Fantasy Baseball Injury Rankings: Top 40 IL stashes show Ozzie Albies, Yu Darvish deserving of a spot still

Some long-term recoveries may be reaching their conclusion at just the right time

With only a month left in the season, it stands to reason that any remaining IL stash is nothing more than a hope and a prayer. There's simply no margin for error in a player's recovery, and even the ones on track return in 2-3 weeks may not have time to regain your trust before the season is done.

It's why when choosing between the more impactful player or the shorter timeline, I'll generally opt for the more impactful player. I want to know if I'll actually want him on my active roster once he's no longer eligible for an IL spot.

To that end, Jacob deGrom (Tommy John surgery) has begun a rehab assignment and seems determined to make it a short one. Ozzie Albies (fractured wrist) has gone from a hard cast to a soft one and is on the verge of swinging a bat again. They're of no use to me the next two weeks, in all likelihood, but if things break perfectly, they could play a pivotal role in the final two.

The whole point of an IL spot is to hold onto the players who could actually make a difference without crippling yourself in the short term, so let's make sure we do that.

Hopefully, you did with Jared Jones, who returned return Tuesday after missing nearly two months with a strained lat. He struck out 10 over five one-hit innings in his final rehab start and could be a league-winner in the season's final month. He would have been in the top five if he still qualified for these rankings.

Too valuable to drop, period

1	Ketel Marte Arizona Diamondbacks 2B
sprained ankle - tried to avoid IL stint initially, which suggests short stay and possible weekend return
2	Tyler Glasnow Los Angeles Dodgers SP
elbow tendinitis - has played catch but absence likely to last a few more weeks, refuting earlier reports
3	Kyle Tucker Houston Astros RF
bruised shin - aiming for early September but is still feeling soreness when running at full speed
4	Fernando Tatis San Diego Padres RF
femoral stress reaction - only began running a week ago, so likely still a couple weeks away
5	Yoshinobu Yamamoto Los Angeles Dodgers SP
strained triceps - will begin rehab assignment Wednesday, may only need a couple turns
6	Christian Walker Arizona Diamondbacks 1B
strained oblique - has resumed swinging against high velocity, probably a week or two away
7	Grayson Rodriguez Baltimore Orioles SP
strained lat - resumed playing catch in mid-August, should return at some point in September
8	Hunter Greene Cincinnati Reds SP
elbow inflammation - waiting for swelling to subside, could return in mid-September
9	Byron Buxton Minnesota Twins CF
hip inflammation - close to rehab assignment, likely just a week or two away
10	Xavier Edwards Miami Marlins SS
sore back - has been taking part in baseball activities, so could be minimal IL stint

Also really difficult to drop

11	Ha-seong Kim San Diego Padres SS
shoulder inflammation - likely won't need longer than the minimum, could return as soon as this weekend
12	Yu Darvish San Diego Padres SP
elbow inflammation - healthy after lengthy personal leave, just needs some time to ramp up
13	Luis Gil New York Yankees SP
strained back - already throwing bullpen sessions, may be only minimal stay, allowing for Sept. 6 return
14	Zach Eflin Baltimore Orioles SP
shoulder inflammation - has said he feels "10 times better" and should be ready when eligible Sept. 1
15	Bo Bichette Toronto Blue Jays SS
strained calf - has added running to hitting and throwing, putting him on verge of rehab assignment
16	Ozzie Albies Atlanta Braves 2B
fractured wrist - has gone from hard cast to soft, so should resume swinging a bat soon
17	Carlos Correa Minnesota Twins SS
plantar fasciitis - still not able to run at 100 percent, making mid-September a best-case scenario
18	Robbie Ray San Francisco Giants SP
strained hamstring - severity of injury unknown, but can't be activated before Sept. 10
19	Ryan Mountcastle Baltimore Orioles 1B
sprained wrist - team delayed putting him on the IL a few days, so likely a short absence
20	Pete Fairbanks Tampa Bay Rays RP
strained lat - shut down for 1-3 more weeks, which leaves tight window for him possibly returning
21	Jacob deGrom Texas Rangers SP
Tommy John surgery - threw 29 pitches in first rehab start, targeting mid-September return
22	Max Scherzer Texas Rangers SP
arm fatigue - in a "holding pattern," according to Bruce Bochy; struggling to bounce back physically
23	Jordan Westburg Baltimore Orioles 3B
fractured hand - only taking one-handed swings, which puts him a ways from rehab assignment still

Still a priority on some level

24	Matt McLain Cincinnati Reds SS
shoulder surgery - had resumed swinging, but now undergoing more testing for stress reaction in ribs
25	Willson Contreras St. Louis Cardinals C
fractured finger - could resume hitting in three weeks, so likely won't return before final week
26	Reese Olson Detroit Tigers SP
strained shoulder - throwing bullpen sessions, which puts him on track for rehab assignment soon
27	Clarke Schmidt New York Yankees SP
strained lat - threw 46 pitches in first rehab game Friday, so likely needs only a couple more
28	Gabriel Moreno Arizona Diamondbacks C
strained groin - no timetable offered yet; Adrian Del Castillo's success allows for patience
29	Anthony Rizzo New York Yankees 1B
fractured forearm - on rehab assignment but has yet to play field, likely a week or two away
30	Jose Soriano Los Angeles Angels SP
arm fatigue - not considered a serious injury, but Angels haven't offered a timetable yet
31	Jeimer Candelario Cincinnati Reds 3B
fractured toe - timetable still up in the air, but mid-September would seem optimistic
32	Nick Lodolo Cincinnati Reds SP
sprained finger - hopeful for return but seems unlikely, and he was struggling before the injury anyway

Stashing is purely a luxury

33	Jordan Romano Toronto Blue Jays RP
elbow impingement - was expected to resume throwing in mid-August, unclear what his timetable is
34	Andrew Abbott Cincinnati Reds SP
shoulder strain - reports have been light on details, which would suggest a minor injury
35	Zack Littell Tampa Bay Rays SP
shoulder fatigue - not considered a serious injury, but Rays haven't offered a timetable yet
36	Victor Vodnik Colorado Rockies RP
biceps inflammation - not considered a serious injury, but Rockies haven't offered a timetable yet
37	Joey Bart Pittsburgh Pirates C
strained hamstring - not considered a serious injury, but Pirates haven't offered a timetable yet
38	Ryan Weathers Miami Marlins SP
strained finger - throwing bullpen sessions, which puts him on track for rehab assignment soon
39	Lance Lynn St. Louis Cardinals SP
knee inflammation - already stretched out to 75 pitches, will make his only rehab start this weekend
40	Tyler Mahle Texas Rangers SP
shoulder tightness - not considered a serious injury, but Rangers haven't offered a timetable yet
41	Trevor Story Boston Red Sox SS
fractured shoulder - taking part in baseball activities with an eye on returning in mid-September