Injury Report: March 29th, 2018 – Opening Day!

Hello and welcome!

It’s the best day of the year as we get real baseball back once again. We’ve seen several players join their teams for Opening Day and others sent to the minors. Felix Hernandez is the big surprise for me, as he went from hardly throwing to starting Opening Day within about a week. The following players have been taken out of the table as they’ve either been declared ready for Opening Day or were optioned:

Zack Greinke, Chris Owings, Tim Beckham, Jose Abreu, Brandon Guyer, Lewis Brinson, Magneuris Sierra, Brian Ellington, Santiago Casilla, Austin Hedges, Felix Hernandez, Jean Segura, and Ichiro Suzuki.

We also saw quite a few players join the table. Each new player has a small blurb describing their injury and a projected timetable for return. Updates are also posted where available. Not all DL moves have been made yet, but I’ve been diligently updating as they come through. Let’s check out the table:

Team	DL	Pos	Player	Inj. Date	Injury	Timetable	Est. Return	Countdown
ARI	10	RP	Randall Delgado	9-28-17	R flexor strain, oblique tightness	2-4 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
ARI	60	SP	Shelby Miller	5-10-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
ARI	10	OF	Steven Souza Jr.	3-21-18	R Pectoral strain	6-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
ATL		3B	Johan Camargo	3-14-18	Back tightness	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
ATL	60	RP	Grant Dayton	8-29-17	L Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	9-1-18	0y 5m 3d
ATL		SP	Luiz Gohara	2-27-18	L ankle sprain	1-2 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
ATL		RP	Jacob Lindgren	3-28-18	L Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
BAL	60	RP	Zach Britton	12-21-17	R Achille’s tendon tear	5-9 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
BAL		DH	Mark Trumbo	3-8-18	R Quad strain (2)	3-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
BAL		SP	Gabriel Ynoa	3-9-18	Stress reaction in shins	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
BOS		3B	Marco Hernandez	5-26-17	L Shoulder surgery	4-6 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
BOS		RP	Austin Maddox	3-1-18	R Shoulder inflammation	1-2 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 0d
BOS		2B	Dustin Pedroia	10-25-17	L Knee surgery, cartilage restoration	7-10 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
BOS	10	SP	Drew Pomeranz	3-2-18	L Flexor strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
BOS	10	SP	Eduardo Rodriguez	10-17-17	R Patellofemoral ligament reconstruction	6-8 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
BOS		RP	Tyler Thornburg	6-16-17	Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery	12+ w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
BOS	10	SP	Steven Wright	5-8-17	L Knee surgery, cartilage restoration	7-10 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
CHC		RP	Shae Simmons	3-8-18	R Shoulder tightness	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
CHC	60	SP	Drew Smyly	6-17-17	L Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
CWS		OF	Micker Adolfo	2-23-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (1 or 2)	6-8 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
CWS		SS	Tim Anderson	3-25-18	R Shoulder soreness	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 0d
CWS		SP	Carlos Rodon	9-27-17	L Shoulder surgery, bursitis	6-8 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
CWS		C	Kevan Smith	3-20-19	L Ankle sprain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
CIN		SP	Anthony DeSclafani	3-11-18	Strained oblique (2)	4-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
CIN	60	SP	Rookie Davis	10-9-17	R Hip surgery	8-10 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
CIN		SP	Brandon Finnegan	3-11-18	L Biceps strain (1)	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
CIN		RP	Michael Lorenzen	3-20-18	R Teres major strain	6 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
CIN		OF	Jose Siri	2-23-18	L Thumb sprain	4-6 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
CLE	60	SP	Cody Anderson	3-27-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
CLE		OF	Michael Brantley	10-19-17	R Ankle surgery	6-8 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
CLE		SP/RP	Ryan Merritt	3-23-18	L Shoulder soreness	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
