Fantasy baseball injury report analysis Zimmermann, Sonny Gray, Darvish return
Jordan Zimmermann
The Tigers' 9-4 victory over the Rays on Sunday proved costly as Zimmermann left early due to injury.
In the sixth inning Zimmermann was forced from the game after suffering a strained right groin. The severity of the injury has yet to be determined, as the team awaits the results of an MRI on the area. However, even the mildest of strains could prove problematic, as over half of the kinetic force produced during pitching is generated from below the waist. Any limitation in the lower extremity can cause a pitcher to lose velocity on his pitches and negatively impact his delivery.
A groin strain would affect the lateral motion of Zimmermann's pitching mechanics, as the adductor muscle group is responsible for pulling the leg inward toward the midline of the body. A strained and weakened groin would cause Zimmermann problems while transferring his body weight as well as the ensuing force in the acceleration and follow-through phases of each pitch.
Furthermore, a limitation in delivery could easily cause a cascade reaction throughout the body resulting in excessive stress and strain on other areas. As a result, Detroit would be wise to handle the situation with extreme care to preserve Zimmermann's long-term health and availability, especially given an injury history that includes Tommy John surgery in 2009. A break in the schedule could buy Zimmermann time and minimize his time lost. However, a trip to the disabled list appears probable and is likely the smarter play.
Josh Reddick and Sonny Gray
Like Detroit, Oakland is down two key contributors with both Gray and Reddick on the DL.
The problems started on Thursday when Reddick was injured while stealing second.
Earlier in the season I warned about the perils of the headfirst slide. The approach results in a loss of control for the individual and makes the fingers and hand susceptible to injury. Reddick found this out the hard way, as he suffered a fractured left thumb after getting hung up on the bag.
For now it appears Reddick avoided significant ligament damage as well as the need for surgical intervention. Instead, he'll simply be casted and wait for the broken bone to mend. Oakland is hoping he'll miss roughly four weeks of action. However, fantasy owners should anticipate the timeline being closer to six weeks, given the effects of thumb injuries on grip strength. If surgery is ultimately needed, the timeline would need to be appropriately adjusted. Jake Smolinski was called up to replace Reddick but has limited fantasy value at this time.
Gray was injured the following night during a wild performance. During his brief appearance, the 26-year-old right-hander walked four, surrendered six hits and gave up five runs. Two days later he was shut down with what the team is calling a strained trapezius. The trapezius is a broad muscle that extends from the neck down the mid-back and across to the shoulder blade. This positioning allows the muscle to aid in multiple motions of the shoulder blade including rotation, elevation and retraction. Trapezius strains are fairly common amongst pitchers, with players like Washington's Stephen Strasburg and Texas' Yu Darvish missing time in recent seasons as a result of the injury.
Gray will spend the next two weeks rehabbing the area and is hopeful about returning when he is first eligible. His progress through treatment will be the ultimate deciding factor, though the time away could help the struggling Gray clear his head. Left-hander Daniel Coulombe has been called up to take Gray's spot on the roster.
Check Swings
Yu Darvish: The Rangers starting rotation has been one of the best in the American League, and it's about to get a big boost. Darvish is expected to make his long awaited debut over the weekend after sitting out the entire 2015 season following Tommy John surgery. Darvish has looked solid in his minor league rehab assignment, ringing up 21 strikeouts in his five starts. While he could display some inconsistency early on, he's worth a roster spot in all formats. Look for Texas to closely monitor his workload moving forward.
Hunter Pence: Pence was a spectator over the weekend due to a sore right hamstring. The veteran outfielder first reported the issue following Friday's game, and the Giants opted to play it safe by resting him in consecutive games. He was available to pinch hit Sunday but was not needed. The fact that he could have played is an encouraging sign, and he has a legitimate shot at being back on Monday.
Mike Trout: The Angels outfielder expects to be fine moving forward after tweaking his right ankle in Sunday's win over Baltimore. Trout got his ankle caught on the bag while rounding third base. The misstep forced the joint into a direction known as inversion, the classic mechanism of injury for an ankle sprain. He remained in the game but was later removed with the team winning in blowout fashion. The decision was purely precautionary, and Trout is confident he'll be fine moving forward. Keep an eye on his availability over the next few days, as swelling will occasionally worsen overnight, but it looks as though he avoided a potentially serious injury.
Stotts works as a Certified Athletic Trainer (MAT, ATC, PES, CES) and is a former winner of the Best Fantasy Football Article from the Fantasy Sports Trade Association.
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