Injuries are an important factor when making decisions in fantasy baseball. A player’s value (when healthy) and the extent of their injury will determine whether you should keep a player on your roster or drop him.

15-Day Disabled List

Curtis Granderson, OF, NYY – The star center fielder is currently on a rehab assignment in Triple-A where he has been hitting pretty well so far. Granderson should be activated sometime this week or after suffering a broken forearm when he was hit with a pitch in his first spring training at-bat this season.

Austin Jackson, OF, DET – The Tigers’ leadoff hitter is dealing with a sore hamstring has been put on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 12th. The organization wanted to be cautious with Jackson because hamstring injuries can get worse without rest, so expect him to come back healthy when he’s eligible to return.

Jason Heyward, OF, ATL – The slugger had surgery to remove his appendix in late-April and is currently on a rehab assignment in Triple-A, so he should be back with the Braves by the end of the week. Heyward is hitting only .121 this year so maybe the time away will be a good thing for his psyche.

Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA – It is unclear when Stanton will return to action from an ailing hamstring that has had him on the shelf since April 29th. The 23-year-old could potentially be out for the entire month of May, so fantasy owners will want to keep an eye on updates about his status.

Hanley Ramirez, SS/3B, LAD – It wasn’t long before Ramirez made his way back onto the DL after starting the season there with a torn ligament in his thumb, which was suffered during the World Baseball Classic. The Dominican’s left hamstring has him out until at least the end of May, but more likely until sometime in June.

Michael Cuddyer, OF/1B, COL – A bulging disk in his neck has the 34-year-old veteran sidelined for an uncertain amount of time. Cuddyer’s neck started giving him issues back in 2004 and again in 2011. He was having a great season at the plate with a .317 batting average, seven home runs and 23 runs batted in before heading to the DL.

Coco Crisp, OF, OAK – The speedster could go on a test drive in running the bases in the very near future to see how his strained hamstring responds. If all goes well, owners can expect Crisp to be activated this week after being out since April 29th.

Aaron Hill, 2B, ARI – Fantasy owners have been patiently waiting for Hill’s broken hand to heal and it’s been a slow process so far. He will likely be out until at least the end of May if not longer with the way things are going. The wait should be worth it though as Hill is one of the best options at second base in fantasy baseball when healthy, a position with a limited amount of talent.

Jayson Werth, OF, WSH – The Nationals are expecting Werth to be back on the field on May 18th when he is eligible to return from a strained left hamstring injury. He is having a pretty decent season so far statistically and will go right back to manning right field for Washington.

Kevin Youkilis, 3B/1B, NYY – The Yankees are skeptical as to when Youkilis will return to their lineup as he tries to recover from a lumbar spine strain (bulging disc) and inflammation in his back. The veteran has had back issues in the past and it can be a very tricky situation to predict how soon he will recover. He’s eligible to return on May 13th.

A.J. Pierzynski, C, TEX – A strained right oblique has had Pierzynski on the DL since last week and he plans on hitting from a tee this week. Things seem to be progressing nicely for the 36-year-old backstop, so expect his return to come next week.

Josh Reddick, OF, OAK – The left-handed hitting Reddick has struggled all season to the tune of a .152 batting average and one home run in 92 at-bats before heading to the DL on May 8th. It’s very possible he originally injured his wrist in a game in Houston on April 7th sliding into a wall in foul ground attempting to make a catch on a fly ball. He’s received shots of a numbing agent Xylocaine and cortisone in his wrist. The DL stint should give Reddick some much needed rest time.

Cameron Maybin, OF, SD – The 26-year-old center fielder has been on the DL since April 17th with a reoccurring wrist injury that he has been dealing with for the past two seasons which flared up again in February. Like Reddick, Maybin has struggled mightily this year and also received a cortisone shot and will use the time off to rest his injured wrist. Lingering injuries like this can take a long time to heal and the player’s production at the plate can suffer greatly.

Mark Ellis, 2B, LAD – Like the Yankees, the Dodgers have a good number of players hurt at the moment and Ellis was on a tear before hurting his quadriceps. He won’t be activated when he’s eligible this Sunday and will need a rehab assignment before returning to the Big Leagues. It looks like he is at least two weeks away from coming back.

Adam Eaton, OF, ARI – The former 19th round pick in the 2010 amateur draft is currently on a minor league rehab assignment and will be there awhile longer because he’s not ready to play the field yet, so he’s designating hitting for now. The plan is to have Eaton play at least 10 games in center field when ready before promoting him to the Diamondbacks roster. He is likely returning in early June.

Franklin Gutierrez, OF, SEA – The Venezuelan outfielder is expected to start a rehab stint in the minor leagues by the end of the week. After being diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, Gutierrez is right on track with the two to three week timetable that was originally released from team doctors.

Justin Maxwell, OF, HOU – On April 24th, Maxwell was hit by a pitch that broke his left hand. His recovery is moving along well having already played catch, and he’s scheduled to take swings sometime this week. He should be back in action in a couple weeks.

Peter Bourjos, OF, ANA – The speedy outfielder strained his hamstring in the 19-inning loss to the Athletics on May 29th and should be back in a couple weeks. Bourjos is the Angels’ starting center fielder and was having a solid season before the injury with a .313 batting average and a pair of home runs in 83 at-bats.

Chris Young, OF, OAK – The seven-year veteran is recovering from a strained left quadriceps and is on track to come off the DL on May 15th, the first day he is eligible to do so. Young is off to a slow start this season with a batting average under the Mendoza Line at .172, but Oakland will be happy to have him back with Crisp and Reddick both sidelined at the moment.

