Happy belated 4th of July and happy birthday America.  We are almost at the All-Star break already which is hard to believe given how fast the season has gone by thus far.  Last week was disastrous from an injury perspective when several big name pitchers went down, so we got somewhat of a reprieve this week despite one of the league’s best closers going down with what could be a significant injury.  Without any further ado, here is the next edition of the walking wounded.

Michael Brantley (OF-CLE)

The Indians have been on a roll over the past month and have scorched the earth without their star outfielder who has been limited to just 11 games this year.  Brantley is starting to go through regular pre-game routines and is working his way back to where he should be activated after the All-Star break.  He will be a nice addition to fantasy lineups in the second half but expectations should be tempered due to the shoulder injury which has hampered him since the end of last year.

Wade Davis (RP-KC)

The Royals placed their dominant closer on the disabled list with a right forearm strain and red flags have gone up immediately.  That injury is frequently the precursor to Tommy John surgery so this is a serious situation to monitor.  Kelvin Herrera will likely take over as closer which makes him an absolute must-add on the waiver wire.  Davis has been good this year but not quite as dominant as he was in 2015.  Now his season could be in jeopardy depending on the severity of this injury and what any test results show. 

Jordan Zimmermann (SP-DET)

After starting the season with a long scoreless inning streak, Jordan Zimmermann returned to earth and has now returned to the disabled list with a strained neck.  He will be out until after the All-Star break and has not been a great fantasy option despite his nine wins.  The big ticket free agent is averaging well under a strikeout per inning and has an ERA just south of 4.00 which is not acceptable for someone who is supposed to be a top of the rotation option.

Justin Bour (1B-MIA)

Bour was sent back to Miami to undergo an MRI on his injured ankle which has cost him the past couple games.  The extent of the injury is not known yet but that’s not a good sign.  Bour has been a solid source of power slugging 15 home runs with 46 RBI so this will put a dent in some fantasy lineups if he missed an extended period of time.  Look for journeyman Chris Johnson to fill in for Bour but he is not much of a fantasy option except in NL-only leagues.

Joc Pederson (OF-LAD)

Pederson paid the price for making an incredible catch by sustaining a bruised shoulder when he ran into the wall.  He is a one-dimensional fantasy player with a lot of power but a terrible batting average and even worse plate discipline.  His 13 home runs are valuable but Pederson needs to show more consistency before really becoming a viable fantasy option.  It is not known how long he will be out but it will likely be more than the requisite two weeks.

Jameson Taillon (SP-PIT)

Rookie pitcher Jameson Taillon has landed on the disabled list as a result of shoulder fatigue.  He had missed the past couple seasons after recovering from Tommy John surgery so the workload he has faced this year is the heaviest he has had in quite some time.  Pittsburgh thinks he will be back right after the All-Star Game but do not be surprised if he is given a little extra rest.  Taillon has pitched fairly well in his first five starts going 2-1 but a pedestrian 3.86 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.

Brandon Moss (1B-STL)

The Cardinals placed Moss on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.  He has had a resurgent season in St. Louis slamming 17 home runs with 40 RBI while being eligible at both first base and the outfield.  Fantasy owners should try and stash him for the next couple weeks if possible because of his power output and eligibility at multiple positions. 

Joe Ross (SP-WAS)

Ross was placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder.  His velocity was down during his last start which was a strong indicator that something was wrong.  There is no structural damage so the injury does not appear serious at this point.  Ross has been a serviceable bottom of the rotation fantasy starter with seven wins and a respectable 3.49 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.

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).