This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Rangers likely will navigate the remainder of the season without two of the big weapons in their pitching arsenal. Starter Kluber and closer Leclerc have both been placed on the 45-day injured list with strains to the teres major, a shoulder muscle located on the posterior aspect of the joint.
Let's first clarify that this is not an injury to the rotator cuff. The teres minor is a part of the cuff NOT the teres major. The teres major is situated over the shoulder aspect of the latissimus dorsi and anchors to the scapula (shoulder blade) and the humerus (upper arm bone). The orientation of the muscle allows it to be involved in multiple motions at the shoulder, including internal rotation, as well as movement of the shoulder blade itself. The teres major is also a stabilizer of the shoulder, making it crucial in fluid pitching mechanics.
The teres major is active during the late stages of the cocking phase as well as the acceleration phase and follow through. As a result, the muscle plays a significant role in generating pitch velocity. Any limitation would severely hamper a pitcher's effectiveness. Multiple pitchers, including Clayton Kershaw and Mike Clevinger, have dealt with the injury in season's past. Both Kershaw and Clevinger missed more than five weeks with their respective injuries, setting a discouraging precedent for the Rangers pitchers. Each injury was diagnosed as a Grade 2 strain, meaning the injury is classified as a
The Rangers likely will navigate the remainder of the season without two of the big weapons in their pitching arsenal. Starter Kluber and closer Leclerc have both been placed on the 45-day injured list with strains to the teres major, a shoulder muscle located on the posterior aspect of the joint.
Let's first clarify that this is not an injury to the rotator cuff. The teres minor is a part of the cuff NOT the teres major. The teres major is situated over the shoulder aspect of the latissimus dorsi and anchors to the scapula (shoulder blade) and the humerus (upper arm bone). The orientation of the muscle allows it to be involved in multiple motions at the shoulder, including internal rotation, as well as movement of the shoulder blade itself. The teres major is also a stabilizer of the shoulder, making it crucial in fluid pitching mechanics.
The teres major is active during the late stages of the cocking phase as well as the acceleration phase and follow through. As a result, the muscle plays a significant role in generating pitch velocity. Any limitation would severely hamper a pitcher's effectiveness. Multiple pitchers, including Clayton Kershaw and Mike Clevinger, have dealt with the injury in season's past. Both Kershaw and Clevinger missed more than five weeks with their respective injuries, setting a discouraging precedent for the Rangers pitchers. Each injury was diagnosed as a Grade 2 strain, meaning the injury is classified as a partial tear. Fortunately, both will avoid surgery and have instead opted to receive platelet-rich (PRP) injections with the hope of accelerating the healing process. Still, they are out for at least 45 days and seem likely to be shut down for the remainder of the abbreviated season. As a result, they carry minimal fantasy value in one-year formats.
The Rangers will take a closer-by-committee approach, with Jonathan Hernandez, veteran Edinson Volquez and Nick Goody all possibilities. Kolby Allard replaced Kluber in the rotation and impressed on Sunday, allowing one run in four innings of work in a Texas win over San Francisco.
Check Swings
Mookie Betts: The Dodgers $365-million man is day-to-day with a swollen and sore left middle finger. Even a mild amount of swelling can negatively impact a player's grip, though the team has downplayed the severity of the injury after a negative X-ray. Hopefully this is a minor road bump and Betts will be back on the field shortly.
Ryan Braun: An unusual injury has sent the former MVP to the DL as he is slated to miss time due to an infected right finger. The infection required a trip to the hospital to be cleaned, and Braun won't be able to play until it clears. Antibiotics likely will be prescribed to help fight the infection but that may take some time given the location of the problem. Braun was serving primarily as Milwaukee's designated hitter, a role that likely will be filled by Logan Morrison.
Josh Donaldson: In Minnesota, Donaldson was held out of both weekend games with tightness in his calf. The problem first surfaced on Friday, and the Twins are understandably handling him conservatively. Donaldson has a lengthy history of lower extremity injuries, including both calves. The most significant injury occurred last year when he missed a three-month stretch with a left calf strain. Fortunately, the current issue is in his opposite leg, though it's unsurprising to see the Twins exhibit caution. Marwin Gonzalez will continue to start at third base for as long as Donaldson remains shelved.
Mitch Keller: The Pirates continue to evaluate the severity of Keller's injury even as he hits the IL. Keller left his last start after 2.2 innings pitched with discomfort in his side, and there have been rumblings that the injury involves one of the oblique muscles. The obliques comprise two groups of muscles located on each side of the rib cage. The obliques on one side work together with the muscles on the opposite side to achieve rotation of the trunk. As a result, even a left oblique strain can restrict a right-handed pitcher. Hopefully, Pittsburgh will provide more insight in the coming days but look for this to be a multiweek absence for Keller.
Shohei Ohtani: 2020 has been disappointing for Ohtani as he attempts to return to the mound after 2018's Tommy John surgery. He has surrendered seven runs in 1.2 innings pitched and sports a bloated 37.80 ERA. Things only got worse Sunday when he was sent for an MRI on his ailing arm. The results have not been released though there isn't much room for optimism given Ohtani's injury history. Consider him day-to-day for now with some time off likely.
Danny Santana: The popular injury since the league resumed has been the forerarm strain. The problem has sidelined Justin Verlander, Ken Giles and Miles Mikolas in varying degrees. However, it isn't just a pitching issue, as Texas was forced to place their starting center fielder on the IL with the problem. Santana is expected to miss longer than the allotted 10-days with Scott Heineman filling the void in the outfield. Heineman may be a decent stopgap option as he batted 3-for-9 over the weekend with a home run and three RBIs. Nick Solak could see him action if Heineman falters.
Joey Votto: The Reds veteran self-reported symptoms that were red-flagged in his routine COVID-19 screening, forcing him to the injured list without a true designation. Votto has not tested positive for the coronavirus, and it appears the move may have been purely precautionary. Cincinnati dealt with a comparable situation last week when infielder Mike Moustakas spent three days on the IL after self-reporting similar symptoms. Votto can be activated at anytime and will return if the symptoms subside and he continues to log negative tests. The same goes for Kris Bryant who missed both of the Cubs' games over the weekend. Bryant's illness appears to be more gastrointestinal based, but it's possible for COVID-19 to affect the digestive system.