Rajai Davis, OF, TOR – The Blue Jays lost Davis to the DL with an oblique injury after he was taken out of the game against the Red Sox last Friday. The 32-year-old has been the fourth outfielder in Toronto and was batting .284 with one home run, eight stolen bases and 13 runs scored on the campaign. It is not yet clear as to when he will return and oblique injuries can linger.

Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL – The 35-year-old veteran has played less than 60 games in each of the last four seasons because of injuries. Roberts ruptured a tendon in his right knee early this season and had surgery on his hamstring last week. He is expected to be out until at least mid-June and don’t be surprised if he’s not back until July at some point.

Gordon Beckham, 2B, CHW – The second baseman had surgery to repair the hamate bone in his left wrist in mid-April and is expected to take batting practice later this week. It is thought that Beckham will be back in the Major Leagues by the end of this month after a rehab assignment in the minors.

Eduardo Nunez, SS, NYY – Derek Jeter’s replacement is now injured as well. Nunez’s rib injury has sidelined him since May 5th. The 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic may not be able to come back when he’s eligible since he hasn’t been able to swing a bat yet.

Donovon Solano, 2B, MIA – The Marlins’ lost Solano to an oblique injury just as he was getting hot at the plate with a .366 batting average (15-for-41) in the 10 games prior to getting hurt. He will get some rest before likely being activated when he is eligible on May 19th.

Jerry Hairston, 2B/3B, LAD – The veteran utility man tweaked his groin on May 4th and it is uncertain when he will return. The Dodgers have been decimated with injuries in the first two months of the season and Hairston has been added to the pile of players on the DL.

Chris Heisey, OF, CIN – A strained hamstring landed Heisey on the DL after he started the season hitting .173. He will head out to a rehab assignment in Double-A this week so his return is imminent.

Hiroyuki Nakajima, SS, OAK – The Japanese export has yet to play with the Athletics this year after starting the campaign on the DL with a hamstring injury. He is currently playing in Triple-A and the organization is going to wait until they feel he is fully recovered before activating him. Oakland signed Nakajima this past offseason and will likely use him as a utility man when he gets called up.

60-Day Disabled List

Jose Reyes, SS, TOR – The Blue Jays’ shortstop is out of his cast and now in a walking boot to help rehab his severely sprained right ankle. It would be optimistic to believe that Reyes will be back in late-June and a return in July is more realistic.

Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY – The All-Star first baseman is recovering from a torn sheath in his wrist and is not expected back until sometime in June. Teixeira has taken limited batting practice and has fielded groundballs so owners can get a little excited about his eventual return, which is still a bit cloudy at the moment.

Cory Hart, 1B/OF, MIL – The power-hitting Hart had knee surgery this past offseason to repair a torn meniscus and other damage. He is optimistic about returning at the end of this month when he is eligible on May 30th after completing a 10-game rehab stint.

Derek Jeter, SS, NYY – The Yankee captain suffered a broken ankle in the 2012 playoffs and most people around the situation believe he will be out until after the All-Star break. Jeter is in a walking boot right now and the New York Post reported that he’s doing some swimming and working on a recumbent bike. There is no timetable for when he will resume baseball activities at this time and any setback could further delay his return.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY – Like Jeter, Rodriguez is likely to return sometime around the All-Star break. A-Rod is recovering from hip surgery this past offseason and started swinging, throwing and running this past week without any setbacks. The Yankees will be delighted if they get both Jeter and Rodriguez back in July.

Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN – The former UNLV Rebel hurt his shoulder sliding headfirst into third base on Opening Day and needed surgery to repair a torn right labrum to his non-throwing shoulder. The general consensus at this point is that Ludwick will be on the Big League roster sometime after the All-Star break, but more updates are sure to come.

Logan Morrison, 1B/OF, MIA – The three-year player had offseason knee surgery and played in extended spring training games last week to start his comeback to the Show. Barring any setback, Morrison is expected to make his return to the Marlins by mid-June after playing a few weeks in the minors.

Francisco Cervelli, C, NYY – In late April, Cervelli broke his non-throwing hand when a foul tip caught it squarely. The injury is going to keep the catcher on the shelf for a total of at least six weeks, so don’t expect to see him in pinstripes before late June. The Yanks called up the 24-year-old Austin Romine, a prospect known more for his defensive ability, to help with the catching duties along with Chris Stewart.

Marcell Ozuna, OF, MIA – The rookie outfielder started his Major League career with a six-game hitting streak in which he hit his first home run on May 4th against the Phillies. The Marlins signed him as an amateur free agent in 2008 and he hit at least 20 or more big flies the past three seasons in lower minor leagues. At the ripe age of 22, Ozuna was called up at the end of April after hitting .333 with five home runs and driving in 15 runs in 10 games in Double-A.

The Marlins needed to promote Ozuna with Giancarlo Stanton being put on the disabled list with a hamstring injury around the same time. Ozuna has responded very well and is hitting over .300 as of right now and fantasy owners in need of outfielder depth may want to pick him up. The Dominican has legit power and should drive in some runs, although his lofty batting average should decline to about the .260-280 range over time.

There is plenty of long-term upside with Ozuna, who along with Marlins’ top prospect Christian Yelich, provide plenty of hope for the future to an organization looking to rebuild with young talent.

Carlos Martinez, SP/RP, STL – The 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic can light up the radar gun consistently, hitting 99 MPH against the Brewers on May 5th in a one-inning relief appearance. Martinez was called up from Double-A last week to replace Mitchell Boggs in the Cardinals’ bullpen. The youngster will likely be in the rotation in a year or two, but is most needed in the pen right now.

