This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Tigers offense took a big hit late last week after Martinez suffered a broken elbow in the team's 10-4 win over the Royals on Thursday. The injury occurred following a collision with the right field wall. X-Rays taken revealed a non-displaced fracture of the neck of the radius, one of the two bones of the forearm.
The humerus of the upper arm and the radius and ulna of the forearm form the elbow joint. The humerus and ulna come together to form the main hinge of the elbow. This is where the primary elbow motions of flexion and extension (bending) occur. However, on the lateral (thumb side) of the elbow, the curved head of the radius joins with the rounded capitulum of the ulna to form the secondary site of motion. This unique union allows the elbow also to play a role in rotation of the wrist and forearm.
Martinez's injury involves this secondary area, specially the area just below the head of the radius, appropriately named the neck. Fortunately, the pieces of the break remained aligned, and Martinez won't need surgery. Former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek wasn't so lucky when he sustained a fractured radial neck and was forced to miss the final three months of the 2001 season after going under the knife.
By avoiding surgery, Martinez has a better chance of making a much quicker return. The Tigers are currently predicting he will miss between four and six weeks. Look for his return
The Tigers offense took a big hit late last week after Martinez suffered a broken elbow in the team's 10-4 win over the Royals on Thursday. The injury occurred following a collision with the right field wall. X-Rays taken revealed a non-displaced fracture of the neck of the radius, one of the two bones of the forearm.
The humerus of the upper arm and the radius and ulna of the forearm form the elbow joint. The humerus and ulna come together to form the main hinge of the elbow. This is where the primary elbow motions of flexion and extension (bending) occur. However, on the lateral (thumb side) of the elbow, the curved head of the radius joins with the rounded capitulum of the ulna to form the secondary site of motion. This unique union allows the elbow also to play a role in rotation of the wrist and forearm.
Martinez's injury involves this secondary area, specially the area just below the head of the radius, appropriately named the neck. Fortunately, the pieces of the break remained aligned, and Martinez won't need surgery. Former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek wasn't so lucky when he sustained a fractured radial neck and was forced to miss the final three months of the 2001 season after going under the knife.
By avoiding surgery, Martinez has a better chance of making a much quicker return. The Tigers are currently predicting he will miss between four and six weeks. Look for his return to be on the latter end of that estimated timeline given the radius' involvement with rotational movement and the fact that it also serves as an attachment site for multiple muscles and ligaments. Twenty four-year-old Steven Moya was called up to fill in for Martinez and has gone five for 13, including a home run, in his first three starts.
The Blue Jays have placed their hard-hitting right fielder on the 15-day DL after he sprained the big toe on his left foot following a collision with the outfield wall. The injury will be further evaluated this week, as Toronto head athletic trainer George Poulis revealed Bautista is slated to undergo specialized testing, including a "stress X-Ray." This likely means that images of Bautista's toe will be taken while various stresses are applied to get a better overall image of the structure and the integrity of the involved ligaments. Any previously undetected fractures may also be revealed during these tests.
Since the extent of the injury remains unknown, it's hard to predict how long Bautista will be sidelined. However, toe injuries are notoriously fickle and often very painful. Even when he's able to return, the risk of re-injury will remain high. As a result, Bautista's value for the remainder of the season should be properly adjusted.
Wright's 2016 season is likely over, after the former All-Star underwent a discectomy and cervical fusion of the vertebrae in his neck to address a herniated disc. The operation, made famous by Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, is a multifaceted procedure intended to remove the damaged intervertebral disc and reinforce the surrounding bony tissue. The surgery is accompanied by a lengthy recovery process that is often prolonged if there is any associated nerve problems.
The injury also clouds Wright's long-term value. He will now enter next season with questions about two segments of his spine. Wright has previously been diagnosed with lumbar stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back. An isolated back issue is difficult to manage, but two, potentially compounding problems, will be extremely complex. If a designated hitter role was an option, Wright could minimize the wear and tear placed on his back, but playing in the National League puts him in a tough spot moving forward. Hopefully this isn't the way his illustrious career comes to an end, but it does appear as if his days as a top-tier fantasy option are over.
Check Swings
Josh Reddick: The A's are optimistic that they will welcome back Reddick by the end of the week, as the outfielder has made considerable progress in his rehab for a fractured left thumb. However, he was supposed to begin a rehab assignment Sunday, but didn't play in either game of a doubleheader. Hopefully, his absence doesn't indicate a setback of any kind and he will be able to make several rehab appearances in the coming days. Injuries of this nature do tend to sap players of their power as they work way back, so anticipate a slow return when he eventually rejoins the Oakland lineup.
Tyler Chatwood: The Rockies upgraded Chatwood's injury to a mid-back strain Sunday after he was removed from Saturday's start with what was initially called back spasms. The team is hoping he'll miss the minimal amount of time, but keep an eye out for more information, specifically on the involved muscle. A back muscle associated with the shoulder, like the latissimus dorsi, could be a much bigger issue for a player returning from his second Tommy John surgery.
Gerardo Parra: Colorado's offense also took a hit, as Parra is expected out for a significant stretch of time after suffering a sprained ankle. The sprain was not a "normal" lateral ankle sprain but instead a high or syndesmotic sprain. A high ankle sprain involves the distal tibiofemoral joint where the ends of the tibia and fibula form the ankle mortise. A strong ligament known as the interosseous ligament, as well as two additional ligaments known as the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments, stretch across the joint and reinforce the area. If disrupted, the stability of the ankle is compromised. High ankle sprains often result in a longer recovery, and Parra likely will be out longer than the allotted 15 days. Look for him to target a return somewhere around the All Star break.
Tyson Ross: The Padres right-hander threw his first bullpen session since going on the DL with shoulder inflammation. The session was limited to 15 pitches but is a good indicator that Ross' shoulder is finally showing signs of improvement. How the shoulder responds over the next few days will be key in his progression and will shape when he will throw again. If all goes well, look for Ross to toss another bullpen session this week as he begins to steadily increase his workload. A July return seems plausible and it may be time for fantasy owners desperate for starting pitching to consider stashing him.
