Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, September 4, 2024. In today’s edition, Ozzie Albies is progressing, Justin Steele gets back better news than expected, and Alec Bohm may miss most of the week. That, and so much more, in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report
Ozzie Albies – 2B Atlanta Braves
#Braves 2B Ozzie Albies no longer needs to wear any brace on his left wrist but said his return is trending toward a mid-late September – the 8-week prognosis.
He is taking fielding practice for the first time today and continues to work/swing in the cage, but not hitting yet
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) September 3, 2024
Albies is progressing nicely, but time is running out this season for him to produce much fantasy merit. He has yet to take batting practice, but he is swinging a bat at an indoor facility. The estimated timeline of eight weeks leads one to believe that he will return in about two weeks, but that’s just speculation at this point. There has been no word on a rehab assignment just yet either.
Whit Merrifield – INF Atlanta Braves (head)
Merrifield says he'll have a CT Scan just to make sure everything is fine. He is part of the rules committee and plans to address pitchers throwing up and in with no repercussions during tomorrow morning's meeting. If he's as spirited as he was tonight, it will be a fun meeting.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 4, 2024
Merrifield was hit in the head by a pitch on Tuesday night and was forced to leave the game. He underwent some tests, and while he did clear concussion protocol, he will undergo a CT scan today to ensure his safety. Consider him DTD for now, but these new tests a day later could reveal something more. Stay tuned.
Justin Steele – SP Chicago Cubs (elbow)
Justin Steele says MRI on elbow was positive and detected inflammation. He has been feeling it for a while. No decision on IL yet. Just taking it day by day.
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) September 3, 2024
The news was better than expected, as with any elbow injury there comes doom and gloom. This report indicates that there is elbow inflammation, though he is not out of the woods just yet. It would appear that a trip to the Injured List is forthcoming, though nothing is set in stone. There is a chance that whatever the case may be, he will have thrown his final pitch in 2024.
Bo Bichette – SS Toronto Blue Jays (calf)
Bo Bichette ran the bases yesterday and will again tomorrow. He’s also hitting, fielding, etc.
Bichette will travel to Atlanta with the #BlueJays this weekend while he ramps up and could begin a rehab assignment soon.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 3, 2024
If all goes well, Bichette might be back with three weeks left in the season to help dismay the negative output he has displayed in 2024.
Alec Bohm – 3B Philadelphia Phillies (hand)
Alec Bohm's sore left hand is progressing slower than expected. He is unlikely to play this week in Toronto, but Rob Thomson said it's not an IL situation. It means they think he will be back sometime during this weekend's four-game series in Miami.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) September 3, 2024
As it stands, Bohm will likely miss the entire series against the Blue Jays, thus making him someone who should be sitting on one’s bench in fantasy. There is no guarantee that he will even return for the entire Marlins series, making this situation a possibility for next to nothing in return for the entire week. With the fantasy playoffs happening this week, fantasy owners should look elsewhere.
Jordan Westburg – INF Baltimore Orioles (hand)
Jordan Westburg is throwing. No cast on hand. #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) September 3, 2024
Westburg is trending in the right direction toward a return this season. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he should be back after a rehab assignment, giving the Orioles the depth they will need to advance through the playoffs.
Josh Naylor – 1B Cleveland Guardians (back)
Update on Josh Naylor per Guardians manager Stephen Vogt:
"He's fine. He's tested out of the major stuff. So, you've got some lower back tightness. Hopefully that's all better."— Joe Noga (@JoeNogaCLE) September 4, 2024
Naylor exited the game on Tuesday with an acute back spasm, later clarified as lower back tightness. Regardless of the injury designation, it would appear that he is DTD until we are told otherwise. Chances are that he misses today’s game at the very least.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Team Update
The Diamondbacks reinstated 1B Christian Walker from the 10-day IL
They have also placed OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the 10-day IL with a strained left calf. #Dbacks
— Aaron Hughes (@AaronrHughes) September 3, 2024
The good news is that Christian Walker is back in the lineup, helping the Diamondbacks earn a playoff spot. The bad news is that one of their hottest bats as of late will miss at least ten days of action. It’s unclear if this injury will keep Gurriel out of the lineup for longer than the minimum.
New York Yankees – Team Update
Luis Gil will start Friday for the Yankees vs. the Cubs.
Clarke Schmidt will start on Saturday.
Gerrit Cole will start of Sunday.
Nestor Cortes will piggyback for either Gil or Schmidt. He’ll go back into the rotation vs. Boston.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 3, 2024
Luis Gil (back) and Clarke Schmidt (lat) will be activated this week and inserted into the pitching plans for the team in the future. Be prepared.
Austin Wells – C New York Yankees (hand)
Aaron Boone said Austin Wells is sore, but x-rays on his hand came back clean. #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) September 3, 2024
Wells was hit by a pitch on Monday, but the results from yesterday’s x-rays indicate that he has avoided major damage. He was out of the lineup on Tuesday and should be considered DTD unless we hear otherwise.
Joey Bart – C Pittsburgh Pirates (hamstring)
Joey Bart (left hamstring strain) is running the bases here pregame at Wrigley Field
Don’t believe we’ve seen Bart running since the injury pic.twitter.com/7CbMjQU0BV
— Andrew Destin (@AndrewDestin1) September 3, 2024
This was a big step forward for Bart as he looks to return from a hamstring injury before the end of the season. It’s unclear what the next step is from here, but being able to run is a big hurdle crossed.
Jon Gray – SP Texas Rangers (foot)
Jon Gray is out for the season because of neuroma in his foot. He was scheduled to start Thursday. Jose Urena could get that assignment now. #Rangers
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) September 3, 2024
Gray will disappointingly finish the season, leaving with a foot injury. His second half was riddled with injuries and gameplay that saw his ERA more than double what it was months ago. He will attempt to return next season and follow through with a full season of success.
Tyler Mahle – SP Texas Rangers (shoulder)
Tyler Mahle, too, because he doesn’t have enough tome to get back from shoulder stiffness. He will continue playing catch. https://t.co/gfcP0kuxF3
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) September 3, 2024
Mahle will also not pitch again in 2024, this time due to shoulder soreness that wouldn’t go away. After missing the first two-thirds of the season recovering from Tommy John Surgery, he will finish with just 12.2 innings pitched in what should be considered a disappointment.
Andres Munoz – RP Seattle Mariners (elbow)
Munoz said he had some elbow soreness. So he was only going to pitch with a lead in these first two games
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) September 4, 2024
Munoz did not appear in last night’s game despite declaring himself eligible to do so. It’s unclear if this injury will be enough to place him on the Injured List soon, but it’s worth noting that the Mariners have just a small chance of advancing to the postseason. There is a real chance that he gets shut down if this soreness persists or grows, given his track record for injuries in the past.