Fantasy owners won’t find much value in Martinez at this stage in his career unless he’s able to wrestle the closer role away from Edward Mujica, which isn’t likely. It is possible he could start a couple or more games down the road if a starter goes down with an injury or just doesn’t produce to the point where a change is needed.

Martinez has been effective so far in two relief appearances and should remain on the Red Birds’ roster unless he completely falls apart. He has a lot of upside and will be a great pitcher for years to come so fantasy owners need to remember the name.

15-Day Disabled List

Jered Weaver, SP, LAA – The Angel’s ace is expected to throw a bullpen session sometime next week. After falling and breaking his non-pitching (left) arm back in early April, this will be the first time Weaver pitched from a mound since going on the disabled list. Obviously it would have been worse if his right arm was involved, but the throwing or “glove side” arm is extremely important for a pitchers delivery and balance. He’ll need a few games in the minors after healing, so his fantasy owners will need to display a great deal of patience.

Johnny Cueto, SP, CIN – Cueto was scratched from Friday’s minor league rehab start with soreness in his right oblique. Placed on the DL on April 15th due to a lat strain, the right-hander has experienced this setback weeks after suffering the initial injury… This should soften the bad news for his fantasy owners, but any injury should still be considered a concern.

Zack Greinke, SP, LAD – The former Cy Young award winner is reportedly ahead of schedule from his broken collarbone, and may be able to return in two to three weeks. A broken clavicle usually requires six to eight weeks to mend, so Greinke’s owners should be thrilled with his speedy progress.

Joel Hanrahan, RP, BOS – The Red Sox are sending Hanrahan to the DL for the second time this season and this time with a strained right forearm after a hamstring injury put him on the shelf in mid-April. He had made three appearances, including a blown save against Minnesota in his last outing.

Andrew Bailey, RP, BOS – The 28-year-old reliever has inflammation in his biceps, which is very troubling for the Red Sox who are without their two best closing options. There is no word on when Bailey will be back in action, but he’s hoping to throw in a couple days. Fantasy owners will want to keep a close eye on Hanrahan and Bailey’s injuries as more information is released as to when they will be back.

Roy Halladay, SP, PHI – It has been a roller coaster of a season for Halladay who is now on the DL and will have arthroscopic surgery to repair a bone spur in his shoulder. His potential return date is unclear, but he will miss the majority of this season at the least. With a 2-4 record and an 8.65 ERA, the former Cy Young award winner is on the decline and an aging body could be a factor. From 2006-11, Halladay made at least 31 starts, won no less than 16 games and had an ERA under three in each season, but he only made 25 starts last season with 11 wins and a 4.49 ERA.

Josh Johnson, SP, TOR – The Blue Jays placed the starting pitcher on the 15-day-DL last week, but the team was relieved when his MRI for an inflamed triceps came back negative. The 29-year-old hasn’t been himself all season long, allowing opposing batters to hit .320 off of him and posting a heart wrenching 6.86 ERA. Johnson will resume baseball activity on Thursday, but expect him to get a few rehab starts before rejoining the team.

Ryan Madson, RP, LAA – Madson is supposedly weeks away from returning, and has been throwing in bullpen sessions and simulated games lately. He will make a few appearances in the minors, and if he doesn’t suffer any setbacks, his owners should expect him to lock down the back end of that struggling Angels bullpen.

Brett Anderson, SP, OAK – Oakland placed left-hander Brett Anderson on the DL on May 1st, but he is expected to throw a bullpen session later this week. “If Brett’s running session goes well on Monday, he’ll join the Athletics during their road trip and throw a bullpen session,” said manager Bob Melvin. When healthy, Anderson is considered the team’s ace, so it could be beneficial for fantasy owners to keep a close eye on his progress.

Jason Motte, RP, STL – Motte will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery next week, and fantasy owners aren’t too happy about it. He will miss the remainder of the season, and perhaps even the beginning of 2014. Emerging as the Cardinals’ closer in 2011, he had an impressive NLDS and NLCS helping his team to go on and win the World Series that year.

Kyuji Fujikawa, RP, CHC – Cub’s closer Kyuji Fujikawa, who was placed on the 15-day-DL with a right forearm injury, pitched in his rehab assignment on Sunday. In his first baseball action since April 13th, the 33-year-old pitched only one inning, striking out two and walking just one. He threw 21 pitches in the inning, so the Cubs will give him at least one more attempt at a successful rehab outing before his return to the big leagues.

Matt Garza, SP, CHC – After pitching in his first rehab start on Wednesday, Matt Garza reported “all systems go” admitting that he felt good throwing the ball and making his pitches. Injured since Feb. 17th (Spring Training), the 29-year-old is hoping to build his arm strength and make a return to the team by the end of May.

Matt Harrison, SP, TEX – Rangers’ left-hander Matt Harrison had an abrupt setback in his recovery from back surgery and needed another operation just eight days prior to his first surgery in attempt to repair a herniated disk. He isn’t expected to return for about three months, leaving the Rangers without their All-Star and 18-game winner from last year.

Brandon Beachy, SP, ATL – Starting pitcher Brandon Beachy threw yet another bullpen session on Friday, leaving just two sessions to go before going out on a rehab assignment that will last around six or seven starts. If everything goes accordingly, the 26-year-old is hoping to return to the Braves rotation at some point in June.

Sergio Santos, RP, TOR – Santos remains on the DL with a minor right triceps strain and there is no set timetable for his return. The righty is playing catch from up to 90 feet and claims that he “feels great”. Expect his progress to graduate to at least a bullpen session at some point in the near future.

