It has been an insanely busy three days since the last injury report.  We have a couple of major star players that got hurt including one who will have an extended absence which will have major effects on fantasy league championships.  The only thing we can predict is the unpredictable because the entire fantasy baseball world can be turned upside down in a split second.   So, without further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the fantasy baseball emergency room.

Day to Day

Kris Bryant (3B-CHC) – We have already seen a significant injury to Mike Trout this year, so the next worst-case scenario is arguably an injury to the former NL Rookie of the Year and MVP.  Bryant sustained an ankle sprain earlier in the week and has not been able to take the field ever since.  The Cubs anticipate that Bryant will miss the entire weekend as well.  Whether he lands on the disabled list or not will depend on how well his ankle responds this weekend even while he is not playing.  Bryant’s numbers are a bit disappointing considering where he was drafted and what has been expected of him.  He is currently batting .264 with 16 home runs, 32 RBI, 50 runs scored and six stolen bases.  Obviously, he should be stashed and protected on your bench, and if you need an immediate replacement it looks like Tommy LaStella will see some at bats since the Cubs primary backup Jeimer Candelario hurt his knee after getting hit by a pitch on Thursday.

Michael Conforto (OF-NYM) – Conforto missed his third straight game on Thursday after he was hit by a pitch on his hand earlier in the week.  He was reportedly uncomfortable when he attempted to swing so he was held out of the lineup again.  Curtis Granderson has been on fire of late so the Mets don’t seem to be in a rush to get Conforto back on the field.  He has cooled off after a scorching start to the season as his batting average has dipped to .285 with 14 home runs, 41 RBI and 47 runs scored.  Check on his status later today and over the weekend to see if he lands on the DL.

D.J. LeMahieu (2B-COL) – LeMahieu left Tuesday’s game with a right groin injury and he was held out of Wednesday’s game as well.  It does not appear he will need a trip to the disabled list but it wouldn’t be surprising if he sat out another day or two and was given time to heal.  The Rockies have been mired in a deep slump and will need LeMahieu to help them down the stretch.  He is currently batting .302 with three home runs, 38 RBI and 43 RBI which makes him a solid middle infield option in most fantasy leagues.  Pat Valaika started in his place on Wednesday but is not worth a waiver wire acquisition.

Dustin Pedroia (2B-BOS) – Pedroia seems to be on the injury report almost every week.  He is now dealing with a left knee injury to add onto his list of other maladies including rib and wrist injuries.  Pedroia is still hitting .295 which is the sole source of his fantasy value.  His power and run production are down drastically (two home runs and 27 RBI), likely because of all the lingering and nagging injuries he is dealing with.  The Red Sox infield has been decimated with injuries to Josh Rutledge, Brock Holt, Pablo Sandoval and others.  Pedroia is still worth holding onto but you will have to deal with him in and out of the lineup.

Avisail Garcia (OF-CHW) – Ever since coming up with Detroit, Garcia was always projected to be a solid major league hitter.  However, several injuries and inconsistency have gotten in the way over the past several years until this season when Garcia has been the White Sox best hitter.  He has amassed a batting average of .318 to go along with 11 home runs and 51 RBI making him a must-start in any fantasy league.  Unfortunately, he sustained a knee injury and an MRI revealed some inflammation in his left knee which will likely keep him out for the next few days.  It does not appear he will need a trip to the DL which is good news, but be prepared to go a couple days without him.

Welington Castillo (C-BAL) – The Orioles catcher has already missed some time with a trip to the disabled list this year and was scratched from Thursday’s game after injuring his knee while going onto the field to warm up with Ubaldo Jimenez.  Baltimore seems to think Castillo should be able to return against Tampa Bay on Friday, but if he can’t go then Caleb Joseph will get another start.  Castillo is a respectable fantasy option batting .277 with eight home runs and 25 RBI.  He won’t help you that much, but he also won’t hurt you in any category either.

Andrew Cashner (SP-TEX) – Cashner was hit on his right arm by a broken bat on Thursday and had to be removed from the game.  The good news is that x-rays were negative and he only suffered a contusion, so Cashner should not miss any time.  He has been a major disappointment since reaching the big leagues with underwhelming statistics and various injuries.  He should remain on the waiver wire where he belongs.

