It has been a relatively quiet few days on the injury front with some top flight starters beginning the process of coming back from injuries.  Fantasy GMs have seen their rosters decimated with injuries all year so the pending returns of key players is a pleasant change of pace. So, without further ado, here is the next edition of the fantasy baseball emergency room.

Clayton Kershaw (SP-LAD)

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to make a rehab start this weekend and could be back as soon as next week.  He has been out for the past several weeks with a lower back injury he suffered in his first start back from his previous stint on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left biceps.  Kershaw has been hampered by injuries the past couple years which has frustrated fantasy GMs who heavily rely on him for elite production. If Kershaw can stay healthy, he will provide an enormous boost to GMs who have been treading water without him most of the season.

Carlos Carrasco (SP-CLE)

Carrasco was struck by a line drive on his right elbow and has been placed on the 10-day disabled list.  The good news is that all tests that were performed did not reveal any fractures or structural damage, so Carrasco avoided a serious injury.  The hope is that he will return within the next week or so, but that will depend on whether the soreness subsides by then. Carrasco has been very inconsistent this season as he has either dominated the opposition or been lit up like a Christmas tree.  Overall his statistics are solid with an 8-5 record along with a 4.24 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. He also has two complete games which is unheard of in this era. Keep him stashed on your bench or a DL slot as he should be back sooner than later.

Yu Darvish (SP-CHC)

Darvish has been out since May with a triceps injury but is scheduled to pitch a simulated game on Wednesday.  He is progressing to the point where a rehab assignment is imminent and could be back with the Cubs within the next couple weeks.  Darvish has been a fantasy bust thus far going 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in only eight starts.

Javier Báez (2B-CHC)

Baez was taken out of Sunday’s game after he was hit by a pitch on his left elbow.  He also sat out of Monday’s game as well getting an extra day of rest to let the soreness subside.  Baez did not even have any x-rays and claims he is fine to return to the lineup on Tuesday. This is good news for fantasy GMs who are reaping the benefits of Baez’s production this year batting .255 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 39 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.  He is also eligible at both second base and shortstop making him an even more valuable commodity.

Travis Shaw (3B-MIL)

The Brewers held Shaw out of Monday’s game after he had injured his right wrist on Sunday and experienced some soreness as a result.  Hernán Pérez filled in for Shaw on Monday but Shaw is expected to be back on the field on Tuesday. Shaw is batting .246 with 14 home runs, 45 RBI and 38 runs scored making him a viable starting option in any league format.

Michael Foltynewicz (SP-ATL)

There was some initial hope that Foltynewicz would not miss a turn in the rotation, but his triceps did not improve as quickly as the Braves had hoped.  Atlanta placed him on the disabled list retroactive to June 13 which means he is eligible to be activated this weekend. Hopefully all goes well the rest of the week and he can be plugged back into lineups as early as June 23 because Foltynewicz has been an extremely valuable fantasy asset with a 5-4 record with a 2.16 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 79 innings.  

Brett Gardner (OF-NYY)

Gardner has been dealing with soreness in his right knee which has caused him to miss the past couple games.  He is not expected to miss much more time and should be regarded as day-to-day for now. After a terrible start to the season, Gardner has raised his batting average to .258 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 42 runs scored and seven stolen bases.  He is a solid 4th or 5th outfielder in deeper leagues thanks to his speed and ability to score runs in an explosive Yankees lineup.

Jorge Soler (OF-KC)

Soler has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured left toe.  The roster move is retroactive to June 16 when he sustained the injury while running the bases.  He is expected to miss at least a couple weeks and should be dropped if you need the roster space.  Soler did get off to a hot start to the season but his statistics have normalized to a .265 batting average with nine home runs, 28 RBI, 27 runs scored and three stolen bases.  Adalberto Mondesí was called up from the minor leagues and should see playing time with Whit Merrifield possibly playing in the outfield.

Jay Bruce (OF-NYM)

The Mets offense has started to show signs of life the past few games with Jay Bruce out of the lineup as he continues dealing with a hip injury.  Bruce has missed four of the last five games and could head to the disabled list if he does not show improvement soon. He has been atrocious this year batting just .212 with only three home runs and 17 RBI.  He is not a viable starter now in fantasy leagues and is barely worth rostering.

Garrett Richards (SP-LAA)

As expected, the Angels placed Richards on the 10-day disabled list due to his strained left hamstring which he sustained in his last start.  The extent and severity of the strain is not known yet but you can expect he will be out for at least a couple weeks as hamstring strains typically take a while to fully heal.  Richards was a solid middle of the rotation option in fantasy leagues with a 4-4 record and a 3.42 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 68.1 innings. Keep him stashed if you have the roster flexibility.