This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
One of baseball's hottest hitters is expected to miss significant time with a knee injury. The Toronto shortstop was injured over the weekend while warming up for Saturday's contest. He played anyway but later reported the discomfort in the area. The injury is being diagnosed as a knee sprain, but reports are circulating that the problem is "worse than expected."
The diagnosis reveals the problem involves one of the ligaments in the knee. The joint is equipped with multiple ligaments that help stabilize the area during both simple and complex motion. Bichette's injury is being described as a low-grade sprain, but the reports of something more severe are troubling. It is possible for the injury to involve more than just a ligament, particularly if the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the injured structure.
The MCL is attached to the medial meniscus, one of the two cartilage pads in the knee. As a result, meniscal injuries often accompany MCL sprains. Other structures, like the joint capsule, could also be involved and require a lengthier recovery window. The Blue Jays are sending Bichette for a second opinion, and more details should become available in the near future. In the meantime, those invested in the rising star should begin preparing for an absence that easily could extend into September.
The Yankees injury woes from the previous few seasons are beginning to surface again, as both LeMahieu and Judge joined teammate Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list.
One of baseball's hottest hitters is expected to miss significant time with a knee injury. The Toronto shortstop was injured over the weekend while warming up for Saturday's contest. He played anyway but later reported the discomfort in the area. The injury is being diagnosed as a knee sprain, but reports are circulating that the problem is "worse than expected."
The diagnosis reveals the problem involves one of the ligaments in the knee. The joint is equipped with multiple ligaments that help stabilize the area during both simple and complex motion. Bichette's injury is being described as a low-grade sprain, but the reports of something more severe are troubling. It is possible for the injury to involve more than just a ligament, particularly if the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the injured structure.
The MCL is attached to the medial meniscus, one of the two cartilage pads in the knee. As a result, meniscal injuries often accompany MCL sprains. Other structures, like the joint capsule, could also be involved and require a lengthier recovery window. The Blue Jays are sending Bichette for a second opinion, and more details should become available in the near future. In the meantime, those invested in the rising star should begin preparing for an absence that easily could extend into September.
The Yankees injury woes from the previous few seasons are beginning to surface again, as both LeMahieu and Judge joined teammate Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list. Judge reported tightness in his leg following Tuesday's win over Atlanta with manager Aaron Boone referencing multiple muscles of the lower leg. His IL designation listed a calf strain as a the primary issue, but it sounds like Judge may have a minor muscle imbalance that's impacting the entire kinetic chain of his lower extremity. These types of issues can lead to problems throughout the leg, including the quadriceps, hamstring and calf muscle groups. Fortunately, Judge is already reporting an improvement and is optimistic he will be back in action later this week. He's too good to keep sidelined if he's on the active roster, but Judge will return with an elevated degree of injury risk.
LeMahieu's outlook doesn't appear quite as good. The AL leader in batting is slated to miss time with a thumb injury that may require a trip to the operating room. LeMahieu sustained the injury following a swing in Saturday's game against the rival Red Sox. The problem was later described as a sprain, and the Yankees are currently seeking out a second opinion regarding treatment options. LeMahieu has a history of injury on this thumb, having suffered a similar injury during the 2018 season. The injury in 2018 also involved a small fracture of the thumb, but LeMahieu was able to avoid surgery and was back in action in a little more than two weeks. The timetable for his current injury will be determined following his upcoming evaluation. If surgery is needed to repair the damaged ligament, look for LeMahieu to remain sidelined for at least a month.
The Atlanta All Star has been on the IL with inflammation and soreness in his left wrist. Acuna made an early exit from last Monday's game and did not play for the remainder of the week. Details surrounding the injury are limited, but Will Carroll, long-time friend of Rotowire and author of Under the Knife, reported the injury is muscular in nature and could be linked to Acuna's video-gaming habit.
Wrist injuries linked to video games aren't uncommon and have occurred in Major League Baseball before, like when Detroit pitcher Joel Zumaya missed time after overdoing it on Guitar Hero. Generally these types of injuries occur because the repetitive motions needed to operate a video game controller results in an overuse injury. Acuna is a noted gamer and his symptoms do suggest this is a strong possibility. Fortunately, rest often results in an improvement, and the Braves are optimistic Acuna will be ready to go when first eligible to return. Ender Inciarte is currently operating in centerfield for Atlanta, but keep an eye on Cristian Pache. The 21-year-old prospect could receive a callup if Inciarte continues to struggle at the plate.
Check Swings
Yordan Alvarez: Alvarez remains limited by his problematic knee and was a late scratch from Sunday's game. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year has been plagued by knee soreness since the initial spring training and cannot seem to shake the issue. There is clearly something more than just inflammation going on in the knee and determining the root of the problem would go a long way to fixing the situation. Consider Alvarez day-to-day for now, but I'm guessing this isn't the last we have heard about his knee.
Andrew Benintendi: The Red Sox outfielder is on the IL with a "rib cage" strain. The injury classification is a bit misleading as bone cannot be strained, meaning this injury is likely a strain of one of the intercostal muscles. The intercostals sit between the rib bones and help facilitate breathing. If you are a barbeque fan, the meat you eat when you devour a plate of short ribs is the intercostal muscles. Intercostal strains are common in baseball and often require a multiweek stint on the IL. Look for Benintendi to miss longer than the allotted 10 days. Alex Verdugo, Jackie Bradley and Kevin Pillar are options to replace Benintendi.
Jacob deGrom: DeGrom is progressing after missing his last start with neck stiffness. He played catch on Sunday and likely will attempt a side session on Monday. If he is able to do so without any lingering issues, look for deGrom to return Wednesday against the Marlins.
Stephen Strasburg: The Nationals ace is back on the IL this time after he developed carpal tunnel neuritis in his throwing hand. The carpal tunnel is formed by the tiny carpal bones and their stabilizing ligaments. The tunnel creates a passageway into the hand for the tendons of the forearm muscles as well as the median nerve. If the tunnel is reduced in size, most commonly due to inflammation, the nerve can become compressed or impinged. The compression generally results in pain, numbness and/or weakness in the hand. Strasburg has been complaining of numbness in his hand for a majority of the season, but the team had been hopeful that extra rest would be enough to allow the situation to resolve. Sadly, the issue has persisted, and a more intrusive treatment option may be needed. Consider him out indefinitely.