CLE		SP	Julian Merryweather	3-9-18	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
CLE		SP/RP	Danny Salazar	1-15-18	R Rotator cuff inflammation	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
CLE		3B	Giovanny Urshela	3-21-18	R Hamstring strain (1)	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
DET		RP	Johnny Barbato	3-26-18	R Forearm strain	3-4 w	4-21-18	0y 0m 23d
DET		SP	Mike Fiers	3-18-18	Lumbar strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
COL		RP	Carlos Estevez	3-19-18	L Oblique strain (1)	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
COL	60	RP	Rayan Gonzalez	4-1-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
COL		SP	Jeff Hoffman	3-4-18	R Shoulder soreness	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
COL		RP	Zac Rosscup	3-27-18	L Long finger injury	2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
HOU		OF	Derek Fisher	3-25-18	Ankle sprain	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 0d
HOU		1B	Yuli Gurriel	2-28-18	L Hook of hamate resection	6-8 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
HOU		RP	Jandel Gustave	6-21-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	8-21-18	0y 4m 23d
HOU		SP	Brady Rodgers	5-2-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
KC		SP	Danny Duffy	3-24-18	L Shoulder Tightness	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 0d
KC	60	SP	Jesse Hahn	3-6-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (1 or 2)	8-10 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
KC		C	Salvador Perez	3-28-18	MCL Sprain (2)	4-6 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
LAA		SP	Andrew Heaney	3-19-18	L Elbow inflammation	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
LAA		2B	Ian Kinsler	3-27-18	Groin tightness	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 0d
LAA	60	SP	Alex Meyer	9-12-17	R Glenoid labrum surgery	12-14 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
LAA		SP	Nate Smith	9-15-17	L Shoulder surgery, anterior capsule	12-14 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
LAD		SP/RP	Tom Koehler	3-2-18	R Shoulder strain (2)	1-3 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
LAD		3B	Justin Turner	3-19-18	L wrist fracture	6-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
LAD	60	SP	Julio Urias	6-27-17	L Shoulder surgery, anterior capsule	12-14 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
MIA		SP	Wei-Yin Chen	5-5-17	L Elbow UCL sprain (2)	4-6 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
MIA		SP	Brett Graves	3-6-18	L Oblique strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
MIA		SP/RP	Elieser Hernandez	3-21-18	Dental surgery	1-2 w	4-7-18	0y 0m 9d
MIA		INF/OF	Martin Prado	7-28-17	R Knee surgery	6-8 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
MIA		C	J.T. Realmuto	3-9-18	Back bone bruise	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
MIA		SS	J.T. Riddle	8-11-17	L Shoulder surgery, SLAP tear	10-12 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
MIA		SP	Dan Straily	3-20-18	R Forearm inflammation	1 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
MIL		RP	Boone Logan	3-21-18	L Triceps strain (1)	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
MIL		SP	Jimmy Nelson	9-20-17	Shoulder surgery	12-14 m	6-15-18	0y 2m 17d
MIL		C	Stephen Vogt	2-28-18	R Shoulder strain	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
MIN		SP/RP	Phil Hughes	3-27-18	L Oblique strain (1)	2 w	4-11-18	0y 0m 13d
MIN	60	SP/RP	Trevor May	3-22-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
MIN	60	SP	Michael Pineda	7-18-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 3d
MIN		SP	Ervin Santana	2-6-18	R Long finger surgery	10-12 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
NYM		OF	Michael Conforto	9-6-17	R Shoulder surgery, post. capsule	4-6 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
NYM	60	SP	Rafael Montero	3-22-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (3)	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
NYM	60	1B	T.J. Rivera	9-14-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 3d
NYM		1B	Dominic Smith	2-25-18	L Quad strain	2-4 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 0d
NYM		SP	Jason Vargas	3-18-18	R Hamate fracture	4-6 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
NYM		3B	David Wright	6-17-16	Neck surgery	2-3 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 3d
