Unlike most weeks, today’s injury report actually features a lot of guys coming back rather than hitting the DL. Of course, in the cases of Franklin Gutierrez and Brian Roberts, a comeback simply means a temporary break from their true home – the disabled list. Let’s take a look at who’s getting set to come back and who your lineup is going to be missing for a while.
Aaron Hill (hand): Hill hasn’t played since mid-April after breaking his hand but is expected to return from the DL on Tuesday when the DBacks face the Nats. In his first full season with Arizona last year, Hill really came into his own as he put up a .302/.360/.522 line with 26 HR, 85 RBI, 93 R, and 14 SB.
Eric Chavez (oblique): Chavez, the DBacks’ surprise of the season, has begun a minor league rehab assignment and his return from his partially torn oblique is imminent. Chavez has come out of nowhere this season with a .325/.368/.588 line, seven homers, 25 RBI, and 18 R in 114 at-bats.
J.J. Putz (elbow): The plan is to have Putz go back-to-back days on Monday and Tuesday and activate him right after that. He is expected to take over the closer role as soon as he returns, likely on Thursday.
Brian Roberts (hamstring): Roberts has been out 11 weeks (what else is new?) but is scheduled to start a three-game rehab stint and return to the Orioles as soon as this weekend. Roberts played 59 games in 2010, 39 in 2011, and 17 in 2012 so it’s only a matter of time before he returns to the DL but he may be worth a short-term pickup since he’s expected to start at second immediately upon his return.
Shane Victorino (back): Victorino left Sunday’s game after crashing into the outfield wall but is expected to avoid the DL and is listed as day-to-day.
Clay Buchholz (neck): Buchholz will not start on Tuesday as originally expected and will likely need a minor league rehab stint before returning to the Sox. Clay is an early favorite for the AL Cy Young as he owns a 9-0 record with a 1.71 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 81 K.
Chris Perez (shoulder): Perez is expected to make one rehab appearance and be activated on Thursday or Friday. He only has six saves in eight chances but is expected to reclaim the closer job immediately.
Carlos Gonzalez (leg): CarGo left Sunday’s game vs. the Nats with a leg cramp but isn’t expected to miss any time.
Rafael Betancourt (groin): Betancourt is progressing nicely in his recovery and may even be called up by Thursday without making any rehab appearances.
Anibal Sanchez (shoulder): Sanchez played long toss over the weekend and could return as soon as he’s eligible on July 1. It seems a bit optimistic but he was originally only supposed to miss two starts so it wouldn’t be surprising.
Alex Avila (forearm): Avila has begun a rehab assignment and is expected to rejoin the team next week. Avila has been as irrelevant as ever this season, owning just a .172/.271/.288 line with 5 homers and 13 RBI in 163 at-bats.
Peter Bourjous (thumb): Bourjous injured his thumb in Sunday’s game while breaking up a double play but is not expected to miss much time with the injury. In 12 starts since returning from his last DL stint, Bourjous is batting .364 with a homer, two runs batted in, eight runs scored, and three steals.
Josh Hamilton (wrist): Despite a lingering wrist injury, Hamilton is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Tigers. Hamilton has seen his BA drop to .207 while he’s contributed 10 HR and just 25 RBI.
Jason Vargas (blood clot): Vargas has been placed on the DL with a blood clot in his armpit area but it’s unclear whether he will need surgery.
Matt Kemp (hamstring): Kemp has missed nearly a month with a hamstring strain but has begun a rehab stint and could be back as early as the weekend barring any setbacks.
Carlos Gomez (shoulder): Gomez seems to have escaped a more serious injury after crashing into the outfield wall on Sunday but is expected to miss at least a few games – likely more.
Aaron Hicks (hamstring): Out since June 9, Hicks might return to the Twins as soon as Thursday or this weekend. Hicks’ season has been very disappointing but he was starting to turn it around before his injury, batting .267 with three homers, four runs batted in, and seven runs over 16 games before getting hurt so he may be worth a look in deeper leagues.
Lucas Duda (intercostal): Duda has been placed on the DL with a left intercostal strain and is expected to miss at least two weeks. Look for Daniel Murphy and Josh Satin to man first in his absence.
Ryan Howard (knee): Howard missed Monday’s game with knee soreness but is not expected to miss any time. He’s been red hot with a .338 BA, four homers, 16 RBI, 12 R, seven doubles, and even two triples over his last 22 games.
Wandy Rodriguez (forearm): Rodriguez played a rehab game on Sunday and is expected to return as soon as the weekend. Rodriguez is in the midst of a very solid season and was 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA and 21 K/4 BB in his last five starts before getting hurt.
Jeanmar Gomez (forearm): Gomez is ready to return from the DL and will start Wednesday’s game against the Mariners. It’s unclear whether the Pirates will opt to drop him, Charlie Morton, or Gettit Cole from the rotation when Wandy returns but Gomez has looked excellent this season with a 3.07 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
Jedd Gyorko (groin): It appeared that Gyorko might return earlier this week but is now expected to return to the Padres by the weekend. Gyorko is in the midst of a great rookie season and was batting .333 with three homers, nine runs batted in, and 12 R in his last 13 games before the injury.
Clayton Richard (shoulder): The Padres have placed Richard on the DL with an AC joint injury and will likely miss beyond just 15 days. Richard has been atrocious this season, putting up a 7.01 ERA and giving up 13 HR in just 11 starts this season.
Angel Pagan (hamstring): Pagan had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his hamstring and will miss 10-to-12 weeks.
Pablo Sandoval (foot): The Giants activated Sandoval from the DL on Monday and he went 2-for-4 with a strikeout against the Dodgers.
Franklin Gutierrez (hamstring): It took just two games for Gutierrez to re-injure the hamstring that forced him to miss two months of the season. It’s unclear now how bad the injury is but obviously this is a bad sign, though not an unexpected one.
Michael Morse (quadriceps): The Mariners have placed Morse on the DL with a strained right quad but is not expected to miss much more than the 15 days. Justin Smoak will man first in his absence.
David Price (triceps): Price will make his second rehab start on Wednesday and will likely rejoin the Rays by next week.
Jose Reyes (ankle): Reyes, out since April 12, is set to rejoin the red hot Blue Jays on Wednesday against the Rays.
Bryce Harper (knee): Harper is expected to rejoin the Nats as soon as this weekend against the Mets or by next week’s first series against the Brewers.
Dan Haren (shoulder): Dan Haren is headed to the disabled list and will likely be replaced in the rotation by Ross Ohlendorf. If you know what’s good for you, you’d drop him. Actually, you’d have dropped him a long time ago. And the Nats should too. Haren now owns a 6.15 ERA on the season, has surrendered a staggering 19 homers in 82 IP and has 20 runs over his last four starts.
