Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, August 28, 2024. In today’s edition, Kyle Tucker takes a big step forward in his recovery, Rafael Devers may need some time off now and in the future, and Fernando Tatis Jr. continues to progress. All of that and so much more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report
Kyle Tucker – OF Houston Astros (shin)
Kyle Tucker has started to sprint, Joe Espada said. An important step in his recovery. Espada said he’s close to running the bases, but unclear when that will be.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 27, 2024
This is a major step forward in his progression forward, as it was a hurdle he had trouble crossing. The fact that he has started to sprint is a good sign, but he still has to run the bases, as that allows for the movement of sprinting, pivoting, and swiveling his ankles all together. Regardless of what’s next, this should help fast-track him to a rehab assignment, possibly within the next week.
Bo Bichette – SS Toronto Blue Jays (calf)
Bo Bichette (calf) took ground balls at Fenway Park today. He said he’s feeling better & working hard to return this season. A couple weeks back would be huge if possible — but no one wants to rush this, either. Will work out with Jays on this road trip. Later: rehab stint likely
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) August 27, 2024
The biggest takeaway from this is not him working out on the field with the Blue Jays, since that is the next logical step in his progression. Instead, the bigger piece of news is that the Jays are hopeful for two weeks of games from him to end the season. That would put his return at around the middle of September, which is almost three weeks from now. And even then, the word hopeful doesn’t always mean necessary. There is a chance that this is a season-ending injury with any setback.
Robbie Ray – SP San Francisco Giants (hamstring)
Robbie Ray went on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Landen Roupp is back on the active roster.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 27, 2024
The severity of the injury is unknown, as this may be a season-ending injury. While there will surely be updates, fantasy owners should prepare to have him play again this season, but be aware that any injury could be season-ending.
Rafael Devers – 3B Boston Red Sox (shoulder)
Devers is still dealing with soreness in his shoulders and Cora didn’t rule out more than one day off. Been battling for months.
Another roster move possible. Sox waiting on results on another player and could activate Winckowski in his place.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 27, 2024
Devers has been slumping as of late, which explains why. Devers could need multiple days off here to help manage the pain, but it sounds like he will grind it out until the end of the season. That being said, if the Red Sox are eliminated from the playoffs, he could get shut down for the rest of the season if this pain persists.
Nick Lodolo – SP Cincinnati Reds (finger)
Lodolo was placed on the Injured List with a sprain on his left middle finger, which may have been the reason for his struggles as of late. Given the type of injury he sustained, the timing of it, and the situation that the Reds are in, he may have thrown his final pitch of the season.
Matt McLain – INF Cincinnati Reds (shoulder)
David Bell on Matt McLain: He's still getting tested. Different testing to get to the root cause of some of the pain he's having in his side. We're getting toward the end of that. Everything is checking out good so far. Maybe he gets back into swinging again shortly.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) August 27, 2024
McLain’s struggles to get healthy have been the main focus all season long. This latest setback may cost him the entire season, as time is running out on him to be able to contribute at all this year. This might be the most disappointing injury all year.
Jeimer Candelario – 1B (toe)
David Bell on Jeimer Candelario (toe): He's still having pain, which is not surprising. It's too quick to hope that he wasn't.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) August 27, 2024
There is a significant chance that this is a season-ending injury.
Joe Ryan – SP Minnesota Twins (shoulder)
No surprise, but the #MNTwins creating a 40-man roster spot by transferring Joe Ryan to the 60-day injured list officially rules him out for the rest of the regular season.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) August 27, 2024
Ryan’s regular season is over, but he could return for the postseason if the Twins advance. As such, he is doing what he can to study and remain engaged within the clubhouse. While he has yet to pick up a baseball, he believes that his shoulder will be okay long-term while he prepares to return at some point.
Grayson Rodriguez – SP Baltimore Orioles (lat)
Grayson Rodriguez, on the 15-day injured list with a lat/teres strain, is throwing what could be described as long toss in the outfield at Dodger Stadium with trainer Brian Ebel watching on. Perhaps 90 feet. But another step in the right direction, it would seem
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) August 27, 2024
This is a step in the right direction for Rodriguez, though he has yet to throw from a mound. The team has yet to call this a season-ending injury, but he will need to pick up the pace on his recovery if he is going to contribute again this season.
Zach Eflin – SP Baltimore Orioles (shoulder)
And Zach Eflin, on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, is throwing what could be described as short toss in the outfield at Dodger Stadium. He said last week that he is feeling better and doesn't anticipate a rehab start
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) August 27, 2024
There is good news here on Eflin, as he appears to be on the right track for a return. While he maintains that he wouldn’t need a rehab assignment, anything is possible, especially with the Orioles looking for rotation stability for the postseason.
San Diego Padres – Team Update
Mike Shildt shared encouraging updates on Yu Darvish, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim, including that Tatis is in Arizona and ready to get some live at-bats, while Kim should join the team in St. Louis tomorrow: pic.twitter.com/PPpTtVN566
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) August 26, 2024
A lot of important information here in an audio clip that is less than one minute in length. Firstly, Yu Darvish (elbow ) has been working hard since rejoining the team. He has thrown simulated games, and bullpen sessions and has just completed three up-and-down sessions and could move onto a rehab assignment or a simulated game. As for Fernando Tatis Jr. (thigh), he is back with the team and will get in some live at-bats soon, which will hopefully help accelerate his progress forward. Finally, Has-Seong Kim (shoulder) was getting examined by the team, and they are encouraged about the possibility of him rejoining the club soon, at which time a plan will be put in place.
Christian Walker – 1B Arizona Diamondbacks (oblique)
Torey Lovullo said Christian Walker took BP today and could play games in a controlled environment this weekend.
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) August 27, 2024
Torey Lovullo also said that Walker could return sometime after September 1, though the first of next month might be pushing it in terms of time. A good sign for Walker, who continues to ramp things up toward a return, as he could provide fantasy owners a month of production.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Team Update
Ketel Marte posted videos hitting in the cages on IG.
Lovullo said Marte is out of the treatment phase but did not give target return dates.
Gabriel Moreno also hit in the cages today.
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) August 27, 2024
Both updates on Ketel Marte (ankle) and Gabriel Moreno (thigh) are very vague, but at the very least it’s good to know that they are progressing forward in their own ways.
Christian Yelich – OF Milwaukee Brewers (back)
Yelich said he underwent a microdiscectomy. He threw out a rough recovery timeline of three months.
By the time he and the Brewers decided on surgery, the pain was impacting his day-to-day life, not just baseball activity.
— Jack Stern (@ByJackStern) August 27, 2024
Yelich will take the next three months to recover before having almost a full offseason from which to recover and prepare for the 2025 season. He and the team believe that this surgery will help him in the future and lead to years of healthy seasons. Here’s hoping that they are correct.