NYY		1B	Greg Bird	3-27-18	R Ankle surgery	6-8 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
NYY		OF	Jacoby Ellsbury	3-2-18	R Oblique tightness	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
NYY	7	OF	Clint Frazier	2-26-18	Concussion	4-6 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
OAK	10	SP	Paul Blackburn	3-22-18	R Forearm tightness	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
OAK	60	SP	Jharel Cotton	3-21-18	R Tommy John surgery	4-6 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
OAK	10	RP	Ryan Dull	2-25-18	R Shoulder sorness	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
OAK	10	OF/3B	Renato Nunez	2-24-18	L Hamstring strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
OAK	10	C	Josh Phegley	3-18-18	Fractured finger(s)	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
OAK		SP	A.J. Puk	3-27-18	Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	5-1-19	1y 1m 2d
PHI		SP	Jerad Eickhoff	3-16-18	R Lat strain	6-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
PHI		RP	Tommy Hunter	3-26-18	Hamstring strain (1)	2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
PIT	60	RP	Nick Burdi	5-31-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 3d
PIT		RP	A.J. Schugel	2-25-18	R Shoulder discomfort	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
SD		OF	Franchy Cordero	3-22-18	L Groin strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
SD		OF	Allen Cordoba	2-15-18	Concussion	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
SD		OF	Alex Dickerson	3-28-18	L Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
SD		SP	Dinelson Lamet	3-25-18	R Elbow injury	6-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
SD		SP	Colin Rea	3-8-18	R Lat strain, R elbow injury	1-3 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
SD		SP	Matt Strahm	7-7-17	L Knee surgery	6-8 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
SEA		OF	Ben Gamel	3-4-18	Oblique strain	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
SEA		RP	David Phelps	3-17-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (3)	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
SEA		SP	Erasmo Ramirez	2-18-18	R Lat strain	1-3 m	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
SF		SP	Madison Bumgarner	3-23-18	L 5th metacarpal fracture	10-14 w	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
SF		SP	Julian Fernandez	3-27-18	R Elbow UCL sprain	4-6 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 3d
SF		SP	Jeff Samardzija	3-22-18	R Pectoral strain	1-3 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
SF		RP	Will Smith	3-28-17	L Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
STL		RP	Luke Gregerson	3-23-18	L Hamstring strain	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
STL		SP/RP	Alex Reyes	2-16-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
STL		SP	Adam Wainwright	3-25-18	R Hamstring strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
TB	10	SP	Jose De Leon	3-13-18	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
TB	10	SP	Nathan Eovaldi	3-28-18	R Elbow loose body removal	8-10 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
TB		SP	Brent Honeywell	2-27-18	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 3d
TEX	60	SP	Clayton Blackburn	3-15-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (1)	10-12 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
TEX	60	RP	Ronald Herrera	3-16-18	R Shoulder inflammation	4-6 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 2d
TEX		RP	Tim Lincecum	3-22-18	R Middle finger blister	1-2 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
TEX	60	SP	Joe Palumbo	4-20-17	L Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d
TOR		OF	Anthony Alford	3-13-18	R Hamstring strain (2)	1-2 m	5-15-18	0y 1m 16d
TOR		OF	Dalton Pompey	3-15-18	R Wrist discomfort	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
TOR		SS	Troy Tulowitzki	2-25-18	R Heel bone spur	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
WSH		RP	Joaquin Benoit	3-17-18	R Forearm strain	4-6 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 17d
WSH		2B	Daniel Murphy	10-20-17	R Knee microfracture surgery	7-10 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 2d
WSH	60	SP	Joe Ross	7-19-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	9-1-18	0y 5m 3d
WSH		RP	Koda Glover	2-18-18	R Shoulder inflammation	2-4 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 3d