On the DL

Trea Turner (SS-WAS) – Disaster has struck fantasy GMs as Turner suffered a broken right wrist after getting hit by a pitch against the Cubs on Thursday.  He managed to stay in the game for an inning after getting hit but was eventually replaced by Stephen Drew.  There is no time table for Turner to return but we can use Freddie Freeman’s injury as a baseline which was a ten-week absence.  There is no sugarcoating how devastating this is because Turner has been heating up and stealing bases at will lately.  Stash him on your bench or in a DL slot because he could be back in September which could be a difference-maker for many league championships.  Both Drew and Wilmer Difo will likely share shortstop in Turner’s absence.

Matt Holliday (1B/OF-NYY) – Holliday was signed by the Yankees to be a veteran presence in the middle of a young lineup.  Not much was expected from him in the downturn of his career and after dealing with various injuries over the past couple seasons.  However, he has been very productive over the last couple months batting .262 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI fitting right in with the Baby Bombers explosive offense.  However, Holliday is now on the disabled list dealing with a virus which has caused him fatigue.  He will go for some additional tests in New York so we don’t know the severity of the condition just yet.  Miguel Andujar was called up in his place and should see some playing time at third base and DH, especially after his monster game in his big league debut on Wednesday.

Mark Melancon (RP-SF) – It has been a brutal season for the Giants all around as they have been one of the worst teams in the entire league.  It has not been much prettier for their new high-priced closer Mark Melancon who signed a big contract with the Giants over the winter.  Melancon, who only has 11 saves to go along with a lofty 4.35 ERA, has landed back on the disabled list with a right pronator strain in his elbow.  He received a PRP injection earlier this week and there is no time table for him to return.  San Francisco is well off the pace for any type of playoff contention so it would not be surprising if they keep Melancon shut down for an extended period of time and hope he can get healthy for next season.  Sam Dyson will get a chance to close for the Giants, but fantasy GMs should throw caution to the wind with this because of how awful Dyson was for the Rangers at the beginning of the season. 

Chase Anderson (SP-MIL) – Anderson has been one of the biggest surprises in both real and fantasy baseball compiling a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 85 strikeouts and 90.1 innings.  Unfortunately, he has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain that he suffered on Wednesday against Cincinnati.  The Brewers expect him to be out at least four weeks which is bad news for fantasy GMs who were riding his production as a back of the rotation option and getting top notch results.  Stash him if you have available roster slots because he could be a big boost to your roster down the stretch.

Greg Bird (1B-NYY) – It is now conceivable that Greg Bird could go two whole seasons without playing baseball.  The Yankees just transferred him to the 60-day disabled list as he continues to deal with ongoing knee and ankle injuries.  The team is considering the possibility of Bird not playing again at all this season which is alarming.  They called up Dustin Fowler to take Bird’s place on the 40-man roster and Fowler was in the starting lineup on Thursday against Chicago.  Bird only has value in keeper leagues but that value keeps dropping just thinking about two whole years of inactivity.

Tyler Austin (1B-NYY) – With all the injuries the Yankees have sustained, Austin was going to get his shot at first base.  They demoted Chris Carter and were ready to hand the reins over to Austin but he suffered a strained right hamstring and landed on the 10-day disabled list.  He was sent to Tampa to get additional tests so this could be an extended absence for the Yankees prospect.  Carter has now been recalled to play first base along with backup catcher Austin Romine.  First base is definitely a position the Yankees will target as the MLB trade deadline approaches.

Robert Gsellman (SP-NYM) – Another one bites the dust.  Mets pitchers get hurt more frequently than teenage girls with daddy issues.  Robert Gsellman is the latest one to go down as he suffered a left hamstring injury when running to first base on Tuesday against the Marlins.  He will probably be out for several weeks as the Mets linger in limbo in terms of whether they are going to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.  Gsellman had pitched well between May 24 and June 10, but he has been lit up like a Christmas tree ever since.  His 5-5 record along with a brutal 6.16 ERA and 1.62 WHIP means he should not be on anyone’s fantasy roster under any circumstances.

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).