This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
Several notable names popped up on the injury report this past week, though in most cases it appears the individual appeared to avoid a significant issue. Former Cy Young winners were hit particularly hard with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer making premature exits from their starts.
The Mets ace put together another dominant performance against the Padres on Friday but was unable to finish out the masterpiece. The problem involved his pitching elbow, with a clean MRI leading to a final diagnosis of flexor tendinitis.
It's a bit odd to imagine but the muscles that move the wrist and fingers are actually located in the forearm. The long tendons of these muscles then run down the length of your arm before attaching at various sites along the wrist and hand. Several of these muscles all originate through a shared flexor bundle at the elbow at a location known as the medial epicondyle. The medial epicondyle is a rounded projection of the humerus and is also an attachment site for the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Together these structures help stabilize the elbow. However, if one becomes weakened or limited, the other nearby structure assumes the load and becomes increasingly at risk for an injury of its own. It's why you often see flexor bundle injuries and UCL tears, and the subsequent Tommy John surgery, go hand-in-hand.
Fortunately, deGrom does not appear to have any structural issues and, instead, is dealing with inflammation of one or multiple tendons in the
Several notable names popped up on the injury report this past week, though in most cases it appears the individual appeared to avoid a significant issue. Former Cy Young winners were hit particularly hard with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer making premature exits from their starts.
The Mets ace put together another dominant performance against the Padres on Friday but was unable to finish out the masterpiece. The problem involved his pitching elbow, with a clean MRI leading to a final diagnosis of flexor tendinitis.
It's a bit odd to imagine but the muscles that move the wrist and fingers are actually located in the forearm. The long tendons of these muscles then run down the length of your arm before attaching at various sites along the wrist and hand. Several of these muscles all originate through a shared flexor bundle at the elbow at a location known as the medial epicondyle. The medial epicondyle is a rounded projection of the humerus and is also an attachment site for the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Together these structures help stabilize the elbow. However, if one becomes weakened or limited, the other nearby structure assumes the load and becomes increasingly at risk for an injury of its own. It's why you often see flexor bundle injuries and UCL tears, and the subsequent Tommy John surgery, go hand-in-hand.
Fortunately, deGrom does not appear to have any structural issues and, instead, is dealing with inflammation of one or multiple tendons in the area. The Mets appear confident they can appropriately manage all of deGrom's associated symptoms while letting him continue to pitch. He reported no issues over the weekend while playing catch and is slotted to make his next scheduled start in the rotation Wednesday against the Cubs. Fantasy managers invested in deGrom will want to remain guarded for the immediate future but it does appear as though he dodged a bullet here.
The Nationals ace threw just 12 pitches in his most recent start after "tweaking" his groin. The exact diagnosis was later changed to groin inflammation, an injury similar to the problem facing deGrom. However, Scherzer's inflammation appears linked to a mild strain and is obviously a bit different since it involves the lower extremity. Groin injuries can negatively impact a pitcher's ability to transfer weight during their delivery, creating other issues along the kinetic chain. Scherzer understands the risk involved and informed the Washington training staff that the area was still not ready for Wednesday's scheduled start. He admitted he was still having issues driving through the injured leg and doesn't want to risk making the injury worse. Look for him to try again later in the week as the injury progresses. A stint on the injured list may be warranted if he cannot get ready after skipping one start.
The 34-year-old right hander has once again seen his Mets debut pushed back after his rehab for a hamstring strain plateaued. To help better facilitate the healing process, the pitcher received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection.
In PRP treatment, a sample of the injured athlete's blood is collected and separated in a centrifuge. A protein-rich mixture is removed from the sample and reinjected into the individual at the injury site. The PRP mixture is concentrated with the component of blood responsible for clotting known as platelets. The belief is that by increasing the platelet count, the body's natural healing response will work quicker and more efficiently. Studies on its effectiveness are mixed, but New York is clearly trying to do anything it can to get it him back on the mound. He will need to take some time off from throwing following the injection, pushing a likely return back toward late July.
Check Swings
Ronald Acuna: The Braves outfielder was removed from Sunday's game against the Marlins after reporting tightness in his pectoral muscle. The pec is best known as a chest muscle but does influence shoulder movement. Fortunately, it appears his removal from the game was more precautionary than anything, and Atlanta does not expect him to miss any additional time.
Javier Baez: Baez can't shake the lingering soreness in his thumb and has not started five of Chicago's last seven games. The team has been tight-lipped regarding specifics about the injury, but it is starting to look like a trip to the IL may be the best way to address the issue.
Andrew Benintendi: The Royals sent Benintendi to the IL after he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in a rib on his right side. Rib fractures can be very painful and limiting, eliciting pain with simple motions like breathing. Fortunately, bone tissue generally heals nicely if provided enough time, and he should be back in a few weeks. Edward Olivares was recalled from Triple-A and will take over in leftfield.
Byron Buxton: The Twins outfielder has looked solid in his rehab assignment, going 5-for-9 with two home runs, a triple and seven RBI. The Twins have clearly liked what they have seen from their 27-year-old outfielder, as he travled with the team Monday for the their three-game set against the Mariners. While he may have a slightly elevated level of injury risk upon his return, get Buxton back into your lineups when he does return.
Colin Moran: Moran did not play Monday against Washington after exiting Sunday's game with lower back tightness. Tightness is often linked to a muscle-related injury, and time will tell if extended treatment will alleviate the problem or if it is indicative of a bigger, more concerning underlying issue. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Corey Seager: The Dodgers shortstop is progressing nicely in his recovery from a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand. He is slated to take batting practice sometime in the near future, paving the way for an eventual rehab assignment. The positive progress suggests the bone is healing in a normal fashion and alignment, setting up a return slightly ahead of schedule.
