Week 4 of the fantasy baseball season is here.  If you are like most GM's, injuries have affected you to some degree thus far.  This week is no different.  What is different about this edition of the walking wounded is that there is a Tony Danza reference.  You will have to continue reading to see what it is. 

Chris Sale (SP-CHW)

Before anyone panics, just read this whole paragraph.  It is being reported that White Sox ace pitcher Chris Sale will likely miss his next start due to general soreness that is similar to what he has experienced the past two seasons.  Sale has been stellar thus far going 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 29 strikeouts through his first four starts.  Right now there is no reason to think this will have any long-term effect on Sale, but for those of you in weekly leagues the news is certainly disappointing. 

UPDATE: After telling you not to panic, you can panic now.  It appears as though Chris Sale is in fact heading to the disabled list with a flexor muscle strain.  An MRI did not reveal any ligament damage which is good news.  Fantasy GM's should hope he just misses three starts and can come back when he is eligible.

Carlos Gonzalez (OF-COL)

While Carlos Gonzalez is one of the most talented players in baseball and certainly worthy of a first round pick in fantasy baseball leagues, he appears on the Injury Report far too frequently.  Gonzalez had to leave Sunday's game with tendinitis in his knee, but he is back in the Rockies' lineup on Monday.  That is good news for GM's, but just remember how fragile Gonzalez is.

Michael Cuddyer (OF-COL)

Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer missed three straight games with a hamstring injury and was finally placed on the 15-day disabled list.  This move was inevitable given the 35-year old outfielder hadn't shown any improvement. Cuddyer is a solid fantasy outfielder so keep him stashed and hope for a speedy recovery.  Although at his age, it could take more than a few weeks before Cuddyer makes it back into the lineup (and calm down about my comment about his age - I am 35 also and get sore coaching my daughter's soccer team).

Ivan Nova (SP-NYY)

Dr. James Andrews may be getting another call real soon as Ivan Nova was taken out of his last start with elbow pain.  It has been confirmed that he sustained a partially torn UCL which means Tommy John surgery is likely in his future.  Nova has been very shaky this season and this could be the reason why.  He was barely good enough to be rostered before, but now he can be dropped in all fantasy baseball league formats.

Adam Eaton (OF-CHW)

After an injury-plagued 2013 season, Adam Eaton was hoping to get off to a good start with his new team in 2014.  But he is now sidelined with a hamstring injury that will cost him a few games while the White Sox hope he can avoid the disabled list.  For a speedster like Eaton, any injury to his hamstring could be devastating.  Keep him on your bench in daily and weekly leagues and hope that he has a quick recovery later in the week.


Kole Calhoun (OF-LAA)

The Angels in the outfield are going down faster than Tony Danza’s movie career.  First Josh Hamilton heads to the disabled list with a thumb injury, and now Kole Calhoun will be out about six weeks with a bad ankle ligament injury.  If you are desperate for an outfielder, both J.B. Shuck and Collin Cowgill could get some at bats as they split time in a platoon. 

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),