This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Astros will be without Correa for at least four weeks after he suffered a broken rib during a recent massage. While the cause of injury is unusual to say the least, the recovery is pretty straightforward. Rest and time remain the best of course of action. Rib fractures are often very painful and can elicit pain with simple, everyday motions like breathing or laughing. Medication and certain modalities can be utilized to treat the associated symptoms, but these don't accelerate bone repair. On the plus side, bone tissue does mend nicely, and Correa should be good to go as long as the bone heals in an appropriate manner. Play it safe and anticipate his recovery lasting closer to six weeks.
The Rangers slugger was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career less than 24 hours after suffering an oblique injury against the Royals. Oblique injuries have gained notoriety over the past few seasons, as players such as Aaron Judge, Yasiel Puig, Josh Bell, and Christian Yelich have suffered the ailment. However, it doesn't appear the rate of occurrence is drastically up, in fact games missed due to oblique injuries have declined over the past few seasons. Instead, an improvement in diagnosis may be the reason for the perceived emergence of the injury.
As for the injury itself, it has been detailed once this season following Judge's injury. However, let's do a quick refresher.
The oblique muscles are
The Astros will be without Correa for at least four weeks after he suffered a broken rib during a recent massage. While the cause of injury is unusual to say the least, the recovery is pretty straightforward. Rest and time remain the best of course of action. Rib fractures are often very painful and can elicit pain with simple, everyday motions like breathing or laughing. Medication and certain modalities can be utilized to treat the associated symptoms, but these don't accelerate bone repair. On the plus side, bone tissue does mend nicely, and Correa should be good to go as long as the bone heals in an appropriate manner. Play it safe and anticipate his recovery lasting closer to six weeks.
The Rangers slugger was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career less than 24 hours after suffering an oblique injury against the Royals. Oblique injuries have gained notoriety over the past few seasons, as players such as Aaron Judge, Yasiel Puig, Josh Bell, and Christian Yelich have suffered the ailment. However, it doesn't appear the rate of occurrence is drastically up, in fact games missed due to oblique injuries have declined over the past few seasons. Instead, an improvement in diagnosis may be the reason for the perceived emergence of the injury.
As for the injury itself, it has been detailed once this season following Judge's injury. However, let's do a quick refresher.
The oblique muscles are divided into two groups, the internal obliques and the external obliques. The external obliques help pull the chest downward during breathing while the internal obliques compress the abdomen when exhaling. Additionally, the two groups work together to carry out trunk rotation. The internal obliques are often referred to as "same-side" rotators, while the external obliques help rotate the opposite side. For example, if a player wants to move his right shoulder across his body toward his left hip, he would have to contract his left internal oblique and his right external oblique.
While we don't know the exact muscle group Gallo strained, we do know it's located on his left side. This is normally important, as recent studies have shown that oblique injuries that occur on the nondominant side often result in a slightly prolonged recovery. However, this seems to be a nonissue for Gallo who throws right but bats left. Fortunately, the strain appears mild and less severe than the oblique strain that has sidelined Judge since mid-April. Consequently, fantasy owners should look for Gallo to miss at least two to three weeks recovering.
Check Swings
Jose Altuve: The former American League MVP suffered a setback on his rehab assignment and has returned to Houston for further evaluation. Unfortunately, the hiccup isn't directly related to the hamstring injury that initially sent him to the IL but to his surgically repaired right knee. Altuve required offseason surgery to address an avulsion fracture of his patella (kneecap). While the hamstring strain occurred to his left leg, he's now reporting "fatigue and soreness" in the knee. The problem could be indirectly related to his treatment for the hamstring injury, though further testing by team physicians should provide better insight as to what is causing the issues. Look for Houston to provide an update in the coming days, but it doesn't appear Altuve's return to action will occur in the near future.
Khris Davis: The Athletics' designated hitter is back on the active roster after missing eight games with a hip contusion. The injury occurred when he collided with the outfield wall during interleague play. He may need some time to reestablish his swing, so scale back your expectations for the next few outings. It also wouldn't be shocking to see Oakland give him a few extra days of rest in the coming weeks to insure his long-term health.
Aaron Judge: Judge is making slow progress in his recovery from his oblique injury. He has begun hitting off a tee and recently began taking fly balls. His next step in his return to play protocol will include hitting in a cage and then live batting practice. Judge remains on track for a return sometime this month.
Yadier Molina: The All-Star catcher is currently sidelined with a tendon strain in his right thumb. The injury was described as a "slight tear," making this a Grade 2 injury. His recovery is expected to take two to three weeks, but the situation remains fluid. In the meantime, prospect Andrew Knizner will take over behind the plate.
Andrelton Simmons: The Angels Gold Glove shortstop will avoid surgery but will still miss substantial time with a Grade 3 ankle sprain. A Grade 3 classification means one or multiple ligaments were complete torn, setting up a lengthy recovery. The return-to-play timeline for an injury of this magnitude is usually measured in weeks not days, with an eight-week absence probable.
Giancarlo Stanton: Stanton's long-awaited return is inching closer as he is slated to begin a rehab assignment in the near future. However, you can't fault fantasy owners for being a bit skeptical after Stanton has suffered multiple setbacks since landing on the IL on April 1. His initial injury was a biceps strain that contributed to another shoulder strain. A subsequent calf strain prolonged his time out, though Stanton has recently resumed baseball activities. Considering Stanton's recent inability to stay healthy and a checkered injury history, proceed with caution with the hard-hitting outfielder.
Fernando Tatis Jr.: The Padres continue to take a conservative approach with Tatis' recovery from a hamstring strain. He has made progress in his rehab protocol and could begin a rehab assignment this week. The method has been maddening for fantasy owners eager to get Tatis' bat back in the their lineup. However, the reasoning is sound as a premature return to play is a considerable factor in re-injury rates. Look for Tatis to be back in action by mid-June.
