Week 25 MLB Injury Report: Felix, Strasburg, Craig

Carlos Gonzalez
Carlos Gonzalez
Sep 4 2013 Denver CO USA Colorado Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez 5 in the dugout during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field Chris Humphreys USA TODAY Sports

It’s the final two weeks of the season which means if a player hits the injury report now, you’re not likely to see them again this year. Let’s take a look at who’s ailing and who’s on the mend in the second-to-last injury report of the season.

Nate McLouth (knee): McLouth left Sunday’s game with a knee injury and is currently listed as day-to-day. No word yet on the extent of the injury so he could, in essence, be back in the lineup by Tuesday.

Miguel Gonzalez (groin): Gonzalez left Sunday’s game with a minor groin strain. He’s currently expected to make his next start on Saturday against the Rays but that depends on how he feels as the week progresses.

Bud Norris (elbow): Norris was scratched from his last start on Friday but is expected to start this Friday or Saturday against the Rays, depending on Miguel Gonzalez’s health.

Jacoby Ellsbury (foot): Ellsbury is still in a walking boot so I wouldn’t expect any fantasy production out of the speedy outfielder in the final two weeks of the season.

Johnny Cueto (back): Cueto is expected to be activated on Monday and start for the first time since June 28. He’s expected to be on a pitch count so I wouldn’t expect much from him in the final games.

Carlos Gonzalez (finger): After dealing with a finger issue since July, CarGo is finally leaning toward surgery and fantasy owners should definitely drop him and make room for someone physically able to swing a bat.

Dexter Fowler (knee): Fowler hasn’t played since September 6 but could play on Monday against the Cards if his knee feels up to it. I wouldn’t expect much from Fowler in the final weeks.

Jorge De La Rosa (thumb): De La Rosa will miss his scheduled Monday start with a thumb injury but is expected to go on Saturday against the DBacks.

Jason Castro (knee): Castro hasn’t played since September 7 but has a chance to return at some point this week after nearly getting some DH at-bats over the weekend.

Carlos Pena (appendectomy): Pena will miss the rest of the season after undergoing an appendectomy over the weekend.

Hanley Ramirez (back): Hanley hasn’t played since last Thursday after tweaking his back but is expected to return at some point this week.

Andre Ethier (ankle): Ethier hurt his ankle last Friday and is expected to miss at least a few more days with the injury, possibly the entire week.

Aramis Ramirez (wrist): Ramirez missed the entire weekend with a sore wrist but is expected to play on Monday against the Cubs.

Joe Mauer (concussion): Mauer didn’t travel with the team to start their seven-game road trip and at this point he’s unlikely to contribute significantly to your fantasy lineup even if he does return at some point in the final days of the season.

David Wright (hamstring): Wright is expected to rejoin the Mets this week, likely on Tuesday when the Mets face the Giants.

Alex Rodriguez (calf): ARod left Sunday’s game with a tight calf and is currently listed as day-to-day. Hey, remember when he got suspended for two years?

Brett Gardner (oblique): Gardner will miss the rest of the season with an oblique strain.

Jed Lowrie (hamstring): Lowrie left Sunday’s game with a tight hamstring but is only expected to miss a game or two as a precaution.

Yoenis Cespedes (shoulder): Cespedes didn’t play on Sunday and is expected to get an MRI on his chronically ailing shoulder. Barring unexpected results, Cespedes is expected to continue playing through the pain as the A’s made their final stand.

Domonic Brown (Achilles): Brown returned to the lineup for the first time since August 30 on Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double and three strikeouts. It’s hard to imagine Brown being productive with a badly injured ankle.

Wandy Rodriguez (forearm): Rodriguez will miss the rest of the season with a forearm injury that’s kept him out since June 5.

Starling Marte (hand): After being relegated to pinch running duty over the last week, Marte could return to the lineup this week. Like Brown, it’s unclear how much Marte will be able to produce as he plays through a significant hand injury.

Marco Scutaro (back): Scutaro is expected to miss the first game of the Giants-Mets series after leaving Sunday’s game with a back injury but could play on Wednesday.

Justin Smoak (quad): Smoak, out of the lineup since last Wednesday, is expected to start on Monday against the Tigers.

Brad Miller (hamstring): Miller missed Sunday’s game with a sore hammy and is expected to miss at least a few more days before returning to the lineup.

Felix Hernandez (back): Hernandez, who hasn’t started since September 2, could return as soon as Wednesday to face the Tigers. Hernandez had given up five or more runs in three of his last six starts.

Allen Craig (foot): Craig is still in a walking boot and is expected to miss the final two weeks of the season.

Stephen Strasburg (forearm): Depending on how his Monday bullpen session goes, Strasburg will either start on Thursday or be shut down for the season.

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Igor Derysh
Igor Derysh is Editor-at-Large at XN Sports and has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sun-Sentinel, and FantasyPros. He has previously covered sports for COED Magazine, Fantasy Alarm, and Manwall.com.