As the 2023 fantasy baseball season hits a bit of a dry spell due to the MLB Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, it’s a good time to look at some MLB injury news and get some updates on some key players. While this is one of the most boring stretches of the year for all major sports, let’s not get complacent and assume these are automatic rest days for us fantasy baseball managers. It doesn’t hurt to assess where our lineups stand and if we could afford to maybe stash an injured player that could be returning in the next month or perhaps we maybe look to make a trade before the fantasy baseball playoffs start. But overall, there is plenty going on at FantasyAlarm.com. The 2023 MLB Draft kicked off Sunday night, so be on the lookout for Matt Selz’s next update to the MLB Prospect Report as a pair of LSU Tigers, Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, went first and second overall last night. Additionally, we are constantly unveiling new pieces to the 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide and you can definitely use the next few days to start your fantasy football draft prep. I could plug just about anything and everything Fantasy Alarm has to offer, but I know you’re here for injury updates so let’s dig in.

 

2023 Fantasy Baseball MLB Injury Report Week 15

Updated: July 14

With the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby happening earlier in the week we don't have too many injury updates since all 30 MLB teams have been out of action since Sunday. But atop the hitters and pitchers sections you'll fine the most recent updates as teams return to play on Friday.

MLB Injury Updates Hitters 

Trevor Story, 2B, Boston Red Sox (Elbow)

Story has been on the shelf all season long after undergoing surgery on his elbow in January, but it’s been reported that he’s been throwing from 170-feet during the All-Star Break. It does sound like he could begin a rehab assignment soon, but Boston would likely stretch that out as long as possible. A 2023 debut at the big-league level may not come until August for this never-ending story.

Tommy Pham, OF, New York Mets (Groin)

Pham was removed from Sunday’s game in the first inning after experiencing some tightness in his groin. The good news is that the MRI came back negative so he avoided a more serious injury. Groin injuries can easily flare up so he’ll be re-evaluated prior to the Mets game Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Yordan Alvarez, OF, Houston Astros (Oblique)

Alvarez is officially set to begin a rehab assignment on Friday.

Luis Robert Jr., OF, Chicago White Sox (Calf)

Robert was ruled out for the All-Star Game on Tuesday with a calf injury he sustained in the home run derby. He'll be re-evaluated ahead of Friday's series opener against the Atlanta Braves.

Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Elbow)

Harper got the day off on Sunday after saying he had some soreness in his elbow. X-rays were negative which is a great sign overall since he has a history of elbow issues. He should be fine returning to his full-time role after the break.

Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks (Shoulder)

It looks like Carroll may have avoided a disastrous injury to his shoulder after leaving Thursday’s game during an at-bat. It was the second time in just over a week the shoulder had given him fits so while it’s great he avoided the injured list, I’m not entirely convinced we’re in the clear. Keep in mind he also had shoulder surgery two years ago. Count your blessings the injury wasn’t worse, but just hope this isn’t something that pops up again.

Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros (Oblique)

Altuve was seen taking grounders ahead of Sunday’s game but general manager, Dana Brown, said that he likely won’t be activated off the IL when eligible later this week. Although Altuve has recovered faster than anticipated he’s still about a week behind Alvarez in going out on a rehab assignment. So it’s good news that Altuve is ahead of schedule, but he may be a couple weeks away from re-joining the big league club.

Dansby Swanson, SS, Chicago Cubs (Heel)

Over the weekend, the Cubs placed Swanson on the 15-day IL. The good news is that it’s retroactive to July 6th so he’s eligible to return in about a week. There’s no real read on how severe the injury is, but Swanson did opt to withdraw from the All-Star game.

Andrew Benintendi, OF, Chicago White Sox (Wrist)

Benny Biceps has been playing through a wrist injury all season and missed a couple games over the weekend. It looks as if he’ll avoid a stint on the IL because he is expected to play Friday on the road against the Atlanta Braves.

Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants (Hamstring)

Crawford got the day off on Sunday after he was removed from Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury. These injuries are really tough to read. For starters, everybody deals with them differently. The timetable for return varies with each player. On top of that, these are also easy injuries to re-aggravate as we see all the time in the NFL and NBA. So the All-Star break at least looms at the perfect time to rest up. The good news is that prior to being removed from Saturday’s contest, Crawford did put up a fight to stay in the game so he might be good to go after the break.

Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins (Hamstring)

Polanco has been out for over a month now, but all reports indicate that he’s progressing in his running. By all accounts it looks like he could begin a rehab assignment in the next week or so.

Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels (Oblique)

The hits to the Angels keep coming and this one is a bit funny because I briefly mentioned him over the weekend in the latest Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire article. Adell looked to have pulled his oblique during an at-bat over the weekend and knew he wouldn’t be able to swing again so he was pulled and will undergo further testing.

