This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
Durability has never been Tulo's greatest asset. Throughout his professional career he's amassed an impressive litany of injuries, including muscle strains, nerve problems, ligament injuries and broken bones. Some of the issues may have been preventable, but the All-Star shortstop has also suffered his fair share of unlucky breaks. No matter of preventative care could have stopped his broken scapula from occurring and it certainly wouldn't have helped him avoid slicing his palm on a broken bat. His latest injury seems to fall in this category as well as Tulowitzki suffered a chip fracture in his thumb after getting struck by an inside pitch. While a broken thumb sounds bad, the Blue Jays are holding out hope that the location of the break will allow Tulo to avoid the disabled list.
The bony structure of the thumb is unique when compared to the other four digits. While the fingers are comprised of three bones extending up from the carpal bones, the thumb has just two. The bone that comes in contact with the first metacarpal is the proximal phalanx. The distal phalanx is next and makes up the tip of the thumb. If Tulowitzki's break is limited to his distal phalanx, then playing with the injury is possible. However, just because he's active doesn't mean fantasy owners should confidently start him. Tulo's thumb is reportedly quite swollen, making it difficult for him to hold a bat. As a result, his performance at the plate, particularly his power number,
Durability has never been Tulo's greatest asset. Throughout his professional career he's amassed an impressive litany of injuries, including muscle strains, nerve problems, ligament injuries and broken bones. Some of the issues may have been preventable, but the All-Star shortstop has also suffered his fair share of unlucky breaks. No matter of preventative care could have stopped his broken scapula from occurring and it certainly wouldn't have helped him avoid slicing his palm on a broken bat. His latest injury seems to fall in this category as well as Tulowitzki suffered a chip fracture in his thumb after getting struck by an inside pitch. While a broken thumb sounds bad, the Blue Jays are holding out hope that the location of the break will allow Tulo to avoid the disabled list.
The bony structure of the thumb is unique when compared to the other four digits. While the fingers are comprised of three bones extending up from the carpal bones, the thumb has just two. The bone that comes in contact with the first metacarpal is the proximal phalanx. The distal phalanx is next and makes up the tip of the thumb. If Tulowitzki's break is limited to his distal phalanx, then playing with the injury is possible. However, just because he's active doesn't mean fantasy owners should confidently start him. Tulo's thumb is reportedly quite swollen, making it difficult for him to hold a bat. As a result, his performance at the plate, particularly his power number, would be negatively affected even if he is able to remain in the lineup.
Toronto will likely give him time off to start the week and then attempt to bring him back if associated symptoms improve. If the swelling persists, a 15-day DL stint seems likely.
The Royals closer was placed on the DL with a flexor strain in his right forearm. A detailed examination of the area revealed the severity of the injury to be a Grade 1 strain and marks the second time this season Davis has spent time on the DL with a forearm injury. He previously missed time in early July.
The term forearm strain or flexor strain can be a bit vague due to the fact that the multiple muscles of the forearm are all considered flexors, generally of the wrist or fingers. However these muscles all originate in the same area and are often lumped together as the "flexor bundle." Unfortunately, injuries to the flexor bundle can be an indicator of a bigger issue, as its attachment site is the medial epicondyle, the same anchor point of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The UCL is the ligament repaired during Tommy John surgery. While there's been no indication Davis is currently dealing with any UCL problems, multiple pitchers, including relievers George Sherrill and Jason Motte, have ultimately needed Tommy John following a flexor strain.
It is unsettling that Davis has now had two incidences involving the same area in roughly a month's time. While the strain is mild, this injury will likely keep him sidelined for longer than 15 days. It sounds like Kelvin Herrera will be the primary closer for Kansas City moving forward, though veteran Joakim Soria could also pick up a save or two. Both become fantasy relevant for the immediate future and have a strong chance of remaining relevant as Davis recovers.
Check Swings
Yoenis Cespedes: The Mets continue to seek solutions for their slugger's nagging quadriceps injury. The terms used to describe the injury, including tightness and soreness, indicate the ailment is muscular in nature. The odds Cespedes ultimately requires a trip to the DL grow the longer he reports problems, though five consecutive games in American League ballparks would give him the opportunity to assume a DH role. Consider Cespedes day-to-day for the moment but start eyeballing a follow up move should he require an extended break.
Aledmys Diaz: The St. Louis infielder has been one of the biggest fantasy surprises, but an injury forced him out of Sunday's loss at Miami. Diaz was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after being hit by a pitch from Andrew Cashner. The injury will be further evaluated by a hand specialist, however the team reported the swelling had already diminished by the end of the game. It sounds like the problem will be a bigger issue in the field, and Diaz should be fine moving forward. There's a slim chance the specialist finds something, but the All-Star shortstop appears to have avoided anything serious.
Zack Greinke: The Diamondbacks have struggled without the ace in the rotation though he's begun to make progress in his rehab. Greinke is working his way back from an oblique strain and recently threw three innings in a Rookie League game. He'll make a rehab start on Wednesday and is currently targeting an August 9th return against the Mets. He's bounced back nicely from injury throughout his career and is an obvious must play when healthy.
J.D. Martinez: The Tigers are hoping to have Martinez back in the lineup by the end of the week. The hard-hitting outfielder has been out since mid-June when he suffered a nondisplaced fracture of the radial head of his right elbow. The bone appears to have healed nicely and he should be able to return with minimal associated risk. Those in weekly formats should expect him back next week, while those in daily leagues can begin preparing for an impending activation.
Tyson Ross: I've gotten several inquiries on the status of Ross but specifics remain vague. He hasn't pitched since Opening Day after suffering a shoulder strain. The involved muscle was never revealed and he has since slowly progressed through treatment. He suffered a minor ankle injury that delayed his rehab, but details have been limited ever since. He's been mentioned in trade rumors, but the injury concerns likely scared away potential suitors. If you can, hold the course on Ross until more information leaks out, but those desperate for innings pitched should let him loose.
