This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The 30-year-old left-hander is back on the disabled list after missing nearly a month with biceps tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. Unfortunately, his latest injury is a familiar foe, as Kershaw is now battling a back injury for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Kershaw first missed time in 2014 with inflammation in his upper back, specifically his teres major. He managed a herniated disc in 2016 and sat out roughly six weeks last year with another back strain. Now the three-time National League Cy Young winner once again is dealing with inflammation in his back, similar to last season's issue.
Kershaw's growing list of back problems is worrisome, especially since the areas of concern seem to be linked to his throwing shoulder. The Dodgers have already announced they are preparing for their ace to miss at least a month recovering and a five- to six-week absence seems probable. Kershaw's absence means Alex Wood is the only available member of Los Angeles' starting rotation. Rich Hill is currently sidelined with a recurring blister problem, while Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu remain out with lower extremity strains. These injuries have created an opportunity for Ross Stripling. The 28-year-old has thrived since returning to the rotation, surrendering just one earned run over his last three starts.
The Red Sox second baseman is back on the DL with lingering soreness in his surgically repaired knee. Pedroia underwent a multifaceted knee surgery in the offseason that included
The 30-year-old left-hander is back on the disabled list after missing nearly a month with biceps tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. Unfortunately, his latest injury is a familiar foe, as Kershaw is now battling a back injury for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Kershaw first missed time in 2014 with inflammation in his upper back, specifically his teres major. He managed a herniated disc in 2016 and sat out roughly six weeks last year with another back strain. Now the three-time National League Cy Young winner once again is dealing with inflammation in his back, similar to last season's issue.
Kershaw's growing list of back problems is worrisome, especially since the areas of concern seem to be linked to his throwing shoulder. The Dodgers have already announced they are preparing for their ace to miss at least a month recovering and a five- to six-week absence seems probable. Kershaw's absence means Alex Wood is the only available member of Los Angeles' starting rotation. Rich Hill is currently sidelined with a recurring blister problem, while Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu remain out with lower extremity strains. These injuries have created an opportunity for Ross Stripling. The 28-year-old has thrived since returning to the rotation, surrendering just one earned run over his last three starts.
The Red Sox second baseman is back on the DL with lingering soreness in his surgically repaired knee. Pedroia underwent a multifaceted knee surgery in the offseason that included cartilage restoration surgery on the inner aspect of his knee and microfracture surgery on his left fibula. Like its name suggests, microfracture is a surgical technique in which the surgeon makes tiny fractures in the articular cartilage of a bone. The body's natural defense system responds to these man-made breaks and begins creating marrow-filled clots to repair the damaged cartilage. Over time, the microfractures are replaced with new cartilage that will allow the athlete to return to activity. However, the recovery process is delicate and can take a substantial amount of time to complete. There have been cases when a player returns prematurely and exposes the still-healing area to unwarranted stress. Pedoria is slated to undergo further testing in the days ahead, which should help shine a light on the extent of the problem. However, his limited productivity may not outweigh his level of risk moving forward making him a precarious fantasy option.
Reyes had just completed an arduous recovery from Tommy John surgery and was hoping to make an impact in the Cardinals rotation. Sadly, his return lasted just four innings, as the right-handed suffered a "significant" latissimus dorsi (lat) strain in his first start of the season. The precise grade of the strain wasn't revealed but is expected to be more severe than the lat strain of teammate Carlos Martinez. Martinez is almost done completing a four-week recovery from his injury.
As discussed at multiple times this season, the positioning of the lat makes it a particularly problematic injury for pitchers. The muscle runs along the middle of the spine before attaching to the upper arm bone known as the humerus. This arrangement allows the lat to play a role in both back and shoulder movements. The lat's role in shoulder motion cannot be overstated, as it's involved in extension, adduction and internal rotation of the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder while also assisting in movement at the shoulder blade.
Lat strains have gained notoriety in recent seasons with players like Noah Syndergaard, James Paxton and Stephen Strasburg sustaining the injury. Syndergaard missed nearly five months last season with a Grade 2 (partial tear) of his right lat. Given the importance of the muscle and the precedent set by other players to suffer the injury, look for Reyes to miss a substantial amount of time. Those in need of a roster spot can begin looking elsewhere.
Check Swings
Ronald Acuna: Acuna fans can exhale after a MRI revealed the top Atlanta prospect only suffered a mild ACL sprain when he violently hyperextended his knee late last week. The injury will not require surgical intervention and only keep him out a few weeks. Preston Tucker will be the biggest beneficiary from Acuna's absence and could be worth consideration as a stop-gap option.
C.J. Cron: The Rays infielder has been a pleasant surprise so far this season, hitting 12 home runs to go with 32 RBI and a .800 OPS. Sadly, he left the field early on Sunday after being struck by a pitch in the forearm. Fortunately, X-rays taken after the game were negative, and the injury is being described as a forearm contusion. While Cron is expected to play Tuesday, don't be surprised if this injury causes a small dip in power. A majority of the muscles of the wrist and hand are situated in the forearm, and the effects of the contusion may cause a minor functional limitation.
Marwin Gonzalez: Houston's versatile utilityman sat out Sunday's loss to Boston after injuring his knee. The injury appeared to occur when Gonzalez made an acrobatic catch in Saturday's game. Gonzalez's right knee awkwardly struck the ground after he collided with the left-field wall. The ailment is currently being described as soreness, and he's expected to avoid the DL.
Carlos Martinez: The St. Louis right-hander is hoping to return to action June 5, four weeks after suffering a right lat strain. Like mentioned with Reyes, a lat strain is a complex issue and can be difficult to manage and treat. Look for the Cardinals to conservatively handle his return to action by limiting his pitch total. Fantasy owners invested in Martinez may want to scale back their expectations for his initial few starts and anticipate a slight jump in his 1.62 ERA.
Yadier Molina: In addition to getting their top pitcher back, the Cardinals are expecting to have their starting backstop in the lineup on Tuesday. Molina is set to return exactly one month after suffering severe testicular trauma that required surgery. The exact diagnosis was a traumatic pelvic hematoma, and the Cardinals responded to the incident by investing in Kevlar-infused athletic cups for their players. Feel free to reinsert the eight-time All-Star into your lineups.
