It is the start of a new week in the Majors, and before you set those fantasy baseball lineups, you have to pay attention to the 1000-pound elephant in the room, injuries. The MLB injury report this week does have some good news sprinkled in with the bad, as we have several players who are very close to returning to your fantasy baseball lineups. For those on the way out though, we have the fantasy baseball waiver wire report here and the two-start and streaming pitcher by Ivar Anderson here. But before you go look and see which guys you can use to help you get through, let’s take a look at the fantasy baseball injury report as we head towards the middle of August. 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball MLB Injury Report August 8

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Well we told you to hold your breath on Friday with the Kershaw back injury and apparently you didn’t have your rabbit’s foot, four leaf clover, or whatever else you use for luck. Kershaw was given an epidural over the weekend and Dave Roberts said that he has no timetable for a return. With the World Series always in the Dodgers mind you have to think that they are going to take it really easy with Kershaw for the rest of the season and there’s a decent chance that he has made his last meaningful start as far as fantasy is concerned. I’m not saying drop him, but I think it might be a long shot for him to help your team out in the last stretch of the year. 

Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

The good news I gave on Friday is that Tatis faced some live pitching and would go on a rehab assignment soon. He did just that on Saturday and although he didn’t get a hit, he walked twice and played the whole game. With the Padres revitalized at the trade deadline, you have to imagine that Tatis is chomping at the bit to get back into the lineup. I would bet that by this weekend he will be back in the Majors. 

Hunter Greene, Reds

The shoulder injury for Greene has some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the team has announced that he will not need surgery. The bad news is that there is also no timetable for his return. The kid has shown some real promise this year, but with the Reds actively trying not to win games, I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see him again this year, or at least for a while yet. You have to think that they are going to be cautious with him. You can stash him for the strikeout upside if you have room. 

Travis d’Arnaud, Braves

The Braves catcher underwent x-rays on Saturday after a collision at home plate and the good news is that they are negative. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him miss another couple of days, but it appears that he is going to avoid the injured list and a serious injury. 

Jordan Montgomery, Cardinals

The new Cardinals pitcher was up to the task against his former team on Saturday, but Montgomery did leave before the sixth inning with leg cramps. So far, the team is saying that the exit was precautionary, and they do expect him to make his next start. Montgomery is far from a fantasy superstar, but he is very useful at the end of fantasy rotations. 

Mitch Haniger, Mariners

He finally made his return from the injured list after missing over three months with an ankle sprain. Haniger doubled on Saturday and should definitely be back in your lineups or scour the waiver wire if he happened to have been dropped back in April. Assuming Haniger can stay healthy he can bring some pop in the last two months of the season. 

George Springer, Blue Jays

This guy always seems to be injured or hurting in some fashion, although he plays through a lot of it. Not this time however, as the Blue Jays put Springer on the 10-day injured list with elbow inflammation after missing Friday’s game. The move was retroactive to August 5th, so I would assume that this will be a minimum stay and Springer should be able to rejoin his teammates next Monday. 

Jake Odorizzi, Braves

The Braves newest addition to their rotation was not able to finish his start on Saturday due to cramping. He received some fluids after the game and was in much better shape. There doesn’t appear to be any reason why he won’t be able to make his next start.

Aaron Civale, Guardians

The Guardians hurler is set to return to the rotation on Wednesday after he successfully completed his last rehab start. He did only throw four innings, so there is a chance that he doesn’t go deep into the game against the Tigers. He has been horrendous this year with an ERA over six, but the guy has some talent even if he isn’t a top flight strikeout pitcher so he could be a good waiver addition if he is out there for you. 

Christopher Morel, Cubs

He left the game Saturday with hamstring tightness and didn’t play Sunday either. However, Morel has not been placed on the injured list as of now, so the club can’t think that it is too serious of an injury. Look for Morel 

Juan Yepez, Cardinals

The young Cardinals hitter is set to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday as he is coming back from a forearm injury. Look for Yepez to play the entire week in the Minors and perhaps into the weekend before heading back to St. Louis. Be ready to activate him when his return becomes official. 

Alex Kirilloff, Twins

The season is over for the Twins potential star outfielder. A wrist injury cost him all but 45 games this season, and he is now having surgery with the hopes of being ready for next year. The goods are there for this kid, but he’s had two injury plagued year and he will just be an end of draft flier in 2023. 

Anthony Rizzo, Yankees

He missed the entire weekend with a back injury, which is an injury that usually scares me, but the Yanks have not put him on the injured list, so clearly, they don’t think this is something that is going to cost him much time. At this point, I would assume that Rizzo is set to rejoin the lineup during the series set to begin on Monday. 

Austin Hays, Orioles

A similar situation is in Baltimore where Hays hasn’t played in four days with an oblique injury, but he also has not been put on the injured list as of now. Like back injuries, obliques are easy to reinjure and hard to know when they are fully healed. However, given the fact that he has already missed half of the number of days a trip to the injured list would cost him, I would assume we will see Hays in the first half of this week. 

Brandon Crawford, Giants

The Giants activated their starting shortstop on Saturday, and he went ahead and got three hits combined on Saturday and Sunday. It has been a horrendously disappointing season for Crawford as he is hitting just .220 with five home runs in 2022, so hopefully he isn’t someone you count on much in your lineups. 

Lance McCullers Jr., Astros

When on rehab assignments we always say that the results aren’t important, we just want the guys to get through the outing. I hope that is the case with McCullers who allowed five runs in five innings in his latest start in the minors. The good news though is that he threw 86 pitches and struck out five batters in those innings. With that pitch count, you’d think he might only need one more rehab start before rejoining the Astros. 

Jon Berti, Marlins

Another rehabbing player hoping to help fantasy players is really close to returning too. Berty stole a base in a minor league game on Sunday, and that has to be music to fantasy players ears. Steals are always at a premium, and Berti had 28 of them when he got hurt. He should be back with the Marlins in the next day or two though, so get him activated in your lineups. 

 


Fantasy Alarm is the home of all things Fantasy Sports. Bringing you the best Fantasy Football, Fantasy Baseball and Fantasy Basketball content all year long. Be sure to also check out the best fantasy promo codes on offer today!

Related MLB Links: