This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
After Tatis first subluxed his shoulder in early April, I warned that the chances of a subsequent subluxation would remain high until surgery was performed. Now nearly four months after the injury, the Padres have sent their emerging superstar to the injured list with another left shoulder subluxation. The latest injury occurred when Tatis awkwardly slid into third base in Friday's game against the Rockies. The shoulder was reportedly forced out of alignment and Tatis is now dealing with the resulting inflammation.
In my original breakdown of the injury, I discussed how a subluxation is often referred to as a partial dislocation. The difference between a subluxation and a dislocation sits in the degree of displacement. In a subluxation, the displacement is temporary and the involved joint often returns to its normal position almost instantaneous and without external assistance. A true dislocation occurs when the alignment of the bones of the joint are forcefully jarred out of their normal positioning and often remain displaced until help can be provided.
In both injuries, the primary concern is often for the neighboring structures of the joint. For a bone to leave its normal alignment, one or several of the soft tissues that surround the joint, like muscle, ligaments or cartilage, must fail. In a shoulder subluxation or dislocation, the labrum is often the primary culprit.
The labrum of the shoulder is a fibrocartilage ring that surrounds the head of the humerus and allows mobility while providing stability. Unfortunately, the labrum
After Tatis first subluxed his shoulder in early April, I warned that the chances of a subsequent subluxation would remain high until surgery was performed. Now nearly four months after the injury, the Padres have sent their emerging superstar to the injured list with another left shoulder subluxation. The latest injury occurred when Tatis awkwardly slid into third base in Friday's game against the Rockies. The shoulder was reportedly forced out of alignment and Tatis is now dealing with the resulting inflammation.
In my original breakdown of the injury, I discussed how a subluxation is often referred to as a partial dislocation. The difference between a subluxation and a dislocation sits in the degree of displacement. In a subluxation, the displacement is temporary and the involved joint often returns to its normal position almost instantaneous and without external assistance. A true dislocation occurs when the alignment of the bones of the joint are forcefully jarred out of their normal positioning and often remain displaced until help can be provided.
In both injuries, the primary concern is often for the neighboring structures of the joint. For a bone to leave its normal alignment, one or several of the soft tissues that surround the joint, like muscle, ligaments or cartilage, must fail. In a shoulder subluxation or dislocation, the labrum is often the primary culprit.
The labrum of the shoulder is a fibrocartilage ring that surrounds the head of the humerus and allows mobility while providing stability. Unfortunately, the labrum can tear in a variety of patterns leading to instability of the joint. Tatis' injury clearly involves the labrum as evident by the whispers of impending surgery. How the shoulder responds to treatment in the coming days will ultimately determine if the slugger can put off the procedure until the offseason or return this year. Tatis did admit the shoulder was a "little bit more sore" than in previous incidences, though the team will exhaust every treatment option before sending him to the operating room. Fantasy managers in one-year formats will have to hope the shoulder responds well and Tatis is able to finish out the season. We should have an answer in 10 to 14 days. Those in keeper leagues shouldn't panic. The success rate for surgery has improved over the years, and includes players like Cody Bellinger and Hanley Ramirez.
The Mets ace suffered yet another setback in is attempted return from a forearm injury. DeGrom underwent an MRI late last week that revealed inflammation in the area. It doesn't appear as though this is a new injury but instead an aggravation of the previous problem. The Mets have tried to take a conservative approach with his care but every time he ramps up his activity level the symptoms return. Surgery has yet to be discussed, as the injury does not appear to involve the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The team is now targeting a September return for the Cy Young candidate, but fantasy managers have reason to be pessimistic. Consider his status fluid.
Check Swings
Alex Bregman: Bregman was pulled from Monday's game with Triple-A Sugar Land after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring. The Houston infielder has not played since suffering a quadriceps strain in mid-June. It's not uncommon for a player to develop a muscle imbalance on the opposite leg during recovery as the "healthy" leg compensates for the injury. Hopefully the issue is nothing more than tightness and not an outright strain. If he managed to avoid a strain, he could resume his rehab assignment with a bit of extended rest. Conversely, a second strain would require its own recovery timeline and prolong his absence. Look for the Astros to provide an update in the coming days.
Andrew McCutchen: The veteran outfielder was placed on the IL Monday with inflammation in his left knee. McCutchen downplayed the severity of the problem and, even though this is the knee that required an ACL reconstruction last season, there's little reason to panic for now. Surgeons utilized a quad tendon graft in McCutchen's procedure, an approach that often diminishes the risk of patellar tendinitis when compared with a patellar tendon graft.
Chris Paddack: Tatis wasn't the only Padres players to succumb to injury. The team placed Paddack on the IL with a strained left oblique over the weekend. While the move was backdated to Wednesday, it's hard to imagine the right-hander will be able to return when he is first eligible. Oblique strains have historically been a multi-week injury.
Luis Severino: The Yankees right-hander begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. Severino, who underwent Tommy John surgery in February of 2020, suffered a Grade 2 groin strain during a rehab assignment in mid-June. A Grade 2 or moderate strain is often classified as a partial tear and can be a slow-to-heal injury. Groin strains can be a big problem for pitchers, as they impact their transfer of weight when delivering a pitch. For a pitcher working his way back from a major elbow surgery, it's extremely important there are no functional limitation in both the lower and upper extremities. The Yankees are well aware of this detail, which is why they plan on having him complete multiple starts on his rehab stint. General manager Brian Cashman said they hope to have Severino with the big league club in late August or early September.
Mike Trout: The Angels outfielder reported improvement in his strained calf though, the team continues to limit his activity on the basepath after last week's setback. The only positive sign here is that he has not digressed since the recent MRI, but, until he's running, again a return seems a ways away.
Trea Turner: The now former Washington shortstop will have to complete the league's mandated COVID-19 protocol before he makes his Dodgers debut. Turner was acquired at the deadline despite testing positive for the coronavirus just a few days earlier. The Dodgers are optimistic he will be cleared in time for the team's weekend series against the crosstown rival Angels. Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is also working his way back from COVID-19 and hopes to return for Milwaukee on Thursday.
