Fantasy playoff season is upon us, which means even minor injuries can wreak havoc on a fantasy lineup. With just four weeks left in the regular season, don't be afraid to look elsewhere if it appears a player is going to be sidelined for multiple weeks, particularly for those playing in yearly formats. It's also best to brace yourself for MLB teams out of the playoff picture to begin shutting down players as they shift their focus to the future. At this point the old sports adage is true and the best ability is availability.
The Yankees rookie shortstop appears to have avoided a serious injury after taking an awkward swing over the weekend. The team relayed he "tweaked" his right knee on the check swing and said all testing shows he did not sustain any structural damage. This coded description usually just means the injured individual suffered a mild injury without tearing muscle, ligament or cartilage. Lombard went on to reveal he is receiving treatment to address swelling and inflammation in the patellar region, specifically his patella (kneecap) and the tendon it is embedded within. Reading the tea leaves, this appears to be a low-grade strain. While the team is optimistically calling him day-to-day, a trip to the injured list has yet to be ruled out either. Look for the Yankees to reevaluate his status early in the week before making a more concrete decision on his status moving forward.
The Reds speedster
Fantasy playoff season is upon us, which means even minor injuries can wreak havoc on a fantasy lineup. With just four weeks left in the regular season, don't be afraid to look elsewhere if it appears a player is going to be sidelined for multiple weeks, particularly for those playing in yearly formats. It's also best to brace yourself for MLB teams out of the playoff picture to begin shutting down players as they shift their focus to the future. At this point the old sports adage is true and the best ability is availability.
The Yankees rookie shortstop appears to have avoided a serious injury after taking an awkward swing over the weekend. The team relayed he "tweaked" his right knee on the check swing and said all testing shows he did not sustain any structural damage. This coded description usually just means the injured individual suffered a mild injury without tearing muscle, ligament or cartilage. Lombard went on to reveal he is receiving treatment to address swelling and inflammation in the patellar region, specifically his patella (kneecap) and the tendon it is embedded within. Reading the tea leaves, this appears to be a low-grade strain. While the team is optimistically calling him day-to-day, a trip to the injured list has yet to be ruled out either. Look for the Yankees to reevaluate his status early in the week before making a more concrete decision on his status moving forward.
The Reds speedster exited Cincinnati's win over the Cubs on Sunday with left quadriceps tightness. De La Cruz has a history of lower extremity issues including a right hamstring strain earlier this year and a quad strain in July of last season. The injury negatively impacted the shortstop, as his productivity dropped substantially even though he remained in the lineup. After hitting .284/.359/.495 with 18 home runs and 25 stolen bases to begin the 2025 season, De La Cruz managed to hit just .236/.303/.363 with four homers and 12 steals in the second half of the year. It remains unclear if he will miss any time with the current ailment, with a more definitive update likely to come on Monday. Scale back your expectations for the week ahead even if De La Cruz sits for just a game or two.
Stay up to date on who is in and who is out with RotoWire's MLB Injury Report!
Riley Greene: The Tigers outfielder appeared in a pair of games over the weekend during a rehab stint with Triple-A Toledo. He took to the outfield in Sunday's game after serving as a designated hitter on Saturday. Greene, out since August 11 with a hamstring strain, combined to go 1-for-6 over both contests while chipping in two walks. In a bit of scheduling good luck, the Mud Hens were playing in St. Paul, and Greene will simply stay in Minnesota to rejoin his teammates as they start a three-game road series with the Twins. Manager AJ Hinch already ruled out the All-Star for Monday but is optimistic he will be back on Tuesday. Greene's recovery went as smooth as one can hope, but hamstring strains are notoriously fickle, and he will carry an elevated degree of injury risk for the foreseeable future.
Check Swings
Pete Alonso: The Baltimore slugger did not finish Sunday's win over the Athletics after being struck on the bill of his helmet from a stray Kade Morris pitch. He was immediately removed from the game, but the team said he was "fine" following the contest. However, keep in mind concussion symptoms can develop gradually over time, and he will need to remain symptom free if he wants to appear in Monday's series opener with Colorado.
Byron Buxton: Hip impingement is sending Buxton back to the IL for the third time this season. The lingering issue has been a constant source of pain for the Twins outfielder and was most recently aggravated when he attempted to chase down a ball on defense. The team has publicly stated surgery may be in Buxton's future, and this latest setback inches him closer to the operating room. The uncertainty surrounding the situation makes Buxton a risky fantasy investment for the remainder of the season.
Konnor Griffin: The heralded rookie in on the verge of returning after beginning a rehab appearance with Double-A Altoona over the weekend. Griffin has been out since July 5 when he tore the sagittal band in his left ring finger. The sagittal band is connective tissue located near the knuckles of each finger that is designed to hold the corresponding tendon in place. If the band ruptures, the extensor tendon of the involved finger can dislocate and make it difficult to extend or straighten the digit. Griffin resumed baseball activities in early August and hopes to return to action when first eligible on Friday.
Ketel Marte: Marte is expected back this week after missing time with left knee inflammation. The Arizona second baseman is expected to address his teammates for his no-show in mid-August before rejoining the team. It appears the injury may have served as a catalyst for Marte to clear his head and ultimately allow him to return to the lineup as the team chases a postseason berth. Hopefully there are no lingering side effects from the whole fiasco and Marte can return to form in time for the fantasy postseason.
JJ Wetherholt: The Cardinals placed Wetherholt on the 10-day IL on Sunday citing right wrist tendinitis as his injury. The muscles that influence hand and wrist motion are all located in the forearm. The tendons of these muscles run distally, anchoring them to the bones in the wrist and hand. Wrist tendinitis simply means one of the six primary tendons of these muscles is inflamed. If the inflammation is mild, there is no reason to think Wetherholt won't return before the end of the year, possibly when first eligible. The lingering pain associated with the injury may be the culprit behind the rookie's August swoon. For the month Wetherholt is hitting .200/.321/.274 with a .595 OPS. Thomas Saggese started at shortstop Sunday with Wetherholt out.