Phil Coke, RP, DET – Coke won’t be eligible to come off of the DL until next weekend, but is likely to start a rehab assignment sometime this week. He was added to the 15-day-DL last Wednesday with a sore left groin, but he should return to action sooner than later.

Chad Billingsley, SP, LAD – The Dodgers’ will be without Billingsley for the rest of 2013 and the beginning of next season after he underwent Tommy John surgery a couple weeks ago.

Johan Santana, SP, NYM – The southpaw will miss the final year of his six-year, $137.5 million contract with a season-ending shoulder surgery. It is very possible we have seen the last of Santana as this could be career-ending. He will have missed two full seasons due to injuries as a member of the Mets.

Ivan Nova, SP, NYY – Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova played catch on Saturday for the first time since being placed on the DL with a triceps injury last week. Although he admitted to feeling tightness in his arm, but made it a point that there was no pain. Nova will head to Tampa next week to begin throwing off a mound, but his return still has no timetable.

Frank Francisco, RP, NYM – The Mets’ reliever admitted that he felt “OK but not great” after a 25-pitch side session last week. The right-hander was re-examined by doctors but no structural damage was discovered in his elbow.

Chris Capuano, SP, LAD – Capuano was lit up in his horrific return from the DL on Monday, giving up six runs in just four innings in a loss to the D-backs. He holds a 10.38 ERA and 2.31 WHIP on the season and isn’t a desirable option for fantasy owners.

Brett Myers, SP, CLE – Meyers remains on the 15-day-DL with inflammation in his right elbow. The good news is that he is progressing “very well” in his rehab according to manager Terry Francona, so his owners should expect him back shortly.

Gavin Floyd, SP, CHW – Starting pitcher Gavin Floyd will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament and a town flexor muscle in his right arm. The 30-year-old is expected to miss anywhere from 14 to 19 months.

Francisco Liriano, SP, PIT – Liriano seems to have fully recovered from the broken arm he suffered in the offseason. He had a mediocre performance in his previous rehab start, but is still scheduled to make his Pirates debut against the Mets on Saturday. The former Twin is expected to take Jonathan Sanchez’s spot in the Pirates rotation.

John Lannan, SP, PHI – Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said that lefty John Lannan could miss six to eight weeks due to a strained left quadriceps tendon in his knee. Now two weeks into his recovery, he will be re-evaluated by a team doctor this upcoming Saturday.

John Danks, SP, CHW – John Danks was back in Chicago after starting in his extended spring training game recently. He has begun a rehab stint at Double-A Birmingham, but will likely need several minor league appearances in order to get back into game speed.

Martin Perez, SP, TEX – Rangers left-hander Martin Perez was struck above the left wrist by a line drive off of the bat of Brad Miller. X-Rays revealed a fracture, which kept Perez from throwing for approximately four weeks while it healed. He will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco sometime this week.

Nate Eovaldi, SP, MIA – Marlins starting pitcher Nate Eovaldi is making progress in his long-toss program, but there is still no timeline for his possible return. He has been on the DL since the beginning of the season due to right shoulder inflammation.

Henderson Alvarez, SP, MIA – Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez has been sidelined since the beginning of the season due to right shoulder inflammation but played catch on Monday. He was shut down last week after experiencing discomfort in his shoulder while facing live batters in a simulated game so his return doesn’t appear to be anywhere soon.

60-Day Disabled List

Chris Carpenter, SP, STL – The Cardinals’ one-time ace had announced before the season that it was highly unlikely for him to pitch in 2013, because of a nerve condition in his neck and shoulder. The Cardinals have expressed interest in helping resurrect the right-hander’s career by using him as a reliever this season. The 37-year-old recently began throwing at Busch Stadium, hoping to make his return sometime in July.

Neftali Feliz, RP, TEX – The young hurler underwent Tommy John surgery on August 1st and has been reportedly throwing long toss since mid-April. Manager Ron Washington said that he wasn’t ready to begin throwing off a mound yet, but is hoping that he can return to the team by late July or early August.

Michael Pineda, SP, NYY – The Yankees would love to have an electric arm in their rotation to compliment CC Sabathia’s aging arm. Pineda underwent season-ending surgery last year to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, but over a year later, the flamethrower is said to be lighting up the radar gun during his bullpen sessions in Tampa. Pineda reportedly hit 95 MPH, making his return date in June appear fairly realistic.

Scott Baker, SP, CHC – Starter Scott Baker was placed on the 60-day-DL after experiencing a setback in his rough recovery from Tommy John surgery. He resumed his throwing program last week, throwing from about 45 feet.

Jeff Neimann, SP, TB – The 30-year-old Niemann won’t be pitching for the Rays any time soon, as the right-hander recently underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in early April. It was the only option if he ever wanted to compete at the Major League level again.

Daniel Hudson, SP, ARI – The Arizona right-hander threw two innings of batting practice last week, which is a good sign for any pitcher recovering from Tommy John. He reportedly threw around 55 pitches, getting praise from his coaches and teammates alike. Hudson will begin to throw on every fifth day with a few bullpen sessions scheduled in between, so we can expect his return in the near future.

Cory Luebke, SP, SD – Luebke is also working his way back from the Tommy John surgery that he underwent last year. Sadly, he felt some pain in his right after playing catch last week. The Padres are taking serious precautions with this issue, and will give him a break from throwing for a little while and then reassess the situation.

These expectations were set early in the draft when owners grabbed their first couple bats and their first few arms. While some are reaping the rewards of a Felix Hernandez or a Robinson Cano selection early on, others aren’t so happy.

