Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Tuesday, September 3, 2024. In today’s edition, we finally got word on Kyle Tucker’s shin being fractured, Jacob deGrom is getting closer to a debut date, and the Diamondbacks are close to welcoming back both Christian Walker and Ketel Marte. All of that and so much more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report
Kyle Tucker – OF Houston Astros (shin)
The biggest news of the day came with this blockbuster, revealing that Kyle Tucker’s absence was caused by a small fracture and not a bone bruise. This was after repeatedly stating the opposite through numerous interviews all season and, more importantly, after months of missed time from the Astros’ lineup. While the good news is that he is likely to return soon (possibly as soon as Wednesday once he runs the bases again), it does call into question the likelihood of the team either knowing of this situation and lying or the team not knowing and being misled. Neither road is one that a team wants to be known for, but both are the likeliest of options, and it may take until the offseason until we know more. For now, be excited that Tucker is finally on the verge of returning.
Alex Bregman – 3B Houston Astros (elbow)
Espada on Alex Bregman: "That soreness is still lingering. The swelling has come down, most of it. So I think today giving him an extra day just to get some treatment, do some work in the cages, the off day tomorrow will be beneficial for him also. So he’s still day to day."
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) September 2, 2024
Bregman has now missed four consecutive games and is not guaranteed to return soon. This is a recurring injury which does present some concerns. Stay tuned for more.
Jacob deGrom – SP Texas Rangers (elbow)
Bruce Bochy said: “Thats an option. But I don’t think that’s what we’re going to do.”
So sounds like as of now, sounds like deGrom will pitch in Frisco. But who knows what happens come Saturday. https://t.co/OqKlz97GfR
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) September 2, 2024
Manager Bruce Bochy said in an interview that deGrom could start for the team next Saturday and work about three innings. He later retracted that statement by clarifying that he would likely want to see deGrom make one more start in the Minor Leagues beforehand. It was rumored that he would work four innings if he were to continue along this rehab assignment. All that said, patient fantasy owners will likely need to wait for him to return (hopefully) next week.
Max Scherzer – SP Texas Rangers (shoulder)
“Max looked good. Felt good. I feel like things are where they should be at this point. Right now, the plan is for him to get a start in Vegas with Round Rock.”
Bruce Bochy speaks on Max Scherzer’s progress and potential next rehab start.
— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) September 2, 2024
Scherzer will attempt to use the mechanical adjustment that he made in his favor in this outing. The hope is that this adjustment will alleviate the pain and make it easier to pitch for longer periods. It remains to be seen when he will return if this outing is a success.
Christian Walker – 1B Arizona Diamondbacks (oblique)
Torey Lovullo said that Christian Walker is doing some work at Chase Field today and might not need another continuation camp game.
It sounds like he will join the team in San Francisco.
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) September 2, 2024
Fantasy owners rejoice and be prepared. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it would appear that Walker returns very very soon.
Kete Marte – 2B Arizona Diamondbacks (ankle)
Torey Lovullo said that the upcoming road trip is in play for Ketel Marte to return.
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) September 2, 2024
The Diamondbacks begin their road trip on Tuesday and finish up on Sunday. As it stands, Marte is expected back at some point in between the start and end of this trip.
Liam Hendriks – RP Boston Red Sox (elbow)
Liam Hendriks is scheduled to make back-to-back rehab outings with Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday and Thursday.
He could be activated Saturday, Alex Cora said they'll "wait and see."
— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) September 2, 2024
Pitching on Wednesday and Thursday would be his first back-to-back sessions and would be a great indication of where he is physically. If all goes well, it looks as if he will return in under a week.
Trevor Story – SS Boston Red Sox (shoulder)
Trevor Story 0x3 and played 5 innings at shortstop in AAA today.
Sox have not put a timetable on Story's return. But hearing that Saturday is a possibility.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 2, 2024
Story has been rehabbing for only two games, and yet it looks as if his return is imminent. That being said, if he struggles throughout the week at the plate, the team may opt to give him additional time to get his timing back. As it stands, through two games, he is batting .286 with just seven at-bats to his name.
Justin Steele – SP Chicago Cubs (elbow)
Kyle Hendticks will start for the Cubs tomorrow against the Pirates.
Justin Steele was scratched due to elbow soreness, per Craig Counsell.
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) September 3, 2024
Steele will miss his scheduled start tonight with soreness in his elbow. It’s worth noting too that in his last outing, he was seen by the trainers midway through the game but nothing more came of that. There is a chance that these two things are linked, but either way, this isn’t good news. We should know more about this decision later today.
Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins (hip)
Byron Buxton walked in his first trip to the plate. In his second, he lined one off the bat at 103.4 mph but the center fielder made a nice leaping catch. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) September 2, 2024
Buxton would also single on a hard-hit ball and then strike out later in the game. It’s hard to make much of the results here, but the fact that he was out there and being productive is a good sign that perhaps his rehab assignment won’t last long.
Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees (calf)
Gerrit Cole on coming out of the game: "I wasn't super concerned. I just didn't think it was the right situation to keep trying to manipulate it out there. I had a similar situation last year against the Dodgers. I was able to manage it for a couple of innings until it was too…
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 3, 2024
Cole left the game last night with a cramp in his calf. From the sounds of things here, there isn’t much to worry about, but a lot depends on how he feels later today and beyond. For now, consider him DTD with some updates surely coming.
New York Yankees – Team Update
There's a "very good chance" that both Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil are back in the #Yankees' starting rotation next week in Chicago.
Gil starts today in Double-A Somerset. Schmidt pitches tomorrow with Somerset, a makeup game in Binghamton.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) September 1, 2024
Good news for the Yankees as they will get two options back for their pitching. They have to decide whether it’s Luis Gil (back) or Clarke Schmidt (lat) that gets inserted into the rotation while the other likely becomes a bullpen arm for the Yankees. There’s also a chance that the aforementioned calf injury to Gerrit Cole becomes serious enough to warrant a spot start by one of these two as well.
Yu Darvish – SP San Diego Padres (elbow)
Mike Shildt just confirmed this https://t.co/jGjgv9fVXN
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) September 3, 2024
Be prepared. Of note, however, Darvish last appeared in a game on May 29, so there is a chance that he is a little rusty here.