Welcome back to Razzball Ambulance Chasers, your rousing fantasy baseball injury report!
Folks, I won’t mince words: many players have been fingered this week.
Ope, that’s not what I meant to say. I meant to say “Many players have injured at least one of their fingers this week”.
We’re off to a great start!
Let’s skip straight to the injuries.
Notable Injuries
AL Central
Micheal Lorenzen (SP, KCR), hamstring: Lorenzen pulled his left hamstring during a game against the Cleveland Guardians who the Royals are in a race for the division with. The timing is not great, but it gets worse as the timeline for Lorenzen’s return is unknown.
Steven Cruz was recalled to take Lorenzen’s spot on the roster. However, a better alternative for rosters might be Oakland’s Osvaldo Bido.
Osvaldo Bido in August for the A’s:
5 starts
5 ER
1.55 ERA
29 IP
28 Ks
.143 opponents AVG— Karl Buscheck (@KarlBuscheck) August 29, 2024
Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KCR), thumb: And we’ll never be Royals, indeed. Pasquantino is left with a broken thumb after a run-in with Yanier Diaz while trying to catch a ball thrown by Lucas Erceg (who was also injured but was, at the time of publication, DTD) to make an out. Pasquantino will be out for 6-8 weeks with some hope he may be able to join the postseason.
For my next trick, I will pull another Oakland player out of my hat: Seth Brown. This is not necessarily a sustainable suggestion, but he’s been on the uptick (2 HR and 8 RBIs in his last 22 AB). If you don’t need an AL-specific player, Pittsburgh wonder twins Rowdy Tellez (1B) and Connor Joe (1B/OF) may also be available in your league.
Had a couple of conversations with Seth Brown since he returned from Triple-A. He had to simplify his approach. He admitted getting caught up in the numbers — been very impressive at the plate since taking that step back.
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) August 29, 2024
NL Central
Willson Contreras (C, STL), finger: Contreras fractured his right middle finger (hehehehe) after being hit with a 95-mph ball while at bat. Contreras does not need surgery, but he may be out until mid-September. Contreras broke his arm earlier this season and returned very quickly. So, maybe he drinks his milk or something. If Big Milk still pumped out the “Got Milk” ads, we might even see Willson on there. This is the world they won’t allow us to have.
The Cardinals recalled Iván Herrera, but if you are in need of a catcher the Cubs’ Miguel Amaya is looking pretty good. In his last 65 AB he hit 4 HR and slashed.354/.388/.631. His BABIP over the past week is wildly high. So you will have to keep an eye on that if you go in on Amaya.
Miguel Amaya is batting .339 with 4 home runs in August. He’s slugged but hasn’t struck out in the process. His whiff rate has has remained better than league average. Lately, his contact rate even matches Nico Hoerner, one of MLB’s best contact hitters. Just so, so impressive. pic.twitter.com/poyAQtOzv0
— Brendan Miller (@brendan_cubs) August 30, 2024
Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), finger: Lodolo is on the 15-day IL with a left middle finger (hehehehe) sprain. He will be wearing a splint until at least September 9. It is uncertain if Lodolo will be able to return this season. It has been a rough year for Lodolo who started the season on the IL and may finish it there as well.
Nick Lodolo was placed on the Reds injured list today, joining Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Andrew Abbott, Matt McLain, CES, you, me, him, them, that person, Tejay, Suter, Gibaut, that other guy, oh yeah Jeimer and Jake and Nick and Austin and…https://t.co/okATniM4JJ
— Red Reporter (@redreporter) August 27, 2024
NL East
Xavier Edwards (2B/SS, MIA), back: What a rise it has been for Xavier Edwards! That’s why it’s a kick to the nuggets that he hit the IL with mild back extensor soreness. Luckily, the injury is not considered too serious (negative MRI), and he is expected to return early September. In the interim Vidal Brujan will play in Edwards’ place. I am not sure Brujan is your solution. He had a solid week but maybe not enough power. In 22 AB, he has 7 H with 2 RBIs.
The Angels’ Geraldo Perdomo is not Xavier Edwards, but like Brujan, he is a utility man that is available. While he has struggled over the last week, he hit 3 HR, 13 RBIs, and had 5 SB in his last 96 AB. Hopefully, his recent performance struggles are not health-related, but if they are, well, you will see him along with my lengthy public apology here at Razzball Ambulance Chasers.
NL West
Robbie Ray (SP, SFG), hamstring: Another pitcher with a busted hamstring has entered the chat. Ray strained his left hamstring strain and is not expected to return until at least mid-September. However, he is expected to return this season.
Sorry, those who missed the Bowden Francis train.
Updates from The Infirmary
Here are your lightning-round injury updates. If a top player is not mentioned below, there are no big or helpful updates. If I missed someone you’re curious about, hit me up in the comments.
- Bo Bichette (SS, TOR), hamstring: eyeing mid-September return.
- Byron Buxton (OF, MIN), hip: starting rehab soon.
- Jeimer Candelario (1B/3B, CIN), toe: still experiencing discomfort; seems possible that we will not see him again this season.
- Alex Cobb (SP, CLE), fingernail: throwing BP session this weekend.
- Carlos Correa (SS, MIN), heel: began running; could return early September but not certain.
- Jacob deGrom (SP, TEX), elbow: began rehab assignment; activation timeline TBD.
- Yu Darvish (SP, SDP), restricted list: reinstated from restricted list; expected to return in September.
- Luis Gil (SP, NYY), back: throwing again; should return soon.
- Tyler Glasnow (SP, LAD), elbow: resumed throwing after some ups and downs; return uncertain.
- Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS) elbow: began rehab assignment; should return in mid-September
- Matt McLain (2B/SS, CIN), shoulder: may resume swinging again; still don’t feel good about his odds for a return.
- Ketel Marte (2B, ARI), ankle: another ever shifting timeline, but Torey Lovullo shared there is a possibility Marte could return next week.
- Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL), lat/teres: throwing on flat ground and may move to throwing off the mound; no timeline for return.
- Joe Ryan (SP, MIN), teres: officially out for the season.
- Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), shoulder: Bruce Bochy shared that Scherzer will probably be back this season, but the timeline is uncertain.
- Clark Schmidt (SP, NYY), lat: potential activation next weekend.
- Fernando Tatís Jr. (OF, SDP), leg: appears to be ramping up and will return in September, but it is unclear if he will do a rehab stint.
- Kyle Tucker (OF, HOU), shin: early September return is still the target.
- Christian Walker (1B, ARI), oblique: may return next week.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, LAD), shoulder: rehab assignment.
For those in the U.S. have a nice Labor Day weekend! Everyone else have a nice weekend in general.
If you need more of my irresistible public figure, you can find me over on Twitter and BlueSky.
