This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
I was admittedly skeptical of Keuchel entering the season as details around his shoulder injury remained limited. However, the left-hander has proved me wrong, as his 1.84 ERA leads the American League and placed him in the early conversation for the Cy Young Award. Unfortunately, his impressive start will be placed on hold due to a pinched nerve in his neck that has forced him to the 10-day disabled list.
A pinched nerve occurs when one of the peripheral nerves of the nervous system becomes compressed between bone and/or soft tissue structures. When the nerve becomes entrapped, it can result in pain and potentially a decrease in function. Nerves can relay messages toward or away from the spinal column. If the pinched nerve carries a signal involving a motor response, the affected individual can experience a decrease in muscular strength and have trouble performing the attempted activity. If it's a sensory nerve, the injured athlete may report diminished feeling in a particular area of the body.
Nerve impingement can occur along each segment of the spine, though Keuchel's injury appears to be linked to the cervical region of his body. Potential reasons for a pinched nerve in the neck include osteoarthritis, a herniated or bulging disc, or bone spurs. Determining where and what is causing Keuchel's issue will help his long-term health. The Astros are confident the issue will resolve with rest and will cost Keuchel only one start. However, if the reason for the impingement goes unaddressed,
I was admittedly skeptical of Keuchel entering the season as details around his shoulder injury remained limited. However, the left-hander has proved me wrong, as his 1.84 ERA leads the American League and placed him in the early conversation for the Cy Young Award. Unfortunately, his impressive start will be placed on hold due to a pinched nerve in his neck that has forced him to the 10-day disabled list.
A pinched nerve occurs when one of the peripheral nerves of the nervous system becomes compressed between bone and/or soft tissue structures. When the nerve becomes entrapped, it can result in pain and potentially a decrease in function. Nerves can relay messages toward or away from the spinal column. If the pinched nerve carries a signal involving a motor response, the affected individual can experience a decrease in muscular strength and have trouble performing the attempted activity. If it's a sensory nerve, the injured athlete may report diminished feeling in a particular area of the body.
Nerve impingement can occur along each segment of the spine, though Keuchel's injury appears to be linked to the cervical region of his body. Potential reasons for a pinched nerve in the neck include osteoarthritis, a herniated or bulging disc, or bone spurs. Determining where and what is causing Keuchel's issue will help his long-term health. The Astros are confident the issue will resolve with rest and will cost Keuchel only one start. However, if the reason for the impingement goes unaddressed, he could be at risk to easily aggravate the area. Keuchel's performance this year has been too good to consider benching him upon his return, but scale back your expectations until he can prove this is a minor problem that won't linger.
Right-hander Brad Peacock will start on Monday against the Tigers with left-hander Ashur Tolliver taking the available roster spot.
The Braves slugger sustained a significant injury Wednesday after being struck on the wrist by an Aaron Loup fastball. The initial X-rays taken on the area were inconclusive, but a CT scan revealed a nondisplaced fracture of the wrist.
The wrist is an assortment of articulations compromising the distal ends of the forearm bones and eight tiny carpal bones. As a result, determining specifics surrounding Freeman's injury is a bit tricky. We know Freeman was hit on the ulnar-side of his wrist, based on the point of impact and the cast Freeman was later seen wearing. Freeman told the press the break did involve one of the carpals, meaning his break occurred to one of three possible options on the pinkie side of the wrist. Narrowing the field even more, the two most likely candidates are the pisiform or the triquetrum, though the team hasn't publicly confirmed the location. Fortunately, the bone remains in its original location, reportedly due to neighboring ligaments, and will not require surgical intervention. Instead, Freeman will remain in his cast for the next four weeks before undergoing further testing to examine the rate of healing. The Braves anticipate proceeding without Freeman for the next 10 weeks. Even upon his return fantasy owners should anticipate a dip in power as wrist motion slowly returns to form.
Atlanta traded for Matt Adams over the weekend who will step in at first base. Teams, especially those in National League only formats, may want to consider making a bid for the former Cardinals infielder.
Check Swings
Greg Bird: The 24-year-old first baseman is slated to hit off a tee on Monday as he works his way back from an ankle injury. The bone bruise on Bird's ankle has been an issue since early April and has kept him out of the lineup since May 1. Bone contusions, especially those on weight-bearing areas, tend to require a considerable amount of time to heal, as the body's natural response treats the injury just like a fracture. Bird has begun light running and is inching his way toward a return to the lineup. Opportunistic fantasy owners should consider adding Bird if he somehow ends up on the waiver wire. The injury is likely the primary culprit behind his poor performance so far, and he could have a nice bounce back once healthy.
Robinson Cano: Cano is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday when the Mariners take on the Nationals in interleague play. The All-Star second baseman hasn't played for the last two weeks after straining his quadriceps. The strain was reportedly mild, and Cano's fast recovery confirms the diagnosis. Employ him as you normally would.
Yoenis Cespedes: Owners hoping to welcome the Mets slugger back into the fold will have to wait a bit longer. Cespedes hasn't reached a point in his recovery from a hamstring strain where the team is comfortable enough to activate him from the DL. The decision is a prudent one, as the extra time spent in the rehab protocol should decrease his chances of re-injuring or aggravating the injury site. He'll still return with an elevated level of risk, but it's nice to see the Mets exhibiting restraint.
Gregory Polanco: The Pirates outfielder slowly is making his way back from a hamstring strain and could return when first eligible on Thursday. He's hitting and throwing without any problems and hopes to complete a full batting practice session on Monday. Given the unpredictability of hamstring injuries and Polanco's early season struggles, I wouldn't activate him in weekly formats just yet while those in daily leagues should remain patient.
Aaron Sanchez: Sanchez's problematic finger continues to be an issue as the 24-year-old has been placed on the 10-day DL for the third time this season. The injury has progressed from a blister to a fingernail injury and is now being classified as a middle finger laceration. Regardless of the diagnosis, the problem is limiting Sanchez's grip on the ball and will remain a concern until appropriately addressed. As a result, it seems likely Sanchez will spend more than 10 days on the DL. His upside is too high to consider dropping him outright, but his unreliability is becoming a frustrating problem to manage.
