The Year of the Setback strikes again. The latest victim: Luis Severino, who was winding down his second rehab assignment for Tommy John surgery (the first having been interrupted by a groin injury in June) when he felt tightness in his right shoulder. The severity of the injury is still unknown, but even if it shuts him down for only a week or two, it significantly lengthens the odds of him making a substantive contribution in Fantasy Baseball this year.
Yup, we've reached the stage of the season when every injury has the potential to be a season-ender, particularly with regard to starting pitchers. By the time they go through the buildup process, there may not be time left for them to make more than a start or two.
Which makes it really difficult to know what to do with Jacob deGrom, who we recently learned is being shut down for two more weeks with elbow inflammation. By that point, he'll have missed eight weeks, making a lengthy buildup inevitable -- and that's presuming he's cleared right away.
Clayton Kershaw is at least playing catch already. Shane Bieber is back to throwing off a mound. Pablo Lopez and Aaron Civale have been doing so for weeks now and are on the verge of a rehab assignment. It's fair to wonder how much any of them will have a chance to contribute, and yet they're much further ahead of deGrom.
It's why, for the purposes of my IL stash rankings, I'm to the point now where I'm moving deGrom out of the "too valuable to drop, period" category ... but just barely. He still ranks fairly high. I'd still prefer not to drop him if I have the available IL space. My chances of winning are severely diminished without him, so it's worth holding out hope for a miraculous return. Even if it's only for a start or two, it could be the start or two that makes all the difference. And if you don't get the benefit of them, someone else will.
When prioritizing my IL spots, I'll still hold out for the bigger impact even if the odds of a return are smaller. That's all the more true in a 12-team league than something deeper. If you're not even sure whether you'd continue to roster a player when he comes off the IL -- if it's at all in question -- then why stash him over a certified difference-maker like deGrom? You already have a wide selection of maybes on the waiver wire. Having one in an IL spot doesn't really put you ahead.
Here are some additional injury updates to consider:
- Mike Trout, like deGrom, doesn't appear to be any closer to returning, having yet to begin running full speed. At this point, you can't count on him making it back at all, but it's still best to stash him if you can help it.
- It sounds like Adalberto Mondesi may still be worth stashing as well, at least in 5x5 leagues for the possible steals help. He had to shut down his rehab assignment this weekend with continued soreness in his oblique, but it turns out it was only scar tissue. He'll continue fielding, throwing and hitting from the right side.
- Mookie Betts' hip issue is now known to be a bone spur, and he recently got an injection to help with the pain. Because it's a pain-tolerance issue at this point, at least until he can have surgery this offseason, it's possible he doesn't miss extended time.
- There is no timetable for Alex Bregman's return from a quadriceps injury after he was pulled from his rehab assignment over a week ago. He's doing rehab work on the side for now to ensure that his legs are "fully underneath him." It means he'll likely need another lengthy rehab assignment once that side work ends.
- Ian Anderson and Corey Kluber have both begun rehab assignments, but the former is much closer to returning than the latter.
- The Yankees are nearly past their COVID-19 outbreak. Gary Sanchez and Jordan Montgomery are both expected back Tuesday. Anthony Rizzo will be a few days behind them.
1 |
Yu Darvish
San Diego Padres SP
|
back tightness | |
2 |
Kyle Tucker
Houston Astros RF
|
undisclosed (COVID-related) | |
3 |
Carlos Rodon
Chicago White Sox SP
|
shoulder fatigue | |
4 |
Mookie Betts
Los Angeles Dodgers RF
|
bone spur in hip | |
5 |
Jesse Winker
Cincinnati Reds LF
|
intercostal strain | |
6 |
Julio Urias
Los Angeles Dodgers SP
|
calf contusion | |
7 |
Javier Baez
New York Mets SS
|
back spasms | |
8 |
Shane Bieber
Cleveland Indians SP
|
strained shoulder | |
9 |
Byron Buxton
Minnesota Twins CF
|
fractured hand | |
10 |
Francisco Lindor
New York Mets SS
|
strained oblique | |
11 |
Aroldis Chapman
New York Yankees RP
|
elbow inflammation | |
12 |
Ian Anderson
Atlanta Braves SP
|
shoulder inflammation | |
13 |
Willson Contreras
Chicago Cubs C
|
sprained knee | |
14 |
Clayton Kershaw
Los Angeles Dodgers SP
|
forearm inflammation | |
15 |
Mike Trout
Los Angeles Angels CF
|
strained calf | |
16 |
Alex Bregman
Houston Astros 3B
|
strained hamstring |
17 |
Jacob deGrom
New York Mets SP
|
elbow inflammation | |
18 |
Pablo Lopez
Miami Marlins SP
|
strained rotator cuff | |
19 |
Aaron Civale
Cleveland Indians SP
|
sprained finger | |
20 |
Anthony Rizzo
New York Yankees 1B
|
COVID-19 | |
21 |
Rhys Hoskins
Philadelphia Phillies 1B
|
strained groin | |
22 |
Adalberto Mondesi
Kansas City Royals SS
|
strained oblique | |
23 |
Gary Sanchez
New York Yankees C
|
COVID-19 |
24 |
Jordan Montgomery
New York Yankees SP
|
COVID-19 | |
25 |
Luis Severino
New York Yankees SP
|
Tommy John surgery, strained groin, sore shoulder | |
26 |
Yasmani Grandal
Chicago White Sox C
|
torn knee tendon |
27 |
Corey Kluber
New York Yankees SP
|
strained shoulder | |
28 |
Akil Baddoo
Detroit Tigers CF
|
concussion | |
29 |
Ryan Mountcastle
Baltimore Orioles 1B
|
concussion | |
30 |
Raimel Tapia
Colorado Rockies LF
|
sprained toe | |
31 |
Gleyber Torres
New York Yankees SS
|
sprained thumb | |
32 |
Huascar Ynoa
Atlanta Braves SP
|
fractured hand | |
33 |
Jose Urquidy
Houston Astros SP
|
shoulder discomfort | |
34 |
Domingo German
New York Yankees SP
|
shoulder inflammation | |
35 |
Cavan Biggio
Toronto Blue Jays 3B
|
back/neck soreness |