This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
As the MLB clubs converge on San Diego to celebrate the All-Star Game, fantasy owners get a chance to evaluate their positioning in the standings and beginning planning for the second half of the season. Injuries may be the culprit behind your poor standings and could potentially alter how you finish the season. However before we move forward let's take a look at the players to earn the dubious honor of a place on the Sixth Annual MLB All-Scar Team.
Catchers
AL: Alex Avila
Avila was hoping to bounce back after a disappointing final season in Detroit. Sadly nagging hamstring injuries have limited his time behind the plate and resulted in two separate trips to the disabled list. Even worse, Avila's inability to remain healthy has had a trickledown effect on the rest of the White Sox backstop depth chart.
NL: Devin Mesoraco
The Reds catcher earns a berth on the squad for a second straight year with yet another cartilage injury. After sitting out a majority of the 2015 season for a labrum tear in his hip, Mesoraco played just 16 games before tearing the labrum in his shoulder. Surgery was required to fix the area and the 28-year old is expected to miss another four months recovering.
First Base
AL: Justin Morneau
It may be unfair to include the 35-year-old veteran on the list given his limited overall value but the fact that he still hasn't appeared in a game hurts. He underwent elbow surgery in December to
As the MLB clubs converge on San Diego to celebrate the All-Star Game, fantasy owners get a chance to evaluate their positioning in the standings and beginning planning for the second half of the season. Injuries may be the culprit behind your poor standings and could potentially alter how you finish the season. However before we move forward let's take a look at the players to earn the dubious honor of a place on the Sixth Annual MLB All-Scar Team.
Catchers
AL: Alex Avila
Avila was hoping to bounce back after a disappointing final season in Detroit. Sadly nagging hamstring injuries have limited his time behind the plate and resulted in two separate trips to the disabled list. Even worse, Avila's inability to remain healthy has had a trickledown effect on the rest of the White Sox backstop depth chart.
NL: Devin Mesoraco
The Reds catcher earns a berth on the squad for a second straight year with yet another cartilage injury. After sitting out a majority of the 2015 season for a labrum tear in his hip, Mesoraco played just 16 games before tearing the labrum in his shoulder. Surgery was required to fix the area and the 28-year old is expected to miss another four months recovering.
First Base
AL: Justin Morneau
It may be unfair to include the 35-year-old veteran on the list given his limited overall value but the fact that he still hasn't appeared in a game hurts. He underwent elbow surgery in December to address a damaged tendon in the area. The former AL MVP has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment but his value for the remainder of the year remains in flux.
NL: Lucas Duda
The hard-hitting Duda is one of several Mets players to appear on the All-Scar roster. He reported stiffness in his neck early in the season but a lower back injury has been the primary reason for his absence. Duda was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back in late May and still remains a ways out from even beginning a rehab assignment.
Second Base
AL:Devon Travis
Travis has appeared in just 38 games after missing the start of the season recovering from shoulder surgery. The procedure was designed to treat os acromiale, a condition involving the growth plates in the acromion of his scapula. Fortunately he's performed well since returning in late May and should be productive for the remainder of the year.
NL: Chris Owings
Owings earns this middle infield spot despite spending a majority of his playing time in the Arizona outfield. However his position versatility is part of his appeal, making his absence due to plantar fasciitis all the more frustrating. He's planning on starting a rehab assignment within the next few days but the risk of re-injury will linger for the immediate future.
Shortstop
AL: Troy Tulowitzki
The Jays shortstop has become synonymous with injuries, having endured a myriad of injuries throughout his career. This year it was a strained quadriceps that forced him out of nearly three weeks of action, though he also sustained hand and hip injuries earlier in the season.
NL: Jhonny Peralta
St. Louis welcomed back Peralta in early June after he suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb. The damage was serious enough to warrant surgery and his return to play was delayed after he cut his thumb while opening a box. Another All-Scar member playing somewhat out of position, Peralta continues to look for his midseason swing.
Third Base
AL: Pablo Sandoval
The Panda entered the spring facing concerns about his weight. The emerging presence of Travis Shaw amplified the problem and injuries to Sandoval's lower back and shoulder only further complicated the issue. The shoulder would eventually require surgery, ending his 2016 season after just three games.
NL: David Wright
Wright earns an All-Scar spot for the second straight season. After being diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis last year, Wright is now managing a significant injury on a different segment of his spine. He underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his cervical spine and is likely done for the season.
Outfield
AL: Michael Brantley, JD Martinez, and Jose Bautista
Brantley's recovery from offseason surgery for a torn labrum was reportedly ahead of schedule. Sadly it appears he may have rushed things as he has participated in just 11 games so far this season. Martinez's fractured elbow occurred right when he appeared to be figuring things out at the plate. His non-displaced fracture of the radial neck didn't require surgery and is expected to keep him out a full six weeks. Bautista rounds out the veteran-laden AL outfield after injuring his toe in mid-June. While the team feared a fracture, the injury was officially diagnosed as turf toe. The sprained big toe is improving though Bautista remains several weeks away from returning.
NL: Kyle Schwarber, Hunter Pence, and AJ Pollock
Normally a catcher, Schwarber suffered multiple knee ligament tears, including his ACL, following a collision with teammate Dexter Fowler. The injury will cost him the 2016 season and likely his catcher eligibility for 2017. Once considered a regular Iron Man, Pence is stuck in the middle of his second straight injury-riddled season. This time a torn hamstring has been the primary issue though he hopes to return by the end of the month. Pollock could be staring at a lost 2016 season, though he is hopeful of a return by season's end. The 28-year-old suffered the second broken elbow of his career and continues to work his way through rehab and treatment.
Starting Pitchers
AL: Felix Hernandez and Yu Darvish
Hernandez has just 10 starts on the year after a moderate calf strain sent him to the DL. The recovery has gone slower than initially expected though the King is on rehab assignment and should be back shortly after the break.
Darvish was expected to miss time as the Rangers brought him back slowly from Tommy John surgery but the subsequent shoulder injury was unanticipated. Like Hernandez, he's expected back shortly after the break.
NL: Tyson Ross and Matt Harvey
Ross was pegged by some as a potential breakout candidate. Sadly he's made just one start after he experienced inflammation in his shoulder following his Opening Day appearance. He recently twisted his ankle, delaying a bullpen session.
Harvey's season has already ended following surgery to address a case of thoracic outlet syndrome in his shoulder. He hopes to be ready for 2017 though his medical history is littered with potential red flags.
Relief Pitchers
AL: Brad Boxberger
Boxberger underwent surgery for a torn adductor muscle shortly before the start of the regular season. He was unable to earn back his closer role after suffering a strained oblique in his first appearance off the DL. Boxberger continues to progress through treatment though Alex Colome's play may have pushed Boxberger out of his usual ninth-inning role.
NL: Will Smith
Just as Smith was emerging as a potential end of the game option for Milwaukee, the left-handed reliever suffered a torn LCL that fortunately did not require surgery. While he has pitched well since being activated, the injury may have cost him the regular closer role.
