5 MLB Injury Storylines To Track This Week

Braves Lose Ozzie Albies Once Again

Ozzie Albies, the Atlanta Braves All-Star second baseman, suffered a broken right pinky finger in his second game since being activated from the 60-day IL. Albies suffered the injury on a slide in the fourth inning of Saturday’s game and may be sidelined for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

He will reportedly wear a cast for at least three weeks, which takes his recovery into early October. He has a chance to return for the National League Wildcard series, but may only be able to hit as a right-handed hitter at the start, according to the Pro Baseball Docs.

Albies has played just 64 games this season because he suffered a broken left foot on June 13. He has hit .247 with 8 home runs and 35 RBIs this season.

Seattle Mariners' Eugenio Suarez Hits IL With Finger Fracture

Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez was placed on the 10-day IL Saturday after fracturing the tip of his right index finger.

The Pro Baseball Docs have optimism he could miss the minimum 10 days and return before the end of the regular season. Given the location of the fracture, his injury should not affect his throwing or hitting once the bone has healed.

He will not require surgery on the fracture, which he suffered while fielding a hard-hit ball on Friday. The power-hitting infielder has the second-most home runs since 2018 and has missed just 55 games since 2016.

Max Scherzer Returns For Mets

Max Scherzer, the Mets’ superstar right-hander, made his return to the mound Monday by tossing 6 perfect innings against the Brewers. Scherzer missed two starts after he was placed on the 15-day IL retroactive to Sept. 7. 

He experienced left side irritation, leading to his IL trip, but emphasized he did not have a muscle strain.

Scherzer missed almost seven weeks earlier in the season with a left oblique strain. In 21 starts this season he’s 10-4 with a 2.15 ERA and 162 strikeouts.

Injury Bug Continues For Yankees

The same week that outfielder Harrison Bader and Luis Severino return for the Yankees, the team placed Frankie Montas on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. Bader is back from a plantar fasciitis injury in his right foot that landed him on the 60-day IL. 

Severino is returning Wednesday from a shoulder strain he suffered in mid-July. Now, Montas is hitting the 15-day IL with shoulder problems and may not be ready for a full workload early in the playoffs. Montas has a 1-3 record and a 6.35 ERA in 8 starts since he was acquired from the Oakland A’s.

Reinforcements Returning For Phillies

Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler is returning Wednesday from a forearm strain that has kept him out since Aug. 20. The former Met will likely have 2 or 3 starts to ramp up for a Phillies playoff push. 

As of Tuesday, Philadelphia leads the Brewers by 2.5 games for the final wildcard spot. Star outfielder Nick Castellanos has been out since Sept. 2 with an oblique injury, but is reportedly beginning to ramp up. The best case scenario would be a rehab assignment this weekend, according to Phillies manager Rob Thomson.