Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Impact of Expanded Rosters

This week the calendar will turn to September and Major League Baseball will enter one of the most frustrating portions of the fantasy season. Just as fantasy teams begin jockeying for final positioning in the standings and preparing for the playoffs, the MLB roster expands from 25 players to 40. Expanded rosters have been criticized by baseball higher ups who site the unmerited imbalance it brings and the competitive edge it provides to certain teams. For fantasy purposes, roster expansion can be equally maddening. The extra roster spot may occasionally lead to the prospect having a late-season impact but it more often obscures the return to play timelines for injured players. Since a trip to the disabled list is no longer necessary to clear up room on an expanded roster, injured fantasy players often end up in limbo as they take up roster room without playing games. Injured players, especially for teams in contention, will likely be treated more conservatively leading to more missed opportunities to contribute statistically. Furthermore, managers also tend to be less forthcoming with details regarding injuries, further complicating the issue. To counteract these problematic situations, fantasy owners shouldn't be afraid to be proactive in moving on from players who meet the aforementioned criterion. Don't miss out on the playoffs by getting stuck rostering a player that you hope will return eventually.

Homer Bailey

Bailey could be one of the first players to be impacted by the 40-man roster. The Reds right-hander is dealing with biceps tenderness in his throwing arm that limited him to one inning pitched on Sunday. Bailey returned to the active roster in late July after completing his rehab following Tommy John surgery. The results have been mixed with three quality starts mixed with three bad losses. The team said his elbow is a non-issue, but the soreness in the arm could result in a skipped start. It's not uncommon for a pitcher to experience biceps soreness following major surgery, especially since the muscle is involved in both shoulder and elbow motion. Bailey's sporadic productivity would make him a fringe fantasy contributor on its own, but the injury and the likely odds that Cincinnati treats it with extreme caution should be enough to send him to the waiver wire in most formats.

Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton's situation is easier to manage as he has been on the DL ever since suffering his Grade 3 groin injury. While he has been making positive strides in his recovery, a return in the final week of the regular season remains a best-case scenario. Additionally, the team's performance over the next few weeks could influence Stanton's availability. The Marlins currently sit 1.5 games back from the final wild card spot and any incentive to get their hard-hitting outfielder back in the lineup could diminish should they fall out of the playoff picture. Fantasy owners holding out hope that he can have one more eligible week of productivity should keep their fingers crossed that both Stanton's recovery continues to move smoothly and that Miami remains in contention.

Chris Tillman and Adam Jones

Baltimore is trying to hold off Detroit for the final wildcard spot in the American League but has had to play without one of their better pitchers and one of their best bats. Tillman has been sidelined since August 21 with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. The inflammation was linked to bursitis, and a cortisone injection was utilized to treat the area. He's slated to throw off flat ground Monday as he begins to work his way back into throwing form. If the outing goes well, Baltimore should have a better idea of what to do moving forward, with a rehab assignment a strong possibility. He's eligible to come off the DL on September 5, though that exact date seems a tad unlikely. Tillman doesn't have a lengthy history of injuries and his current stint is just the second trip to the DL for his career. Kevin Gausman has stepped up in Tillman's place, pitching three consecutive wins. That includes Sunday's impressive start against the Yankees in which the former first rounder pitched seven shutout innings. He's worth a roster spot if he's still available and should continue to serve as a nice placeholder for the injured Tillman.

Gausman's performance over the weekend helped ease the load for an offense missing their leadoff man. Jones experienced cramping his left hamstring Thursday but returned to the lineup the following day. However, his return was brief and Jones was lifted in the second inning. He hasn't played since.

The diagnosis has been shifted to a strain though that's fairly unsurprising. A strain occurs when there's an overstretching of the microfibers or fibers that comprise the muscle and its tendons. This can occur following a bout of cramping. Unfortunately, once a strain does occur the body needs time to repair the damage. The Orioles are confident Jones' injury is mild and won't require a trip to the DL. However, keep in mind Jones does have a previous hamstring strain in his injury profile and these types of injuries are easily aggravated. Keep a close eye on this situation moving forward.

Check Swings

Yoenis Cespedes: The Mets outfielder impressed over the last week, hitting .370 with four home runs and eight RBI. Unfortunately, he was held out of Sunday's game with tightness in his problematic quadriceps, an injury that has been an issue since early July. It looks like this will be the norm with Cespedes moving forward and his inherent injury risk will remain elevated for the remainder of the season. Consider him day-to-day for the moment.

Gerrit Cole: Cole continues to battle arm issues though a recent MRI found no ligament damage. His current ailment is listed as elbow soreness that could easily be linked to his previous triceps injury. There have been whispers of bone spurs in the area, which could be the true culprit behind his previous injury. He's become too unreliable to trust moving forward and should be benched in all formats for the immediate future.

Clayton Kershaw: The Dodgers ace will take part in a simulated game Tuesday, facing live hitters for the first time since he aggravated the herniated disc in his lower back. Time is becoming a bit of a factor, as a rehab assignment may prove difficult with the conclusion of the Minor League season drawing near. However, don't expect the Dodgers to rush any phase of Kershaw's recovery. He could still make a late-season appearance, but it's clear Los Angeles' focus is on the postseason.

John Lackey: The Cubs veteran is nearing a return from his shoulder strain and is slated to throw a bullpen session Monday. If all goes well, Lackey could be back with the team early next week. Chicago manager Joe Maddon did admit he would consider a six-man rotation to help limit the workload of his staff in anticipation of the postseason.

Stephen Strasburg: Strasburg has begun throwing for the first time since being placed on the DL with right elbow soreness one week ago. The Nationals have reported the injury isn't related to his previously reconstructed ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) though a timeline on his return remains unclear. In the meantime, Strasburg will continue to work through his throwing protocol. The team's sizeable lead in the National League East has bought them time to delicately handle Strasburg's recovery, so don't count on a quick return. Based on his injury history and injury profile, fantasy owners hard-pressed for starts may be forced to make a tough decision soon.