With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, we now get ready to turn the calendar to June.  By this time, you should know what your fantasy team is or is not so decisions need to be made in terms of roster maneuvers and trade negotiations.  As you will read, we suffered another catastrophic injury this week to one of the best players in the league.  Adjustments must be made and GMs will be tested to overcome adversity with some creativity.  So, without further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the fantasy baseball emergency room.

 

Day to Day

Gregory Polanco (OF-PIT) – It’s been an adventure for Polanco of late as he just recently came off the disabled list with a hamstring injury and then swatted two home runs against the Mets upon his return.  However, he injured himself again running into a wall on Monday and suffered a sprained ankle.  He had to be carted off the field which certainly did not look to be a good sign, but it appears Polanco avoided a serious injury and will just miss a few games.  Polanco is one of the most talented young players in the game but it has been  frustrating stop and start for him these past few weeks.

 

Dustin Pedroia (2B-BOS) – Pedroia was involved in a collision at first base on Monday and injured his wrist in the process.  X-rays were negative but he is being sent back to Boston for an MRI to see if there is any structural damage.  We won’t know much more until the MRI results are revealed, but it is highly likely that he will end up on the disabled list.  Look for Josh Rutledge and Deven Marrero to see most of the at bats in Pedroia’s place and due to the various other injuries ravaging the Red Sox infield.

 

Zack Wheeler (SP-NYM) – Wheeler has turned things around of late giving up three earned runs or less in five consecutive starts.  He threw a quality start last weekend against Pittsburgh before leaving with a blister on his finger.  The condition and severity of the blister will be the deciding factor on whether he makes his next start on Thursday against the Brewers.  Wheeler still hasn’t been able to avoid high pitch counts early in games, but his statistics have balanced out to the point where he is a back of the rotation streaming option in deep leagues.

 

On the DL

Mike Trout (OF-LAA) – There is simply no way to sugarcoat this injury and the effect it will have on many fantasy leagues.  Trout is unquestionably the best player in baseball and has exponential value on fantasy rosters.  His .337 batting average along with 16 home runs, 36 RBI, 36 runs scored and ten stolen bases simply cannot be replaced.  Trout will miss between six to eight weeks because he needs surgery to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb.  His replacements on the Angels including Cameron Maybin and Ben Revere are not options.  You should try and swing a trade for a mid-level outfielder without giving up much of your other stronger assets, but remember that you will be viewed as trading from a desperation standpoint.

 

Danny Duffy (SP-KC) – The Royals will be without their ace for the next six to eight weeks because Duffy has been diagnosed with a Grade 1-plus oblique strain.  Duffy has made 11 starts this year and got knocked around in three of them which skewed his ERA and WHIP.  Besides those three starts in which he gave up six runs each, Duffy has been terrific all season and provided solid fantasy value as a second-tier starter.  However, he does not provide enough value to stash on your bench or DL for up to two months unless you have plenty of roster flexibility and can afford to keep one slot occupied for him.

 

Ian Kinsler (2B-DET) – Kinsler has been dealing with a hamstring strain for a couple weeks but has finally been placed on the disabled list after tweaking it again last Friday.  He has been a major disappointment thus far batting only .239 with four home runs, 11 RBI and only one stolen base.  He is typically one of the top fantasy second basemen in the league but has failed to deliver production commensurate with where he was likely drafted.  Hopefully some extended rest will heal his ailing hamstring which could be what he needs in order to turn things around offensively.

 

Alex Wood (SP-LAD) – The carousel of Dodgers pitchers going on and off the disabled list continues with Alex Wood taking his turn now.  He landed on the ten-day DL with inflammation in his left SC joint but is only expected to miss one start.  Wood has emerged as a must-start fantas stud compiling a dominating 6-0 record with a 1.69 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 48 innings over six starts and two relief appearances.  He has won five starts in a row and hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last four.  Stash Wood on your bench since his absence will be a short one and hope he picks up right where he left off.

 

Kendall Graveman (SP-OAK) – Graveman has landed back on the disabled list once again with a strained shoulder.  He missed a couple starts in April with the same injury but this stint on the disabled list will probably go beyond the minimum ten days since he is dealing with a recurring injury.  Graveman is a serviceable fantasy pitcher without any statistics that stand out (2-2 record with a 3.83 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 47 innings), but he is certainly not worth stashing if you are short on roster slots and can replace him with an alternative option.  The A’s called up Daniel Mengden to take Graveman’s spot in the rotation.

 

Charlie Morton (SP-HOU) – Morton has been placed on the disabled list with a strained right lat after feeling abnormal when throwing over the weekend.  He will likely be shut down for a period of time before being re-evaluated, so this could be an extended absence.  Both Mike Fiers and Brad Peacock should have their placed in the starting rotation secure for at least a little while during Morton’s absence.  Morton has become a strikeout machine this season punching out 65 batters over 57.2 innings.  However, his peripheral numbers are not good enough to warrant holding onto during an extended absence. 

 

On the Mend

Yoenis Cespedes (OF-NYM) – Cespedes was held out of a rehab game over the weekend with some soreness in his right quadriceps.  This is coupled with his recovery from a left hamstring injury which is what landed him on the disabled list in the first place.  The Mets don’t seem overly concerned about this setback, but that isn’t exactly reassuring to fantasy GMs given the Mets history and tendencies with handling their players’ injuries.  However, the current plan is to get Cespedes back into a few rehab games within the next couple days and activate him in time for next week’s games against Texas when he can be the designated hitter.

 

Corey Kluber (SP-CLE) – The Indians ace pitcher dominated his rehab start last Friday and is now all set to return this Thursday against Oakland.  Fantasy GMs will get a huge boost having him back in the rotation as he is a difference-maker and should have an immediate impact in leagues with his first start coming against a weak Athletics lineup.

 

Hunter Pence (OF-SF) – Pence’s recovery from a hamstring injury has been going well and he is scheduled to start a rehab assignment later this week.  While his overall stats are nothing to write home about (.243 batting average with three home runs and 16 RBI), he is still a solid mid-tier fantasy outfielder when healthy.  Look for Pence to return later this weekend or more likely early next week barring any setbacks.

 

Tom Murphy (C-COL) – It feels like a lifetime ago when Murphy was being drafted as a potential sleeper and GMs were already plugging in his stats at the catcher’s position.  However, a hairline fracture in his right forearm derailed those thoughts until now.  Murphy finally seems ready to start a rehab assignment within the next week, so his return could be on the horizon.  Murphy would be a solid waiver wire acquisition at this point since the options at catcher are so thin already. 

 

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).