This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Mets right-hander hasn't pitched since September 1 due to lingering soreness and inflammation in his throwing forearm. Now, after weeks of speculation, the team has revealed the root of his pain and suffering is actually an issue with the ulnar nerve at his elbow.
Most people are actually quite familiar with the ulnar nerve and have irritated it at some point. However, instead of referring to it as an ulnar nerve contusion, it is informally known as hitting your "funny bone." Like it's name suggests, the ulnar nerve runs along the ulna of the forearm on the inside aspect of the elbow. The pathway of the ulnar leaves it vulnerable to injury due to poor padding in the area. Furthermore, it is at this point that the nerve passes through a passageway known as the cubital tunnel. The tunnel is located beneath the medial epicondyle, a bony prominence on the elbow. The medial epicondyle also serves as an attachment site for multiple muscles and ligaments in the area, including the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The UCL is infamous amongst MLB pitchers as it is the ligament repaired in Tommy John surgery.
While it has been confirmed that deGrom's UCL is still intact, his latest injury is in fact linked to a previous UCL injury. DeGrom underwent Tommy John in 2010 and made a complete recovery. However, as the ligament healed, scar tissue slowly developed in the area. Now the scar tissue is compressing the ulnar nerve leading
The Mets right-hander hasn't pitched since September 1 due to lingering soreness and inflammation in his throwing forearm. Now, after weeks of speculation, the team has revealed the root of his pain and suffering is actually an issue with the ulnar nerve at his elbow.
Most people are actually quite familiar with the ulnar nerve and have irritated it at some point. However, instead of referring to it as an ulnar nerve contusion, it is informally known as hitting your "funny bone." Like it's name suggests, the ulnar nerve runs along the ulna of the forearm on the inside aspect of the elbow. The pathway of the ulnar leaves it vulnerable to injury due to poor padding in the area. Furthermore, it is at this point that the nerve passes through a passageway known as the cubital tunnel. The tunnel is located beneath the medial epicondyle, a bony prominence on the elbow. The medial epicondyle also serves as an attachment site for multiple muscles and ligaments in the area, including the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The UCL is infamous amongst MLB pitchers as it is the ligament repaired in Tommy John surgery.
While it has been confirmed that deGrom's UCL is still intact, his latest injury is in fact linked to a previous UCL injury. DeGrom underwent Tommy John in 2010 and made a complete recovery. However, as the ligament healed, scar tissue slowly developed in the area. Now the scar tissue is compressing the ulnar nerve leading to the pain and weakness in the forearm.
In deGrom's case, altering muscle patterns won't help relieve the pressure, as the scar tissue will remain. Instead surgical intervention is the best option for long-term relief, though the procedure isn't considered significant. The scar tissue will simply be removed and the recovery process will begin. However, this effectively ends his 2016 season and makes him droppable in all yearly formats. He will retain most of his value in keeper leagues though fantasy owners considering retaining the 28-year-old should keep a close eye on his recovery throughout the offseason.
The Indians will be forced to navigate the rest of the season without the services of Carrasco. The veteran pitcher suffered a broken bone in his right hand over the weekend and won't return. The exact diagnosis was a broken fifth metacarpal, an injury more commonly seen in boxers and mixed martial artists. This is because the metacarpals comprise the bulk of the hand with their distal ends forming the knuckles. The metacarpals are prone to injury when stressed with an axial load, like when landing a punch, but can break following a direct blow. Carrasco's mechanism of injury was the latter, as he was struck by a line drive off the bat of Tigers infielder Ian Kinsler. The fracture is nondisplaced, meaning the fragmented pieces remain aligned. This is a minor win for Carrasco, as it means he likely will avoid going under the knife. However, he'll still need six to eight weeks for the bone to heal and additional rehab time since the injury does involve his throwing hand.
The injury is just the latest blow to a Cleveland's starting staff that is currently without Danny Salazar. The right-hander continues to nurse a forearm strain and is not expected back during the regular season. For now Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, Corey Kluber and Josh Tomlin comprise the Cleveland rotation.
Check Swings
Yoenis Cespedes: Cespedes was removed from Sunday's game, leading to speculation that his nagging quadriceps injury had flared up. However, it was later revealed that his early exit was due to an illness, as the Mets outfielder reported feeling dizzy and nauseated. He will be day-to-day entering the week, and those in weekly formats may face a tough decision if his health hasn't improved by the first pitch of Monday's matchup with the Braves.
Jacoby Ellsbury: The Yankees outfielder did not play Sunday due to a bone contusion on his right knee. While he is considered day-to-day, scale back your expectations for the foreseeable future and don't be surprised if he misses an additional game or two. Bone contusions are repaired like a true fracture and need ample time to fully heal. The biomechanics of the knee often prolong this process and extra time is often allotted for a complete recovery. Mason Williams started in Ellsbury's place on Sunday, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Billy Hamilton: The Reds have finally placed their speedy outfielder on the 15-day DL. Hamilton hasn't played since suffering a strained left oblique on September 4. While the move is retroactive to his first missed game the following day, his availability for the remainder of the season is still unknown. If Hamilton is unable to return, it would mark the third straight season the 26-year-old finishes the year on the DL. He still leads the league in stolen bases with 58 swipes.
Matt Holliday: The veteran outfielder was unable to take part in a simulated game Saturday due to excessive swelling in his surgically repaired thumb. Holliday suffered a broken right thumb in early August but had recently expressed growing confidence about an impending return. However, this setback will alter those plans and could force the former All-Star to miss the remainder of the season. The Cardinals are still in contention for one of the two National League wild-card spots though the club won't rush Holliday's recovery. The 36-year-old was in the middle of arguably the worst season of his career before the injury and it's hard to imagine a scenario where a limited grip helps improve his sub-par batting numbers.
Miguel Sano: The Twins slugger underwent an MRI on his ailing back that has kept him out since Monday. The tests did not reveal any significant injury, though a "little sign" of a previous injury was detected. He is hoping to take batting practice Tuesday and is targeting a mid-week return. Unfortunately, this puts fantasy owners in weekly leagues in a tough spot, and it may be safer to utilize a healthier, more reliable option.
