Over the course of 162 games, longer if you count Spring Training and throw in a World Baseball Classic, players tend to get nicked up, bruised, broken and anxious. When the injury bug hits players on your fantasy roster you have to react quickly.It's time to take a look at some recent injury news, talk about how it can effect your fantasy team, and find ways to fix the problem.
Ervin Santana, Angels - Santana wasn't progressing as well as he could have been with the comeback from his strained right forearm. He missed the first month of the season due to the injury and upon his arrival back went 1-3 with a 7.47 ERA in five starts. The Angels are bringing up Sean O'Sullivan, who threw seven solid innings last week in his major league debut, but he may be too green to add to your roster. Since you were hoping for a low ERA and big-time strikeout numbers when you drafted Santana, look at Ubaldo Jimenez who has a 3.73 ERA and 76 strikeouts. Jimenez is only owned in 56% of fantasy leagues.
Carlos Beltran, Mets - The same knee that caused Beltran trouble last month forced him onto the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. It is absolutely impossible to replace Beltran's numbers from the waiver wire. Beltran was hitting .336 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases. What's you're going to have to do is evaluate which of those categories you need the most help in and go for a guy who can help out until Beltran returns. If you need stolen bases Michael Bourn (24 SB's) is available in 40% of fantasy leagues and Nyjer Morgan (17 SB's) is only owned in 27% of fantasy leagues. If you'd like an outfielder with a high batting average with home run potential to boot, try Juan Rivera. He's batting .310 with ten home runs and only owned in 41% of fantasy leagues.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox - Whatever language it was written in, we all saw the writing on the wall the precluded Dice-K's trip to the disabled list. Officially, he's on the DL with a mild shoulder strain. Unofficially, the timing couldn't be better for clearing the way for the return of John Smoltz, who is only owned in 55% of fantasy league and could be a great pick up for fantasy GM's looking to replace Dice-K. If you need a pitcher who has a few innings under his belt this season, try replacing Matsuzaka's win total with Jason Marquis and his nine wins or Rick Porcello with his eight wins. Marquis is only owned 42% of fantasy leagues and Porcello 56%.
