This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The 2020-21 MLB season has been greenlit, but it will be anything but normal. Player health will be one of the areas most drastically affected, which is to be expected as the league attempts to play in a pandemic. However, COVID-19 won't be the only concern. Compressing the schedule and altering the normal flow of a season likely will affect the injuries that occur and how they are managed. Soft tissue injuries may be on the rise, and the odds of a potential stress-related problems may also increase. Teams may opt to take a more conservative approach with treatment when an injury does occur in an attempt to preserve an athlete's long-term health and prepare them for what will hopefully be a more traditional 2021-22 season. Fantasy players, particularly those in one-year formats, must prepare to have a shorter leash with injured players, as a prolonged absence in a shortened season will be even more impactful.
The two-time NL Cy Young winner made an early exit in last week's intrasquad game due to tightness in his back. An MRI performed on the area did not reveal any major issues, and it appears the problem is a mild back strain. DeGrom was able to pitch in a simulated game over the weekend and did not report any lingering symptoms. He remains in line for an Opening Day start, but this situation is the perfect example of what I described above. I expect the Mets to handle their ace very
The 2020-21 MLB season has been greenlit, but it will be anything but normal. Player health will be one of the areas most drastically affected, which is to be expected as the league attempts to play in a pandemic. However, COVID-19 won't be the only concern. Compressing the schedule and altering the normal flow of a season likely will affect the injuries that occur and how they are managed. Soft tissue injuries may be on the rise, and the odds of a potential stress-related problems may also increase. Teams may opt to take a more conservative approach with treatment when an injury does occur in an attempt to preserve an athlete's long-term health and prepare them for what will hopefully be a more traditional 2021-22 season. Fantasy players, particularly those in one-year formats, must prepare to have a shorter leash with injured players, as a prolonged absence in a shortened season will be even more impactful.
The two-time NL Cy Young winner made an early exit in last week's intrasquad game due to tightness in his back. An MRI performed on the area did not reveal any major issues, and it appears the problem is a mild back strain. DeGrom was able to pitch in a simulated game over the weekend and did not report any lingering symptoms. He remains in line for an Opening Day start, but this situation is the perfect example of what I described above. I expect the Mets to handle their ace very conservatively. If he shows the slightest bit of discomfort or an alteration of his mechanics, I wouldn't be surprised if New York significantly limits his activity and considers a shutdown. Protecting the long-term health of deGrom is paramount, especially with teammate Noah Syndergaard recovering from Tommy John surgery. He remains a top fantasy option but comes with a calculated degree of risk.
The Cubs first baseman is also dealing with a mild back injury. The Cubs were more forthcoming with details about the injury, revealing rib inflammation was discovered on Rizzo's MRI. The ribs of the human body attach to the thoracic vertebrae of the spine, forming the costovertebral joints. If the area becomes inflamed or irritated the individual often reports pain with breathing and rotational movement. This would be an obvious hinderance to a baseball player who needs to throw and swing a bat. Fortunately, Rizzo is reporting improvement and remains optimistic about his availability for Opening Day. It doesn't appear the current issue is directly related to Rizzo's previous back injury, and the option to play DH will allow the Cubs to reduce some of his usual wear-and-tear. Consider him day-to-day for now, but things are looking encouraging.
Hiura appeared to be in line for a big sophomore season, as he looked impressive in spring training games back in March. The Covid-19-induced shutdown threw a wrench into those plans, and now Hiura may be limited by an arm issue. The Brewers are calling the problem a simple case of arm fatigue and have downplayed the severity of the injury. Furthermore, the team doesn't feel it's linked to the partially torn UCL in his elbow that bothered him during his college days. However, they did opt to limit him to a DH role in recent intrasquad action to minimize stress on the area. He is slated to return to the field Monday for a performance that could very well likely determine his role when the season starts Friday against the Cubs.
Check Swings
Byron Buxton: The Twins outfielder was carted off the field early last week after an awkward step in the outfield. The injury was diagnosed as mild midfoot sprain, and Buxton has already shown signs of improvement. The midfoot, like its names suggests, sits in the middle of the foot where the five small bones meet the long bones of the foot. The midfoot forms the arch of the foot is stabilized by multiple ligaments. A mild sprain means the resulting damage to the involved ligament(s) was minimal. His associated symptoms, including swelling in the area, have already subsided, and he is running and weight-bearing without any issues. Consider him day-to-day, though he has a real chance at being in the lineup for Opening Day.
Cole Hamels: Hamels will start his time with Atlanta on the injured list due to lingering soreness in his left shoulder. The left-hander has been battling tendinitis in his triceps. While its counterpart the biceps often gets more attention, the triceps remains an important muscle in throwing. Located on the back of the arm, the three-headed muscle attaches to the scapula (shoulder blade) and the humerus (the upper arm bone) before extending down to the elbow to an insertion site on the ulna. Because it crosses both joints, the triceps is capable of influencing motion at both the shoulder and the elbow. Since Hamels' injury appears to be a shoulder issue, it's like the proximal end of the muscle is the area inflamed. However, a limitation on one end can influence the opposite end, meaning Hamels needs to be healthy to ensure he doesn't experience a cascade effect into this elbow. Expect him to be sidelined for longer than the 10-day minimum, and don't be surprised if this carries over into late August or early September.
Giovanny Gallegos: An undisclosed reason delayed Gallegos from joining his Cardinals teammates, but he finally arrived to the team's Summer Camp over the weekend. He did manage to throw a bullpen session, and he should be fine moving forward despite being placed on the IL. Look for St. Louis to ramp up his activities in the coming days to gauge his level of readiness. If he can clear each hurdle, Gallegos has an outside shot at being available when the season begins.
Scott Kingery: The Phillies versatile infielder has completed the league's mandated Covid-19 return to play protocol and has rejoined the team. Kingery's battle with the virus resulted in a headache, chills, fever and other symptoms that persisted for multiple weeks. Kingery will need time to get at-bats and establish a routine in order to be ready for the regular season, and it seems likely he misses a few games to start the season.
Max Muncy: Muncy avoided a finger fracture after being hit by a pitch during an intrasquad exhibition game. The bruised finger did limit the infielder early on, but he was an active participant in LA's Sunday scrimmage. Look for this to be a nonissue moving forward.
