We are officially in the dog days of summer as we head down the stretch in advance of the fantasy baseball playoffs.  Many leagues’ trade deadlines have either come and gone or are coming up soon.  There are several players in the injury report whose absences will have a significant impact on fantasy rosters.  This is why it was so important to accumulate depth throughout the year so you can be prepared to withstand injuries at this point in the season.  Without any further ado, here is the next edition of the walking wounded.

Carlos Gonzalez (OF-COL)

CarGo has managed to stay healthy most of the season which is a nice departure from his annual injury history.  He has responded with an elite season to date, batting .322 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI.  However, he sprained his ankle while running to first base during Wednesday’s game.  The good news is that X-rays came back negative and he was able to walk around after the game.  The Rockies may give him a day off to rest, but he will not miss much time at all which is a big relief for fantasy GMs.

Trevor Story (SS-COL)

Story was one of the biggest stories (see what I did there?) of the season bursting on the scene and on his way to NL Rookie of the Year.  His .272 batting average along with 27 home runs and 72 RBI launched him into almost elite status but that is where his season will end after he suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb.  Story will need season-ending surgery which is terrible news for fantasy GMs who have gotten incredible value from the rookie.  He can be dropped in all re-draft formats.

Yoenis Cespedes (OF-NYM)

Cespedes has been dealing with a quad injury for almost a month and has been in and out of the lineup ever since.  He was the DH in Wednesday’s game against the Yankees but still felt discomfort during his last at bat.  The Mets ultimately placed him on the DL to shut him down and get him healthy to finish the season.  This makes the acquisition of Jay Bruce even more important because the Mets lineup has been ravaged by injuries and Cespedes has carried them to most of the success they have had.  Stash him for the two weeks and hope he is 100 percent down the stretch run when he comes back.

Danny Salazar (SP-CLE)

The Indians placed Salazar on the disabled list with right elbow discomfort which will sideline him at least several weeks.  Salazar says he has been bothered by this for many weeks and the good news is that an MRI did not reveal any structural damage.  He has been a very solid fantasy option compiling an 11-4 record with well over a strikeout per inning.  Stash him in a DL slot or on your bench if you have the flexibility because he should be back in time to contribute something as you make your final playoff push.

Wade Davis (RP-KC)

Davis has landed back on the disabled list again and was diagnosed with a right flexor strain.  He has had a solid season but has noticeably not been as dominant as he was in 2015.  The fact he has had two arm issues with multiple DL stints diminishes his value going forward.  Kelvin Herrera will once again step in to be Kansas City’s closer while Davis is out which makes him a must-own on the waiver wire if he is available.

Julio Teheran (SP-ATL)

Teheran returns to this edition of the injury report after being placed on the disabled list with continuing issues stemming from a lat strain.  He returned this past weekend to start against the Phillies but is still suffering from the injury so Atlanta placed their ace pitcher on the DL.  Early indications are that he should be back when eligible to return, but there is no reason for the Braves to rush him back with nothing to play for.

Hanley Ramirez (1B-BOS)

Ramirez slipped on the dugout steps on Tuesday and injured his wrist which cost him Wednesday’s game.  X-rays came back negative which is good news, so Ramirez should only miss a couple games and is considered day-to-day.  He’s having a solid season statistically overall with a .278 batting average along with 14 home runs and 62 RBI.  However, those numbers are somewhat minimized now that he is a full-time first baseman which makes him a middle of the road option at the position.

Aledmys Diaz (SS-STL)

Diaz has been one of the most surprising fantasy players of the year after taking over shortstop for the Cardinals when Jhonny Peralta was injured in spring training.  Diaz has compiled a .312 batting average with 14 home runs and 57 RBI which has made him an extremely valuable fantasy performer at an incredibly cheap price.  Ironically, Peralta is back from the DL again and will replace Diaz for the couple weeks he is out with a hairline fracture of his right thumb after getting hit by a pitch last Sunday.

Zack Cozart (SS-CIN)

The rumor mill was churning with respect to Cozart who was a big trade chip for the Reds before the non-waiver deadline.  Ultimately he ended up staying in Cincinnati and sure enough he is now dealing with a bruised finger on his right which has cost him several games this week.  Cozart has emerged as a viable fantasy option at shortstop with his .266 batting average, 15 home runs and 41 RBI.

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).