Those of you who drafted the following players are probably kicking yourself for wasting a top pick—unless you had a great draft in the later rounds. But for those who didn’t, here are some guys that have failed to reach expectations and how those players should be handled.

Josh Hamilton, OF, Los Angeles Angels

With good reason Hamilton was a guy I chose to steer clear of come draft day given the new environment, his struggles in AL West ballparks in 2012 and recent off the field struggles going into his new contract.

Hamilton inked his five-year, $125 million deal this past offseason and has had a similar start to that of Albert Pujols who inked his 10-year, $240 million deal the season prior. Like Pujols, Hamilton will be able to turn things around to an extent with all that talent surrounding him but don’t expect him to do what Pujols did.

Hamilton is struggling to find his zone and he is seeing fewer fastballs go his way (career-low 39.7 percent). He has been swinging at the bendy stuff and this has lead to a 69.5 percent contact rate, also a career-low. If Hamilton is going to turn things around it will be because he’s condensed his strike zone and has become more patient at the plate. Trading Hamilton after he heats up may also be a good idea as well. Trading a hot Hamilton may be harder to do, but getting rid of inconsistency for consistency may be the best route to take. If the former MVP is able to improve those numbers he should be helping two teams push for the playoffs. The only question here is if those improvements are going to be enough?

Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

If you’re expecting anything more than the power statistics that you’re getting you may want to deal Bautista.
Struggles pertaining to batting average have come into play for Bautista and in three of the last four seasons he has been unable to maintain an above average batting average. Bautista has an ugly .213 batting average and an even uglier BABIP of .197. He holds a career mark of .268 but it seems as though that number will never be touched by him again.

If you’re fortunate enough to have solid average in most other positions, you may be able to get away with holding onto Joey Bats. But for those who aren’t so lucky, dealing him may be the best thing for you and your season.

Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco Giants

Last season it was Tim Lincecum and this season it’s Matt Cain.

In recent memory the San Francisco Giants have had one of the most consistent pitching rotations in baseball and their most successful arm last season was the last starting pitcher in black and orange to garner a win. I wouldn’t be so quick to throw in the towel with Cain.

Cain’s velocity remains the same and his strikeout to walk rate haven’t change either as he’s essentially striking out a batter an inning, with 36 strikeouts, and has only allowed 13 walks in his seven starts. The main difference this year is the long ball. Cain has allowed nine total home runs in those seven starts which match his total for the 2011 season. With that said, those nine home runs have accounted for 14 of the 16 earned runs he’s allowed and because of that I wouldn’t trade him.

At some point he’s going to adjust and pitch like we’re all used to. For a young guy like Cain it’s not a matter of if he’ll make the needed adjustments, but when? Hopefully for me and those who also own him, that time will be sooner rather than later.

Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals

After winning his first start on Opening Day, Strasburg lost the next four and hasn’t picked up a win since then. But don’t let his Phil Humber-ish start fool you.

The 24-year-old Strasburg hasn’t looked like the pitcher of a season ago but it isn’t because he is pitching poorly. His lack of success is mainly due to poor run support and he’s lost a lot of close games.

Strasburg’s first loss was his only poor start of the season. In that game against Cincinnati he struck out only five, allowed nine hits and four walks in 5.1 innings pitched. That game is the only one in which he didn’t register more strikeouts than innings pitched and he’s allowed just a hit per inning as well. Strasburg is still striking batters out like he did last year and he’s on pace for over 220 this year. Don’t do anything drastic with Strasburg at the moment. A few months from now he’ll be atop the pitcher rankings once again.

Have any questions or disagree with my take? Let me know. You can reach me on Twitter @ThisJustM or leave a comment below.

From a fantasy baseball standpoint, Oswalt’s better days are definitely behind him and potentially pitching at hitter-friendly Coors Field isn’t an ideal situation. He will need to pitch well in the minors to prove he’s ready for a rotation spot in Colorado, to have any fantasy value. If he can recapture some of his old self it could make him a decent fantasy option in about a month from now, and that is a big if.

Time will tell if Oswalt is ready to make an impact for the Rockies and possibly your fantasy team, but keep an eye out on how he does in the minors as any indication if there is anything left in the tank. Owners in deep and NL-only leagues may want to stash him away if there is room on the roster.

Following a 25-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz has finally made his 2013 season debut. As an All-Star last season, Ruiz hit .325 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in just 114 games. Obviously his numbers could be slightly elevated given the circumstances, but expect “Chooch” to be an above-average catcher from this point on. A career .275 hitter, he immediately returns as the Phil’s starting backstop, hitting fifth in Charlie Manuel’s lineup. The 34-year-old went 1-for-4 with a double on Monday, already giving his new fantasy owners a small glimpse of promise.

Nate Schierholtz, OF, Chicago Cubs

Giants fans sure remember Nate Schierholtz for his BIG arm and terrific glove out in San Francisco’s treacherous right field. Now as a member of the Cubs, it’s “Nate the Great’s” bat that has landed him in this weeks’ waiver article. Since being traded from Philadelphia to the Windy City, Schierholtz is hitting .296 with 3 bombs and 9 RBIs. This is a good sign considering that he has averaged just a hand full of home runs each year since joining the Big Leagues in 2007. Don’t expect Schierholtz to rip the cover off of the ball, but there’s nothing wrong with having a guy batting around .300 coming off of your bench.

Nick Tepesch, SP, Texas Rangers

With the brilliant season that Yu Darvish continues to put together out in Texas, you could say that his teammate and fellow starting pitcher Nick Tepesch tends to get lost in the shuffle. The 24-year-old right-hander returned from last weeks injury (right wrist contusion), holding the Twins to just one earned run in six and two-thirds innings, picking up his second win of the season. The former 14th-round draft pick didn’t exactly blaze through the minor leagues, but the Rangers must be thrilled with his stingy 2.53 earned run average and ability to pitch for ground balls. With the devastating injury to Matt Harrison, Tepesch’s contribution has been huge for his pitching staff. Owners should ride with Tepesch while his fantasy production continues, but don’t be alarmed if and when reality appears to catch up with him.

Travis Wood, SP, Chicago Cubs

Cubs left-hander Travis Wood is having quite a respectable start to the 2013 campaign. If numbers don’t lie, Wood’s are certainly beginning to tell the truth. Owned in only 23 percent of ESPN leagues, the 26-year-old has posted a 2-1 record with a 2.25 ERA. Through 5 starts (32 innings), he has a 23:11 strikeout to walk ratio to go along with his sub-1.00 WHIP. We all know that the Cubs aren’t going to supply him with a ton of run support, not to mention how terrible their bullpen has been, but if pitching depth is desperately needed on your fantasy squad, I’d keep him in consideration.

Mark Ellis, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis seems to be owning National League pitching this year, hitting a flashy .342 with 10 runs scored and 11 RBIs. Not normally known for his offense, Ellis doesn’t usually display much power (2 homeruns), but he appears to be seeing the ball quite well this year. Now in his 11th season, the veteran has missed the past few games while nursing a quad injury, but is considered day-to-day at this point. I would pick him up if he returns to the field sooner than later, knowing that his numbers are solid for a second baseman, which is a tough position to fill in fantasy baseball.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

The Rockies’ top prospect made his Major League debut over the weekend and hit his first career home run on Monday while going 3-for-6 in the game. Arenado will be the everyday third baseman for Colorado going forward and should be one of the top waiver wire options available this season. You should act fast to get a big-time talent with a lot of upside.

The 22-year-old was a second-round draft pick in 2009 out of El Toro High School in Lakeside, California. He’s proven in the minors that he can hit for average and good power while not striking out very much in the process. Fantasy owners can expect him to take some lumps with the big club, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons with Arenado.

Hitting at Coors Field is just another bonus as Arenado continues to get better with experience. If you’re reading this and are able to pick him up, you can thank me later.

Didi Gregorius, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Dutch shortstop is currently on the seven-day disabled list as a precaution to the minor concussion he suffered last week after getting hit in the head with a pitch. Gregorius made his season debut in mid-April and was hitting over .400 before the injury. He was called up when second baseman Aaron Hill went down with a broken hand that will have him sidelined for a few more weeks at the minimum.

Gregorius was dealt to the Diamondbacks last offseason in the three-team swap that saw Shin-Soo Choo go from the Indians to the Reds. At age 23, Gregorius is more known for his glove than his bat, although you couldn’t tell by the way he’s been swinging this season.

When he gets back into the lineup, owners can expect his average to drop to around .265-.280 over the course of the season. With good speed and baserunning ability, Gregorius could be a pretty good two-hole hitter in the future and a decent fantasy option the rest of 2013.

Matt Magill, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers’ rotation has been decimated by injuries in April which made it possible for the 23-year-old Magill to see his first action in the Show last Saturday. The young righty allowed two earned runs in six and two-thirds innings against the Brewers and was left with the no-decision after the bullpen blew the lead. Magill also punched out seven batters, walked a pair and gave up four hits.

With Chris Capuano coming off the disabled list soon, Magill might have earned himself a spot in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He is not going to be fantasy relevant unless he is in the rotation and that won’t likely happen unless there is another injury by a starter. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see another pitcher go down with how this season is going for the Boys in Blue.

The future is bright for Magill who was selected by the Dodgers in the 31st round in 2008. He has progressed through every minor league level and is 36-22 with a 3.77 earned run average. On average, Magill struck out over ten hitters every nine innings last season. It’s very possible that he will be in the Dodgers’ rotation next season.

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1. Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel OT

The chiefs keep the number one pick, they go with the safest pick in Joeckel. With Alex Smith now at the helm and a possible Brandon Albert trade looming, Joeckel comes in as an instant starter.
1. BPA – Eric Fisher OT

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Geno Smith QB

With Jacksonville’s new front office lacking confidence in the former first round QB Blaine Gabbert, Geno Smith is the top ranked quarterback from West Virginia and will have his chance at becoming the new franchise QB for the Jaguars.
2. BPA – Luke Joeckel OT

3. Oakland Raiders – Sharrif Floyd DT

The Raiders had the second fewest sacks in the NFL in 2012. Oakland is cleaning house, and that includes key members of the defensive line. They look to rebuild from the inside out and take arguably the best defensive tackle in the draft in Floyd.
3. BPA – Star Lotulelei DT

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Dion Jordan DE

The best pure athlete in the draft, Jordan has huge upside and nobody knows this more than his former college coach and soon to be NFL coach, Chip Kelly. Jordan is a 6’7 hybrid DE/OLB who has disgusting bend when turning the corner – QBs beware.
4. BPA – Dee Milliner CB

5. Detroit Lions – Eric Fisher OT

The Lions offensive tackle Jeff Backus retired after the 2012 season. Filling his shoes will be the athletic Fisher who many people are calling the best offensive tackle in the draft.
5. BPA – Dion Jordan DE

6. Cleveland Browns – Dee Milliner CB

The Browns take corner Dee Milliner to play on the other side of Joe Haden. Milliner is a physical corner with fluid feet that is able to get wide receivers off their routes on a regular basis. With this pick, the Browns will have a corner back duo that that will give NFL offenses problems for years to come.
6. BPA – Sharrif Floyd DT

