This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Yankees veteran outfielder was sidelined for three of four outings late last week after sustaining a bruised nerve in his elbow. While Ellsbury's injury isn't a routine occurrence, nearly everyone has experienced a lesser form of the problem when they have "bumped their funny bone." The funny bone isn't actually a bone but instead a nerve known as the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is responsible for both motor and sensory function in the forearm, wrist and hand. When contused, an individual can experience pain and numbness into the ring and pinkie fingers and may have problems gripping objects. The Yankees didn't outright say Ellsbury's injury involves the ulnar nerve, but injuries to the neighboring median or radial nerves would result in similar limitations. Fortunately, it appears the damage is minimal and Ellsbury looked good in Sunday's marathon win over Chicago launching a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Plug him back in.
The former MVP has missed four straight games and five of the last six with lingering problems on his right arm and shoulder. The injury was initially reported as an injury involving his trapezius muscle. The "trap" extends from the vertebrae of the mid-back to the neck and shoulder blade. This positioning allows the muscle to control multiple movements of the shoulder blade, making it an integral part of fluid shoulder motion. Any limitation here could easily set off a cascade of problems for a baseball player, which could help explain
The Yankees veteran outfielder was sidelined for three of four outings late last week after sustaining a bruised nerve in his elbow. While Ellsbury's injury isn't a routine occurrence, nearly everyone has experienced a lesser form of the problem when they have "bumped their funny bone." The funny bone isn't actually a bone but instead a nerve known as the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is responsible for both motor and sensory function in the forearm, wrist and hand. When contused, an individual can experience pain and numbness into the ring and pinkie fingers and may have problems gripping objects. The Yankees didn't outright say Ellsbury's injury involves the ulnar nerve, but injuries to the neighboring median or radial nerves would result in similar limitations. Fortunately, it appears the damage is minimal and Ellsbury looked good in Sunday's marathon win over Chicago launching a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Plug him back in.
The former MVP has missed four straight games and five of the last six with lingering problems on his right arm and shoulder. The injury was initially reported as an injury involving his trapezius muscle. The "trap" extends from the vertebrae of the mid-back to the neck and shoulder blade. This positioning allows the muscle to control multiple movements of the shoulder blade, making it an integral part of fluid shoulder motion. Any limitation here could easily set off a cascade of problems for a baseball player, which could help explain why Braun is reporting multiple issues in his throwing arm. A MRI failed to uncover any significant damage, and the team remains optimistic he will be able to return on Tuesday. However, tread cautiously here, as Braun's level of injury risk will remain elevated for the immediate future.
The five-time All-Star has struggled to start the season, though recent revelations hint that injuries could be a big part of the problem. Gonzalez has been battling soreness in his right elbow that has disrupted his swing and approach at the plate. He's also been limited by a triceps strain on the opposite arm and a herniated disc in his back. While the elbow is the listed reason for the first DL trip of Gonzalez's career, I'm more concerned about the herniated disc. Between each vertebra of the spine sit intervertebral discs designed to absorb forces placed on and through the spine. A bulging or herniated disc occurs when a portion of the disc begins to deform. The bulge often irritates neighboring nerves in the back, resulting in radicular pain in the lower extremities. Herniated discs can be particularly problematic for veteran players who have carried a heavy load for their careers as the biological characteristics of the disc begin to change. Degeneration can limit the discs' effectiveness and result in chronic back pain and functional limitation. Rest and physical therapy can improve a herniated disc, but surgery is an option in severe or persistent cases. As a result, it seems likely that Gonzalez will miss more than the 10-day minimum. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles' top prospect, will take over at first and is an intriguing add in all formats.
The Rangers are preparing to play without the services of Hamels for an extended period after the left-hander suffered a strained oblique. The oblique muscles are classified into two different muscle groups, the internal and external obliques. The external obliques are the larger of the two and help pull the chest downward during breathing. The internal obliques are located below the external group and compress the abdomen during exhalation. The two groups also work in unison with the group on the opposite side of the body to achieve rotation of the trunk. In Hamels' case his right internal oblique and his left external oblique are fired during pitch delivery. While the exact group strained wasn't specified, time is a necessity of recovery. The Rangers have already indicated they are expecting him to miss at least eight weeks, and there's been no indication if that timeline includes a rehab assignment. Hamels owners should anticipate this stretching out until late June or early July.
Check Swings
Zach Britton: The Orioles closer reported renewed pain in his forearm after pitching an inning against the Red Sox on May 4. Testing revealed inflammation in the area for the second time since mid-April, resulting in a return to the DL. Britton continues to insist his elbow is structurally intact though a visit to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache suggest there are concerns about the problem. Britton missed nearly three weeks during his last DL stint, and there's reason to believe he may need more time this time around. Fantasy owners invested in Britton should consider buying shares in Brad Brach until the issue is resolved.
Bryce Harper: The Nationals outfielder should return to action Monday after sitting out three straight games with a mild groin strain. The team is confident he will be fine following the extended break, and their upcoming schedule provides an opportunity to ease him back into playing. The Nationals begin a two-game interleague set in Baltimore on Monday where Harper could return as a designated hitter. Regardless of his role on Monday, look for Washington to closely limit Harper's activity on the base path until he's proven the groin is no longer an issue.
Aaron Sanchez: The 24-year-old pitcher cleared a major hurdle in his recovery over the weekend when he completed a bullpen session using his full arsenal of pitches. Sanchez spent 10 days on the DL with a blister and a second after the fingernail that caused the blister split. Now with both areas improving, Sanchez was able to utilize his curveball without problems. He is expected to pitch an extended spring training outing on Tuesday and is targeting a weekend return. Hopefully fantasy owners can begin to trust Sanchez again after what has been a slow start to the 2017 season.
Mike Trout: The Angels are wisely handling the tightness in Trout's hamstring conservatively. The two-time American League MVP has missed three of the team's last four games but expects to return to the lineup on Monday. Like Harper, I'm anticipating the Angels will carefully monitor his workload, diminishing his chances at stolen bases. Trout is simply too good to consider benching in weekly formats, but I'll feel better about this situation if he can play for multiple games without reporting any lingering symptoms.
