Under The Knife 12/18/23
AL Pitcher Injuries
For those of you that asked why I didn’t post the “Substackers Against Nazis” open letter, it’s because you don’t pay for that. I am most definitely against Nazis and if Substack or any platform (including X) become the place my readers don’t want to be, then I will find a better platform.
Longtime reader Rick G. politely asked me to go over some AL Pitchers that, I sense, matter to him and his fantasy team. Gladly, Rick, and if anyone has similar lists for NL Pitchers, or both league hitters, please do.
First, things at the Winter Meetings made me think about this, but so did Rick’s original email and the state of fantasy baseball. Do leagues - the old AL and NL - matter at all? With interleague play and now balanced schedules, and hopefully reconfiguration on the line once expansion happens, I’m not sure there’s anything more than names. I know there’s still plenty of AL or NL only leagues out there, but … why? Just to constrict the talent pool?
Regardless, here’s some quick looks at injured or concerning AL Pitchers:
Robbie Ray, SEA - Ray had Tommy John surgery in May, costing him the rest of the season. The question now is whether the Mariners use a standard rehab timeline and he’s back sometime late in the season or whether his return will hinge on how the Mariners are doing, not unlike Walker Buehler late last season. As with most “Classic Tommy Johns” - and yes, we need better, clearer names with the changes in the ways the operation is being done - he should come back fine and near previous levels. The when is less clear.
Shane Baz, TBR - Baz is on track to be back in 2024 as a starter for the Rays. With Tyler Glasnow gone, then Baz could functionally be the ace on Opening Day. The Rays have had a couple years of injury issues and they’re really looking for the cause. Part is the type of pitchers they have - they’re more willing to take on guys like Pete Fairbanks that will never be healthy, but when he is can be valuable - but there’s more. Baz was one of the first in this batch, but like most TJ guys, he should be fine when he returns. How they manage his innings is more a concern for fantasy than the rehab process.
Drew Rasmussen, TBR - Did I mention the Rays had pitcher injury problems? With Glasnow now a Dodger, the injury returns become even more key. Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, and Ryan Pepiot would be a nice 3-4-5, but not 1-2-3 where they are as of now. Drew Rasmussen had both a flexor strain and an elbow sprain, though the InternalBrace procedure only would help the sprain. The assumption is the tendon was repaired as well, but we don’t know. He should be back in May, but an earlier return should be plausible as well given the procedure. By the end of the season, the Rays should have the depth, if not the top level talent, to make a run again.