(*) THE BIG HURT: Hurt file, July 6-11

NOTE: This column focuses on injury analysis, so we don't cover the progress of every injured player. We try to highlight the key fantasy contributors, unusual injuries, or situations where the official projected return is variable or not given. Players whose progress is proceeding as expected are very well covered by fantasy news sources; we'll tend to leave those players alone unless we have something we want to add to the news coverage. This column is updated on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Mondays.

Credit for the Worry-O-Meter goes to Dr. Jim Ferretti (Twitter: @TFSDoc):

     1 – “No problemo”
     2 – “I’ll be back”
     3 – “I (might) be back”
     4 – “I (probably won’t) be back”
     5 – “Hasta la vista, baby”

Previous week: June 29 - July 4

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July 11, 2022

Brandon Belt (1B, SF) – R knee inflammation (7/9/22)
This is not good. He missed three weeks earlier with similar inflammation, returning in mid-June. Three weeks later, it’s an issue again. It may be one of those things that flares up now and again, with surgery in the offseason. He may also need surgery sooner than that, which would keep him out for a chunk. The issue is most likely meniscus or cartilage.
2022 Impact: Could be a recurring issue; unknown extent
Est. Return: 3-4 days, perhaps
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Yordan Álvarez (OF, HOU) – R hand inflammation (6/18/22)
He injured himself on a swing back in June and has been battling the injury since. Given the circumstances, it’s likely a sprain of some sort—if it’s truly his hand it’s most likely a tendon, but sometimes “hand” and “wrist” are vague terms. There’s a small chance it’s a stress fracture or stress reaction, but a soft-tissue tear is the most likely case. He’ll be out past the All-Star break, and that might be enough time. However, his power could be affected for a while.
2022 Impact: Unknown extent/severity; potential for reduced output
Est. Return: Late July/early August
Worry-O-Meter: 2-3

James McCann (C, NYM) – Oblique strain (7/9/22)
It’s an oblique. Base expectation is 3-5 weeks, though we’d expect catchers to miss closer to the top of the estimate.
2022 Impact: Variable recovery time; risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Early/mid-August
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Wander Franco (SS, TAM) – R wrist injury (7/9/22)
We don’t want to rub salt in the wounds of those who paid for his breakout during draft season, but it officially ain’t gonna happen. The reports are that it’s a hamate bone injury, which is a tough injury that often has lasting effects. Assuming the reports are accurate, expect a 6-8 week absence, with reduced power when he returns.
2022 Impact: Potential for reduced output
Est. Return: Mid-August/early September
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Luis Patiño (RHP, TAM) – L oblique strain (4/11/22) UPDATE
He was originally projected for a mid-July return, but a blister has pushed him back a bit. Expect 2-3 weeks longer, if he gets back on course.
2022 Impact: Variable recovery time
Est. Return: Late July, most likely
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Ken Giles (RHP, SEA) – R shoulder tightness (7/9/22)
It’s at the back of the shoulder. It’s most likely a muscle strain, but it could be something more depending on where on the back of the shoulder he’s experiencing the tightness. We’ll start with the muscle strain, but at least be prepared for bad news.
2022 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: Late July/early August (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 3

 

July 9, 2022

Josh Naylor (OF/1B, CLE) – Back spasms (7/4/22)
He’s missed four straight games now. It’s not wrong to consider him day-to-day, but at some point they may decide he needs more time and put him on the IL. For now, we’ll assume he just needs another day or two, but there’s obviously a good chance he’ll go on the IL.
2022 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 1-5 days (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 1-2

Tyler O’Neill (OF, STL) – L hamstring strain and R wrist strain (6/9/22 and 7/5/22)
He was supposed to be back from the IL, but was hit by a pitch on Wednesday in a rehab game and suffered a tear in his wrist. We don’t know exactly what is torn, but it’s presumably a ligament. He probably won’t be back now until mid-week, and that’s if all goes well. He could potentially see a few more weeks on the IL as well.
2022 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: 3-6 days, best case
Worry-O-Meter: 2-3

