This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
George Springer and Chris Carter
The Astros have been one of the feel-good stories of the season as the up-and-coming team has been perched atop the American League West for a majority of the year. However, they have gone just 4-9 since July 3, which just so happened to be Houston's first game following Springer's fractured wrist. Springer's injury occurred when he was struck on the right wrist by a 96-mph fastball from Royals' pitcher Edinson Volquez. Fortunately for Houston and fantasy owners alike, Springer is making progress in his recovery. He recently completed a two-week check up with his doctors when it was determined the broken bone is adequately healing. In the tiny bones of the hand, there is always the risk of a non-union between the pieces of damaged bone tissue. However, the Houston medical team discovered no such setback and believes Springer remains on track to return to baseball activities within the initial six-week window.
However, a return to baseball activity doesn't mean a return to the lineup, and a rehab assignment will likely be needed. Furthermore, wrist injuries of this nature often limit a players' mobility upon their return and a consequent decrease in power numbers are often the result. Look for Springer to be back in mid-to-late August.
Springer's absence would only be compounded by an injury to teammate Chris Carter. The hard-hitting first basemen suffered a sprained right ankle in Friday's series opener against the in-state rival Rangers. Carter did not play
George Springer and Chris Carter
The Astros have been one of the feel-good stories of the season as the up-and-coming team has been perched atop the American League West for a majority of the year. However, they have gone just 4-9 since July 3, which just so happened to be Houston's first game following Springer's fractured wrist. Springer's injury occurred when he was struck on the right wrist by a 96-mph fastball from Royals' pitcher Edinson Volquez. Fortunately for Houston and fantasy owners alike, Springer is making progress in his recovery. He recently completed a two-week check up with his doctors when it was determined the broken bone is adequately healing. In the tiny bones of the hand, there is always the risk of a non-union between the pieces of damaged bone tissue. However, the Houston medical team discovered no such setback and believes Springer remains on track to return to baseball activities within the initial six-week window.
However, a return to baseball activity doesn't mean a return to the lineup, and a rehab assignment will likely be needed. Furthermore, wrist injuries of this nature often limit a players' mobility upon their return and a consequent decrease in power numbers are often the result. Look for Springer to be back in mid-to-late August.
Springer's absence would only be compounded by an injury to teammate Chris Carter. The hard-hitting first basemen suffered a sprained right ankle in Friday's series opener against the in-state rival Rangers. Carter did not play over the weekend but reported a noticeable improvement in the associated swelling. The team hopes he will avoid the DL but he's a risky play entering the week.
Dee Gordon
The dislocated thumb of the Marlins' speedster didn't heal as much as they would have liked over the All-Star break, forcing them to place him on the 15-day DL. The league-leader in hits is wearing a splint on the area, suggesting there is some degree of ligament damage. It's nearly impossible to dislocate a joint without damaging the surrounding soft tissue or ligaments, so the setback isn't overly surprising. However, given the optimism expressed following the injury, it still seems reasonable to expect Gordon back when he is first eligible in late July.
Clay Buchholz
The Red Sox right-hander will see Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for a second opinion on his injured right elbow. Buchholz has been placed on the DL with a flexor strain but an MRI did not detect any ligament damage. However, as I've discussed ad nauseam here on Diamond Cuts, the flexor bundle and the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) work synergistically to stabilize the elbow, and a deficiency in one directly taxes the other. A timeline has yet to be determined for Buchholz's recovery but Wednesday's meeting could help a long way toward establishing one.
Corey Dickerson
At long last, the Rockies broke their silence on Dickerson's status and their news was precisely what fantasy owners had been hoping for. Dickerson began a rehab assignment over the weekend, appearing in a game with the Modesto Nuts, the Rockies' Class-A affiliate. The Colorado outfielder hasn't played since June 16 and has been limited for most of the season by plantar fasciitis. While Dickerson's return is encouraging, he remains a risky play for the remainder of the season given the lingering problems associated with the injury.
Check Swings
Jason Hammel
The All-Star break allowed Hammel to adequately treat his strained left hamstring. He threw a side session Thursday and remains on track to start Tuesday against the Reds. I'll feel better about his long-term status after he gets through a few outings without any setbacks, but he remains a capable option in the meantime.
Jason Heyward
The Cardinals outfielder had a productive outing Saturday, collecting a career-best five hits against the Mets. However, his night prematurely ended when he began experiencing cramps in both legs. He was given the day off Sunday and admitted to feeling under the weather leading up to the weekend. It seems the cramping may likely be the result of dehydration, but given his injury history, it's a situation worth monitoring over the next few days.
Francisco Liriano
Pittsburgh scratched Liriano minutes before his Saturday start after the left-hander was unable to work through a stiff neck. The description suggests the issue is muscular in nature and the Pirates hope it resolves itself quickly. More information should leak out as Liriano's next start approaches, but he's a gamble at the moment.
Miguel Montero
Montero has been placed on the 15-day DL with a sprained thumb. The injury won't have a direct impact in most formats, as Montero is owned in fewer than 25 percent of leagues. However, his absence will open up a roster spot for prospect and recent MVP of the Futures Game Kyle Schwarber. Montero is expected to miss six weeks, meaning he could return shortly before MLB rosters expand to 40. As a result, Schwarber has a legitimate chance to stick with the big league club even upon Montero's return.
Miguel Sano
The Twins rookie is sidelined with a right ankle sprain. He sustained the injury during pregame work prior to Saturday's extra-inning loss to the A's. The team plans on assessing the injury at greater length over the next few days and will keep him out of the lineup during the process. He may still avoid a trip to the DL but it doesn't look like he is going to be an option for the upcoming week.
