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2015 Fantasy Baseball: All-Star Break Injury Report

Cincinnati will host the 86th Midsummer Classic next Tuesday in what should be an exciting affair. Unfortunately, stats accrued during the game won’t be reflected in your fantasy baseball lineups, so the break is a great time to plan for the second half. While others are enjoying the time off from having to set a lineup (lazy, I tell ya!), this unofficial midway point of the season is a great time to prep for the stretch run.

Whether you’re in a roto or head-to-head league, staying informed on all the injuries across the sport will keep you on your feet, because no one likes to be caught off guard when a player has a setback or returns from the DL sooner than expected.

Let’s take a look at some young outfielders who should be making their returns by the end of the month.

Wil Myers, OF, Padres

Myers is no stranger to the DL. The center fielder missed 28 games from May 11 to June 11, and following his activation, he lasted all of four days before being placed back on it. A balky wrist has been the culprit for his time on the sidelines, but he is ahead of schedule in his attempt to return to the field. The 24-year-old was initially given a 6-8 week timetable after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur, but the good news is he could return at the low end of that. “Returning to baseball activities” at the four-week mark means he could be roaming the Padres’ outfield a week or so after the All-Star break, depending how long his rehab assignment takes. While that may be a little optimistic, at worst, it’s looking like Myers will be back no later than the end of July.

The former Ray was hitting .277/.327/.459 with five homers, 19 RBI and 30 runs scored before his injury, and will be a big boost for a struggling Padres’ offense.

Ender Inciarte, OF, Diamondbacks

The D-Backs seemed to have formed a solid outfield core since Inciarte hit the DL, but that doesn’t mean owners in deeper leagues shouldn’t be targeting him. A.J. Pollock, Yasmany Tomas and David Peralta have been better than expected, but Inciarte’s speed and overall hitting ability will help him force his way into the Arizona lineup. Inciarte has missed three weeks with a hamstring injury, but he began a rehab assignment on Monday and is on pace to return just after the All-Star break. Prior to his disabling, the 24-year-old had swiped nine bases and would be a nice addition a team looking for extra speed. He’s currently available in 73 percent of ESPN fantasy baseball leagues.

Steven Souza, OF, Rays

Souza has performed very well since landing in Tampa as part of a three-team trade that sent the aforementioned Wil Myers to San Diego. At the age of 26, the former Nationals’ farm hand is a bit older than most rookies, and that has given him an edge. While his batting average (.210) is highly undesirable, his 15 HR and 10 SB more than make up for it. Souza was hit in the hand by a pitch over the weekend, and while nerve damage and breaks were ruled out, the Rays decided to play it safe and put him on the DL. It’s a smart move, since he’ll be able to accrue time over the All-Star break, and there’s nothing to suggest he won’t be back when first eligible.

His DL’ing has led to owners dropping him at an alarming rate — a 16.5 percent dip this week — but that shouldn’t stop you from adding him. Power/speed combos aren’t easy to draft, let alone find on waivers, and Souza could easily eclipse the 25/20 mark this season. And, hey, his batting average can only go up, right?

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