Brandon Drury, INF, Los Angeles Angels (Shoulder)

Another injury to a member of the Halos. Drury’s been dealing with some pain in his shoulder, but his most recent MRI showed nothing but inflammation, so he got a cortisone shot. They’ll re-evaluate him after the break and he’ll rest up until then.

Logan O’Hoppe, C, Los Angeles Angels (Shoulder)

O’Hoppe has been out of action nearly all year after tearing his labrum, but about a week ago he did start taking “dry swings” and it sounds like they’re going to slowly increase his activities to potentially hit off a tee sometime soon. He’s one of the Angels best prospects and, despite the injuries, if this team can somehow remain in contention for the playoffs, it’s possible O’Hoppe is brought along for the postseason push when the calendar flips.

 

MLB Injury Updates Pitchers 

Corey Kluber, SP/RP, Boston Red Sox (Shoulder)

Kluber’s been dealing with some shoulder inflammation and has been on the shelf for over three weeks now. But he’s logged some bullpen sessions and threw a two-inning session on Thursday. It’s possible he could return to the Boston bullpen by the end of July.

Max Fried, SP, Atlanta Braves (Forearm)

Fried may still be a few weeks away from returning to the Braves rotation, but he started his rehab assignment on Sunday against the Omaha Storm Chasers. He was limited to just 35 pitches but did toss 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing two walks, one hit, and recording one strikeout. He’s still a couple weeks out from re-joining the rotation but the 2022 NL Cy Young runner-up will be welcomed back with open arms to bolster an already stout rotation.

Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Shoulder)

Kershaw was placed on the injured list about a week ago with some shoulder discomfort. Since then he’s thrown off the mound and on flat ground, but on Friday the team announced who would still likely miss a few weeks.

Jordan Montgomery, SP, St. Louis Cardinals (Hamstring)

Montgomery was removed from his start on Friday night in the fifth inning after delivering an awkward pitch to Elvis Andrus of the Chicago White Sox. He motioned to his hamstring shortly afterward. There haven’t been many reports on if he’ll miss time, but this could simply require some rest.

Kyle Freeland, SP, Colorado Rockies (Shoulder)

Kyle Freeland played the role of “hero” a little too aggressively on Sunday. He injured his non-throwing shoulder making a defensive diving play and X-rays showed no broken bones but he’s due for a MRI on Monday to look for structural damage. But he was placed on the 15-day IL on Friday. It'll be retroactive to his last start on Sunday.

Jose Urquidy, SP, Houston Astros (Shoulder)

Urquidy hasn’t pitched since the end of April as he’s dealt with shoulder inflammation. But all accounts point to him potentially heading on a rehab assignment with Yordan Alvarez shortly after the All-Star break. As long as there are no setbacks he’ll be set to return later this month.

Brandon Woodruff, SP, Milwaukee Brewers (Shoulder)

It’s been a slow recovery for Woodruff as he recovers from a sub-scapular strain in his shoulder. He threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday morning, but the velocity was noticeably down a few ticks. He’ll need a couple more sessions to see the velocity increase before the team sends him on a rehab assignment.

Ben Lively, SP, Cincinnati Reds (Pectoral)

The Reds activated Lively off the injured list for Sunday’s start. While he did take the loss, it wasn’t entirely his fault. The scorching hot Cincinnati Reds failed to give him a single run in support as the Reds took the loss 1-0. But Lively looked pretty good. He needed 75 pitches to get through 5.2 innings while allowing four hits, two walks, and striking out five. One more out and he would’ve had a quality start.

Drew Rasmussen, SP, Tampa Bay Rays (Elbow)

Rasmussen is being shut down for about a year as he’ll need surgery that is similar to Tommy John that will install a brace on his UCL. The Rays were initially optimistic that he would return this season, but he’s officially shut down and will miss the start of the 2024 season as well.

Noah Syndergaard, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Finger)

Syndergaard has been dealing with a blister on his index finger, but he threw three simulated innings on the mound late last week. Syndergaard’s numbers are some of the worst we’ve seen in his career, but if all continues to go well for him he could start a rehab assignment after the All-Star break.

Nestor Cortes, SP, New York Yankees (Shoulder)

Cortes threw a 20-pitch session over the weekend and was reportedly pain free, but the Yankees will want to get more work out of him. He was recently transferred to the 60-day IL so he can’t return until August. But it’s a good sign overall that he’s pain-free this far out from returning. No word yet on if he’ll see a rehab assignment anytime soon.

Drey Jameson, SP/RP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Elbow)

Jameson went on the 15-day IL on Friday with some elbow inflammation in his right arm, but on Saturday he was transferred to the 60-day IL which signals it might be a bit more serious. It sounds like the team will shut him down for a few weeks as they get a second opinion on his elbow and will determine if surgery is the best approach.

Jose Alvarado, RP, Philadelphia Phillies (Elbow)

This is not the first time Alvarado has been on the injured list with an elbow injury. He’s eligible to return later this month but it’s possible the team takes their team and brings him back when he’s completely pain free.

 

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