This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Dodgers are once again optimistic that Hill will be able to successfully return to the mound. Hill has yo-yoed on and off the DL with blister issues since joining Los Angeles, including two separate stints this season. However, a new treatment and a tweak to his mechanics have the team encouraged about a long-lasting return. Hill has begun utilizing laser treatments to address the recurring blister on his middle finger. Laser therapy has become increasingly common in professional sports and is utilized for an assortment of injuries including epicondylitis of the elbow, patellar tendinitis, bursitis and plantar fasciitis. Hill's treatment was likely a specific type of laser designed to stimulate healing in the outer layer of skin.
In addition to laser therapy, Hill also made an alteration to his alignment on the mound. At the suggestion of Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, Hill now is transferring weight differently through his foot in an attempt to create a smoother delivery. The early results are promising, with Hill wrapping a rehab outing with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Hill lasted four and two thirds innings, striking out 10 while allowing four hits and no walks. Fantasy owners should expect Hill to return to action while the team is in Chicago during the week ahead. He'll continue to carry an elevated level of risk but could be a nice waiver wire find if the aforementioned treatments allow him to return to form.
It appears Andrus will return to the lineup
The Dodgers are once again optimistic that Hill will be able to successfully return to the mound. Hill has yo-yoed on and off the DL with blister issues since joining Los Angeles, including two separate stints this season. However, a new treatment and a tweak to his mechanics have the team encouraged about a long-lasting return. Hill has begun utilizing laser treatments to address the recurring blister on his middle finger. Laser therapy has become increasingly common in professional sports and is utilized for an assortment of injuries including epicondylitis of the elbow, patellar tendinitis, bursitis and plantar fasciitis. Hill's treatment was likely a specific type of laser designed to stimulate healing in the outer layer of skin.
In addition to laser therapy, Hill also made an alteration to his alignment on the mound. At the suggestion of Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, Hill now is transferring weight differently through his foot in an attempt to create a smoother delivery. The early results are promising, with Hill wrapping a rehab outing with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Hill lasted four and two thirds innings, striking out 10 while allowing four hits and no walks. Fantasy owners should expect Hill to return to action while the team is in Chicago during the week ahead. He'll continue to carry an elevated level of risk but could be a nice waiver wire find if the aforementioned treatments allow him to return to form.
It appears Andrus will return to the lineup this week, potentially as early as Monday, after completing a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock. He appeared to clear his last hurdle over the weekend when he was able to play in back-to-back outings without any healthy issues. The former All-Star hasn't played since fracturing his elbow in mid-April. Long-term concerns with specific bone-related injuries can be minimal as the tissue is capable of returning to its pre-injury strength. However, fantasy owners will still want to exhibit patience with Andrus as he will need time to establish a sustained rhythm and return to top form. He showed signs of some accumulated rust during his six-game rehab stint, reaching base just twice in 24 appearances at the plate. The return of Andrus will negatively impact the overall value of Jurickson Profar who had assumed the role of everyday shortstop.
The Royals outfielder suffered a broken bone in his foot and is expected to miss at least six weeks recovering. Soler suffered a fractured metatarsal when he tripped while running out of the batter's box. The metatarsals are the long, skinny bones of the foot that bridge the area between the bones of the midfoot and the toes. Soler's injury occurred to the first metatarsal, meaning it involved the bone behind the big toe.
The first metatarsal is a key component of weight-bearing and can assume as much as one-third of an individual's weight through the foot. As a result, insuring a complete stable union of the bone is critical to Soler's long-term health. He currently isn't scheduled for surgery but will be re-evaluated at the end of the week to determine if a trip to the operating room is necessary. If surgery is required Soler's recovery likely will be measured in months not weeks.
Check Swings
Javier Baez: It appears the Cubs infielder avoided a significant injury Sunday. Baez was removed from action in the third inning after a Jack Flaherty pitch struck him in the elbow. The official diagnosis was a left elbow contusion, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the Cubs perform a more detailed evaluation when they return to Chicago on Monday. For now, the team appears cautiously optimistic that he will not miss much, if any, time.
Carlos Carrasco: The Indians pitcher has been placed on the 10-day DL with an elbow contusion after he was struck by a line drive. X-rays and an MRI failed to uncover any significant damage, but the impact was enough to force the DL stint. This marks the second time Carrasco has ended up on the DL after getting stuck by a pitch. He previously missed time in 2015 after a comebacker broke the fifth metacarpal in his pitching hand. The team doesn't appear overly concerned with the injury despite his unfortunate affinity for getting hit.
Yu Darvish: The Chicago right-hander continues to make progress in his rehab protocol. Darvish has completed two bullpen sessions since being placed on the DL on May 26 with triceps inflammation and will now advance to a simulated game on Tuesday. He remains without a definitive timeline. The success of Mike Montgomery has bought the Cubs some time and may dissuade any potential thoughts of rushing Darvish's recovery. Montgomery is currently 2-1 with a 1.14 ERA as a starter and will take the mound Tuesday against the Dodgers.
Nomar Mazara: The Rangers outfielder left fantasy owners a bit short handed last week after he missed a pair of games due to illness and a left wrist injury. Texas has been tight-lipped regarding the specifics of the injury though Mazara admitted he was still battling soreness in the joint even after Sunday's outing in which he finished two for four with two runs and three RBI. It may be wise to scale back your expectation for the week ahead, at least until a specific diagnosis is revealed or a plan of treatment is announced.
Julio Teheran: Teheran was brilliant in his first start since suffering a thumb injury on June 4. The Atlanta right-hander completed six no-hit innings, finishing with a season-best 11 strikeouts. He may have extended his quest for a no-hitter if not for a series of hamstring cramps. Teheran's right hamstring began cramping during his final inning and forced him to limp off the field. Cramps are common in sports and can be linked to overexertion, fatigue and an excessive loss of fluids and electrolytes. In some cases, a cramp can be so violent that it actually strains the muscle. Fortunately for Teheran, this episode appears manageable and he should be fine for his next start.
