Delino DeShields OF, Rangers: left hamate fracture
The Rangers won’t have DeShields for around 4-6 weeks after suffering a hamate fracture in his left hand. He already underwent surgery, and our analytics show a 5 week Optimal Recovery Time. It isn’t a very serious procedure as the hook of the hamate is removed. DeShields shouldn’t have any lingering effects, and his power should be back pretty quickly following a return to the lineup. He’s a High Injury Risk for now but shouldn’t be for long. It’s a big blow for his fantasy owners, but he’s worth holding onto if you have an open DL spot.
Wil Myers OF, Padres: triceps nerve irritation
Myers was suddenly placed on the DL this week due to nerve irritation in his triceps. He will be completely shut down for around a week to allow time for the nerve to calm down. Unfortunately, nerve problems are highly recurrent. It could improve short-term, but expect for him to have issues later this season. Myers described the pain as a lightning bolt going through his arm.
Christian Yelich OF, Brewers: right oblique strain
Yelich left Wednesday’s game after suffering a right oblique strain. It’s unclear how much time he might miss, but our analytics show an Optimal Recovery Time of 2+ weeks. This is a highly recurrent injury, even if mild. He needs to be careful before returning to the lineup. Anything from an awkward swing to stretching for a ball in the outfield could irritate the oblique.
Salvador Perez C, Royals: partial MCL tear
Perez is going to miss around 6 weeks after suffering an MCL sprain that occurred while carrying his luggage. Yes, you read that correctly. An MRI showed a partial tear, which according to our analytics needs 6 weeks to heal (in line with his current timeline). The good news is that the MCL can heal on its own as long as it isn’t a full thickness tear, it just takes time. When Perez is cleared to return to the lineup, the Royals will need to be careful to ensure he isn’t spending too much time behind the plate over the first few weeks. That places added stress on the knees that he may not be ready for quite yet.
Jacoby Ellsbury OF, Yankees: oblique strain & hip injury
Ellsbury has yet to make his season debut due to a series of injuries. First he was slowed at Spring Training by an 
oblique strain, and now it’s a hip injury that is holding him back. He had a hip issue in 2015, and while this one sounds minor, it’s concerning that the injuries are piling up this early in the season. The original plan was to get him 55 minor league at-bats, but that might not happen due to all of the Yankees outfield injuries. While they may be desperate, Ellsbury needs at least two weeks to recover from his latest problem, and then he needs to make it through enough minor league games to get comfortable at the plate and ensure that he is fully recovered from the injuries. He remains a High Injury Risk.
Ian Kinsler 2B, Angels: groin strain
Kinsler battled some groin tightness throughout Spring Training and is already on the DL after re-aggravating the injury. Our analytics show that he should have taken two weeks off, but because he didn’t give the groin enough time to fully heal he was at a High Injury Risk. Sure enough, he is already sidelined again. Now his Optimal Recovery Time is 2-3 weeks. He expects to return when first eligible, but if he does he will remain High Risk. Kinsler isn’t going to be a great fantasy option over the next month.
Tyler Flowers C, Braves: left oblique strain
It didn’t take long for Flowers to end up on the DL. He suffered an oblique strain on Opening Day, and our analytics show a 4 week ORT for a moderate oblique strain. Flowers was already a sub-par fantasy option, and now he isn’t worth holding onto unless you have an open DL spot. Flowers also battled groin soreness at training camp, both difficult injuries for a baseball player to overcome. It won’t take much to aggravate the oblique or groin if he doesn’t take the full 4 weeks off to recover. He will be a High Injury Risk through the start of May.
Jake Lamb 3B, Diamondbacks: left AC sprain
The Diamondbacks won’t have power hitter Jake Lamb for at least 10 days. He landed hard on his left shoulder stretching out for a ball, then re-injured it on a head first slide. Further tests showed an AC sprain. This is to his non-throwing arm, so his ORT is just 1-2 weeks. He shouldn’t miss much time, although it could take an additional week or two to regain his power at the plate and his injury risk will be increased.
Aaron Hicks OF, Yankees: oblique strain
The Yankees already didn’t have Jacoby Ellsbury, and now Aaron Hicks could be looking at a lengthy absence. Hicks felt tightness in his oblique and landed on the DL. Recovery for a mild strain is 2 weeks, and Hicks already appears to be making good progress as he took 80 swings just a few days after the injury. But plenty of injury concerns remain as Hicks had two separate stints on the DL last season due to oblique strains to both sides. Some players like Hicks have certain aspects of their swing that make them more prone to core injuries, so his injury risk will remain increased even if this one is mild.
Nelson Cruz DH, Mariners: ankle sprain
As we prepared for fantasy baseball drafts earlier this spring, we tabbed Nelson Cruz as a player to look out for. Sure, he played 155 games last season and has been one of the game’s best hitters over the last decade, but the injuries piled up in 2017 (knee, hamstring, calf, etc.) Now he has already landed on the DL with a sprained ankle. While this injury alone isn’t too concerning, his recent history is. He was a High Injury Risk throughout Spring Training and is even higher now. He could stay that way through the All Star break.
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