHC) | Kyle Hendricks (SP – CHC)
Per Cubs:
Seiya Suzuki is set to take at bats in AZ in the next few days.
Brandon Hughes is throwing live BP tomorrow.
Kyle Hendricks threw a bullpen session Friday.
— Jared Wyllys (@jwyllys) April 1, 2023
Kyle Wright (SP – ATL)
Brian Snitker said he thinks Kyle Wright is scheduled to pitch next Wednesday.
This makes sense. Triple-A Gwinnett currently lists a "TBD" for Wednesday in Norfolk.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) April 1, 2023
Tony Gonsolin (SP – LAD)
Tony Gonsolin's bullpen session (~40 pitches or so) at Dodger Stadium went well today, Dave Roberts said, so the next step for the RHP is facing hitters on Wednesday at Camelback Ranch https://t.co/s8lsWdDz44
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) April 2, 2023
Luis Severino (SP – NYY)
Luis Severino threw yesterday and today and is building up. Light throwing yesterday, came back asymptomatic today. All via Boone. #Yankees
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) April 1, 2023
Carlos Rodon (SP – NYY)
Carlos Rodon’s next step will be a two-up bullpen, with hitters possibly standing in the box for the second inning (but not swinging), per Boone.
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) April 2, 2023
Lance McCullers (SP – HOU)
A few updates from Dusty Baker
– Will check with the trainer on how Ryan Pressly is doing
– Michael Brantley has gone back to Florida to get some work in, could be back by the end of the month or earlier
– Lance McCullers threw off of flat ground again today, progressing well— Chris Gordy (@ChrisGordy) April 2, 2023
Joe Musgrove (toe) placed on IL
Joe Musgrove has been placed on the 15-day IL due to a left big toe fracture.
Fantasy Impact
This is not a surprising move after Musgrove injured his toe during spring training. He is making good progress towards a return, and while a return date is not set in stone, it should be sooner than later if all goes well.
We’ll see you next Monday. May you all keep your IL spots open and, as always, good luck!
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Kelly Kirby is a featured writer and the lead copyeditor at FantasyPros. You can check out her archive here and follow her on Twitter at @thewonkypenguin.
