It has been another eventful and partially disastrous week for fantasy baseball GM’s dealing with injuries.  Some of the players on this list should not come as a surprise, so you only have yourself to blame if you were expecting something else.  So without further adieu, here is the next installment of the walking wounded.

Masahiro Tanaka (SP-NYY)

To the surprise of no one, Masahiro Tanaka has landed on the disabled list.  Granted it is not exactly a sure thing he will need Tommy John surgery any time soon, but Tanaka is dealing with a right forearm strain and tendinitis in his wrist.  The forearm issue does fall in line with his already partially injured UCL, so we know where this is inevitably headed.  Tanaka is expected to miss at least a month, but you should plan on being without him longer than that.  You were forewarned all winter about drafting him.

Albert Pujols (1B-LAA)

Former MVP Albert Pujols is dealing with a left hamstring injury, but he indicated it feels better and hopes to play over the weekend.  That would be awfully optimistic as you can expect the Angels to be very cautious with their aging slugger.  Pujols has dealt with a variety of leg injuries as he has gotten older, so it is not surprising to see this happen.  You should plan on being without him for a couple days and hope that he is able to return at full strength shortly. 

Jose Reyes (SS-TOR)

Reyes has been dealing with a cracked rib for quite awhile and tried to play through it, but the pain became too much to withstand.  He was placed on the DL this week and could be out several more weeks until the injury heals.  He is a dynamic fantasy talent, but health has always been a problem for him.  Reyes’s fantasy value has slipped over the past couple years, and this is exactly why.  The good news is that this isn’t an injury to his legs, so if he fully heals then he should be back to swiping bags.

Carl Crawford (OF-LAD)

I have been vocal over the years about how overvalued Crawford is in both real and fantasy baseball, and he has done little to change my mind.  Now Crawford has landed back on the disabled list with a torn oblique muscle which could sideline him for an extended period of time.  Oblique injuries typically take several weeks to heal, but a full tear could obviously take longer.  For some reason, Alex Guerrero cannot crack the lineup every day even with both Crawford and Yasiel Puig being out.  Guerrero would be a logical choice to get regular at bats, but look for Scott Van Slyke to get some playing time as well.

Homer Bailey (SP-CIN)

Bailey did not look right in his return to the Reds as his velocity was down and he was hit very hard in his two starts.  There is clearly a problem in his elbow as he has been shut down indefinitely and could be headed for major surgery.  You should plan on being without Bailey for an extended period of time, and likely the season the way things are going.

Denard Span (OF-WAS)

Span has played extremely well since returning from the disabled list over 10 days ago, but he may have done too much too soon.  Span was taken out of Thursday’s game with soreness in his abdomen.  The injury does not appear serious, but he will not play on Friday and hopes to return over the weekend.  Check back for a status update on Saturday.


Archie Bradley (SP-ARZ)

Thankfully it appears that Bradley avoided a catastrophe after being struck in the face by a line drive against the Rockies.  He did not sustain any fractures and is just dealing with a head injury as a result.  Right now he is on track to return after his 15 days on the disabled list have expired. 

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