Week 1 of the fantasy baseball season is officially in the books and stress levels are already off the charts. Injuries are to be expected so no one should be surprised to be scrambling for the waiver wire this early. It’s a long season so be smart, strategic and economical with your free agent budget. Now without further adieu, here is the next installment of the walking wounded.
Felix Hernandez (SP-SEA)
Fantasy GM’s are holding their breath after King Felix lasted only five innings on Sunday before leaving with tightness in his right quadriceps. The injury is not expected to cost him any time as of now, but there is understandable concern. Hernandez had a very pedestrian outing on Sunday against Oakland which could have been attributable to the discomfort in his leg. He is obviously a must-start even if not 100%, but keep a close eye on his status during the week.
Yordano Ventura (SP-KC)
For the second consecutive game, Yordano Ventura was forced to leave his start early with a minor injury. He suffered a cramp in his right calf after just missing out on a quality start. Ventura is not expected to miss any time so do not hesitate to put him in your lineup this week.
Ian Kennedy (SP-SD)
The Padres have placed Kennedy on the DL after he was forced out of his start last Thursday with a hamstring strain. This was expected so fantasy GM’s should look to add Odrisamer Despaigne who will be taking his place in San Diego’s rotation. Hamstring injuries tend to linger and require sufficient time to heal, so do not look for Kennedy to return when he is first eligible near the end of April.
Shin-Soo Choo (OF-TEX)
Choo was a bounce-back candidate after having a disastrous 2014 season which also included a season-ending injury. But Choo has already missed a few games with back spasms less than one week into the new season. His fantasy value has plummeted over the course of the last couple years and this recent setback isn’t alleviating of the concerns. Consider benching him in Week 2 if you play in weekly leagues because his status may be up in the air by the time rosters lock on Monday.
Jenrry Mejia (RP-NYM)
Well I didn’t see this one coming. Mejia was placed on the DL last week after Opening Day and in the last edition of the injury report I predicted Mejia would eventually need Tommy John surgery. Instead, Mejia tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended for 80 games. Jeurys Familia has officially been named the Mets closer and he picked up his first save of the season on Sunday. He is certainly worth adding but don’t blow half of your free agent budget because chasing closers seldom works out well.
Yan Gomes (C-CLE)
Indians catcher Yan Gomes suffered a sprain of his MCL and will likely be out until June. This is a big loss for fantasy GM’s who were expecting top tier production from a young catcher on the rise. Gomes will not undergo surgery as of now, but if he suffers any setbacks during his recovery process he could be lost for the season. Rookie Roberto Perez will take over for Gomes as the starter and he is worth a flier if you need a replacement.
Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),
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