This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
We've reached the point of the MLB season where we begin to see familiar names pop up on injury reports as players begin hitting the disabled list with recurring or interconnected injuries. Multiple injuries along the same side of the body or extremity are common due to the intricate relationship between the various muscle groups and stabilizing structures like ligaments and cartilage. Based on these relationships, medical professionals like athletic trainers and physicians routinely turn to a tool known as the kinetic link model. In this biomechanical model, the body is imagined as an interrelated arrangement of links working together to carry out the various motions of the body. If an injury, like a sprain or strain, occurs somewhere along the chain, the other parts are impacted. Envision the upper extremity as an iron chain, where each link in the chain serves as one of the joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist) of the arm. If one of these links is weakened by injury or fatigue, the strength of the entire chain is compromised. As a result, a previous injury can lead to a new issue or lingering problems if the player returns prematurely or fails to address the root of the problem during recovery.
Consider New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. The All-Star outfielder has dealt with lower extremity muscle injuries for the bulk of his career. The problems first surfaced in 2012 when he suffered a strained left hamstring while a member of the Athletics. Issues with his left
We've reached the point of the MLB season where we begin to see familiar names pop up on injury reports as players begin hitting the disabled list with recurring or interconnected injuries. Multiple injuries along the same side of the body or extremity are common due to the intricate relationship between the various muscle groups and stabilizing structures like ligaments and cartilage. Based on these relationships, medical professionals like athletic trainers and physicians routinely turn to a tool known as the kinetic link model. In this biomechanical model, the body is imagined as an interrelated arrangement of links working together to carry out the various motions of the body. If an injury, like a sprain or strain, occurs somewhere along the chain, the other parts are impacted. Envision the upper extremity as an iron chain, where each link in the chain serves as one of the joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist) of the arm. If one of these links is weakened by injury or fatigue, the strength of the entire chain is compromised. As a result, a previous injury can lead to a new issue or lingering problems if the player returns prematurely or fails to address the root of the problem during recovery.
Consider New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. The All-Star outfielder has dealt with lower extremity muscle injuries for the bulk of his career. The problems first surfaced in 2012 when he suffered a strained left hamstring while a member of the Athletics. Issues with his left leg would persist over the next two seasons until he was traded to the Red Sox. Cespedes would be traded two more times before landing with the Mets in 2016. Shortly after re-signing with New York in 2016, Cespedes began experiencing problems with the opposite leg. First it was a right hip injury and then a strained right quadriceps. Over the last two years, Cespedes has been in and out of the Mets lineup with strains to his hamstrings, quad and hip flexor, requiring multiple trips to the DL. Last year he ended the season on the DL due to a strained right hamstring. Now he has spent the past two months rehabbing a strained right hip flexor and quad with no apparent end in sight.
For fantasy owners, it would be ill-advised to ignore Cespedes' track record. Fluid motion of the hip and knee is dependent on the various muscle groups of the leg. It's clear the kinetic chain along his lower extremity, particularly his right leg, is compromised. Until he is able to put together a stretch of sustained health, Cespedes simply can't be trusted as a fantasy option.
The 31-year-old right-hander currently is sidelined with an elbow problem that first surfaced in late May. Originally diagnosed as right triceps tendinitis, Darvish is dealing with elbow impingement, according to the team. Elbow impingement occurs when the bony landmarks that form the elbow are overloaded from a violent or repetitive force. As a result, structures located here can become damaged and inflamed. One such possibility is the distal tendon of the triceps, which could help explain the pain Darvish has been experiencing in this muscle.
Like Cespedes, Darvish's injury history must be considered using the kinetic chain model. Darvish has had problems up and down his arm, including shoulder problems and Tommy John surgery, as well as other elbow issues. Darvish has received a cortisone injection in the area to address the inflammation but will remain a risky play moving forward, especially if the root of his problems remains unaddressed.
Check Swings
Carlos Carrasco: The Indians expect Carrasco to take the mound on Friday against Oakland. He hasn't played since being struck by a line drive in mid June. Fortunately, his velocity has looked good during his rehab stint and he's shown no signs of any lingering effects of his elbow contusion. Plug him back in with confidence.
Carlos Correa: Correa has been placed on the 10-day DL with back soreness. While the description is vague, there have been hints that the problem is muscle-related. The Astros are optimistic his stay on the DL will be brief and he will be eligible to return on July 6. Hopefully the time off will be beneficial and allow Correa to return to top form.
George Springer: Correa's teammate is also dealing with back soreness, though Springer should avoid the DL. He was available to pinch hit but did not start. While the injury seems minor, it may be worth benching Springer for the time being. He's mired in a lengthy slump, and it's hard to imagine that ending with a balky back.
Shohei Ohtani: The rookie sensation could return to the lineup soon, though a return to the mound remains doubtful. A recent MRI confirmed Ohtani has made progress in his recovery from a partially torn UCL in his elbow. Despite the improvement, the demands of pitching remain too much for the joint, and he will remain limited to a DH role. While the decision may help return a talented bat to an Angels lineup desperate for help, it may prove detrimental to Ohtani's pitching availability. Conservative, nonoperative treatment for UCL sprains remains a coin-flip. If he does ultimately require Tommy John, the recovery could easily impact multiple seasons.
Addison Russell: A nagging injury to his middle finger has been a problem for Russell since early June. The Cubs infielder has continued to produce despite the issue but he aggravated the problem over the weekend in a collision with teammate Javier Baez. He's considered day-to-day and should benefit from an extra day off on Monday.
Noah Syndergaard: The Mets right-hander is slated to toss a simulated game on Tuesday as he continues to work his way back from a right index finger strain. If that goes well, Syndergaard would be sent on a rehab assignment for at least one start. Now would be the time to get any last chance trade offers in for anyone interested in the former All-Star.
