Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, August 7, 2024. In today’s edition, Grayson Rodriguez injured his lat while throwing before a game, Julio Rodriguez made some progress and Mason Miller looks bound to return today. All of that and so much more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report
Grayson Rodriguez – SP Baltimore Orioles (lat)
Grayson Rodriguez was scratched from tonight’s start with right lat/teres discomfort.
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) August 7, 2024
Unfortunate news here. The injury to Rodriguez sprung up on him and the Orioles while he was warming up. Manager Brandon Hyde said that this was an isolated incident and that he was feeling fine up until the moment he felt a twinge. A few days ago, he threw what was considered a great bullpen session in Cleveland, giving the team no indication that this would happen. Rodriguez is no stranger to lat issues, as he missed two and a half months with a similar injury back in 2022 while with Triple-A Norfolk. While that may not be the case here, he could miss a significant chunk of time now, especially with the team trying to make and advance through the playoffs. They are awaiting the imaging results before they do anything. Stay tuned today, but this has a very ominous tone to it.
Michael Harris II – OF Atlanta Braves (hamstring)
Michael Harris II doesn't need long to get going in his rehab assignment!
The @Braves center fielder laces a single the other way on the first pitch of the game for @GoStripers: pic.twitter.com/FmAMjy7pBY
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 7, 2024
Harris finished the game 1-for-4 with a walk in his first of many rehab games.
Reynaldo Lopez – SP Atlanta Braves (forearm)
Reynaldo López began playing catch today.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) August 6, 2024
One day after being placed on the Injured List with forearm tightness, Lopez started playing catch on the field. It remains to be seen when he will advance from this and increase the intensity, but for now, this is a good sign for perhaps a short-lived stay on the Injured List.
Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins (back)
Byron Buxton is working through lower back stiffness. Rocco wouldn't rule him out for later in tonight's game or tomorrow. Said he didn't have any doubt Buxton would play on Friday in the doubleheader. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 6, 2024
Buxton was supposedly medically cleared for action after the crash into the wall, but here we are two days later and he has yet to return. It remains to be seen if he will play today, but chances are that his best bet to return is the aforementioned doubleheader on Friday. Given his injury history, the team would be wise to take things slowly.
Julio Rodriguez – OF Seattle Mariners (high ankle sprain)
Julio is making progress, has taken some swings on the field and been running some. Needs to be confident in accelerating and making turns. Still no timetable for a return. The longer this goes the more likely he needs a rehab assignment.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) August 6, 2024
It’s good news that Rodriguez is progressing to the point of taking swings and running on the field. As mentioned, until he is fully able to run fast and turn his legs in different directions, he won’t be back. From the sounds of it, given that he hasn’t played a game in two weeks and will need additional time, a short rehab assignment (at worst) would be in his future.
Justin Turner – INF Seattle Mariners (hand)
X-rays were negative on Justin Turner’s left hand after the HBP tonight, but he does have a contusion and is day to day, Scott Servais just said.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) August 7, 2024
Consider Turner DTD for now unless we’re told otherwise.
Ha-Seong Kim – INF San Diego Padres (triceps)
Kim says he has soreness in his right triceps, which he began feeling yesterday and was still feeling when he took some swings earlier today. He’s not sure about his status for tomorrow or moving forward. https://t.co/nxjInJf2gV
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 6, 2024
As much as teams get it wrong when they say someone will be fine, it’s more comforting to see that than someone’s unknown status going forward. It might have to be a “wait and see” approach here, but Kim could find himself on the Injured List at some point.
Joe Musgrove – SP San Diego Padres (elbow)
“High probability” Musgrove returns in Miami this weekend, Mike Shildt says. He’d be on a limited pitch count. https://t.co/AcFIzOcYzS
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 6, 2024
This is a fantastic way to ease your way back into the rotation, as Miami provides one of the best matchups imaginable. His next start, unfortunately, could be in Colorado, so fantasy owners should be prepared to find an alternative.
Justin Verlander – SP Houston Astros (neck)
Justin Verlander will throw a bullpen tomorrow. If it goes well, he’ll start this weekend in Sugar Land.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 6, 2024
The team has been incredibly cautious with Verlander, as he has been throwing bullpens since July 14 and will do one more tomorrow. Other reports suggest his rehab assignment has already been announced and they don’t include news of this upcoming bullpen session. Regardless of what happens or doesn’t happen today, he looks to finally be on track to pitch a game in the minors.
Kyle Tucker – OF Houston Astros (shin)
Dana Brown on Tucker:
“I feel like watching the videos they’ve been sending me from him working out back at Minute Maid that he’s coming along very well. He’s doing more strenuous activity in terms of experience. I feel Tucker is getting closer, a lot closer. I think the type of…
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 6, 2024
At this point, the team might just be saying things for the sake of having new content for when they’re asked about him every day. His return should be considered to be about a month away as he will likely need a rehab assignment since he has missed two months.
Mason Miller – RP Oakland Athletics (hand)
A’s plan to activate Mason Miller tomorrow, per Kotsay.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) August 6, 2024
Be prepared.
Christian Scott – SP New York Mets (elbow)
Christian Scott (sprained UCL in right elbow) has not yet been cleared to throw, but should pass that hurdle within "the next few days," per Carlos Mendoza. The Mets will know more on his situation once that throwing program begins (and, eventually, intensifies).
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 6, 2024
The hope is that once that hurdle is cleared, Scott can start building himself up to the point of throwing some meaningful innings by the end of the season. Chances are that he will need surgery when it’s all said and done, but there’s also a world where he doesn’t. Stay tuned.
Oneil Cruz – SS Pittsburgh Pirates (illness)
Oneil Cruz was sick and unavailable to play Tuesday, per Derek Shelton
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) August 7, 2024
Chances are that Cruz will miss today’s game as well, but fantasy owners should stay tuned to be sure.
Detroit Tigers – Team Update
#Tigers medical update: New information on Kerry Carpenter, Casey Mize and Reese Olson. pic.twitter.com/1t9j0kyRtR
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) August 6, 2024
Massive update here on the Tigers. Firstly, Kerry Carpenter (lumbar spine stress fracture) began his rehab assignment last night and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He has been out of action for so long, this will likely be a lengthy assignment. As for Riley Greene (hamstring), it was a productive day for him to do a lot on the field. He hopes to continue to progress further before possibly beginning a rehab assignment. As for Casey Mize (hamstring), he will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow which will likely be a lengthy one. Finally, Reese Olson (shoulder) is working his way back to the Tigers, but has a ways to go as he is in the beginning stages of throwing and catching.