I have to be honest…I felt a little better after having the opportunity to vent about Carlos Gonzalez on the Fantasy Alarm Show last Monday night on SiriusXM. So thanks to my pals Jeff Mans and Ted Schuster for letting me spew about how fragile CarGo is and that he is a complete waste of a first round pick in fantasy baseball leagues. Now, onward and such with today’s fantasy baseball injury report.
Adam Wainwright (SP-STL)
It has been three years since Adam Wainwright underwent Tommy John surgery. After a shaky beginning in his first season back, Wainwright has been better than ever since that time. However, he complained or soreness in his elbow earlier this week and had an MRI which did not reveal any structural damage. Wainwright received an anti-inflammatory injection and claims to simply have tendinitis in his elbow. He was supposed to be a two-start pitcher for Week 12, but his status for next week is now very much up in the air. Hopefully a decision is made over the weekend so GM’s can plan accordingly.
Carlos Gonzalez (OF-COL)
Don’t misunderstand me...I am not taking joy in the fact that Carlos Gonzalez is injured. But we must face the facts that CarGo is too injury prone to be considered a legitimately elite fantasy baseball player. He possesses incredible talent and has put up some great numbers when he plays. But the fact remains that he cannot be relied upon for any type of sustained production. Gonzales underwent surgery on his finger this week and had a tumor removed. I do wish him well and hope he recovers soon, but it is likely that he will be out several more weeks. The sooner he returns, the sooner he will be back on the disabled list for some other malady.
Curtis Granderson (OF-NYM)
Just when it looked like Curtis Granderson had figured things out he is forced to sit out with a calf injury. He was out of Thursday’s lineup but did make an appearance late in the game as a pinch hitter. However, after he drew a walk he was pinch run for by Zack Wheeler. Granderson has been an albatross for batting average but has finally got it up to .224. The Mets will probably be cautious with their prized free agent, and calf injuries can also take some time to heal. If you have to bench him for a few days, your fantasy team probably won’t suffer too much.
Jenrry Mejia (RP-NYM)
Mets closer Jenrry Mejia was taken out of Thursday’s game with back stiffness while warming up in extra innings. The extent of the injury is unknown at this time, but it could explain his recent troubles where he has been scored upon quite frequently. Mejia had only blown one save since assuming ninth inning responsibilities, but his numbers were heading in the wrong direction. If he is out for any period of time, expect Jeurys Familia to get an opportunity to close out games.
Brandon Phillips (2B-CIN)
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips sustained an injury to his index finger while trying to turn a double play on Thursday. He was pinch hit for later in the game but we don’t know the extent of the injury just yet. Phillips has been disappointing from a fantasy perspective as he has not taken advantage of hitting in the middle of the Reds lineup.
Neil Walker (2B-PIT)
After being scratched from a game earlier this week with abdominal pain, Neil Walker ended up having an appendectomy. He was placed on the disabled list and could be out longer than the two weeks depending on how his body heals and whether he needs any rehab. Walker had been a great source of power for a middle infielder, so his absence will hurt fantasy GM’s. Stash him on your DL and plug him right back in your lineup when he returns.
Francisco Liriano (SP-PIT)
Francisco Liriano may have done fantasy GM’s a huge favor by landing on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. Liriano has been abysmal for most of the season as he only has one win and a bloated 4.60 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. His strikeout ratio was good, but his control has been an issue again. Liriano will probably miss at least four weeks so he is droppable in most leagues.
Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),