This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The White Sox had hoped to welcome back Abreu over the weekend but delayed the return until Monday. Abreu missed time after undergoing a "lower abdominal procedure," though the team has since revealed it was related to testicular torsion. The injury is as unpleasant as it sounds. Each testicle is suspended by the spermatic cord that surrounds a multitude of structures like blood vessels and nerves. In testicular torsion, the spermatic cord becomes impinged due to twisting of its attached testicle. The impingement blocks the blood supply to the testicle, resulting in swelling and pain. If left untreated, the affected individual can actually lose the testicle. Fortunately, Chicago's medical team reacted quickly, and doctors were able to preserve Abreu's testicle. While the problem is unsettling to say the least, there are little long-term effects to be worried about, and Abreu should be fine moving forward.
The Dodgers' closer is expected to return to his ninth-inning role when the team heads to Cincinnati. Jansen did not travel with the club during their recent series in Colorado. Coors Field is the stadium in which Jansen first reported problems linked to an irregular heartbeat. Doctors recommended that Jansen not return to the scene of the crime because high altitude can impact someone with an arrhythmia. Jansen remains a must-start but has struggled a bit since returning from the DL. He blamed some of his issues on his new medication though he had appeared to turn a corner before sitting
The White Sox had hoped to welcome back Abreu over the weekend but delayed the return until Monday. Abreu missed time after undergoing a "lower abdominal procedure," though the team has since revealed it was related to testicular torsion. The injury is as unpleasant as it sounds. Each testicle is suspended by the spermatic cord that surrounds a multitude of structures like blood vessels and nerves. In testicular torsion, the spermatic cord becomes impinged due to twisting of its attached testicle. The impingement blocks the blood supply to the testicle, resulting in swelling and pain. If left untreated, the affected individual can actually lose the testicle. Fortunately, Chicago's medical team reacted quickly, and doctors were able to preserve Abreu's testicle. While the problem is unsettling to say the least, there are little long-term effects to be worried about, and Abreu should be fine moving forward.
The Dodgers' closer is expected to return to his ninth-inning role when the team heads to Cincinnati. Jansen did not travel with the club during their recent series in Colorado. Coors Field is the stadium in which Jansen first reported problems linked to an irregular heartbeat. Doctors recommended that Jansen not return to the scene of the crime because high altitude can impact someone with an arrhythmia. Jansen remains a must-start but has struggled a bit since returning from the DL. He blamed some of his issues on his new medication though he had appeared to turn a corner before sitting over the weekend. Get him back in your lineups.
The Angels rookie will remain the team's designated hitter though he will not return to the mound. Ohtani re-injured the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing (right) arm and Tommy John surgery has been recommended. Ohtani plans on playing out the year, since he bats as a leftie and is able to avoid irritating the area. Nevertheless, he will consider surgery in the offseason.
The injury and subsequent surgery may force the Angels to decide how they want to utilize Ohtani moving forward. Should he opt to go under the knife, it's likely Ohtani would not pitch again until the 2020 season though he could theoretically play next year as a DH. However, it seems likely the UCL injuries are chronic in nature and not linked to an isolated event. This would mean Ohtani's delivery may be contributing to the reoccurring problem and would need to be addressed during his rehab and recovery. Considering the rarity of two-ways stars in the MLB, Ohtani's decision will be worth monitoring in the offseason.
Check Swings
Felix Hernandez and Robinson Cano: The former Cy Young winner is nursing a mild hamstring injury though he isn't expected to miss a start. The Mariners will push his next scheduled appearance back a few days with the hopes of the problem quickly improving. King Felix has been far from impressive this season and an injury, even if minor, further depreciates his value.
It seems Cano also avoided a major injury after making an early exit in Saturday's game. Cano was struck by a pitch in his left foot late in the loss to the Yankees. Fortunately, he was able to play on Sunday, finishing two for four with a run and an RBI.
Aaron Judge: The Yankees' slugger continues to feel pain and discomfort in his fractured wrist, further delaying his return. He's hoping to take batting practice outdoors later in the week, but that remains dependent on his comfort level. If the session goes well, Judge could start a minor league rehab assignment, though he remains at least 10 to 14 days away. Even when he does return, expect for his power numbers to take a hit as he continues to heal.
Brandon Morrow: Morrow is making progress in his attempted return from right biceps inflammation, although he may be running out of time to have any real fantasy value this season. The one-time Cubs closer hasn't pitched since mid-July, though he recently completed a 25-pitch bullpen session. The team remains noncommittal about a definitive timeline and would likely keep Pedro Strop in the closer role until Morrow was back to full strength. Considering that's likely a few weeks away, Strop remains the reliever to own for the North Siders.
Gregory Polanco: The Pirates outfielder will miss the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury and a "significant" bone contusion in his left knee. Bone bruises, especially in the knee, are difficult injuries to manage and often require a considerable amount of time to appropriately heal. Polanco is currently seeking a second opinion before progressing in his treatment. The final course of action could dictate how long Polanco will be limited and impact his offseason protocol. Look for more details to trickle out before the end of the season. Those in keeper or dynasty leagues will have to exhibit patience, while owners in one-year formats can hit the waiver wire.
Chris Sale: The Red Sox ace will make his return on Tuesday, though in a limited capacity. Sale is expected to pitch two innings or 40 total pitches in his return from the DL. Sale has battled ongoing inflammation in his throwing shoulder and the team is opting to gradually build up his arm strength in time for the postseason. Sale is set to be a two-start pitcher this week though he will once again be limited on Sunday.
Noah Syndergaard: The Mets right-hander made an early exit in his most recent start after taking a comebacker to the ribs. X-rays on the area were negative, and the injury is being classified as a bruise. While the team is considering him day-to-day for now, keep a close eye on the situation over the next few days. Rib injuries, even minor ones, can be very painful and limiting. It's also not uncommon for a rib fracture to go undetected on an initial X-ray and only show up once healing has begun. I still think Syndergaard makes his next start, but tread cautiously here.
