Yoenis Cespedes OF, Mets: thumb sprain
Over the last two seasons Cespedes has suffered injury after injury. This week it was a thumb sprain, but it was mild and he was back in the Mets’ lineup just a day later. While this injury isn’t a serious concern going forward, his overall Injury Risk is. It’s about as high as it can be for a player not currently on the DL. Sell him while you can if he’s on your roster.
Shohei Ohtani SP/DH, Angels: ankle sprain
Ohtani just won rookie of the month, but his recent injuries are a concern. First it was a blister to his pitching hand and now it’s an ankle sprain. Don’t forget he underwent surgery on his ankle last October. Ohtani isn’t landing on the DL and is available to hit, but his next start is pushed back to at least the weekend. By both hitting and pitching, he places extra stress on his body, and it can magnify any injury. Our algorithm has calculated a two week Optimal Recovery Time, so for now he is a High Injury Risk.
Joe Panik 2B, Giants: thumb surgery
Following surgery for a torn ligament in his left (non-throwing) thumb, Panik is facing a 6 week absence. Our analytics show a 7 week Optimal Recovery Time, so he should be out longer than current reports suggest. This can be a tough injury to recover from and can lead to weakness in the hand in the first month after a player’s return. Panik isn’t worth holding onto unless you have an open DL spot.
Corey Seager SS, Dodgers: Tommy John surgery
The most devastating injury from week 5 is Seager’s season-ending elbow surgery. He will undergo Tommy John surgery, typically reserved for pitchers who tear their UCL. Our algorithm is showing an 11 month recovery time, so he could be ready around Opening Day. Seager had elbow issues last season and did not end up undergoing surgery in the offseason. He was on a throwing program in Spring Training but was ready to go on Opening Day, although we never saw that pop at the plate from him. Even if he is ready to play next April, he won’t be at 100%. His back also remains a concern.
Miguel Sano 3B, Twins: hamstring strain
For the second time in three seasons, Sano is on the DL with a hamstring strain. It’s a grade 1, the least severe. We are showing a two week Optimal Recovery Time, but even when he does return he will remain High Risk. His hamstring was likely much weaker due to his 2016 hamstring strain and his shin stress reaction and surgery last fall. He hasn’t made much progress since suffering the injury, so his owners should plan for him to miss more than the minimum 10 days.
DJ LeMahieu 2B, Rockies: hamstring strain
LeMahieu was placed on the 10-day DL after suffering a left hamstring strain last Friday. Like Sano, this comes with a two week Optimal Recovery Time. LeMahieu has historically been much healthier, so his return could be quicker and his long-term outlook is more positive.
Johnny Cueto SP, Giants: elbow discomfort
Cueto is seeking multiple opinions on his elbow, never a good sign for a pitcher. The elbow has been a problem over the last few weeks, but the ankle injury that landed him on the DL seemed to be the bigger concern. Now his elbow is the real issue, and there could be an underlying problem that is the source of the inflammation and discomfort in his throwing arm. Even if there is no structural damage, he needs at least two weeks for it to calm down. We will continue to provide updates as more test results come in.
Jacob deGrom SP, Mets: elbow strain
When the Mets let deGrom stay in the game on Wednesday night after hyperextending his elbow on an awkward swing, it left us all questioning why they would take any risks with their pitchers. We’ve seen way too many of their starters have health problems over the last few seasons due to questionable decision-making, and deGrom appeared to be the next. He left after the fourth inning when the pain moved from his elbow to his biceps.
Fortunately, scans on his elbow came back clean- there is no structural damage. deGRom could even be cleared in time to make his next start. The smart move would be to place him on the 10-day DL to give his arm time to calm down. Even though all ligaments are intact, there could be a mild biceps or elbow strain that needs time to fully heal. Trying to play in 5 days, even though this was a minor injury, isn’t the smart long-term decision. There’s no need to take a risk here, especially considering the Mets’ recent history of poor medical decisions.
Hyun-Jin Ryu SP, Dodgers: groin strain
Ryu just landed on the DL with a left groin strain and is expected to be out through the All Star break. This is a very serious strain and a tough injury for a pitcher to recover from. Ryu also injured his groin back in 2016, although this one is far worse. His leg appeared to buckle on the landing after delivering a pitch. He tried to stretch it out but it was clear he couldn’t go on. It’s a tough loss for the Dodgers as he had been their best pitcher through the first month of the season.
Yoan Moncada 2B, White Sox: left hamstring tightness
It seems like Moncada has battled just about every injury in the books this year. He has had a sore left thumb, soreness on top of his foot, and now multiple instances of tightness in his left hamstring. For now he is not expected to land on the DL, but a few weeks off would do wonders for him. Now is the time to rest and let all of his injuries fully heal so they don’t become lingering problems later in the season when it really matters. Our algorithm is showing a 1-2 week Optimal Recovery Time, and his Injury Risk is Elevated.
Miguel Cabrera 1B, Tigers: biceps spasms
Before the season we said not to draft Miggy. Do you believe us yet? His back was a concern last season and continues to be one, and now he is battling a biceps injury. It won’t land him on the DL, but it did force him to miss three games before returning to the Tigers’ lineup as the DH on Thursday. His game is declining, which is no surprise due to all of the injuries he has faced in the last few years and his age (35). The Tigers will need to give him plenty of rest days throughout the season to keep him fresh and healthy, but even that may not be enough to keep him in the lineup consistently. He’s a High Injury Risk and could be for the rest of the season.
Robbie Ray SP, Diamondbacks: oblique strain
A grade 2 oblique strain could sideline Ray through the All Star break. Our algorithm is showing that it will take at least 5 weeks for the oblique to heal, then he will be ready to start throwing again and work his way back into the rotation, which could take many weeks due to the long layoff. Right now he is projected to miss anywhere from 6-12 weeks. Oblique strains tend to heal very slowly and are very tricky injuries for a pitcher. His Injury Risk will also continue to be Elevated even when he is cleared to return due to the recurrent nature of oblique injuries.
Wil Myers OF, Padres: left oblique strain
Myers was already a High Injury Risk due to the nerve issue in his throwing arm, and now his Injury Risk is even higher after suffering a left oblique strain. Based on our analytics, he needs at least 2 weeks for the oblique to heal if it’s a mild (grade 1) strain. A moderate strain would take closer to 4 weeks to heal. The nerve issue will be something to watch throughout the rest of the year and could be to blame for his oblique strain as he could have put extra stress on his core in an attempt to compensate for any arm trouble. Oblique injuries tend to linger, so this will be something to keep an eye on even when he is cleared to return from the DL.
Looking for a replacement for one of these injured players? We have the best Waiver Wire pickups for the week.
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