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The All-Star break is a busy time for the DL.
With a free four days built into it, that 15-day wait doesn't seem nearly so daunting, making now a good time for teams to rest up their banged-up superstars.
Maybe that's the story behind the latest victim, Wade Davis. His injury, a strained forearm, has a wide range of possible outcomes. Sometimes it requires a couple weeks of rest. Sometimes it's a precursor to the worst kind of elbow troubles.
For now, I'll assume the former and do my best to secure Kelvin Herrera in any league where I need saves. And maybe regret it when the Royals turn to Joakim Soria because he's more "proven" in the role. Hey, it wouldn't be my choice, but Ned Yost has made a career of defying the pundits.
No doubt, you're stashing Davis regardless of how many players you already have on the DL, but it's amazing how far down this list he is, given his stature.
Can't wait for the influx of talent in late July.
1. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers (herniated disc)
2. Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays (turf toe)
3. Zack Greinke, SP, Diamondbacks (strained oblique)
4. Gerrit Cole, SP, Pirates (strained triceps)
5. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners (strained calf)
6. J.D. Martinez, OF, Tigers (fractured elbow)
7. Yu Darvish, SP, Rangers (shoulder discomfort)
8. Wade Davis, RP, Royals (strained forearm)
9. Michael Brantley, OF, Indians (shoulder fatigue)
10. Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals (strained hamstring)
11. Dexter Fowler, OF, Cubs (strained hamstring)
12. Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Tigers (strained neck)
13. Joe Ross, SP, Nationals (shoulder inflammation)
14. Hunter Pence, OF, Giants (hamstring surgery)
15. Jameson Taillon, SP, Pirates (shoulder fatigue)
16. A.J. Pollock, OF, Diamondbacks (fractured elbow)
17. Joe Panik, 2B, Giants (concussion)
18. Steve Pearce, 1B/2B/OF, Rays (strained hamstring)
19. Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, Dodgers (torn labrum in shoulder)
20. Francisco Cervelli, C, Pirates (fractured hand)
21. David Peralta, OF, Diamondbacks (sprained back)
22. Alex Cobb, SP, Rays (Tommy John surgery)
23. Gerardo Parra, OF, Rockies (sprained ankle)
24. Joc Pederson, OF, Dodgers (sprained shoulder)
25. Lucas Duda, 1B, Mets (stress fracture in back)
- Last time I put together this list about a month ago, Felix Hernandez and Michael Brantley were the top two names. Neither player's situation has changed since then, other than both being closer to returning, which should give you a sense of how much Fantasy owners as a whole are suffering right now.
- The good news is that of the 14 players I couldn't imagine dropping (through Hunter Pence, basically), only four -- Clayton Kershaw, J.D. Martinez, Michael Brantley and Pence -- are still looking at an extended absence, as in multiple weeks. The others could all return within a week of the break, though a setback is of course possible for any of them.
- For all the required names at the top of the list, A.J. Pollock checks in awfully high for a player with no timetable and no reported progress for the last month, which kind of reveals the shifting priorities this time of year. The Gerardo Parras of the world aren't going to make a substantive difference in the standings, so might as well try for someone who can.
- I'm deliberately high on Steve Pearce, who I thought was one of the more underowned players in Fantasy at the time of his injury given his increasing playing time, triple eligibility and .322 batting average and .933 OPS. Did everyone forget about 2014 or something? I'm also deliberately low on David Peralta, whose BABIP luck appears to have run out at the same time his power stroke has come back to earth. Both are still usable in five-outfielder leagues, though, and could be back in the lineup to kick off the second half.
- Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Cobb have distanced themselves from the other pitchers recovering from 2015 surgeries, primarily Zack Wheeler, Homer Bailey and Mike Minor. Ryu is coming back Thursday, in fact, and will be a welcome addition to the waiver wire even in leagues where he isn't stashed, starting pitcher being thin and all. He'd rank higher if I was confident in him picking up where he left off before tearing the labrum in his shoulder, but his average fastball velocity was down on his minor-league rehab assignment, where he didn't exactly dominate. Michael Pineda has never regained his after suffering a similar injury, and he had a lot more to spare.
- They missed the cut since they're not expected to close for their teams, but Adam Ottavino (Tommy John surgery), Brad Boxberger (strained oblique) and Sean Doolittle (shoulder inflammation) could quickly emerge as the next man up when they return from the DL. If you're desperate for saves and have a free injury slot in your league, they should be among your top choices to fill it.
