This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
Castro's season is effectively over as the Cubs shortstop has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. The injury occurred when Castro was sliding into home and awkwardly twisted his left ankle. This mechanism of injury is common for ankle sprains but the fact that it being ruled a high-ankle sprain means it's is even more significant than your standard sprain.
Thick and strong ligaments known as the interosseous ligament and the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments stabilize the distal tibiofemoral joint of the leg. However their positioning makes them susceptible to injury when the ankle is twisted and forced upward. When these specific ligaments are sprained or in come cases completely torn, it is classified as a high-ankle sprain. Treatment for these sprains is similar to that of a normal medial or lateral ankle sprain but high-ankle sprains often require more time to heal. Rushing the recovery can lead to chronic instability of the joint which in turn can lead to knee problems. There is little incentive for the Cubs to hurry Castro back and the team appears poised to shut him down for the remainder of the season. Castro should be fine by next year's spring training.
Hamilton has been a disappointment since joining Los Angeles two years ago but had recently begun to show some signs of life. Unfortunately an injury has once again thrown a damper on things, forcing him from the lineup. After missing time with a torn ligament in his thumb
Castro's season is effectively over as the Cubs shortstop has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. The injury occurred when Castro was sliding into home and awkwardly twisted his left ankle. This mechanism of injury is common for ankle sprains but the fact that it being ruled a high-ankle sprain means it's is even more significant than your standard sprain.
Thick and strong ligaments known as the interosseous ligament and the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments stabilize the distal tibiofemoral joint of the leg. However their positioning makes them susceptible to injury when the ankle is twisted and forced upward. When these specific ligaments are sprained or in come cases completely torn, it is classified as a high-ankle sprain. Treatment for these sprains is similar to that of a normal medial or lateral ankle sprain but high-ankle sprains often require more time to heal. Rushing the recovery can lead to chronic instability of the joint which in turn can lead to knee problems. There is little incentive for the Cubs to hurry Castro back and the team appears poised to shut him down for the remainder of the season. Castro should be fine by next year's spring training.
Hamilton has been a disappointment since joining Los Angeles two years ago but had recently begun to show some signs of life. Unfortunately an injury has once again thrown a damper on things, forcing him from the lineup. After missing time with a torn ligament in his thumb and a sore left knee, Hamilton is currently dealing with soreness in his right shoulder that has kept him out of the lineup for 11 straight games. The area is also inflamed, as indicated by the multiple cortisone injection the 2010 AL MVP has recently received. Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory drug designed to reduce inflammation and in the process decrease the associated pain.
The Angels have not given the injury a specific diagnoses but it is worth mentioning this is the same shoulder that he fractured back in 2011. Hamilton, then with the Rangers, suffered a broken humerus when sliding into home. The humerus is the upper arm bone and one of the primary components of the glenohumeral joint, the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder. Again Los Angeles has not revealed what is causing Hamilton's soreness but he will continue to sit him until all his symptoms have subsided. There seems to be a bit of hope that he could return as soon as Wednesday though he's expected to play designated hitter and not his usual spot in the outfield.
Check Swings
Melky Cabrera: Cabrera's year is over after he needed surgery to repair his broken right pinkie finger. Cabrera enters the offseason as a free agent and his final landing spot, not the finger, will ultimately determine his value for 2015.
Yu Darvish: The Rangers transferred Darvish to the 60-day DL just days after announcing he would not pitch again this season. His elbow injury will not require offseason surgery, preserving his value in keeper and dynasty leagues. It's been a tough year all-around for the Rangers but Darvish should be at the center of any Texas revival.
Sean Doolittle: The Oakland closer is back after suffering an intercostal strain on August 23. He looked lively over the weekend, appearing in back-to-back games. He collected a save in his first appearance back and did not register a hit an either appearance. Feel free to get him back in your lineups.
Danny Duffy: The Royals left-hander continues to progress through workouts after a MRI revealed inflammation around his rotator cuff. Kansas City was encouraged when the medical tests failed to uncover a structural issue within the joint and have steadily worked him through a strengthening protocol designed to provide rest without developing a great deal of rust. Duffy has been one of the surprises of the 2014 season, sporting a 2.42 ERA and 1.08 WHIP and remains optimistic he will pitch again this season. Unfortunately the injury comes at a poor time for fantasy owners as many are entrenched in the playoffs. Stash him if you can but expanded rosters have made this more difficult than normal.
J.J. Hardy: After back spasms kept Hardy out of the lineup for his third straight game, the Orioles elected to send their shortstop back to Baltimore for additional testing. The tests revealed no surprises and Hardy was able to return to the lineup. However the issue was serious enough to warrant an injection and the Orioles will look to provide Hardy more days off as the playoffs quickly approach.
Greg Holland: Holland joined Duffy on the Royals medical report though his injury was not as serious. Holland had been experiencing tightness in the triceps on his throwing arm and missed eight days before returning on Friday in a non-save situation. The triceps is a key component in throwing as it is the primary elbow extender and insuring the problem was an isolated incident will be key to Holland's health moving forward.
Albert Pujols: The Angels removed Pujols from Monday's game moments after the former MVP hit a bases-clearing triple. It was later revealed he suffered a hamstring cramp while running to first. Look for Los Angeles to manage him very conservatively, given his extensive injury history that includes hamstring problems.
Anthony Rizzo: The Cubs first baseman had not played since late August after experiencing tightness in his back. However the symptoms subsided enough that the Cubs were confident enough to reinsert their slugger into the lineup Monday. The move worked brilliantly as Rizzo hit a walk-off home run in the team's win over the Reds.
Hyun-Jin Ryu: A MRI taken on Monday revealed no structural damage and the left-hander has an outside chance of returning during the regular season. However a cortisone injection was required and there's no sure fire way to know how the shoulder will react. Tread lightly here and consider other options if you are desperate for stats.
Ryan Zimmerman: For those clinging to hope that Zimmerman would be a relevant fantasy option again this season, it's time to move on. While he has shown progress in his rehab for a Grade 3 hamstring strain, there is no guarantee when he will return to action at the big league level. Even when he does return, Zimmerman isn't expected to be an everyday starter making him a risky play in all formats.