UPDATES

Drew Pomeranz (SP, Boston Red Sox) – Pomeranz is beginning 2018 on the DL. He shouldn’t miss too much time, and may be a sneaky add in mid-April if your league has limited DL spots.

Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, Boston Red Sox) – Very similar situation to Pomeranz. He should be ready to go before the end of April and may provide an early boost to your pitching staff.

Brandon Finnegan (SP, Cincinnati Reds) – Expected to begin 2018 on the DL at this rate, though no official move has been made.

J.T. Realmuto (C, Miami Marlins) – Updated from a back contusion to a bone bruise. Sounds like he could be ready around the 3rd week of the regular season. He should still be a top 5 fantasy catcher once he returns.

Ervin Santana (SP, Minnesota Twins) – I’ve moved Santana back a month as I had expected he’d start his throwing program by now and he’s reportedly yet to grip a baseball.

Michael Conforto (OF, New York Mets) – Conforto will begin 2018 on the DL, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him contributing on your fantasy roster as early as week 3. Now if only the Mets would actually make the move so I could DL him and pick someone up…

Dominic Smith (1B, New York Mets) – Will go through extended spring training and likely report to Triple-A after that.

Troy Tulowitzki (SS, Toronto Blue Jays) – Tulo saw an ankle specialist on 3/27/18, though I can’t find an update from that appointment. Tulo has bone spurs in his right ankle, and I’m hopeful that he’ll go under the knife. As I was writing this he got placed on the DL60 – sounds like surgery incoming. 

Koda Glover (RP, Washington Nationals) – Did not expect the DL60 for Glover. We could be looking at a June return, and that may be optimistic. We’ll get a better sense of what to expect once he returns to throwing. Currently no indication that an operation is needed.

ADDITIONS

Tim Anderson (SS, Chicago White Sox) – Currently slated to be ready for Opening Day, though he may be skipped a few days in the first week of the season in order to give the shoulder ample rest.

Michael Brantley (OF, Cleveland Indians) – Brantley has fallen off his timetable a bit and will begin 2018 on the DL. Reports have him ready to return in mid-April, I have a feeling it will be late-April or early-May.

Ryan Merritt (SP, Cleveland Indians) – Little information is available other than that Merritt battled a knee issue in the offseason which altered his normal throwing program. Cleveland shouldn’t feel a need to rush Merritt back, so I’m guessing at an early-May return for now until we hear otherwise.

Johnny Barbato (RP, Detroit Tigers)  – Currently on pace to return to the Detroit bullpen in mid-to-late April.

Derek Fisher (OF, Houston Astros) – Reportedly mild. Fisher returned to action on 3-27-18 and should be an option for the Stros to begin 2018.

Salvador Perez (C, Kansas City Royals) – Appears to be a grade 2 sprain. Salvy will be on crutches with a knee brace for a few weeks – the sooner he returns to full weight-bearing, the better. From that point, he’ll need 2-3 weeks to regain strength and range of motion (perhaps an extra week since catching is tough on the knees).

Danny Duffy (SP, Kansas City Royals) – Expected to start today.

Ian Kinsler (2B, Los Angeles Angels) – May not be in the lineup on Opening Day but figures to miss a DL stint. Should be eased into action over the first week.

Elieser Hernandez (SP/RP, Miami Marlins) – Had his wisdom teeth removed. Nothing serious. Should return to the Marlins once eligible to come off the DL10.

Phil Hughes (SP/RP, Minnesota Twins) – Appears minor. Hughes was going to throw out of the bullpen to begin 2018 but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him activated to start for MIN on 4-11-18 (the first day they need a 5th SP).

Greg Bird (1B, New York Yankees) – Sounds like Bird had a pretty nasty calcium deposit in that right ankle which needed to be removed. Not a great way to start 2018 after missing most of 2017. The Yankees have the depth to be patient with Bird, so I’m leaning toward the 8 w side of his timetable.

Tommy Hunter (RP, Philadelphia Phillies) – Hunter suffered a mild hamstring strain and will begin 2018 on the DL. He should return around mid-April.

Matt Strahm (SP/RP, San Diego Padres) – Timetable should clear up once we get a better idea if the Padres want to use Strahm in the rotation or the bullpen. I’ve estimated a May 1st return for this time being.

Franchy Cordero (OF, San Diego Padres) – Limited information as Cordero figures to begin 2018 in the minor leagues. He’s on the big league DL so I’ll list him here until that changes.

Dinelson Lamet (SP, San Diego Padres) – This one could change wildly as more information becomes available. Lamet left with elbow pain and has not received an MRI. Padres are reporting that there’s no structural damage and they expect to have Lamet return to the rotation in May. I’m skeptical until we get more information.

Allen Cordoba (OF, San Diego Padres) – This timetable could quickly change. We’ve seen players miss extended periods due to lingering concussion symptoms. See: Dalton Pompey.

Julian Fernandez (SP, San Francisco Giants) – Fernandez is a Rule 5 selection who may be facing Tommy John surgery.

Adam Wainwright (SP, St. Louis Cardinals) – Appears mild, as Waino is currently slated to return in mid-April.

Nathan Eovaldi (SP, Tampa Bay Rays) – Loose body removal is similar language used to describe the Aaron Judge shoulder surgery. Essentially, if something is loose and can cause damage to nearby structures, it’s better to have it removed than to try to play through it. Eovaldi’s strong spring has me intrigued as the Rays have a long history of success developing pitchers. I’ll be watching this one closely as Eovaldi may be a factor for the latter half of the fantasy season.