It has been another busy couple days with lots of injury news.  As always, it’s a mixed bag of good news and bad news because while players keep getting injured, they eventually have to start making their way back to the lineup.    Fantasy GMs have been trying to tread water for weeks to compensate for the losses of some key players, so that strategy should continue to be employed while new injuries sprout up.  Remember, if you are going to engage in trade discussions after losing impact players, you will be negotiating from a position of weakness and without leverage.  Do not give away the farm just for a band aid.  So, without further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the fantasy baseball emergency room.

 

Day to Day

Yoenis Cespedes (OF-NYM) – You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that the Mets were making a big mistake activating Cespedes knowing he was not 100% healed from his hamstring injury.  Yes, he hit a grand slam over the weekend in his first game back.  However, after not playing the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday and sitting again Sunday, he was back in the lineup on Monday but had to be taken out of the game with what is reported as a left heel injury.  No matter how you look at this, it is a mess for Cespedes owners because this is now a third leg injury.  The Mets clearly need him in the lineup but it seems apparent that Cespedes just cannot stay on the field.  Even if he remains on the active roster, he will not be playing every day so you will need to constantly make adjustments to your daily lineups.

Giancarlo Stanton (OF-MIA) – Stanton was hit by a pitch over the weekend causing a bone bruise which kept him out of the Marlins lineup on Sunday.  Miami had a day off on Monday to give him some extra time to heal and he is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday.  Stanton has been rock solid this season batting .286 with 16 home runs and 42 RBI showing that he has bounced back from his miserable end to 2016.  

Ryan Zimmerman (1B-WAS) – Zimmerman has arguably been the biggest surprise in fantasy baseball this year putting up numbers like it’s 2007.  He is batting a stellar .365 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI after likely not even getting drafted so the value he has provided is almost unmatched.  He is currently dealing with a back injury which has cost him three straight games but he is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday.  Adam Lind has been filling in for Zimmerman but he’ll return to the bench once Zimmerman gets back in the lineup.

Chris Davis (1B-BAL) – Davis was removed from Monday’s game against the White Sox with an oblique injury.  He will undergo an MRI on Tuesday so we should know more about his status by the middle of the week.  It is not encouraging that Buck Showalter seemed to think that Davis could be out for a while so it appears a trip to the disabled list is imminent.  Davis has put up his usual all-or-nothing statistics this year batting a putrid .226 with an alarming 95 strikeouts to go along with his 14 home runs.  His power will be missed but that’s about all.

Michael Conforto (OF-NYM) – Conforto was a late scratch from Monday’s lineup against the Cubs as he was experiencing some back stiffness.  The Mets don’t consider this a serious issue as he likely could have pinch hit if needed.  Conforto is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday and he is a must-start in all fantasy leagues with his .293 batting average to go along with 14 home runs, 36 RBI and 44 runs scored.

Salvador Perez (C-KC) – Perez missed some time last week with a thumb injury but came back and clubbed a couple home runs last weekend.  However, he was taken out of Sunday’s game with some tightness in his left side.  The injury isn’t considered serious and he is expected to be back in the lineup on Tuesday when the Royals face the Giants in a rematch of the 2014 World Series.  He is a must start as one of the better offensive catchers in baseball so plug him back in your lineup.

Yadier Molina (C-STL) – The ageless backstop has stayed relatively healthy throughout his illustrious career which has made him a dependable fantasy option.  Even approaching 35-years old he is still a viable fantasy option in most standard leagues.  Molina has missed three straight games with back stiffness but is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday as he will have an extra day to rest since the Cardinals were off on Monday.  

Adrian Gonzalez (1B-LAD) – Gonzalez has been diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back and is set to undergo an MRI to see the extent of the injury.  It is likely that he will land on the disabled list which means Cody Bellinger will probably move back to first base.  Gonzalez has been riddled with injuries all season and looks like a shell of his former self batting .255 with only one home run and 23 RBI.  He does not have much fantasy value right now so don’t hesitate to drop him if you need to clear the roster space.

 

On the DL

Lance McCullers (SP-HOU) – The Astros rotation has been completely decimated with injuries and now they can add McCullers to the list.  If not for Dallas Keuchel, he would easily be considered the ace of this staff.  McCullers is dealing with lower back discomfort that he felt after his last start and has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with the hope that he will return once immediately eligible.  He has been outright brilliant this year posting a 6-1 record to go along with 2.58 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 76.2 innings.  This is now 4/5 of Houston’s rotation that is injured so send your resumes to the Astros for a shot at making a spot start this coming weekend.

Matt Andriese (SP-TB) – It didn’t take long for Andriese to land back on the disabled list after just returning.  He spent a couple weeks on the shelf with a groin injury and then came back on June 10 but lasted only one inning before being removed.  Andriese has been diagnosed with a hip injury which is expected to keep him out until August.  He was having a solid season going 5-1 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.31 WHIP to go along with 55 strikeouts in 61 innings.  Despite those statistics, Andriese is not worth stashing for two months unless you have a plethora of available roster slots.

 

On the Mend

Madison Bumgarner (SP-SF) – There is some good news for fantasy GMs who have been trying to weather the storm without their ace pitcher.  Bumgarner, out since April after his motorcycle accident, threw a 30-pitch bullpen session over the weekend and could face live hitters within the week.  He is still on pace to return after the All Star break so you only have to tread water for another month before adding this huge asset back into your lineup.

Aroldis Chapman (RP-NYY) – The Yankees are expected to activate Chapman by next weekend as he returns from a rotator cuff injury.  His absence hasn’t really been noticed since the Yankees have kept winning and Dellin Betances has been virtually flawless.  While Chapman is a dominant closer, he may not have many save opportunities 

Taijuan Walker (SP-ARZ) – Walker has been out the past couple weeks with a blister problem but is on track to return to Arizona’s rotation on Wednesday this week.  The Diamondbacks will have to make a decision on whether Randall Delgado or Zack Godley get bumped to make room for Walker who has been solid in his debut season with the Diamondbacks posting a 4-3 record with a 3.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 52 innings.

 

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).