Injury Report: July 20

Welcome to this week’s Injury Report! We are going to have a bit of a shake-up for the rest of the season. Instead of the buy/sell/hold section of the article, we will switch to the worry-o-meter. This is a 1-10 scale, 1 being not worried at all and 10 being extremely worried. I’m excited about this change, and I think it will help guide your injury-making decisions moving forward. 

 

Jazz Chisholm Jr.– Left Shoulder Contusion 

 

Jazz Chisholm Jr.will hit the shelf with a bone bruise in his left shoulder. Chisholm dodged a significant bullet. This was very similar to the Tatis injury we saw earlier in the year, and this injury could have been more severe. Bone bruises take a little longer to heal and can linger for a month or so. The Marlins are hoping for a 10-day minimum stay, but I think this will be 2-3 weeks. 

 

Return Date: Early/Mid August

Worry-o-meter: 3

 

Pablo Lopez – Rotator Cuff Strain 

 

Pablo Lopez is on the shelf with a rotator cuff strain. This is a significant blow for Lopez and the rest of his season. While we don’t have a timeline from the Marlins, this could be a 2+ month absence. Long-term, Lopez should be fine for 2022 and beyond, but I’m worried about his ability to pitch for the rest of 2021. 

 

Return Date: Late September

Worry-o-meter: 8

 

Jacob deGrom – Forearm Tightness 

 

Jacob deGrom is now on the IL with forearm tightness and will not throw again till his forearm pain is gone. This is not deGrom’s first issue with his arm/elbow this year, so we can bet that the Mets will take their time with deGrom. While the MRI did not show structural damage, I am worried about deGrom in the interim. I wouldn’t start him for his first start after being activated unless he dominates his rehab assignment games. 

 

Return Date: Late September 

Worry-o-meter: 8

 

Franciso Lindor – Oblique Strain 

 

Franciso Lindor is the latest member to join the oblique strain train. The Mets have confirmed a grade 2 strain, so that means we are looking at an eight-week-ish absence for Lindor. If the Mets rush him back before the end of August, I am worried about the risk of a re-injury. 

 

Return Date: Late September 

Worry-o-meter: 5

 

Luke Voit – Knee Contusion 

 

Luke Voit has had a tough-luck 2021 season and will be on the shelf with a knee contusion.  This will be longer than a 10-day stint for Voit and could be about a month’s absence. Bone bruises typically will take longer to heal than a traditional bruise but should not linger around for an extended period. Once Voit returns, I’m not worried about this injury impacting his performance. 

 

Return Date: Mid/Late August

Worry-o-meter: 3

 

Alek Manoah – Back Contusion 

 

Alek Manoah will be forced to miss his next couple of starts with a back contusion. While this is annoying that Manoah will miss a couple of starts, he shouldn’t have any issues moving forward once he returns. Once he comes off the IL, start him with confidence. 

 

Return Date: Late July

Worry-o-meter: 1 

 

Ian Anderson – Shoulder Inflammation 

 

Ian Anderson will be shut down from throwing till this weekend with shoulder inflammation. MRI did not show structural damage, so we are just waiting for the inflammation to calm down before Anderson can throw again. Inflammation like this could pop back up if Anderson is not given enough time to recover, but I’m not concerned about his performance once he comes off the IL. 

 

Return Date: Early August 

Worry-o-meter: 4 

 

Team Updates: 

• Freddy Galvis is expected to start his rehab assignment this upcoming week. There is a chance he makes it back by the end of the month. 

• John Means will be activated off the IL Tuesday against the Rays. I would wait to see how this start goes before putting him back into the lineup. 

• Chris Sale threw 39 pitches in his first game since Tommy John surgery, a big step in his recovery. We are looking at a mid-August return. 

• Luis Robert will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday. We are at a maximum of 3 weeks till he returns. We will have to watch how the first few rehab games go before we have a better idea of what to expect once Robert returns. 

• Shane Bieber has resumed playing catch. The best guess is that Bieber is still over a month out from returning. 

• Mike Trout could start a rehab assignment later this week or early next week. Still no timetable for his return to LA. 

• Justin Upton has started his rehab assignment. 

• Corey Seager should be activated this week, pending an evaluation by the team doctors on Tuesday. 

• Mitch Garver returned to the Twins on Monday. Start Garver with confidence moving forward.

• Carlos Carrasco is making his second rehab assignment this week. He should be activated by the end of the month. With how long this rehab has taken, I would proceed with caution during his first couple of starts. 

• Dinelson Lamet is nearing a rehab assignment. Proceed with caution. 

• Jack Flaherty has been throwing for a month and has progressed to bullpen sessions. We are looking at an early/mid-August return. 

• Joe Ross had a setback in his return from elbow inflammation. Push his timeline back to mid-August. 

 

Thanks for reading! As always, if there is someone else you have a question about, leave me a comment or find me on Twitter (@JakeRobinsonDPT). I will get to them as I’m able to. Be sure to check back next week for the latest injury report!

Featured Image by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter).