It is hard to believe that 4th of July is in the rearview mirror and the All Star Break is just days away. We are over halfway done with the season so now would be an ideal time for fantasy GMs to take a good hard look at rosters and address areas of need in terms of depth and flexibility. Many leagues have trade deadlines that are likely approaching, so GMs need to be aggressive and creative when it comes to negotiating deals. Keep in mind that there is no longer an August 31 waiver trade deadline so MLB teams will be doing their wheeling and dealing by July 31. This means GMs have to consider the possibility of players switching leagues or losing starting jobs along with the inevitable risk of injury. So without further ado, here is the next edition of the fantasy baseball emergency room.
A.J. Pollock (OF-LAD)
Good news for A.J. Pollock owners as he is expected to rejoin the Dodgers next weekend in Boston. Pollock just began a minor league rehab assignment and will be activated after the All Star break, barring any setbacks. He has been out for the past few months dealing with an infection in his surgically repaired elbow. Fantasy GMs are hoping for better results when he returns as he was not impressive in his first few weeks as a Dodger batting just .223 with two home runs, 14 RBI and 15 runs scored.
Justin Upton (OF-LAA)
Angels outfielder Justin Upton was taken out of Wednesday’s game against Texas with tightness in his left quadriceps. He was also held out of Thursday’s game as well in order to give him some extra rest and allow the injury to heal. Upton missed the first two and a half months of the season with a toe injury and is batting .269 with three home runs, six RBI and seven runs scored in 14 games since being activated from the injured list. He is considered day-to-day right now but should be able to return over the weekend as the injury does not appear to be serious.
David Peralta (OF-ARZ)
Peralta was taken out of Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers due to some tightness in his right shoulder. This is alarming because he has already been on the injured list this year with inflammation in the same shoulder. He underwent an MRI so we do not know the extent or severity of the injury yet. It would seem likely that Arizona will be cautious with this injury so it is very likely that Peralta ends up back on the injured list. He has not met expectations this season as he is batting .289 with nine home runs, 44 RBI and 39 runs scored.
Tommy La Stella (2B-LAA)
One of the biggest surprises of the 2019 season has been the emergence of Tommy La Stella raising his stature from reserve infielder to offensive juggernaut All-Star. La Stella is in the midst of a breakout season batting .300 with 16 home runs, 44 RBI and 49 runs scored. He was selected for the All-Star Game for the first time in his career but will have to sit it out due to being placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right tibia. This is a tremendously disappointing development as he will likely be out over two months at the earliest. His statistics show that he should be considered as a stash, but these next couple months are crucial in terms of GMs having roster flexibility and depth.
Jake Odorizzi (SP-MIN)
Odorizzihas been placed on the 10-day disabled list due to having a blister on his right middle finger. The Twins figured he would only miss one start before the All Star break and then get him back fresh in the second half. He will have to miss the All Star Game due to the injury but all fantasy GMs care about is the fact that they got tremendous value for him thus far with his 10-4 record along with a 3.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 88.2 innings over 17 starts. He should be fine for the second half of the season but the only concern is whether the blister becomes a recurring issue.
Scooter Gennett (2B-CIN)
Gennett was taken out of Wednesday’s game against Milwaukee with tightness in his left groin. The good news is that this is not the same groin he tore in spring training which cost him the first three months of 2019. Gennett was also held out of the lineup on Thursday so he should be considered day-to-day at this point. He is just 2-for-19 with five strikeouts over his first five games since being activated off the injured list. He is coming off a stellar 2018 season in which he hit .310 with 23 home runs, 92 RBI, 86 runs scored and four stolen bases. Nick Senzel and Derek Dietrich can fill in for Gennett at second base for however long he may be out.
Rich Hill (SP_LAD)
Hill has been transferred to the 60-day injured list as he continues dealing with a strained left forearm. He has been attempting to rest and recover from the injury in the hopes of returning this season, but the chances of that happening are getting slimmer and slimmer. He is not eligible to return until the middle of August at the earliest but he has still not resumed throwing. This has been a recurring theme for Hill over the years as injuries have severely limited him since blossoming as a starter late in his career. He has been extremely impressive when he pitches going 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 53 innings over ten starts. He should only be stashed if you have roster flexibility and available IL slots.
Brandon Lowe (2B-TB)
Rays’ second baseman Brandon Lowe has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right shin. The timing of this injury is unfortunate as he will have to miss the All-Star game next week after he was just recently added to the American League roster. Lowe fouled a ball off of his shin on Tuesday but should be ready to be activated immediately when he is eligible to return on July 13. He should be stashed as a valuable middle infielder batting .276 with 16 home runs, 49 RBI, 40 runs scored and five stolen bases.
Albert Pujols (1B-LAA)
Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols fouled a balled off his foot on Tuesday and the effects of it are still plaguing him as he missed the past couple games. The 39-year old is considered day-to-day with the injury and should be back in the lineup as soon as the pain and swelling subsides. He is batting .234 with 13 home runs, 44 RBI and 30 runs scored which makes him only a viable fantasy option in AL-only or very deep mixed leagues.
Marwin Gonzalez (3B-MIN)
The Twins held Marwin Gonzalez out of the lineup on Wednesday with a toe injury. This was a late scratch as he was initially slated to hit third in the batting order. Gonzalez recently spent time on the injured list with a hamstring injury so this is a completely unrelated issue. He got off to a horrendous start to the season but raised his batting average to .250 along with nine home runs, 26 RBI, 29 runs scored and one stolen base. Gonzalez is a valuable fantasy commodity to own because of his versatility and eligibility at multiple positions.
Matt Carpenter (3B-STL)
Veteran infielder Matt Carpenter has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained lower back. He apparently sustained the injury as a result of being bedridden recently due to a stomach illness. Carpenter has been a huge disappointment at the plate thus far batting only .216 with ten home runs, 28 RBI, 42 runs scored and six stolen bases. He is expected to return once he is eligible to be activated off the injured list but fantasy GMs will need to see some steady production from him before plugging him back in starting lineups.