This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
I've been privileged enough to provide injury coverage for Rotowire for nearly a decade. I have covered an assortment of odd injuries during my time as the site's primary injury analyst. NBA guard Kyrie Irving missed time due to bed bugs. Former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress saw his tenure with the Giants end after he accidently shot himself in the leg, and retired Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya suffered a wrist injury while reportedly playing the Guitar Hero video game. However, the news that surfaced over the weekend regarding the health of Syndergaard managed to still catch me by surprise.
The Mets right-hander has landed on the disabled list after contracting a specific type of enterovirus commonly known a hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The infection is commonly seen in infants and young children and gets its names from the red blisters that develop on the infected individual's hands, feet, tongue and inside aspect of the cheeks. HFMD is generally accompanied by fever, malaise and a sore throat. Dehydration can develop if the blisters in the mouth and throat make consuming food and liquids difficult. Adults cases of HFMD are relatively uncommon, though adults can remain susceptible without the necessary antibodies.
Since antibiotics only target bacterial infections, Syndergaard will simply have to wait for the virus to run its course. This often takes between 10 and 14 days. He can receive medication to help alleviate the symptoms but may have trouble maintaining his conditioning. As a result, he
I've been privileged enough to provide injury coverage for Rotowire for nearly a decade. I have covered an assortment of odd injuries during my time as the site's primary injury analyst. NBA guard Kyrie Irving missed time due to bed bugs. Former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress saw his tenure with the Giants end after he accidently shot himself in the leg, and retired Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya suffered a wrist injury while reportedly playing the Guitar Hero video game. However, the news that surfaced over the weekend regarding the health of Syndergaard managed to still catch me by surprise.
The Mets right-hander has landed on the disabled list after contracting a specific type of enterovirus commonly known a hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The infection is commonly seen in infants and young children and gets its names from the red blisters that develop on the infected individual's hands, feet, tongue and inside aspect of the cheeks. HFMD is generally accompanied by fever, malaise and a sore throat. Dehydration can develop if the blisters in the mouth and throat make consuming food and liquids difficult. Adults cases of HFMD are relatively uncommon, though adults can remain susceptible without the necessary antibodies.
Since antibiotics only target bacterial infections, Syndergaard will simply have to wait for the virus to run its course. This often takes between 10 and 14 days. He can receive medication to help alleviate the symptoms but may have trouble maintaining his conditioning. As a result, he could require a few extra days of recovery to get back into playing shape. Furthermore, the Mets will need to take extra precautions to insure the contagious virus doesn't spread to any of Syndergaard's teammates. It is believed Syndergaard contracted HFMD while hosting a camp for children.
For several seasons I have been warning fantasy owners of the perils of investing in Cespedes. For years the outfielder has struggled with recurring strains to his lower extremities that have limited his playing time and overall productivity. However, it seems we may have finally figured out the root of Cespedes' lingering issues.
Cespedes returned to the lineup Friday night after missing two months with a strained right hip flexor. He hit a home run in his return and finished two for four with two runs and a walk. Unfortunately, he didn't play over the weekend due to lingering soreness and revealed he likely needs surgery for calcifications on his heels. Cespedes admitted the bony calcifications cause him to modify his movement pattern, an action that can easily lead to problems up the kinetic chain in areas like the calf, hamstring, knee and hip.
Extra bone growth can develop as the result of constant stress applied to a specific area, often near the junction of a muscle tendon. These ossified areas are sometimes referred to as bone spurs and can develop on a bone or within other types of tissue. Heel ossifications often affect the Achilles because the conjoined tendon anchors to the calcaneus (heel bone). Surgery is often the final treatment option and only utilized if conservative treatment fails to fix the problem.
Cespedes' casual mentioning of surgery suggests proceeding down this path has least been considered. The recovery time for surgery would depend on the extent of damage to the Achilles tendon, though an eight- to 10-month window for Cespedes has already been implied. Look for the Mets to continue to explore their options, though fantasy owners would be wise to move on from the situation.
Check Swings
Yu Darvish: The Cubs pitcher played catch over the weekend, the first real sign of progress in his recovery from elbow impingement. However, Darvish has a long way to go before returning to the active roster with a mid-August return looking likely.
Sean Doolittle: Further testing on the Washington reliever's strained toe revealed a stress reaction in the bone. A stress reaction is a precursor to a stress fracture and develops when the body's natural bone remodeling response is unable to keep up with the demands placed on and through the area. To allow the area to heal, Doolittle likely will be unable to pitch over the next few weeks, setting the stage for another lengthy absence.
Joey Gallo: The hard hitting Ranger couldn't complete Sunday's win over the Indians after spraining his left ankle. He downplayed the injury following the game and doesn't expect to miss time. However, ankle injuries can sometimes be misleading and it may be worth monitoring his status before employing him for the week ahead.
Corey Kluber: The reigning AL Cy Young winner is slated to return to the mound Monday after missing the All-Star game with a knee issue. Kluber has been dealing with an instability in his right knee that was negatively impacting his delivery and performance. The team believes an injection he received before the break will help. Based on the descriptions of the injection, it sounds like Kluber received a lubricant injection. Synthetic lubricant mimics healthy synovial fluid allowing for the joint to appropriately move and absorb the various amounts of stress placed on it. Furthermore, some lubricants have shown an ability to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties as well, further helping an injury. Get Kluber back in your rotation but keep an eye on his effectiveness over his next few starts.
Carlos Martinez: The Cardinals are optimistic that Martinez will be able to return when he's first eligible despite hitting the DL with a strained oblique. However, I'm not quite as sold considering the right-hander missed time earlier in the season with a strained latissimus dorsi on the same side. The two muscle groups are closely linked, and ignoring this relationship could lead to bigger issues down the road. Tread cautiously here.
James Paxton: Paxton completed a bullpen session over the weekend and is in line for a Tuesday return against the Giants. The 29-year-old was placed on the DL just prior to the break with lower back stiffness, though the move may have been a precautionary attempt to buy him a bit of rest. He will remain a risky play for the immediate future given his injury history, but he's been too good to outright bench.
Justin Turner: The Dodgers third baseman and NL All-Scar team member is injured once again after aggravating his previously strained groin. He had hoped to avoid the DL after initially straining the area prior to the All-Star break but was unable to complete his first game back in the lineup. A trip to the DL seems likely now, with a multiweek absence a strong possibility.
