this year, which has given Mesoraco the chance to reboot his career in the Big Apple after coming over from Cincinnati in the
Matt Harvey trade. With
Kevin Plawecki still working his way back and
Travis d’Arnaud out for the season, Mesoraco will be the main option behind the dish for the Mets, as their only other option is
Jose Lobaton. His numbers haven’t been great so far, but he did put up a big game Tuesday night, going 2-2 with a homer and walking three times, while knocking in a couple of runs and scoring four himself. It’s been a while since his last big season, but it still appears there might be some juice left in the tank. Given the thinness of the catcher position, he should be at least on the radar in deeper leagues.
Owned in 38% of CBS Sports Leagues
Reyes wasn’t a big-name prospect coming into the season, but his massive numbers in Triple A to start the year (.346/.442/.738) earned him a recent call-up. With Wil Myers struggling to recover from an oblique injury (he’s a High Injury Risk according to Inside Injuries), and now likely out until at least June, Reyes should get an opportunity with the big club in the San Diego. He has started both games since being called up. Given the injuries to the other depth players in the Padres’ outfield, he could stick if he produces at any sort of level close to what he did in the minors before being called up. He’s worth a speculative add at this point.
Franmil Reyes' listed weight of 275 pounds may be the highest of any Padres player in franchise history. "Franimal, he's got massive legs, massive glutes," Eric Lauer said.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) May 15, 2018
Owned in 42% of CBS Sports Leagues
Heaney is a former top prospect who hasn’t caught on in the Majors up until now due to injury issues. This is his first full season back from Tommy John surgery in 2016, and he’s flourished in his last 4 starts, giving up 2 runs or fewer in each. He struck out 10 in his last start and is starting to look the part of a solid starter. He has the stuff to strike out around a hitter an inning (currently 10.2 K/9), and looks to be healthier than he has been in some time (Low Injury Risk according to Inside Injuries). He’s worth an add if he’s still available on the wire in your league.
Owned in 12% of CBS Sports Leagueswas never a very good Major League pitcher coming into 2018, but his last two starts have made him worth taking notice of after starting the year in the bullpen. In those two starts he's allowed just a single run while striking out 16 and walking just two. His fastball velocity is up while the usage of his secondary pitches (for him, changeup and curveball) has ballooned, and you can't argue with the results. The sample size is obviously minuscule, but given some of the injuries that have hit Fantasy relevant starters, he needs to be on the radar. He has a two-start week coming up (which can be an even bigger weapon given his relief pitcher eligibility), which makes him an intriguing option next week.
Injury Updates
A.J. Pollock OF, Diamondbacks: left thumb avulsion fracture
Pollock left Monday’s game after injuring his thumb while diving for a line drive. Scans showed an avulsion fracture, which means that a little piece of bone gets ripped off where a tendon or ligament attaches. While his current timeline is anywhere from 4-8 weeks, we are showing that he needs to take at least five weeks for the thumb to heal, then he can start to take batting practice and field balls in the outfield. That means a return in 7-8 weeks is realistic.
This is yet another tough break for Pollock, who was off to a hot start in the first quarter of the season. Pollock missed most of the 2016 season due to an elbow fracture and missed over two months in 2017 due to a serious groin strain. His Injury Risk is currently very high.
Robinson Cano 2B, Mariners: right hand fracture
The thing about Cano fracturing his right hand is that it lines up with his 80-game suspension. Cano was hit by a pitch earlier in the week and underwent surgery for a fifth metacarpal fracture. This typically comes with an eight-week recovery, so he should be ready to go in mid-August when his suspension is up.
DJ LeMahieu 2B, Rockies: left thumb sprain
LeMahieu is visiting a hand specialist after injuring his left thumb over the weekend. He is unable to grip a bat or a baseball, so this could be more than just a sprain. If there is a fracture or ligament damage, he could need surgery and would likely miss around eight weeks.
Rich Hill SP, Dodgers: blister
Once again Rich Hill left a start with blister issues. Hill just missed three weeks due to a cracked fingernail, an injury we said could lead to blister problems if it doesn’t fully heal. Now Hill is expected to make his next scheduled start on Sunday, but this remains a serious concern. He missed significant time in each of the last two seasons with blisters. This isn’t a problem that is just going to go away. So while he may be fine for now, this won’t be the last we hear of his blister problems.
Adrian Beltre 3B, Rangers: hamstring strain
An MRI on Beltre’s hamstring showed a grade 1 sprain, and he is currently expected to miss 2-3 weeks. It’s in the same location as his late-April hamstring strain. That one should have sidelined him for at least two weeks, but because he tried to return sooner than that, the injury is popping up again. Beltre has a lengthy history of lower body muscular strains, particularly to his hamstring and calf. His Injury Risk already fell into the High category, and now it’s even higher. If you have Beltre on your roster, look to trade him away whenever he shows a brief glimpse of productivity following his return. He can’t be trusted.
Cespedes tried to play through discomfort in his right hip for weeks. When it wasn’t getting better (no surprise), the Mets finally sent him for an MRI and placed him on the DL. He hopes to return when first eligible, but we are showing a lengthier Optimal Recovery Time of around 3 weeks. Cespedes had so many lower body injuries in the last two seasons that it’s hard to believe he has played in 35 games this season. He did miss half of the 2017 season due to multiple hamstring strains. Instead of rushing back as soon as he starts to feel better, he needs to take extra time off for his body to fully heal. It’s a horrible cycle he’s in and one that could lead to another ruined season.
The Angels may be on the hunt for a new closer to take over for the rest of the season. Middleton had a brief stint on the DL due to inflammation in his elbow. But in just his second game back he experienced discomfort in his pitching elbow. What is now being called an elbow sprain could be a sign that Tommy John surgery is in his future. Middleton is going for a second opinion before making any decisions, but his fantasy owners should go ahead and tart looking for a long-term replacement. Jim Johnson, Cam Bedrosian, Blake Parker and Justin Anderson are all candidates for more save opportunities.
Ryan Braun OF, Brewers: back strain
Braun has missed the last three games with a back injury and is “far more likely” than not to hit the DL. Our algorithm is showing a two week Optimal Recovery Time if it’s mild, but closer to four weeks if it’s a more serious strain. Braun also has a history of back problems, so he needs to be extra careful in his recovery. We always warn that back injuries tend to recur.
When the Cardinals placed their ace on the DL one week ago, they hoped he would miss just one turn in the rotation. Now he is being sent for a follow-up MRI to determine if his lat strained has healed at all. As we predicted, he isn’t improving as quickly as expected and won’t be activated early next week. Martinez still has not picked up a baseball but hopes that the scan shows improvement so he can start his throwing program. Until then, Martinez remains a High Injury Risk. Our algorithm is showing that he needs at least one more week, but likely longer, before he should return to the mound.
Look up the Injury Risk and Projected Performance (HPF) of Any Player in Major League Baseball!
Devin Mesoraco Featured Image: (AP Photo/John Minchillo)