This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Rockies infielder was placed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend due to right elbow inflammation. Colorado manager Bud Black stated the elbow injury is similar to the one Story managed during the in 2018 season, but not as serious this time around.
Colorado's first task will be determining the root of the inflammation. The first place to start will be the medial aspect of the elbow where the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and flexor bundle attach. The UCL was the area of concern back in 2018 as Tommy John surgery was at least considered. However, an MRI taken at the time revealed the damage was not significant enough to warrant a trip to the operating room, and Story returned for Colorado's final eight games and fully recovered during the offseason.
Black's comments that the current injury isn't as serious is a bit encouraging, and the final results of his recent MRI were clean, indicating the Rockies expect Story to return to action next Tuesday, barring any setbacks.
Kluber's follow-up to his no-hitter didn't go as planned, as he was removed from the game with a shoulder injury. The Yankees later revealed Kluber had suffered a strained rotator cuff, specifically the subscapularis.
The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles that work synergistically to, unsurprisingly, rotate the shoulder. The rotator cuff also surrounds the head of the upper arm bone, the humerus, and helps provide stability for the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder.
The Rockies infielder was placed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend due to right elbow inflammation. Colorado manager Bud Black stated the elbow injury is similar to the one Story managed during the in 2018 season, but not as serious this time around.
Colorado's first task will be determining the root of the inflammation. The first place to start will be the medial aspect of the elbow where the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and flexor bundle attach. The UCL was the area of concern back in 2018 as Tommy John surgery was at least considered. However, an MRI taken at the time revealed the damage was not significant enough to warrant a trip to the operating room, and Story returned for Colorado's final eight games and fully recovered during the offseason.
Black's comments that the current injury isn't as serious is a bit encouraging, and the final results of his recent MRI were clean, indicating the Rockies expect Story to return to action next Tuesday, barring any setbacks.
Kluber's follow-up to his no-hitter didn't go as planned, as he was removed from the game with a shoulder injury. The Yankees later revealed Kluber had suffered a strained rotator cuff, specifically the subscapularis.
The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles that work synergistically to, unsurprisingly, rotate the shoulder. The rotator cuff also surrounds the head of the upper arm bone, the humerus, and helps provide stability for the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder. Each muscle is utilized at varying points of pitch delivery.
Specifically, the subscapularis sits "under" the shoulder blade between the shoulder blade and the rib cage. The subscapularis is a multifunctional muscle that rotates the arm inward (internal rotation), and stabilizes and controls movement of the head of the humerus. For pitchers, the subscapularis is particularly important during the wind-up phase. Medical studies have shown the timing of the subscapularis' activation is critical for individuals with shoulder issues. Should the subscapularis become functionally limited following a strain or inherent weakness, the entire shoulder becomes vulnerable to displacement and other injuries.
Kluber will not throw for the next four weeks before resuming his progressive return to play protocol. Unfortunately, that will likely take at least another four weeks. Even then, it wouldn't be surprising to see his recovery extend beyond eight weeks, given the importance of the subscapularis and Kluber's injury history that includes a teres major strain last season.
Check Swings
Bryce Harper: The Phillies slugger will not come off the IL when first eligible but continues to report improvement in his bruised forearm. He was able to do some light hitting Monday but is not quite ready for a full return. There is a possibility he rejoins the team when they return from their recent road trip, but fantasy managers will likely have to wait until next week to consider plugging him back into their lineups.
Adalberto Mondesi: The Royals shortstop made a premature exit from Monday's game against the Pirates with a hamstring injury. The issue was described as a "tweak," and the decision to remove him from the game was likely precautionary. Mondesi also didn't start Tuesday's game. Hamstring injuries can be particularly problematic for explosive, dynamic athletes and a conservative approach to treatment and care should help insure his long-term health.
Lorenzo Cain: Cain's hamstring injury is clearly more severe as the Brewers have already placed the veteran outfielder on the IL. The team will send him for an MRI to determine the exact extent of the strain but Cain is likely looking at a multiweek absence. Like Mondesi, Cain is dependent on his wheel but he doesn't have Father Time on his side. The healing process, especially in soft tissue injuries, is negatively impacted with aging, making Cain's recovery a bit more complex. In the meantime, Jackie Bradley and Avisail Garcia will see extra reps in the Milwaukee outfield.
Luke Voit: The Yankees have injury concerns on the offensive side of things as well as Voit is set to miss time with an oblique strain. The injury received a Grade 2 designation, meaning it's a partial tear. The team expect he will miss "a few weeks," but that seems a bit optimistic. The average missed time for an oblique strain is closer to four weeks, and the severity of the strain should push this to the latter end of the recovery window.
