It didn’t take very long for fantasy owners to get a legitimate scare when one of this year’s favorite targets went down with what looked like a serious injury. Injuries are a factor for everyone so get used to the daily and weekly drama surrounding the health of your players. Without any further adieu, here is the next edition of the walking wounded.
Josh Donaldson (3B-TOR)
Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson was taken out of Wednesday’s game against Tampa Bay with a strained calf. Typically these injuries require a few days of rest depending on the severity, but Toronto seems to think Donaldson could be back in the lineup tonight. Monitor his status throughout the day before setting lineups tonight. Obviously he is a must start if he is on the field.
Adam Jones (OF-BAL)
Jones has been one of the most dependable and durable players in fantasy baseball for several years. However, he missed Thursday’s game with some oblique pain which could raise some red flags. There is no indication whether he will need an extended absence, but oblique injuries typically take quite a bit of time to recover from. Jones is a solid OF2 with consistent statistical production year after year, so GMs should be hoping this is nothing more than just mild pain.
Kyle Schwarber (OF-CHC)
Fantasy owners got their first real scare of the regular season when Schwarber collided with Dexter Fowler trying to catch a fly ball earlier this week. He suffered a sprained ankle and will undergo additional tests to determine whether there is any structural damage. X-rays did not reveal a fracture which is good news, but he is most certainly heading to the disabled list for an extended period of time. Look for Jorge Soler to get a majority of the at bats in Schwarber’s absence.
Maikel Franco (3B-PHI)
Franco was hit by a pitch on his elbow on Thursday and is not in the Phillies’ starting lineup on Friday. The injury does not appear serious as he did not even have an X-ray and he may be available for pinch hitting right away. Franco has a lot of upside and is a solid 3B/CI option in any league format.
Wei-Yin Chen (SP-MIA)
Chen was hit by a comebacker in his Marlins debut earlier this week which led to less than stellar results. He was sore afterwards and experienced some swelling, but all signs point to Chen being fine to make his next start against the Mets on Monday. Chen was a key free agent signing by Miami and is a great option against the Mets’ free-swinging lineup.
Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and co-host of the Fantasy Alarm Podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment).