Here is the Fantrax Injury Report for Monday, August 7, 2023. In today’s edition, the Rangers get bad news as Josh Jung breaks his thumb and could be out for quite some time. Also, Bo Bichette seems to be responding well to treatment and time off, so he may be back sooner than expected. Finally, Clayton Kershaw should be back this week and speculation has him returning on Thursday. All that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers
MLB Injury Report
Ketel Marte – 2B Arizona Diamondbacks
Ketel Marte left today's game with left quad tightness. He is considered day to day, the Diamondbacks say.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) August 6, 2023
Consider Marte DTD until we hear otherwise, though the Diamondbacks do have today off, so he may not have to miss any time.
Austin Hays – OF Baltimore Orioles
From Brandon Hyde:
– Austin Hays is “just a little sore” after some recent diving catches. He could be available off the bench.
– He believes Jorge Mateo can bring value down the stretch, when teams value speed the most: “When he gets on base, he scores.”— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) August 6, 2023
Hays missed both games on Saturday and Sunday and didn’t come in to pinch-hit. The hope is that he can return as soon as possible as the injury doesn’t seem to be too serious.
Garrett Whitlock – SP/RP Boston Red Sox
Cora says Garrett Whitlock is feeling good after his live BP and should start his rehab assignment this week.
Though they plan to use him as a multi-inning reliever, Cora said today they'll stretch him out. Better to start long and go short rather than the other way around.
— Mac Cerullo (@MacCerullo) August 6, 2023
Whitlock will begin a rehab assignment soon, and the length of it might be shortened since he’s coming back as a reliever. That said, he will be a bulk reliever, likely pitching for more than one inning per appearance.
Chris Sale – SP Boston Red Sox
Chris Sale with WooSox today:
4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
53 pitches, 38 strikes pic.twitter.com/9yrVkMzeaS— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) August 6, 2023
The 53 pitches thrown here are an increase from the 40 he threw in his first rehab appearance. There’s been no word yet on if he will need another start or if he can just come back to Boston. Stay tuned.
Trevor Story – 2B/SS Boston Red Sox
Trevor Story will take the full 20 days of his rehab, according to Alex Cora. The rehab expires Wednesday. The earliest Story will play for the Red Sox is Thursday.
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) August 6, 2023
It looks as if Story will make his 2023 debut on Thursday, barring any setbacks. Fantasy owners have waited this long, so an extra few days shouldn’t make too much of a difference.
Tanner Houck – SP/RP Boston Red Sox
Houck struggled out of the gate, but compared this start to being in Spring Training. His mechanics were off and he admitted that he felt rusty.
Ryan Pressly – RP Houston Astros
Ryan Pressly was unavailable today, Dusty Baker said. Baker said Pressly is healthy, but said he’s “sore.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 6, 2023
Pressly last pitched on August 4, where he threw 22 pitches. There was no indication that this soreness was anything other than normal soreness following a long outing. That said, it’s something to monitor, just in case.
Salvador Perez – C Kansas City Royals
Salvador Perez left today's game with a left hand contusion.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 6, 2023
Perez got hit by a pitch and tried to stay in the game. Ultimately the pain was too much and he had to be replaced. After examination, it was merely a contusion with no structural damage done. It seems like he will avoid the Injured List and can be considered DTD.
Clayton Kershaw – SP Los Angeles Dodgers
Kershaw usually throws his bullpens 3 days before he starts. That would line him up for Thursday vs #Rockies at Dodger Stadium.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 6, 2023
Manager Dave Roberts said that Kershaw would return at some point this week. Given his patterning of how he typically throws bullpens three days ahead of his starts, it makes sense that he could be back on Thursday.
Michael Grove – SP/RP Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers recalled LHP Bryan Hudson from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed RHP Michael Grove on the injured list with right lat tightness.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2023
Grove pitched as the opener this weekend, but he will head to the Injured List with an injury to his lat. There’s no word on the severity of the situation here, but it’s strong enough for him to need two weeks.
Max Muncy – INF Los Angeles Dodgers
#Dodgers Max Muncy said his wrist “locked up” for two days after HBP. started swinging in the cage today. “Now it’s just about pain control”
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 6, 2023
It seems like we have a more detailed explanation for Muncy’s absences over the past two days. Yesterday it would appear was a better day physically. As he says, it’s all about pain tolerance so we may not know when he’ll return until the day of that game.
Carlos Rodon – SP New York Yankees
Rodon left his game against the Astros early with hamstring tightness. He is scheduled to have an MRI today and the team will send out updates when they become available. While Rodon himself feels good physically, it remains to be seen if he’ll pitch his next time scheduled to do so.
Brandon Marsh – OF Philadelphia Phillies
Brandon Marsh is on the IL. Bruised knee. It’ll be 2-3 weeks. Weston Wilson is getting called up. He’ll play some LF with Jake Cave and whenever Kyle Schwarber isn’t DHing.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 6, 2023
Marsh will miss multiple weeks with a bruised knee after crashing into the wall trying to track down a fly ball. All X-rays revealed no structural damage, as he is dealing with just a contusion. Johan Rojas should be seeing consistent playing time.
Micahel Wacha – SP San Diego Padres
#Padres RHP Michael Wacha (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso today, walking three over two scoreless innings at Salt Lake.
He struck out two and allowed two hits while throwing 23 of his 46 pitches for strikes.
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) August 6, 2023
The pitch count here is a great start for Wacha, who hasn’t pitched in over a month. That said, he seemed a little off, as he only threw half of those pitches for strikes. He should have at least two more appearances before returning to the Padres.
Tyler Glasnow – SP Tampa Bay Rays
The feeling on Glasnow according to Kevin Cash, seems to be optimistic:
“I personally think that as we speak now, it isnt that big of a deal. I think we can maybe get lucky & push him back. If he gets aggressive treatment, push him back a couple days & maybe insert him as soon…
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) August 6, 2023
Glasnow had been slated to start yesterday, but he experiences back spasms on Saturday. The Rays have today off and begin that series at home against St. Louis tomorrow. Whether or not he pitches at any point in that series remains to be seen. Stay tuned.
Josh Jung – 3B Texas Rangers
Broken thumb for Josh Jung, manager Bruce Bochy says. That's a big one.
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) August 6, 2023
Jung will miss multiple weeks with a broken thumb. There should be more updates on the timeline and potential of his return, but for now, this is a big loss to fantasy owners and to the Texas Rangers themselves. Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith could get chances to emerge as the team’s third baseman.
Jonah Heim – C Texas Rangers
Bruce Bochy says Jonah Heim is feeling great after playing catch yesterday.
Heim is here now running the bases, and the Rangers will just keep ramping him up.
Bochy laughed that he asked Heim if he wanted to play catch with Aroldis Chapman. 🤣😅 pic.twitter.com/SqBZapgzOx
— Madison Hock (@MadisonHock) August 6, 2023
Heim will continue to ramp up and trend toward a return. The hope is that if he does require surgery, it will take place in the offseason. For now, it’s about pain tolerance.
Bo Bichette – SS Toronto Blue Jays
Bo Bichette (knee) continues increasing activity at Rogers Centre, as well.
Bichette did some throwing on Saturday and there's a possibility he begins hitting Sunday if his patellar tendonitis continues responding well to treatment.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) August 6, 2023
There’s no word on if Bichette did advance to hitting yesterday, but the fact remains that he’s close to doing so. There’s no word on if he’ll require a rehab assignment, but he is eligible to return at the end of the week. If he continues to respond as well as he has been, he could be back within a week.
Danny Jansen – C Toronto Blue Jays, Jordan Romano – RP Toronto Blue Jays
Blue Jays exercising caution with Danny Jansen, who's experiencing residual wrist inflammation & soreness after wearing a 99-mph Shintaro Fujinami fastball Wednesday. He's out of the lineup again Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Toronto on Saturday, Jordan Romano (back) threw off a mound.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) August 6, 2023
The team continues to be cautious with Jansen, which could mean he won’t be rushed back into the lineup. His spot in the lineup for this week is tenuous. As for Romano, he threw off a mound this weekend and is eligible to return to the Jays on August 13. He seems to be progressing to the point where he would be able to return close to that date.