Brian McCann C, Astros: right knee surgery
For the second time this season McCann has landed on the DL due to problems with his right knee, but this time he needed surgery. He underwent an arthroscopic procedure on Thursday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Our Optimal Recovery Time is on the longer end of that projection with an August 12 Healthy to Return Date. It’s a tough loss for the Astros, but having him healthy throughout the postseason should be the goal. With a recurring issue like this, it’s best to go ahead and take care of the problem, likely just a clean-up procedure or addressing cartilage damage. Knee problems can be especially problematic for an aging catcher like McCann, but he should be able to return in mid-August and perform well throughout the final months of the season.
Christian Yelich OF, Brewers: lower back tightness
Just about every year Yelich misses time due to lower back problems. He missed five games this week but returned to the Brewers lineup on Wednesday. According to our analytics, his HPF (Health Performance Factor) remains Below Average, so his back could continue to affect him. This is going to be a recurring problem for him, whether it’s next week or later in the season that it pops up again. Unfortunately it’s something players never fully get over.
Gleyber Torres 2B, Yankees: right hip strain
Torres wasn’t in the Yankees starting lineup on Tuesday due to a right hip strain, and he lasted just four innings on Wednesday before being lifted and quickly landing on the DL. If it’s a mild strain, this comes with a two week Optimal Recovery Time. That means he shouldn’t return before the All Star break. The Yankees are one of the hottest teams in baseball, and Torres is a big reason why. The rookie has been great through his first 63 major league games, hitting .294 with 15 homers and 42 RBI. But hip injuries can quickly get re-aggravated and made worse, so it’s best to shut him down now and allow things to calm down.
Tyler Skaggs SP, Angels: right adductor strain
Skaggs was just placed on the DL with a right adductor strain, the same injury that forced him to miss a start earlier in the year. While he believes he will miss just one start, this can be a slow injury to recover from, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ends up sitting out through the All Star break. This comes with a 2 week Optimal Recovery Time. Right now his Injury Risk is Elevated and HPF is Below Average.
Shane Greene RP, Tigers: right shoulder strain
Greene is undergoing an MRI on his right shoulder Thursday. There is some concern that this is a serious injury, which could be anything from a labrum tear to rotator cuff damage. Check back for more updates as we learn more about the severity of his injury and projected recovery time.
Rich Hill SP, Dodgers: neck tightness
Once again Rich Hill is dealing with an injury, but this time it isn’t a blister issue. He left his start early on Wednesday due to neck tightness. Hill was injured on a head-first dive into home plate while attempting to score a run. While he is being called day-to-day, it could take him closer to 7-10 days for the stiffness to subside. Any mild injury can greatly affect a pitcher, so it’s best to push his next start back so he can get back to 100% before taking the mound. A short stint on the DL remains a possibility. His Injury Risk also remains High due to his many injury concerns.
Marco Estrada SP, Blue Jays: glute strain
Estrada was sent for an MRI to determine the severity of his glute injury and has been diagnosed with a mild strain. He threw just three pitches on Tuesday before exiting with the injury. We are showing a two week Optimal Recovery Time, so it makes sense to place him on the DL. The good news is his HPF remains Above Average, so he should be able to pitch well once he is cleared to return.
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