This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Mariners prospect's historically problematic knee is once again an issue. His problems began in July of 2016 when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and both menisci in the joint. He then missed time earlier this year with a bone bruise on the same joint. Lewis' recent flareup has been diagnosed as another meniscus tear, and he is currently evaluating treatment options.
While nonsurgical routes are available, surgery is often necessary for these types of injuries. Once the player opts to go under the knife, his eventual timeline for recovery is often predicated on which surgical approach is used. A meniscus can be repaired or it can be removed in a procedure known as a meniscectomy. After the damaged bit of cartilage is excised, the player can return in as little as six weeks. If a more intricate repair is deemed possible and performed, the recovery is measured in months, not weeks. However, in a true repair, the cartilage of the disc is preserved, and the individual has a better long-term outlook.
The team has insinuated Lewis will undergo a true repair but that will depend on the location of the current tear. This could be problematic given Lewis' injury history. Fantasy managers invested in the young outfielder should prepare for this to be an extended absence.
The veteran third baseman suffered a left shoulder sprain in a collision with teammate Brandon Belt. Normally when these types of injuries occur, the glenohumeral (GH)
The Mariners prospect's historically problematic knee is once again an issue. His problems began in July of 2016 when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and both menisci in the joint. He then missed time earlier this year with a bone bruise on the same joint. Lewis' recent flareup has been diagnosed as another meniscus tear, and he is currently evaluating treatment options.
While nonsurgical routes are available, surgery is often necessary for these types of injuries. Once the player opts to go under the knife, his eventual timeline for recovery is often predicated on which surgical approach is used. A meniscus can be repaired or it can be removed in a procedure known as a meniscectomy. After the damaged bit of cartilage is excised, the player can return in as little as six weeks. If a more intricate repair is deemed possible and performed, the recovery is measured in months, not weeks. However, in a true repair, the cartilage of the disc is preserved, and the individual has a better long-term outlook.
The team has insinuated Lewis will undergo a true repair but that will depend on the location of the current tear. This could be problematic given Lewis' injury history. Fantasy managers invested in the young outfielder should prepare for this to be an extended absence.
The veteran third baseman suffered a left shoulder sprain in a collision with teammate Brandon Belt. Normally when these types of injuries occur, the glenohumeral (GH) joint of the shoulder or the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is involved. However, Longoria's injury involves a less frequently injured joint, the sternoclavicular (SC) joint.
The shoulder joint comprises multiple joints and articulations. The GH joint is the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder and the one most people consider the true shoulder. The AC joint sits where the clavicle (collarbone) meets the scapula (shoulder blade). An injury here is often referred to as a separated shoulder. On the opposite end of the collarbone, in the area where it meets the sternum (breastbone), sits the SC joint. Movement at the SC joint isn't as pronounced as the other articulations, but it is quite mobile and allows the collarbone to move in various planes during shoulder elevation/depression, rotation and retraction/protraction.
SC joint injuries can be extremely problematic based on their location. The trachea (windpipe) and several major blood vessels sit directly behind the collarbone and can be compromised if the collarbone dislocates backward or posteriorly. Fortunately, it appears Longoria avoided any vascular injuries with his SC dislocation.
An SC sprain remains a complex injury even when life-threatening issues are avoided. For the collarbone to dislocate, major ligament damage must have occurred. As a result, it seems more likely that Longoria returns on the latter end of the four- to six-week recovery window provided by the Giants. Wilmer Flores will take over for Longoria at the hot corner for the foreseeable future.
The Nationals ace has been a pillar of my columns since his debut in June of 2010. Over the past decade, he has hit the injured list 14 times with an assortment of injuries including Tommy John surgery, shoulder inflammation, carpel tunnel, neck impingement and multiple strains to his throwing arm. I've often compared him to a delicate Rube Goldberg machine, a complex machine that carries out a nominal task through a series of intricate and elaborate actions. Think the board game Mouse Trap or the way the gate was opened following the Truffle Shuffle in The Goonies. Anytime Strasburg has had even the smallest issue in his throwing arm or body, it seems to have had a trickledown effect on his body.
His latest issue is a trapezius strain, an injury he has dealt with before. In 2015, he suffered a trapezius strain after managing a prior latissimus dorsi issue. His problems cascaded down the body, as he would later miss time with an oblique strain. It happened again the following year when he suffered an upper back strain and then missed subsequent time with an elbow injury. Now, weeks after returning from shoulder inflammation, he's once again sidelined with tightness in the trap. Don't expect this problem to resolve quickly, and when (if?) he is able to return to action, his level of injury risk will remain considerably high.
Check Swings
Jack Flaherty: The St. Louis ace is set to miss an extended period of time with a "significant" oblique strain. The injury is likely to keep him out through the All-Star break and will further stress a Cardinals rotation that was already missing Dakota Hudson and Miles Mikolas.
Mitch Garver: The Twins catcher suffered one of the more "unpleasant" injuries associated with playing behind the plate. Garver took a foul ball off the groin region and was taken to the hospital, where surgery was deemed necessary for a severe "groin contusion." Generally, this is code for an injury to the testicle(s). These types of injuries aren't unheard of in baseball, especially for catchers, and players like Yadier Molina and Mitch Haniger have sustained similar injuries in recent seasons. The Twins expect him to miss at least a few weeks, but I'm guessing it's closer to a month. Molina missed exactly one month when he suffered his injury in 2018.
John Means: Baltimore's starting rotation took a hit when Means was placed on the IL with a shoulder strain. The severity or location of the strain was not specified, but the team is optimistic the issue is mild. Even with the MRI failing to uncover any significant damage, a multiweek absence should be expected.
Spencer Turnbull: Detroit's best starting pitcher is on the IL with a forearm strain in his throwing arm. Manager A.J. Hinch disclosed the MRI did not reveal any structural damage, though the injury is muscular in nature and accompanied by inflammation. These clues suggest a low-grade strain that should resolve itself with a few weeks of rest. Turnball will need to gradually build back up his arm to ensure there is no cascade effect into his elbow, particularly the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Look for the Tigers to handle things conservatively moving forward.
