The carousel of closers continues to spin this week due to a major injury.  The last injury report was relatively quiet in terms of major impact players going down, but it only took a couple days to send fantasy owners back into panic mode.  So without further adieu, here is the next installment of the walking wounded.

Andrew Miller (RP-NYY)

This could be a catastrophic loss for both the Yankees and fantasy owners.  Miller has emerged as arguably the most dominant closer in baseball this year with 17 saves and a microscopic 1.03 ERA and 0.68 WHIP.  However, he was placed on the disabled list with a forearm strain and will likely miss at least a month.  Dellin Betances will step in as the closer which significantly increases his value and provides validation for GMs that selected him early in fantasy drafts this past winter.

Nelson Cruz (OF-SEA)

Cruz was suffering from back spasms in the middle of the week which kept him out of the Mariners’ lineup on Thursday.  He should be back in the lineup by Friday but make sure you check for an update before locking your lineup.  Clearly Cruz is a must-start when healthy with his elite .328 batting average and 18 home runs.

Matt Holliday (OF-STL)

Holliday sustained a Grade 2 strain of his right quadriceps and has been placed on the disabled list.  A Grade 2 strain likely means he will miss at least a month so fantasy owners should actively seek a replacement for him.  Despite not being much of a power hitter at this point in his career, Holliday is still one of the most consistent outfielders in fantasy thanks to a batting average that usually hovers around .300 to go along with solid run production.  Stash him on your bench or DL and grab Randal Grichuk off the waiver wire.

Lance Lynn (SP-STL)

Fantasy owners should brace themselves as Lance Lynn had tightness in his right forearm during his last start.  It is unknown whether he will make his next start this weekend as the Cardinals will want to be very cautious with him, especially after already losing Adam Wainwright for the season.  Lynn has become a dependable fantasy pitcher but there is cause for concern over this injury since many times it is a precursor to eventual Tommy John surgery.  Keep checking back in for further updates.

Billy Hamilton (OF-CIN)

The overrated Billy Hamilton has now missed three consecutive games with a wrist injury.  Details are scant but expect his status to remain day to day.  This means you should check back in before game time and see if he is in the lineup.  Hamilton is an elite base stealer but his overall offensive production is abysmal. 

Ryan Zimmerman (1B-WAS)

Zimmerman has been placed on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.  He has struggled offensively most of the season batting only .209 with just five home runs, so he won’t be a major loss to your fantasy team.  However, he does provide positional flexibility and has a lengthy enough resume for you to still have faith in a rebound.  He is not an automatic stash, but if you have room on your DL then keep him there as opposed to dropping him outright.

Miguel Gonzalez (SP-BAL)

The Orioles placed Gonzalez on the disabled list with a strain of his right groin that he suffered in his last start against Boston.  Gonzalez has been having a solid season thus far with a 5-4 record to go along with a respectable 3.33 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.  He is only worth stashing for a few weeks if you have sufficient DL or bench slots.  Otherwise, you can set him free and find a suitable replacement on the waiver wire.

Zack Cozart (SS-CIN)

Cozart tore up his knee trying to bear out a ground ball and now needs season-ending surgery to repair multiple ligaments and tendons.  This is an unfortunate blow to fantasy owners who likely grabbed Cozart off the waiver wire early in the season and were rewarded with nine home runs from the light hitting shortstop.  He can be dropped in all leagues.

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),