This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Kansas City catcher is a good example of how expanded September rosters have a negative impact on the fantasy realm. Perez suffered a sprained thumb early last week and did not play in the Royals' next four games. The injury is having an adverse effect on Perez's ability to swing a bat and is expected to keep him sidelined for at least another week. However, Kansas City has no intentions of placing him on the disabled list due to the extra roster space. As a result, fantasy owners will have to consider dropping the All-Star catcher or eat the lost games for the week ahead. Dropping Perez is the likely best option in leagues where the playoffs are currently underway.
The Angels left fielder is considered day-to-day after sustaining a concussion over the weekend. The injury was deemed "mild," though really there is no such thing as a mild concussion. All concussions should be considered serious despite the potential for varying symptoms. The wide variance between individuals is one of the reasons concussions remain a difficult problem to manage. Furthermore, the effects of concussions are cumulative, meaning those with previous head injuries are more likely to experience serious or prolonged symptoms. Fortunately, Upton has no history of concussions, though he remains a candidate for the league's 7-day concussion DL.
The Angels right-hander made his long-awaited return to the mound on Sunday. Unfortunately, things were a bit rockier than expected as Ohtani left the
The Kansas City catcher is a good example of how expanded September rosters have a negative impact on the fantasy realm. Perez suffered a sprained thumb early last week and did not play in the Royals' next four games. The injury is having an adverse effect on Perez's ability to swing a bat and is expected to keep him sidelined for at least another week. However, Kansas City has no intentions of placing him on the disabled list due to the extra roster space. As a result, fantasy owners will have to consider dropping the All-Star catcher or eat the lost games for the week ahead. Dropping Perez is the likely best option in leagues where the playoffs are currently underway.
The Angels left fielder is considered day-to-day after sustaining a concussion over the weekend. The injury was deemed "mild," though really there is no such thing as a mild concussion. All concussions should be considered serious despite the potential for varying symptoms. The wide variance between individuals is one of the reasons concussions remain a difficult problem to manage. Furthermore, the effects of concussions are cumulative, meaning those with previous head injuries are more likely to experience serious or prolonged symptoms. Fortunately, Upton has no history of concussions, though he remains a candidate for the league's 7-day concussion DL.
The Angels right-hander made his long-awaited return to the mound on Sunday. Unfortunately, things were a bit rockier than expected as Ohtani left the game early due to injury. While his troublesome right elbow appeared to hold up, the rookie was unable to continue after his back stiffened up. He also reported discomfort in his right middle finger, the result of a run in with a ground ball. The Angels are cautiously optimistic that he will be ready for his next start, though that remains a week away. Ohtani was a precarious fantasy play before he added two new injuries, so continue to proceed at your own risk.
The Boston ace is leaving fantasy owners in a tight spot just as the postseason is beginning. Sale, who has not pitched since August 12, has progressed in his recovery from left shoulder inflammation and recently completed a bullpen session. He plans on throwing again sometime over the next few days while targeting a weekend return. Sale is simply too good to consider benching, but he will carry an elevated level of risk for the remainder of the season. Sale's return will help stabilize a Red Sox rotation that should also be set to welcome back David Price. Price had his most recent start pushed back to a left wrist contusion but is expected to take the mound over the weekend.
Check Swings
Aroldis Chapman: It's looking more and more likely that Chapman could be lost for the remainder of the season. The hard-throwing reliever has undergone two rounds of PRP treatment to address the lingering tendinitis in his knee. Sadly, time off is often necessary following PRP injections, and the Yankees have yet to provide a definitive timeline for his recovery. Dellin Betances remains the New York closer for the time being.
Nelson Cruz: The Mariners slugger is currently being slowed by a bruised left foot. Cruz fouled a ball of his left ankle, reportedly leaving him with a bone contusion. Bone contusions are pesky injuries that often require substantial time to completely heal. The prolonged recovery is due to the body's natural response that treats the injury like an outright fracture. Specialized cells lay down new bone tissue to mend the associated microcracks in the outer layer of bone. The injury is clearly hobbling Cruz, though he plans on playing through the pain. Scale back your expectations for the week ahead and don't be surprised if he gets a game or two off to rest.
Zach Davies: The 25-year-old right-hander was recalled over the weekend and will start against the Cubs on Labor Day. Davies has not pitched since late May when he was sent to the DL with right rotator cuff inflammation. He has slowly built his shoulder back up to form and looked impressive during a 10-day stint with Low-A Wisconsin that included a complete game shutout. A strong showing against the NL-leading Cubs could help solidify his spot in the rotation. Davies may have limited value in mixed leagues but remains an intriguing option in NL only leagues.
Rafael Devers: The Red Sox continue to take a conservative approach with Devers' recovery after the infielder returned too early from his previous injury. He is currently rehabbing his twice-strained hamstring with Triple-A Pawtucket, though their season is set to end this week. Look for Devers to continue to rehab until early next week. Hopefully the more cautious approach will allow the infielder to return on a more permanent basis.
Josh Donaldson: The former MVP has been traded to Cleveland though it remains to be seen when he will make his Indians debut. Donaldson has not played since late May due to calf strain. He's running and taking batting practice and could begin a rehab assignment in the near future. Donaldson remains a bit of a question mark moving forward but he is worth a DL stash if you have the space. The addition of Donaldson could open up extra position eligibility for his new teammates, as Jose Ramirez is expected to shift to second base while Jason Kipnis will man centerfield.
Jason Heyward: The Cubs outfielder is on the DL with a hamstring injury that cropped up against his former team, the Braves. The injury is being described as hamstring tightness, though the decision to send him to the DL is a good indicator it is more likely a low-grade strain. The Cubs can afford to slow play Heyward's recovery with both Addison Russell and Kris Bryant back with the club. Heyward owners will want to look elsewhere for the immediate future.
Charlie Morton: Morton's All-Star season has been suddenly slowed by shoulder discomfort. The team is optimistic he will only miss one start and be back on the mound when the team takes on the Red Sox in Boston. This sounds like a fatigue issue that could be alleviated with a bit of rest. Keep an eye on Morton's status during the week ahead.
