Happy Memorial Day to everyone as we unofficially officially kick off summer this weekend.  The fantasy baseball season is flying by as we come to the end of Week 8.  Now is a good time to evaluate where you are in terms of your roster composition and start making moves to bolster your depth and improve in areas that have been lacking thus far.  Injuries continue to deplete rosters so remember that this is a perpetual exercise.  So, without further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the fantasy baseball emergency room.

Day to Day

Christian Yelich (OF-MIA) – Yelich was removed from Tuesday’s game with tightness in his right flexor tendon.  He and the Marlins do not seem to think the injury will require a trip to the disabled list but it did keep him out of the lineup on Wednesday.  Yelich was viewed as a premier fantasy option heading into 2017 thanks to substantial contributions in all Roto categories.  However, he has gotten off to a sluggish start to the year batting .256 with six home runs, 21 RBI and only three stolen bases.  He could be a target to buy low on in a trade, especially now that he is banged up.

Dustin Pedroia (2B-BOS) – The veteran second baseman was removed from Thursday’s game against Texas with soreness in his left knee.  Recall that he previously injured his left knee earlier in the season when Manny Machado slid into him, so this could become a chronic issue.  The Red Sox have been a disappointment thus far and losing Pedroia from the lineup will not help matters.  He is more productive for GMs as a middle infield option at this point as his .288 batting average with just two home runs, 21 RBI and 17 runs scored does not warrant an automatic starting slot in fantasy lineups.  If Pedroia misses any extra time, Josh Rutledge will likely fill in for him and would be a waiver wire option due to the lack of other options at the position.

Yasmany Tomas (OF-ARZ) – Tomas is suffering from tightness in his left hip flexor and has missed the past couple games due to the injury.  He is considered day-to-day at this point after missing three of the past four games.  Daniel Descalso and Chris Hermann have filled in for him over the last couple days but neither are viable replacements.  Tomas has been productive thus far batting .261 with eight home runs and 31 RBI so his bat has provided solid value as an OF3 in mixed leagues.  A stint on the disabled list is possible if he is unable to return over the next day or two, so monitor the situation and adjust your daily lineup accordingly.

Eduardo Nunez (3B-SF) – Nunez is one of the more valuable fantasy players thanks in large part to his eligibility at multiple positions.  He was not in the lineup on Thursday as he is dealing with a hamstring injury.  Nunez indicated that he believes he could be back on the field on Friday after receiving treatment during Thursday’s game.  Mac Williamson filled in for him in left field but he is not a viable fantasy replacement if Nunez does need some more time off to recover.

Cameron Maybin (OF-LAA) – The oft-injured Angels outfielder finds himself sidelined once again after experiencing soreness in his right knee on Thursday.  He is considered day-to-day which feels pretty much like his entire career.  Maybin was once a top prospect but has bounced around several organizations with frequent trips to the disabled list.  He has provided some value of late after raising his batting average to .238 and he does have ten stolen bases thus far.  However, Maybin cannot be trusted and this latest injury is yet another reason why he shouldn’t be rostered except in deep league formats.

On the DL

Ryan Braun (OF-MIL) – Well that certainly didn’t last long.  Braun returned from the disabled list and played in three games before re-aggravating his calf injury.  The Brewers are expected to place him back on the disabled list which is frustrating for GMs who were looking for a boost with his return.  Braun hasn’t been healthy all year but despite the injuries was still batting .262 with seven home runs.  Expect a rotation of replacements for him in left field as Eric Thames and Hernan Perez should be the likely candidates.  Continue to stash Braun on your bench because he is too valuable to simply drop although it is unknown exactly how long he could be out this time.

Jacoby Ellsbury (OF-NYY) – Ellsbury crashed into the wall on Wednesday and has been diagnosed with a concussion.  He was placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list and likely will not return immediately once eligible.  Ellsbury is nothing more than a OF4 or OF5 in standard mixed leagues as he does not provide significant statistical contribution in any category at this point in his career.  Aaron Hicks will likely see a majority of the playing time in Ellsbury’s absence and fantasy GMs should strongly consider putting him in lineups over the next week thanks to his offensive output that has remained consistent up to this point.

Amir Garrett (SP-CIN) – It has been a very erratic season thus far for the young Reds pitcher who has been battered since being recalled from the minor leagues.  After giving up 13 runs over his past two starts, the Reds placed him on the disabled list with inflammation in his right hip.  Overall, Barrett’s numbers are ugly with a 6.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP.  However, when you break down his season most of that crooked ERA is as a result of three horrendous starts despite five solid ones.  He is not a must-stash candidate at the moment but he could be an intriguing back-of-the-rotation fantasy option when he gets healthy.

Lonnie Chisenhall (OF-CLE) – Chisenhall has been placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list after missing the past few days.  The move is retroactive to May 23 which means he could be eligible to return next Tuesday.  However, it is unclear whether he will be back on the field in that timeframe.  Chisenhall had been hot before suffering the injury having hit three home runs in the previous week before getting hurt.  He should be available on the waiver wire by the time he returns next week and is a viable option if you need depth in the outfield or utility spot.

Joc Pederson (OF-LAD) – The Dodgers placed Pederson on the 7-day concussion disabled list after his violent collision with Yasiel Puig on Wednesday.  He has been instructed to avoid television and other brain stimulation which is indicative of the severity of the collision and impact.  Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor are the likely candidates to replace Pederson.  Taylor and Hernandez had gotten playing time with Logan Forsythe and Justin Turner out, so either could stay in the lineup and shift to the outfield.  Pederson won’t be much of a loss in fantasy lineups with his putrid .200 batting average and only two home runs through his first 33 games.

James McCann (C-DET) – The Tigers backstop became the second catcher named McCann to be placed on the disabled list this week along with Brian McCann.  He was hit by a pitch on Thursday against Houston and needed stitches after suffering a laceration on his left hand.  McCann has provided some power with seven home runs, but his .204 batting average and high strikeout ratio don’t make him a viable option except in two-catcher leagues.  Alex Avila will likely see most of the playing time over the next ten days so he should be added if you need a temporary replacement at the weak catcher position.

On the Mend

Yoenis Cespedes (OF-NYM) – I reported on Tuesday that Cespedes may not need a rehab assignment before returning to the Mets, but that is not the case.  He is currently finishing up a running program as he recovers from a hamstring injury, and once he completes that he will be sent for a minor league rehab assignment.  Cespedes has missed about a month already but could be back in the middle of Week 9.  He will be a welcome addition back into fantasy lineups lacking power and run production, and his return likely will push Curtis Granderson to the bench since Michael Conforto has earned the right to play every day.

Justin Turner (3B-LAD) – Turner has been on the disabled list with a hamstring injury but us getting closer to a return.  He is eligible to be activated on May 29 but he will most likely require a little more time since he just started taking ground balls at third base on Thursday.  Turner is a solid second-tier fantasy third baseman who has provided a spectacular .379 batting average thus far but only one home run. 

Tyson Ross (SP-TEX) – The debut of Tyson Ross may finally be around the corner after he threw a dominant minor league rehab start earlier this week.  He has not pitched since Opening Day in 2016 but that could change next week.  Ross is worth adding and stashing now while you can because he has the talent to be a solid fantasy pitcher.  His only issue has been staying healthy but he comes with

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).