7. Arizona Cardinals – Lane Johnson OT

The Cardinals look to bulk up protection for their newly acquired QB Carson Palmer, by selecting the athletic, converted tight end Johnson from Oklahoma with the number seven pick. If you don’t think the Cardinals need help along the o-line, go watch the Seahawks game from last year.
7. BPA – Ezekial Ansah DE

8. Buffalo Bills – Matt Barkley

Although the bills brought in Kevin Kolb, coach Doug Marrone already publicly stated it would not change their strategy in the 2013 draft. Buffalo will bring in competition with Barkley at the number eight pick. Don’t be surprised if QB Ryan Nassib goes here instead of Barkley.
8. BPA – Chance Warmack OG

9. NY Jets – Barkevious Mingo DE

The Jets have two first-round picks. They select a pure pass rush specialist in Barkevious Mingo. This fills a void that Rex Ryan’s defenses has lacked since he was hired as the head coach of the New York Jets.
9. BPA – Jonathan Cooper OG

10. Tennessee Titans – Ezekiel Ansah DE

Since the senior bowl show-out, Ansah’s draft stock has sky rocketed. With the Titans having problems getting to the QB in 2012, Ansah could step in immediately and make an impact.
10. BPA – Lane Johnson OT

11. San Diego Chargers – Chance Warmack OG

The Chargers will select Warmack at number 11 to fill the void left by Luis Vasquez, who they lost to Denver via free agency. An elite talent at guard, Warmack will be a day one starter. Hey…. Roll tide.
11. BPA – Sheldon Richardson DT

12. Miami Dolphins – Star Lotulelei DT

The Dolphins prepare for Randy Starks’ departure after the 2013 season by taking Lotulelei with their first round pick of the draft. Lotulelei is a 6’3 300-plus-pound monster and many had him slated as the number one defensive tackle before his discovered heart condition. He has received a clean bill of health and it’s very likely that he could be taken earlier. Star Lotulelei is a very Haloti Ngata-ish type of player.
12. BPA – Barkevious Mingo DE

13. NY Jets – Cordarrelle Patterson WR

The Jets desperately need to find new targets for their struggling QB Mark Sanchez, so they gladly take the freak athlete and playmaker Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson is raw when it comes to routes and actually playing WR, but his size (6’3 210 lbs) and ability in the open field and return game, make him hard to pass up.
13. BPA – Alec Ogletree LB

14. Carolina Panthers – Sheldon Richardson DT

The Panthers look to fill a big hole on defense at defensive tackle. They gladly go with Richardson, a QB’s nightmare from Mizzou. Safety or WR can also be in play here. I’m sure Cam will be campaigning for a Tavon Austin here.
14. BPA – Tavon Austin WR

15. New Orleans Saints – Jarvis Jones LB

At one point a top five pick in this years draft Jones dropped out of the top ten after performing poorly at his pro day and a medical issue stemming back to college. The Saints will take him at 15 due to his very strong, undeniable game tape.
15.BPA – Tyler Eifert TE

16. St. Louis Rams- Tavon Austin WR

The Rams were thin at wide receiver before the departure of Danny Amendola. The Rams office is looking to give Sam Bradford targets starting with the Percy Harvin-like explosive homerun hitter Tavon Austin. Although small in stature, Austin’s skill set gives the Rams offense the big play ability they have been lacking.
16. BPA – Kenny Vaccaro S

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Xavier Rhodes CB

The Steel Curtain lost a good corner in Keenan Lewis and with playmaker Troy Polamalu’s recent injury problems, Pittsburgh looks to add a splash of talented youth to that secondary.
17. BPA – Sylvester Williams DT

18. Dallas Cowboys – Jomathan Cooper OG

With a talented WR corps comes an opening in the run game. Dallas get nastier up front with Cooper. If Demarco Murray can stay healthy, he could have a career year running behind a guard like Cooper.
18. BPA – Desmond Trufant CB

19. NY Giants – Tyler Eifert TE

New York adds a weapon for Eli Manning with the best TE in the draft by far. The Golden Domer is a sure handed, play making, mismatch against any linebacker or safety. Should be a solid pro for years to come.
19. BPA – Jarvis Jones LB

20. Chicago Bears – Manti Te’o LB

Brian Urlacher left a big hole right in the middle of the Bears’ defense. Despite Te’o's roller coaster of an offseason, he impressed NFL scouts at his pro day and his exceptional senior year makes him a smart choice for the Bears with the 20th pick.
20. BPA – Geno Smith QB

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Kenny Vaccaro S

The Bengals need help in the secondary so they take the best all-around safety in this year’s draft with Kenny Vaccaro. This will also allow Nate Clements to move back to his true position at CB.
21. BPA – D.J. Fluker OT

22. St. Louis Rams – Eddie Lacy RB

Lacy will be brought in to replace an all-pro, fan-favorite at running back in Steven Jackson. While those are big shoes to fill the Rams will be confident in Lacy’s downhill running style and ability to take care of the ball.
22. BPA – Keenan Allen WR

23. Minnesota Vikings – Bjorn Werner DE

With Jared Allen terrorizing QBs on one side, they add the Florida State Seminole with a nonstop motor to push from the other. Although the secondary is an issue, the constant harassing of quarterbacks will take the pressure off the back end.
23. BPA – Bjorn Werner DE

24. Indianapolis Colts – Justin Pugh OT

The Colts need to protect their franchise QB Andrew Luck who was on the ground often in 2012. Pugh from Syracuse will be plugged in right away to help that cause.
24. BPA – Manti Te’o LB