Fernando Tatis, Jr. (SS/OF, SD) – L wrist fracture (Off-season) UPDATE
So he’s missed our original June projection. He’s due to check in with the doctor again to get clearance to start swinging. Best case right now is probably early August, and don’t count on him behind his same self.
2022 Impact: Elevated risk; potential for reduced output
Est. Return: Early/mid-August
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Jurickson Profar (OF, SD) – Concussion, neck strain (7/7/22)
That was a nasty collision, so it’s no surprise he suffered multiple injuries. He’s on the 7-day concussion IL, but there’s a good chance he transfers to the 10-day IL once he’s cleared concussion protocol.
2022 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: Late July/early August (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Joey Votto (1B, CIN) – Back tightness (7/4/22)
Anthony Rizzo (1B, NYY) – Back tightness (7/4/22)
Both have missed four games and both appear to have ongoing issues. Ongoing tightness like this is indicative of a strain. While they can be cleared with stretching and other rehab, both could be facing an IL stint.
2022 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 2-5 days, though an IL trip is possible
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Kyle Hendricks (RHP, CHC) – R shoulder strain (7/5/22)
An MRI showed no rotator cuff or labrum damage, so it’s likely a muscle strain. That’s the good news. The bad news is that strains can take several weeks to resolve.
2022 Impact: Variable recovery time
Est. Return: Late July/early August
Worry-O-Meter: 2-3

Yusei Kikuchi (LHP, TOR) – Neck strain (7/7/22)
If it’s truly a neck muscle, he should be back reasonable quickly, though there is some risk here, both re-injury risk and the risk that it’s more serious than a simple neck issue.
2022 Impact: Variable recovery time; elevated risk
Est. Return: Late July/early August
Worry-O-Meter: 2-3

Pavin Smith (OF, ARI) – R wrist fracture (7/5/22)
If you were hoping for a quick return from the minor leagues, you’re going to be disappointed. He was hit on the wrist with a pitch and will miss 6-8 weeks with a non-displaced fracture and some soft-tissue damage. It’s his non-power hand, though, which is a silver lining, at least.
2022 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: Early September, from the injury. Don’t know when he’ll be recalled.
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Evan Longoria (3B, SF) – Oblique strain (7/6/22)
It’s the dreaded oblique. They’re tough healers to start, and at his age, healing often takes a bit longer.
2022 Impact: Elevated risk; risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Late July/early August
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Chris Taylor (2B/SS/OF, LA) – R foot fracture (7/2/22) UPDATE
They apparently missed the fracture on the initial X-rays. This suggests it’s not a significant fracture, which of course suggests a quicker recovery. We’re going to adjust the projection based on the updated information.
2022 Impact: Likely minimal, except time missed
Est. Return: Early/mid-August
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Tyler Mahle (RHP, CIN) – R shoulder strain (7/3/22)
He says it’s nothing, but the IL trip says it’s something. It may be minor, but these have turned out badly before.
2022 Impact: Don’t believe players
Est. Return: Late July/early August
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Jake Burger (3B, CHW) – R hand, bone bruise (7/6/22)
This is hopefully a minor injury, though it may be the type that affects him even when he returns.
2022 Impact: Possibility of reduced output when he first returns
Est. Return: Late July/early August
Worry-O-Meter: 2

 

July 6, 2022

Chris Taylor (2B/SS/OF, LA) – R foot/ankle swelling (7/2/22)
He fouled a ball off his foot or ankle, and he has been bothered since. He was forced to leave Monday's game due to swelling. The x-rays following the foul ball showed no fractures, so he's likely dealing with residual pain and swelling from the trauma. It's possible that he suffered a bone bruise, so an IL trip isn't out of the question, but otherwise he probably just needs a few more days to recover. He's scheduled for a CT scan, so hopefully there will be more clarity soon.
2022 Impact: Unknown extent
Est. Return: 2-5 days (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 2

[Update: it's a fracture after all. Estimated return (best estimate) is mid-/late August]

Curtis Casali (C, SF) – R oblique strain (7/4/22)
It's unlikely he can play through an oblique strain. They may take a few days to evaluate before putting him on the IL, but we're going to project an IL stay until we hear otherwise.
2022 Impact: Unknown severity; Variable recovery time
Est. Return: Late July/early August (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 1-2

Kenley Jansen (RHP, ATL) – Cardiac arrythmia (6/27/22) UPDATE
We has estimated post All-Star break, but they're targeting July 12, which would be the soonest he can come back. The biggest risk is that he's on blood thinners, so he's more vulnerable to injuries between now and then. We'd consider than a low risk.
2022 Impact: Small chance it becomes a bigger issue
Est. Return: July 12
Worry-O-Meter: 1-2

Michael Wacha (RHP, BOS) – R shoulder, "dead arm" (7/3/22)
At its root, dead arm is an issue with fatigue, where the muscles in the shoulder are unable to provide the stability necessary to pitch. Since it's usually fatigue (as opposed to actual damage), it usually resolves with rest.
2022 Impact: Likely minimal
Est. Return: July 6-10 (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 1-2

Chris Archer (RHP, MIN) – L hip tightness (7/5/22)
Tightness that's bad enough for an IL trip is most likely a muscle strain, though there are other possibilities. Until we hear more, that' what we'll project.
2022 Impact: Unknown extent
Est. Return: Mid-/late July
Worry-O-Meter: 1-2

 

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