Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Price Hampered by Wrist Cyst

David Price

The Red Sox pitcher hit the injured list with a wrist injury that could be the culprit of his rough second half. Price has been diagnosed with a cyst associated with the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) of his right wrist. The TFCC is an articular cartilage disc located on the pinkie side of the wrist, designed to support the radius and ulna during gripping and forearm rotation. 

A cyst is an accumulation of fluid in a specific area, though why they occur remains debated. Some believe cysts are a sign of degeneration in the area or the result of some other underlying issue. Cyst are often asymptomatic and are left alone until they become functionally limiting or painful. In Price's case, there are other reasons for concern, as TFCC cysts can impinge on a nearby nerve, causing numbness in the hand.

Though Price has not experienced any hypoesthesia, he did say the cyst had become tender and limited the range of motion in his wrist over his last few starts. As a result, the five-time All-Star underwent a cortisone injection in the area in hopes of reducing the associated inflammation, which would in turn allow him to regain full function of the joint. Removal of the cyst would be the next course of action if the accompanying symptoms persist, though Price has said the wrist is feeling better following the injection.

Price could try throwing over the next few days but he remains without a definitive timeframe. Boston's schedule over the ensuing three weeks includes four scheduled off days which could help Price return without major changes in the rotation. Brian Johnson filled Price's spot on Friday though he struggled in the start. Johnson finished with three earned run over 2.2 innings pitched.

Juan Soto

The Nationals outfielder is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury suffered on Sunday. There have been some conflicting reports as to the nature of the injury, as it has been listed as a sprain by some and a strain by others. The injury designations may only differ by one letter but they are used to describe two distinctive types of ailments.

A sprain occurs with the stress exhibited on the body results in damage to a ligament. Ligaments are the connective tissue of the body that stabilize joints by connecting bone to bone. The term strain is utilized when the injury involves muscle tissue or a tendon of a muscle.

Soto appears to have rolled his ankle while rounding third base. This is mechanism of injury suggests the injury is a sprain and not strain. However, it is possible to injure the stabilizing muscles of the joint when the foot is forced into inversion. Still, a sprain seems like the more likely injury, and Soto seems probable to miss a game or two. 

Check Swings

Corey Kluber: The Indians ace could be nearing a return from the fractured forearm that has sidelined him for over three months. He made his first rehab appearance on Thursday, throwing three innings for Triple-A Columbus. He finished with two earned runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts. The nondisplaced fracture in his ulna should be healed by now, and the integrity of the bone should be close to full strength. Kluber simply has to build up his shoulder after the extended time off and will do so with another rehab start or two. He is scheduled to throw Tuesday for Double-A Akron but should be back with the big league club by the end of the month. 

Jose Martinez: The Cardinals will evaluate the shoulder of their first baseman on Monday to determine the next steps in treatment. Martinez left Sunday's contest with what is currently being described as discomfort. However, discomfort and soreness are terms used to describe symptoms, and determining the underlying cause remains key. Look for a more concrete diagnosis to emerge in the near future. Those in weekly formats may want to look into a healthier option for the week ahead.

Max Scherzer: The Nationals ace will throw a simulated game on Tuesday as he works his way back from a rhomboid strain. Injuries to his shoulder and mid-back have limited Scherzer to just one start since the All-Star break, but the team remains optimistic he will return in the near future. I remain a bit leery, as prematurely returning from an injury of this magnitude could have a trickle-down effect on his throwing arm. The last thing anyone wants is for Scherzer to open himself up to a more significant shoulder or elbow injury. He's too good to bench if and when he is ultimately activated, but I'll be keeping a close eye on his numbers moving forward. 

Blake Snell: The former Cy Young winner is slated to play catch Monday, marking the first time he has thrown since undergoing an elbow debridement to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. This will be the first step to returning to the mound, something that could happen as soon as next month. Snell remains a stash for now, but that could easily change with any sort of a setback.

Giancarlo Stanton: The Yankees have transferred their hard-hitting outfielder to the 60-day IL, ensuring he will not play before August 25. Stanton remains without a timetable as he works his way back from a PCL sprain in his right knee. He did recently resume light baseball activities, including throwing and hitting off a tee, but the move means New York knows he remains at least two weeks away.

Gleyber Torres: While Stanton continues to sit, his Yankees teammate managed to return to action on Sunday. Torres had not played since suffering a core muscle injury the previous week. The term "core muscle" injury is often used to describe an injury to one of the adductor muscles of the leg or one of the neighboring abdominal muscles. However, the Yankees remain tight-lipped on specifics, making the severity of the injury difficult to gauge. The quick return was a bit surprising, and this may not be the last we hear about the issue. Tread carefully with Torres in the weeks ahead. 

Christian Yelich: The hard-hitting outfielder missed four consecutive games last week but did manage to log a pinch hit appearance on Sunday. The team has a scheduled day off on Monday, giving the 2018 NL MVP extra time to further recuperate from a lingering back issue. His cameo on Sunday suggests a full return could come as early as Tuesday, though he will carry an elevated degree of a risk for the immediate future.