5 MLB Injury Storylines To Watch This Week

Yankees Hit With Injury Bug

The Yankees have jumped out to a MLB-best 29-11 record this season while avoiding any major players taking trips to the IL. Their luck finally ran out this weekend.

Relief pitcher Chad Green, who has been one of the Yankees’ mainstays over the past few years, will miss the remainder of this season and possibly all of next season after an MRI revealed his strained right elbow will require Tommy John surgery. 

Green, who has a 3.00 ERA in 14 appearances out of the bullpen, will be joined by 23-year-old prospect Luis Gil, who will also undergo Tommy John surgery. Gil had been working towards returning to the big-league club after posting a 3.07 ERA in seven starts last season.

Aroldis Chapman, meanwhile, has reportedly been dealing with an unspecified Achilles injury for several weeks, which would explain his recent struggles. He began the season with 12 scoreless outings, but has allowed six earned runs in his last five appearances, including a two-run ninth on Sunday.

He hadn’t pitched in a game since Tuesday, and was checked out by trainers during his outing on Sunday, but has yet to be placed on the 15-day IL. 

Slugging leftfield Joey Gallo and catchers Kyle Higashioka and Ben Rortvedt were placed on the COVID-19 IL on Sunday. Each will have to post multiple negative tests before they can return to the team.

Taylor Ward To Undergo MRI On Neck

The Angels right fielder and MLB leader in batting Taylor Ward hasn’t played since suffering a stinger on Friday night.

Ward ran face-first into the outfield wall chasing down a flyout and will undergo an MRI on his neck and shoulder to ensure there is no deeper strain. Ward, who is hitting .370 with a 1.193 OPS and 27 runs scored, said he expects to be back in the lineup on Tuesday. 

Taylor Wade has replaced him since the injury and would likely continue to start if Ward misses more time.

Giants Lose Two Starters To The IL

The Giants, who have dealt with injuries across their depth chart this season, will be without centerfielder Lamone Wade Jr. first baseman Brandon Belt this week after each was diagnosed with knee inflammation.

Wade was sidelined by a left knee bone bruise from late March until his debut on May 6. He played in 10 games, hitting .240 with one home run and five RBI, before his knee soreness flared up once again last Monday. An MRI revealed he is still dealing with a bone bruise and Gabe Kapler said he will likely miss multiple weeks with the issue.

Veteran Giants’ infielder Belt was placed on the IL with left knee inflammation retroactive to May 19 after he was pulled from Saturday’s lineup. He is eligible to return next Sunday, and Belt’s issue isn’t considered as serious as Wade Jr.’s. 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Misses Sunday With Hamstring Tightness

Marlins’ star second baseman and fantasy stalwart Jazz Chisholm Jr. was pulled from Sunday’s contest against division rival Atlanta in the third inning with left hamstring tightness.

The normally explosive 24-year-old was struggling to run the bases in the first inning, during which he walked and scored a run. Chisholm Jr. took a sliding cleat to the left knee/quad area from Ozzie Albies in the eighth inning on Saturday.

He limped off the field at the end of the inning but finished the game and tests showed no damage to his left leg. It is not immediately clear if the cleat and hamstring tightness are related.

Chisholm Jr. has been dominant at the top of the order, posting a .916 OPS with 18 extra-base hits, a league-leading four triples, 27 RBI, 20 runs, and six stolen bases in 34 games. 

Austin Meadows Remains Out With “Concerning” Vertigo 

Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch told reporters on Sunday that outfielder Austin Meadows is still away from the team as he recovers from vertigo that is ostensibly related to the sinus infection he had earlier this month.

Hinch said that the team is “very concerned with what’s going on with Austin [Meadows],” likely signaling that he is still suffering from the headaches and dizziness that limited him to only one at-bat in his return on May 15. He was placed on the 10-day IL on May 16, but is unlikely to return when first eligible on May 26.

The 27-year-old is batting .267 with six extra-base hits, 11 RBI and an impressive 11 to 14 walk-to-strikeout ratio as one of the most promising pieces of Detroit’s season.