This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
It's time for my annual reminder that the month of September complicates injuries in fantasy baseball. At the start of the month MLB rosters expand from 25 players to 40. The extra players at the end of the bench make it even more important for fantasy owners to pay attention to day-to-day injury reports as players nursing minor issues are more likely to receive a day off to recuperate. Additionally, the impact of the disabled list becomes diminished while the conclusion of the minor league season eliminates most true rehab assignments. These resulting consequences of roster expansion require constant vigilance, especially for those teams entering the fantasy postseason or jockeying for late-season positioning. However, this season will be the last time fantasy owners will have to navigate a 40-man roster as the rule will be eliminated in the 2020 season. Rosters expansion will be limited to 28 slots next year with additional restrictions placed on the number of pitchers each team can field.
With that warning out of the way, let's take a look at the injuries effecting the week ahead.
The Royals shortstop returned to the lineup with a bang, finishing with his first four-hit game of the season while stealing three bases. Mondesi had missed the last 40 Royals games after partially dislocating (subluxing) his left shoulder. Rehab following a shoulder subluxation often has the athlete focus on the muscles surrounding the joint to naturally stabilize the area. Mondesi's treatment apparently went smoothly but the Royals
It's time for my annual reminder that the month of September complicates injuries in fantasy baseball. At the start of the month MLB rosters expand from 25 players to 40. The extra players at the end of the bench make it even more important for fantasy owners to pay attention to day-to-day injury reports as players nursing minor issues are more likely to receive a day off to recuperate. Additionally, the impact of the disabled list becomes diminished while the conclusion of the minor league season eliminates most true rehab assignments. These resulting consequences of roster expansion require constant vigilance, especially for those teams entering the fantasy postseason or jockeying for late-season positioning. However, this season will be the last time fantasy owners will have to navigate a 40-man roster as the rule will be eliminated in the 2020 season. Rosters expansion will be limited to 28 slots next year with additional restrictions placed on the number of pitchers each team can field.
With that warning out of the way, let's take a look at the injuries effecting the week ahead.
The Royals shortstop returned to the lineup with a bang, finishing with his first four-hit game of the season while stealing three bases. Mondesi had missed the last 40 Royals games after partially dislocating (subluxing) his left shoulder. Rehab following a shoulder subluxation often has the athlete focus on the muscles surrounding the joint to naturally stabilize the area. Mondesi's treatment apparently went smoothly but the Royals advised Mondesi not to dive for the ball or attempt any head-first slides. However, that advice appears to be more of a suggestion than a strict rule given Mondesi's aggressive approach on the basepath Sunday. As a result, fantasy owners needing a boost in stolen bases should plug the speedster back in immediately as it appears an elevated level of risk will not dissuade Mondesi's pursuit of the stolen base title.
The Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers infield depth is being tested as injuries to Keston Hiura and Mike Moustakas have left a hole in the middle of the defense. Hiura likely will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The Grade 2 designation means the muscle partially tore and will need substantial time to adequately heal.
Unlike Hiura, Moustakas has not been placed on the IL as he continues to battle lingering soreness in his bruised left hand and wrist. Moustakas' bruise is primarily located in the palm of his hand and is making it difficult to grip a bat. He was able to appear as a pinch hitter on Sunday, indicating he is progressing though there is no guarantee he will jump right back into the everyday lineup. He will be a risky play for the week ahead.
The Milwaukee outfield is struggling with injuries as well with Ryan Braun and Lorenzo Cain nursing ailments of their own. Braun's balky back continues to give him problems and will likely be an issue for the remainder of the year. It doesn't appear he will head to the IL but he can't be counted on to play a full slate of games each week.
Cain is dealing with a bruised kneecap that's giving him problems when he runs. The kneecap (patella) floats within the tendon of the quadriceps muscle, increasing its moment arm and subsequently increasing the range of motion for the knee. A bruise to the area limits this effectiveness, and normal tasks like walking or running can become difficult. Furthermore, the natural pathway the knee must take often delays recovery. The Brewers will closely monitor Cain's workload, and fantasy owners should anticipate another limited week for the centerfielder.
Check Swings
Byron Buxton: Like Mondesi, Buxton is working his way back from a partially dislocated shoulder. However, the Twins are taking a more aggressive approach in controlling Buxton's activities. He will not be allowed to swing a bat and will be limited to playing the field and pinch running for the immediate future. As a result, those invested in Buxton may want to wait a week before activating the outfielder. Lower leg tightness for teammate Max Kepler may accelerate Buxton's timeline but the team insists Kepler's removal from Sunday's game was purely precautionary.
Adam Eaton: The Nationals welcomed back Eaton to the lineup Monday, as he was slated to start in right field. He had missed three straight games with knee soreness but appears to have improved enough to return to action. Washington is scheduled for seven games in the week ahead, making Eaton an enticing play even if the team opts to give him a rest day at some point.
Edwin Encarnacion: The veteran slugger began a rehab assignment Sunday, finishing 1-for-4 from the field with an RBI and two runs. Encarnacion has been sidelined since August 3 with a fractured left wrist. He's expected to spend another day or two with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre squad before returning to the big league team. He likely will slot in as the Yankees' designated hitter, though a dip in power should be expected as the wrist continues to heal.
Chris Sale: The 2019 season officially ended Sunday for the Boston ace when the Red Sox transferred him to the 60-day IL. Sale was already expected to miss the remainder of the year after he underwent a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to address left elbow inflammation but now will be unable to return before the end of the regular season. Sale will enter the offseason with questions about his durability for the second straight year. It appears his injured left elbow will not need Tommy John surgery, but that could change if the joint fails to improve with conservative treatment.
Eugenio Suarez: The Reds third baseman is not in the Labor Day lineup after being struck by a pitch on the hand. The impact left Suarez' hand swollen, and the team will be forced to postpone an X-ray until it subsides. Unfortunately, the Reds seem resigned to the fact that the injury is significant, and fantasy owners should expect him to miss some time moving forward. Look for information regarding the specifics to surface in the coming days.
