Welcome back to the first edition of the injury report since the official start of summer.  With temperatures rising it also means GMs stress levels are rising as we hit the mid-point of the season.  There have been so many injuries to key players that it just feels normal at this point to have to advise people to prepare for alternatives and do their best to tread water.  So, without further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the fantasy baseball emergency room.

 

Day to Day

Josh Donaldson (3B-TOR) – It has been a frustrating season for Donaldson owners after he missed significant time with a calf injury.  Now he missed Thursday’s game after banging his knee on concrete while doing pre-game warmups.  He is hopeful he will be back in the lineup on Friday so you should check in later today before lineups lock for a further update.  It has been over a week since his last home run but Donaldson remains one of the best fantasy options at third base in any league format.

George Springer (OF-HOU) – Springer was hit by a pitch in his left hand on Thursday and x-rays did not reveal any fractures.  Fantasy GMs should breathe a sigh of relief as this could have been a very significant development if Springer was forced to miss an extended period of time.  He has blossomed this season slugging 21 home runs and driving in 46 runs in a loaded Houston offense.  He is a must-start and should be in your lineup assuming he will be back on the field on Friday.

Cody Allen (RP-CLE) – Allen is not injured unless you consider lack of sleep a malady.  He was placed on the paternity leave list to be with his wife who gave birth to their child.  Andrew Miller will assume closing duties while Allen is out for these couple days.

Matt Kemp (OF-ATL) – Kemp has been dealing on and off with a hamstring injury for a while now and was taken out of Thursday’s game after experiencing some tightness.  He is considered day-to-day and will be re-evaluated by the Braves on Friday.  With recurring issues like this, it would not be surprising if Atlanta just shuts him down and placed him on the disabled list to give him a chance to fully heal.  Kemp has been a solid OF3 this season batting .320 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI.  The versatile Danny Santana would likely see at bats in Kemp’s absence.

Dexter Fowler (OF-STL) – Fowler was taken out of Wednesday’s game with cramping in his left quadriceps and then sat out on Thursday.  The Cardinals believe he will be available on Friday but it is possible he may be held out another day depending on how the muscle responds to some additional testing.  After a very slow start to the season, Fowler has picked it up offensively after slugging four home runs last week to bring his season total up to 13.  However, he wasn’t drafted for his power hitting so his .249 batting average and only three stolen bases have minimized the impact he has had thus far.

Brandon Phillips (2B-ATL) – Besides losing Matt Kemp, the Braves also lost Brandon Phillips on Thursday as he left the game with tightness in his left groin.  Phillips is considered day-to-day and we should know more later on Friday after he is re-evaluated.  It is probably a safe bet that the veteran will be given a day off on Friday to ensure he doesn’t make the injury any worse.  

Chase Headley (3B-NYY) – Headley was held out of Thursday’s game against the Angels with back spasms and his availability for Friday is questionable.  He got off to a red hot start but has ironically cooled off significantly once the Yankees got red hot.  Headley is only a starting option in AL-only leagues as his .245 batting average with four home runs and 31 RBI is not good enough to be in a lineup in a standard 12-team league.  Ronald Torreyes will play in his place but he doesn’t offer much more value than Headley so seek other options if possible.

 

On the DL

Jason Heyward (OF-CHC) – The Cubs outfield suddenly looks drastically different with Heyward now on the disabled list as a result of the laceration he sustained when diving for a ball.  Kyle Schwarber has been sent down to the minor leagues and Ben Zobrist is already on the disabled list.  Mark Zagunis was called up and should see some playing time which makes him a possible waiver wire candidate given the lineup he will get to hit in.

Bud Norris (RP-LAA) – Norris had been dealing with a knee injury for a few weeks and finally landed on the disabled list earlier this week.  The Angels are hoping he will resume throwing within a few days and could be on track to return in the next week or two.  He has 11 saves since becoming the team’s closer, although he only has one save in the month of June.  You should not feel compelled to stash him because he does not have a closer’s resume and the Angels are going nowhere this year. However, assuming he regains his 9th inning duties when he returns then he can be a source of some saves to augment better options you already have in your lineup.

Zack Wheeler (SP-NYM) – Wheeler joins several other Mets players on the disabled list this season as he is dealing with biceps tendinitis.  This could help explain the 15 runs he has given up in his last two starts after putting up respectable numbers through June 7 in his return after a two-year hiatus.  Wheeler’s innings were going to be limited this year anyway, so this short absence could help extend his season.  However, the way he has pitched in his last two starts coupled with the Mets apparent freefall doesn’t lend to much fantasy value going forward.  Let someone else waste a roster spot on Wheeler.

Yangervis Solarte (2B-SD) – The Padres will place Solarte on the 10-day disabled list with a right oblique strain that he suffered earlier this week.  The versatile infielder has had a productive season for an otherwise offensively-challenged San Diego team.  He is batting .268 with ten home runs and 40 RBI which makes him a viable middle infield option in most standard leagues.  Chase d’Arnaud is expected to see some playing time at second base while Solarte is out, but he isn’t a viable waiver wire option unless you are desperate in an NL-only league.

Pablo Sandoval (3B-BOS) – The Red Sox placed Sandoval on the disabled list with an ear infection which is essentially the type of pain that most fantasy GMs feel when thinking about Kung Fu Panda.  Sandoval has been abysmal and has lost a lot of playing time given his putrid numbers and inability to stay healthy.  His fantasy relevance ended years ago so Josh Rutledge is the guy to pick up if you need some infield depth on your roster.

Jerad Eickhoff (SP-PHI) – Eickhoff has been placed on the disabled list with an upper back strain but the Phillies are hopeful he will only miss one start and be ready to be activated once he is eligible to return.  Eickhoff does not have much fantasy value with an 0-7 record to go along with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.  He epitomizes the struggles the Phillies have had this year and should remain on the waiver wire where he belongs.

 

On the Mend

Felix Hernandez (SP-SEA) – The King is set to return tonight against Houston after a lengthy stay on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.  Hernandez is not the same pitcher he was a couple years ago but he is still a near top of the rotation option and will provide a boost to fantasy GMs who have been ravaged by injuries.

Zach Britton (RP-BAL) – Britton has begun a rehab assignment and looked good as he starts his comeback from an extended absence with a forearm injury.  He was placed on the 60-day disabled list which means he is eligible to return on July 4 and will be a huge boost to fantasy bullpens as he is one of the league’s most dominant closers.  

 

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and co-host of the Fantasy Alarm Podcast.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment).