Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Noteworthy fantasy baseball injuries

April 8, 2009 @ 00:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

Injuries can sink your fantasy baseball team faster than you can say Tommy John surgery. From your star third baseman landing on the 15-day disabled list to that staff ace scheduling a visit with the dreaded Dr. James Andrews, knowing what is going on in the world of fantasy baseball injuries can be crucial to winning your fantasy baseball league. Each week, KFFL.com takes you around the majors for all the latest updates on all the injured fantasy-relevant players.

Catchers

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Geovany Soto	CHC	Sore right shoulder	Day-to-day	It's the same problem that bothered him earlier in spring; he should be good to go after a few days
Joe Mauer	MIN	Inflamed sacroiliac joint in back	No timetable	Plans on waiting until there is no pain during any activities before he returns; should be weeks, not months, though
Mike Napoli	LAA	Offseason shoulder surgery	N/A	Avoided the DL out of camp, though he was primarily used as DH; Jeff Mathis has earned two starts so far

First basemen

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Justin Morneau	MIN	Stiff back	N/A	Made his Opening Day start after there was some question if his back would let him; went 0-for-4 with one K
Lance Berkman	HOU	Biceps tendonitis	N/A	Was fine to make his Opening Day start; nothing to worry about yet for the veteran slugger

Second basemen

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Chase Utley	PHI	Offseason hip surgery (11/25/08)	N/A	Utley seemed fine in the season opener, but you can tell he's not 100 percent; might be given an occasional day off
Brian Roberts	BAL	Back, oblique	N/A	Healthy enough to play in the O's season opener; he went 3-for-4 with two runs, though he was caught stealing; he fine

Third basemen

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Alex Rodriguez	NYY	Hip surgery (3/9/09)	Late April	Could resume baseball activities as early as 4/13; rehab is going well, per Joe Girardi, and A-Rod could return in April
Chipper Jones	ATL	Bruised thumb	Day-to-day	Scratched from 4/8 game due to bruised thumb but confident he'll be back in the lineup 4/10; here we go again
Jorge Cantu	FLA	Hand	No timetable	Hit by a pitch on his left hand and left the game 4/8; no prognosis at publication but worth watching
Eric Chavez	OAK	Shoulder	N/A	Was able to return in time for Opening Day; still, are more injuries just a matter of time for fragile slugger?
Kevin Kouzmanoff	SD	Shoulder	N/A	Went 0-for-4 in first game of the season and 2-for-4 in second; shoulder didn't appear to be an issue
Troy Glaus	STL	Shoulder surgery (1/22)	No timetable	Set back in his rehab from arthroscopic shoulder surgery, he won't be re-evaluated until the beginning of June

Shortstops

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Alex Gonzalez	CIN	Hamstring tweak	N/A	Received the Opening Day nod at shortstop and hasn't suffered any setbacks
Julio Lugo	BOS	Arthroscopic knee surgery (3/17)	Late April/Early May	Headed to Florida to begin a week of extended Spring Training; question remains where he will play when healthy

Outfielders

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Ryan Braun	MIL	Thumb	N/A	Said he was over the nagging injuries from the spring, and showed it in the season opener as he went 2-for-4
Ichiro Suzuki	SEA	Bleeding ulcer	Mid-April	Blood work should return 4/8; if all is well, Ichiro will continue playing in the minors until an expected 4/15 return
Matt Holliday	OAK	Illness	N/A	Failed to show up at the park 4/7 because of an illness; the team is unsure of his status for 4/8
B.J. Upton	TB	Shoulder surgery (11/11/08)	4/13	Placed on the 15-day disabled list; Rays expect to have him back 4/13 when they return to Florida
Vladimir Guerrero	LAA	Chest tightness	N/A	Moved to designated hitter after feeling some tightness in his chest muscle but should still be in the lineup
Vernon Wells	TOR	Wrist	N/A	No plans to give him any extra rest, and he still has the green light to steal
Willy Taveras	CIN	Flu	4/8	Sidelined by the flu for Opening Day, Taveras said he feels better and may be ready for the Reds' second game 4/8

Designated hitters

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Travis Hafner	CLE	Shoulder	N/A	Has around 90-95 percent strength in his right shoulder; still working on fixing some mechanical flaws in his swing

Starting pitchers

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Brandon Webb	ARI	Right shoulder stiffness	4/11	Reported no stiffness after playing catch 4/7; will probably miss his next scheduled start 4/11; keep an eye on this
Cole Hamels	PHI	Elbow tightness	4/10	Was hit hard in 4/4 start and fastball topped out at 86 mph; still, he should throw 85-100 pitches in 4/10 return
John Lackey	LAA	Elbow tightness	No timetable	Played catch before the Angels' season opener; says arm strength, shoulder are fine but still not sure when he'll return
Felix Hernandez	SEA	Ankle	N/A	Turned his ankle twice in 4/6 start; he had some swelling after the game, but he should be fine for his next start 4/11
Chad Billingsley	LAD	Groin strain	N/A	Allowed just two runs on four hits over five innings 4/3 in his first appearance in 11 days; slated for 4/8 start
Rich Harden	CHC	Shoulder tear, food poisoning	Early April	Victoria, B.C., native is slated for a 4/10 start; be wary, though, he never failed to pitch five innings in any of his spring starts
Ervin Santana	LAA	Sprained MCL in elbow	May	Has thrown from flat ground and is looking at potentially starting a rehab assignment in just under two weeks
Erik Bedard	SEA	Hip	N/A	Gave up three runs on six hits in five innings during first start 4/7; his eight strikeouts were promising, though
Scott Baker	MIN	Right shoulder stiffness	No timetable	Placed on the 15-day disabled list 4/2 with right shoulder stiffness; will miss at least his first two starts
Justin Duchscherer	OAK	Bone spur in right elbow	May	Surgery was a success - a bone spur was removed in a small cleanup procedure; could throw off a mound in six weeks
John Smoltz	BOS	Shoulder surgery (6/10/08)	June	Ahead of schedule and could return before 7/1; threw a bullpen session 4/4 and could be back as early as mid-May
Chris Carpenter	STL	Strained calf	4/9	Still on track for his Thursday start; nothing to worry about here....
Kelvim Escobar	LAA	Shoulder surgery, calf	Late April	Experienced a setback with some tightness in his shoulder; characterized as nothing major but shut down until weekend
Max Scherzer	ARI	Shoulder	4/14	Placed on the 15-day disabled list to begin the season; don't fret - he is expected to return 4/14, when fifth starter is needed
Ben Sheets	FA	Elbow tendon surgery (2/10)	After All-Star break	Hoping to return after the All-Star break; Rangers are interested if he recovers nicely
Jonathan Sanchez	SF	Finger	Early April	Pitched well in first start (4/5) since burning finger; no word yet on when he'll return for his first meaningful start
Jeremy Bonderman	DET	Shoulder surgery (6/30/08)	No timetable	Placed on the 15-day disabled list 3/31; could be three weeks from his stated goal of tossing six innings in the minors
Shaun Marcum	TOR	Tommy John surgery	No timetable	Progressing faster than Dustin McGowan; has been playing catch regularly and lobbying for return late this year
Brad Penny	BOS	Shoulder fatigue	4/11	Opening Day rainout pushed forward Penny's first start of the season to Saturday; threw a scaled-back bullpen session 4/7
Dustin McGowan	TOR	Shoulder surgery (7/31/08)	No timetable	Taking longer than expected for him to return; he might not be ready until Spring Training 2010
Jake Westbrook	CLE	Elbow, hip surgery	July	Placed on 60-day disabled list; will continue throwing Monday and Friday bullpen sessions into extended Spring Training
Bronson Arroyo	CIN	Carpal tunnel	N/A	Received a cortisone shot 4/7 and should be good to go for his 4/9 start
Tim Hudson	ATL	Tommy John surgery (8/8/08)	August	Throwing off a mound and playing catch; doesn't figure to return until late '09

Relief pitchers

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Trevor Hoffman	MIL	Oblique	Mid-April	Has played catch and could throw off a mound soon; manager Ken Macha not ready to settle on return date until he does
Matt Lindstrom	FLA	Rotator cuff strain	Opening Day	Wasn't needed in the Marlins' 12-6 Opening Day win, though he says he was available and should be moving forward
Brandon Morrow	SEA	Forearm	N/A	Came in during save situation 4/7 but couldn't get the final out; might not be available 4/8 after throwing 28 pitches
Joey Devine	OAK	Elbow soreness	No timetable	Placement on the 60-day disabled list kills any mixed league value; scheduled to meet with Dr. James Andrews 4/8
Troy Percival	TB	Back surgery (12/2/08)	N/A	Back problems appear to be behind the veteran closer; for just how long is the next question....
Rafael Soriano	ATL	Strained side muscle	Opening Day	Injuries cropping up again for fragile hurler - this one didn't derail him, though - he pitched a hitless eight frame 4/7
Billy Wagner	NYM	Tommy John surgery (9/10/08)	September	He has started throwing at home and plans to return to Mets facility in June; expects to return for final month

Author Bio

Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.