25. Minnesota Vikings – D.J. Hayden CB

With the loss of Antoine Winfield the Vikings are betting that Hayden will step in and become the number one CB they so desperately need. Hayden was slated as the number one corner coming into 2012 until a freak injury in practice almost cost him his life when he collided with a teammate. Hayden has recovered and impressed scouts during workouts. Some scouts have moved him from completely off their board, back to the No. 1 CB. If he can get back to playing like his tape shows he can, this will be an absolute steal at 25.
25. BPA – D.J. Hayden CB

26. Green Bay Packers – Matt Elam S

The fact that Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is visiting other NFL teams is a good sign he won’t be in a Green Bay uniform for the 213 season. The Packers are looking to the former Florida Gator to pick up where Woodson left off.
26. BPA – John Jenkins DT

27. Houston Texans – Robert Woods WR

Elite WR Andre Johnson isn’t getting any younger and a solid No. 2 WR has been an issue in Houston. Woods is probably the most polished route runner in this year’s draft and will definitely help elevate the double teams on Andre Johnson.
27. BPA – Justin Pugh OT

28. Denver Broncos – Damontre Moore DE

Despite a dismal showing at the combine, the Broncos are hoping Moore will play up to what his tape shows he is capable of. Replacing an elite pass rusher like Elvis Dumerville (who signed with the Ravens in this offseason) will be tough, but Moore can contribute immediately.
28. BPA – Menelik Watson OT

29. NE Patriots – Datone Jones DE

The 6’4, the 283-lb former Bruin defensive end/tackle is brought in to help bolster NE’s defensive front. Datone Jones is a disruptive force in the run game logging 19 tackles for losses in his last year at UCLA. Jones is violent at the point of contact and a solid pick at 29.
29. BPA – Jamar Taylor CB

30. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Trufant CB

After losing in the NFC championship game to the 49ers, the Falcons are looking to get over the hump in the 2013 season. With the release of Dunta Robinson, Trufant will step in as a starter from day one. Trufant is good in man coverage, doesn’t give WRs a lot of separation and plays the ball pretty well in the air. Plus if he doesn’t ball out, he will have to hear it from his two older brothers who are currently in the NFL (Marcus and Isaiah).
30. BPA – Datone Jones DE

31. San Francisco 49ers – Eric Reid S

Dashon Goldson will be in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ uniform this year, meaning the 49ers draft a plug-in free safety in Eric Reid. Reid has plenty of big game experience with LSU which could be a big deal considering the Niners have a good chance of repeating as the NFC champions and playing in this year’s Super Bowl.
31. BPA – Kawann Short DT

32. Baltimore Ravens – Kevin Minter LB

With the retirement of Ray Lewis, the surprise loss of Ellerbe in free agency and the recent legal troubles of the offseason signee Rolando McClain, the Ravens will need some help at linebacker. Ozzie Newsome and company select a tackling machine with the last pick of the first round. Last year, for LSU, this inside linebacker racked up 130 total tackles, 15 of them for a loss. Minter can help ease the loss of The Goat #52.
32. BPA – Justin Hunter WR

2013 NFL Draft by Keoni Tamiano-Block and Jason Kendrick.
You can reach Keoni on Twitter @KayoBlock and Jason on Twitter @PurpleFools.

Tony Cingrani, SP, Cincinnati Reds

The southpaw earned the win in his major-league debut against the Miami Marlins last Thursday after tossing five innings and 102 pitches. The Marlins don’t have a very good lineup and Cingrani held them to one earned run on five hits while walking three and punching out eight hitters.

The 23-year-old lefty has a plus fastball, a swooping slider and a decent changeup. He has the potential to be in the Reds’ rotation all season and will rack up good strikeout numbers.

Cingrani was pitching in place of Reds’ ace Johnny Cueto, who is dealing with a triceps injury, and figures to stay in the rotation for a couple more weeks at the minimum. Fantasy owners have been pretty quick to pick the rookie up off waivers and for good reason. He should prove useful in mixed leagues and everything else as long as he has a spot in the rotation.

Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals

With Ryan Zimmerman (hamstring) being put on the disabled list on Saturday, the highly-regarded Rendon got called up to the big leagues on Sunday. The 22-year-old went 0-for-4 in his first big league game starting at the hot corner for the Nats.

Rendon missed a lot of time last season with an ankle injury and played in only 43 minor league games across four different levels. In those 43 games, he notched 18 extra-base hits including eight doubles, four triples and six homeruns.

Fantasy owners in NL-only leagues will want to pickup Rendon off the waivers right away as he is likely owned in a good amount of deep, keeper leagues as well. Fantasy owners in mixed leagues might consider adding him as well if he gets off to a hot start since there hasn’t been a timetable for Zimmerman’s return just yet.

Rendon is a future star and will likely switch positions to either second base or left field with Zimmerman already at third. If this is the first you’ve heard of Rendon, takes note because you’ll be hearing a lot more, sooner than later.

Allen Webster, SP, Boston Red Sox

The former 18th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008, made his first major league start against the Kansas City Royals and received a no-decision. Webster pitched well, allowing two earned runs on five hits in six innings of work. He also struck out five batters before being sent back down to Triple-A after the start as part of baseball’s 26th-man loophole for doubleheaders.

Webster came over to Boston in the blockbuster trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. Webster is 23-years-old and has pitched extremely well in two starts in Triple-A this season. He has a very live arm and will be a top of the rotation pitcher as long as his development continues at the current pace.

Fantasy owners will want to keep his name in the back of their minds because it’s possible Webster will be back in the Red Sox rotation later this season if injuries pile up.