This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
Strasburg's return from the disabled list lasted two and two-thirds innings before he was lifted from the game with another elbow injury. The initial evaluation resulted in a strained flexor mass in his throwing elbow though he is actively seeking a second opinion.
In the meantime, Strasburg has been proactive in his recovery, undergoing a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the area. Several weeks ago, I broke down the various injection utilized in professional sports. The PRP treatment has become one of the more popular options and is designed to simulate the body's natural healing mechanism. Unfortunately, even a PRP injection will only be a Band-Aid if Strasburg continues to place undue stress on and through his elbow.
Strasburg's pitching mechanics have remained largely unaltered since entering the big leagues. The high amounts of force he generates when delivering a pitch have wreaked havoc on his body, most notably his back and elbow. Reports indicate that his latest issue, the flexor bundle strain, is an acute injury, and the MRI showed no signs of an overuse injury. However, the same thing was noted in 2010 about Strasburg's ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear that resulted in Tommy John surgery. It appears the manner in which the right-hander delivers his pitches places an abnormally high amount of force on and through the elbow stabilizers. Both the UCL and common flexor tendon attach to the medial epicondyle of the humerus and act together to aid in elbow stability. If one is
Strasburg's return from the disabled list lasted two and two-thirds innings before he was lifted from the game with another elbow injury. The initial evaluation resulted in a strained flexor mass in his throwing elbow though he is actively seeking a second opinion.
In the meantime, Strasburg has been proactive in his recovery, undergoing a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the area. Several weeks ago, I broke down the various injection utilized in professional sports. The PRP treatment has become one of the more popular options and is designed to simulate the body's natural healing mechanism. Unfortunately, even a PRP injection will only be a Band-Aid if Strasburg continues to place undue stress on and through his elbow.
Strasburg's pitching mechanics have remained largely unaltered since entering the big leagues. The high amounts of force he generates when delivering a pitch have wreaked havoc on his body, most notably his back and elbow. Reports indicate that his latest issue, the flexor bundle strain, is an acute injury, and the MRI showed no signs of an overuse injury. However, the same thing was noted in 2010 about Strasburg's ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear that resulted in Tommy John surgery. It appears the manner in which the right-hander delivers his pitches places an abnormally high amount of force on and through the elbow stabilizers. Both the UCL and common flexor tendon attach to the medial epicondyle of the humerus and act together to aid in elbow stability. If one is weakened, the other stabilizer assumes the additional load and becomes susceptible to injury of its own.
Until Strasburg addresses the root of the problem, look for this to continue to be a repetitive problem. The team hasn't officially ruled him out for the season yet, though a more definitive announcement will likely come following his secondary evaluation. In the meantime, Strasburg becomes waiver wire fodder in yearly leagues and remains a high-risk fantasy player in keeper formats.
The Kansas City outfielder remains limited by a nagging wrist injury. He reportedly suffered a Grade 2 sprain in the wrist sometime in mid-August but initially played through the pain. However, the pain became such a limiting factor that the Royals have held him out of seven of the their last eight games. He recently underwent a stem-cell injection in hopes of accelerating the healing process, though whispers of the club shutting him down for the year have begun to trickle out. Keep in mind a Grade 2 strain is a partial tear of the ligament and the injury site will likely remain unstable without ample time to heal.
The current plan is to let Cain rest for the next week before reevaluating the situation. Unfortunately, this decision leaves fantasy owners in a tough spot, as it doesn't appear a trip to the DL is currently being considered. As a result, it may be time to move on from Cain and invest in a more reliable outfielder for the remainder of the season.
Check Swings
Dallas Keuchel: The Astros ace is dealing with shoulder inflammation and will miss at least his next two starts in the rotation. A MRI did not reveal any structural damage, meaning his inflammation is likely muscular related though the diagnosis remains vague. Like Strasburg, Keuchel could be a top talent that fantasy owners are forced to drop as expanded rosters may keep him off the DL.
Carlos Correa: Houston's problems carry over to the offense as well, as their shortstop also remains bothered by shoulder inflammation. Correa missed four games and lasted just a few innings on Sunday. However, it appears his early exit was more of a precautionary measure than the sign of a setback, as the team trailed the Cubs 9-1 at the time of his removal from the game. He remains day-to-day but is expected to take part in the upcoming series with the Rangers.
Josh Harrison: The Pirates infielder won't play Monday after straining his groin over the weekend. The injury is ill-timed as he's in the middle of a 10-game hitting streak. The severity of the strain remains undisclosed, but general manager Neal Huntington admitted it's more than just a day-to-day injury. Harrison will undergo detailed testing early in the week to get a better idea of what exactly is going on at the injury site. Sean Rodriguez will man second in his place.
Rougned Odor: The hard-hitting second baseman didn't play on Saturday after experiencing bilateral hamstring tightness. Odor doesn't have a history of hamstring problems, so fantasy owners shouldn't be overly concerned at this point. He could receive more routine rest down the stretch if Texas can maintain their sizeable lead in the AL West. Jurickson Profar started Saturday and could end up being a cheap alternative in daily leagues should Odor receive any additional games off.
Danny Salazar: Like Strasburg, Salazar is battling recurring elbow problems. The All-Star right-hander will miss his next start with forearm tightness and is slated to undergo an MRI in the coming days. He has now missed time on four separate occasions this season, three times with elbow-related issues and one time for shoulder fatigue. The injuries are clearly limiting Salazar who has an ERA of 7.75 in his last nine starts. His long-term availability should become more clear following a detailed exam but don't look for this the situation to resolve itself quickly.
Aaron Sanchez: The Blue Jays have taken a numbers of precautionary steps to protect their young pitcher from being overworked. While the distance between starts has been a point of frustration for fantasy owners, the 24-year-old has managed to pitch without any serious elbow or shoulder problems. However, the protocol didn't account for a troublesome blister than limited him in his start over the weekend. Sanchez surrendered six earned runs in just 3.1 innings pitched before being lifted from the game. The team was already considering giving him extra rest, and this minor setback all but guarantees he won't make his next start. As a result, fantasy owners in weekly formats should bench him for the upcoming week as it looks like he won't be guaranteed an appearance.
