Injuries are dominating the baseball landscape. This is not surprising as for the second year in a row, MLB teams are playing it safe with their players and if there is any doubt about their ability to play for a few days, off to the IL they go. This is playing havoc with our fantasy rosters but also allows us to pick up the hot players. The first thing I always look for when one of my players is placed on IL is a two-start pitcher. Sometimes it can be a lucky break if you happen to like what’s out there on the waiver wire, especially if that player of yours isn’t out long-term. What can I tell you, I’m an optimist.
Risers
Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox: The knock on Devers since coming up to the big leagues was that he can hit, but he is a subpar defender at third base. Nothing that we have seen this year has changed that opinion. Devers is a goalie at 3B. You’re just hoping he can knock the ball down and throw the runner out. The emergence of Michael Chavis made some worry that he would possibly take the 3B job from Devers or possibly even platoon there. Devers seems to have put those worries to bed with four straight multi-hit games. Sure, we keep hearing about the Sox looking for a position for Chavis, but 3B doesn’t seem to be it.
Corbin Martin, Houston Astros: Martin had a successful MLB debut Sunday by going 5.1 innings and striking out nine Rangers in a victory. This call-up was supposed to go to Forrest Whitley who is considered the top prospect in the Houston organization, but he has struggled mightily which has allowed Martin to get his shot, a shot he may run and hide with. Martin doesn’t have as high a ceiling as Whitley but his 1.48 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning in Triple-A proves he deserves a shot. How long he stays with Houston almost certainly depends on how well he pitches. If he’s still available in your league, he is well worth a claim.
Giovanny Urshela, New York Yankees: I could write an entire column on the Yankees and their injuries each week. Aaron Hicks returned from the IL on Monday, but Jonathan Loaisiga and Miguel Andujar went on with shoulder injuries. Urshela is by far the biggest beneficiary of the Andujar injury. The Yankees had actually tried to acquire him from Cleveland several seasons ago but weren’t able to make a deal. They ended up getting him for nothing as he was known as more of good glove no-hit player. Well, that changed along with his batting stance. Urshela is now driving the ball with authority and may make Yankee fans not miss Andujar if he is indeed lost for the season.
Mitch Garver, Minnesota Twins: You all know how I feel about the catcher position in fantasy baseball. That being said, Garver deserves to be on this list. He is batting .333 with eight HRs. That’s power and AVG. Most of us would kill for one or the other from the catcher position. There are worries here, however. Garver is an unknown who could just be on a hot streak and there is also Williams Astudillo. Garver seemed to take off after Astudillo was placed on the IL. Well, Astudillo is back now and playing time could be an issue, especially if a slump is in his future. That being said, four games of Garver a week may be better than one or both of your catchers.
Hyun-Jun Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers: When did Ryu become the best SP in the game? Ryu threw a shutout versus the Braves last Tuesday and then followed that up with 7.1 no-hit innings versus the Nationals on Sunday. Most of us thought last season was a fluke when he posted a 1.97 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 15 starts (82.1 IP), but those numbers are even better this year, 1.72 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. Can he keep this up? No, but I don’t see him falling off drastically either.
Fallers
Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets: If you drafted and are starting Nimmo, what you’re hoping for is a 20/20 player along with an AVG that won’t hurt you. What you’re getting is no power, no speed, and an AVG that is plummeting. His playing time has to be in jeopardy, especially with the return of several Mets from the IL. Although none of those returnees is specifically an OF, the Mets may have to do some tinkering to give everyone playing time and Nimmo could be the loser in this scenario.
Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays: The Jays may have missed their opportunity to sell high on Stroman. There was talk all offseason about the Jays possibly thinking about moving him, but no deal could be made. Then Stroman got off to a hot start to the season by only allowing six runs in his first six starts, but he has come crashing down to Earth by allowing 12 earned runs over his last three starts. The Blue Jays aren’t likely to place him on their bench, but you should.
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros: Altuve was struggling even before he went on the IL with a hamstring injury. He had four hits in his previous 33 at-bats and has only stolen one base all season. The Astros don’t have another important game until October as they are going to win the AL West by 20 games, so they can play it very safe with Altuve and not bring him back until they are sure that he is 100% healthy. This is what I would do. Hopefully, we get the real Altuve back when he does return.
Miguel Andujar, New York Yankees: Andujar was placed back on the IL on Monday with that shoulder injury. Andujar has a tear in his shoulder that the Yankees were hoping would be significantly recovered by a rehab program. That doesn’t seem to have happened as the team believes that tear is now affecting his hitting. With this injury and the emergence of Urshela, not to mention what happens when Didi Gregorius (Tommy John) returns next month, it would seem prudent that the Yankees have Andujar get the surgery needed to fix the problem and make sure he is full go for next season.
