Hobbling Dodgers

With an easy 8-5 win over the Pirates on Tuesday night, the Dodgers moved to 54 games over .500 and maintained a 21-game lead in the National League West standings. So while short-term injuries will do nothing to spoil the Dodgers’ drive to the postseason, they can still be burdensome for fantasy owners with heavy investments in this juggernaut Los Angeles roster.

Cody Bellinger, a shoe-in for 2017 National League Rookie of the Year and a waiver-wire gem who was drafted in just two percent of Yahoo leagues, has been placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to August 20, because of a right ankle sprain. Bellinger suffered the injury on Saturday and wasn’t going to be available for at least the next couple of games, so the Dodgers decided to play it safe and give him an extended breather. The 22-year-old first baseman boasts a .968 OPS, 34 home runs, 79 RBI, and 70 runs scored in his first 101 major league games.

And the Dodgers also put another starting pitcher on the disabled list Tuesday, shutting down left-hander Alex Wood with SC joint inflammation. Wood, who stands 14-1 with a 2.41 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 127/30 K/BB ratio in 123 1/3 innings this season, is hoping to return during the club’s September 1-3 series against the Padres and manager Dave Roberts echoed that timetable.

These are minor road bumps for the Dodgers, who have survived the absence of Clayton Kershaw and several other veteran players, though that’s no consolation to Bellinger and Wood backers as they grind their teeth through these crucial late-August weeks of the fantasy calendar.

Adrian Gonzalez is now back in line for regular playing time and he doubled for his 2,000th career hit on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, but the 35-year-old first baseman is batting just .247/.298/.333 with one home run in 54 total games this season. It’s unclear at this point who is going to fill Wood’s spot in the starting rotation. Top pitching prospect Walker Buehler has been ruled out as an option as he prepares to join the Dodgers in a relief role for the stretch run. Kershaw’s minor league rehab start will go on as planned Saturday at Triple-A Oklahoma City, and fellow injured starters Yu Darvish, Brandon McCarthy, and Scott Kazmir aren’t ready yet.

Indians Again Lose Salazar

Indians starter Danny Salazar returned from a shoulder injury in late July as a new man, sitting 96.75 mph with his four-seamer in his first start back against the Blue Jays and registering a 1.39 ERA and 46/9 K/BB ratio in 32 1/3 innings between July 22 and August 15. But in his most recent outing, August 20 against the Royals, Salazar’s average fastball reading fell to 94.84 mph and he was rocked for six earned runs on 12 hits in a 7-4 loss for Cleveland.

Salazar landed back on the disabled list Tuesday afternoon, this time with an elbow injury. He underwent an MRI on Tuesday night that showed no major structural damage, but this figures to be another multi-week absence. “Danny felt some stiffness in his elbow,” Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “He said when he feels that, it’s hard to let it loose. So we met last night and said, ‘OK you have a side day today, let’s see how your side day goes. If your side day goes well, pitch on Friday. If not, we’ll make [some moves]. … He went out and he still felt it.”

Ryan Merritt will be called up to fill Salazar’s rotation spot this Friday against the Royals. Merritt has posted good ERAs at every level of baseball -- including a 2.29 ERA in 19 2/3 career major league innings -- but the 25-year-old left-hander doesn’t have great swing-and-miss stuff and there are a number of better fantasy streaming options for the weekend.

Andrew Miller also went on the disabled list Tuesday for the Tribe due to renewed knee discomfort.

Correa: Coming Soon

Astros shortstop Carlos Correa took on-field batting practice Tuesday and will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday if he makes it through a full pregame workout Wednesday without issue.

The first site for his rehab is already set: Double-A Corpus Christi. He’ll probably play a handful of games there and a handful at Triple-A Fresno before returning to Houston’s active roster around September 1.

Correa will have missed nearly eight weeks, and his brand of injury -- a torn thumb ligament -- can sometimes come with lingering effects. But he’s the type of player capable of carrying fantasy teams to fantasy championships, and he’ll try to steady out a first-place Astros team leading into the postseason. Including their 4-3 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday, the ‘Stros are 14-18 since Correa was diagnosed with the ligament tear in his left thumb on July 17. They were 60-29 at the All-Star break.

The 22-year-old future MVP candidate had a career-best .966 OPS with 20 home runs, 67 RBI, and 64 runs scored through 84 games this season and earned his first All-Star nod earlier this summer. Marwin Gonzalez, the Astros’ primary fill-in at shortstop in Correa’s absence, will continue to get regular playing time between left field and first base. Gonzalez boasts a .928 OPS, 21 home runs, and 72 RBI in 104 games this year.

National League Quick Hits: Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Mark Melancon will continue to work in a setup role for the time being, with Sam Dyson continuing to close … Phillies starter Vince Velasquez will undergo surgery to repair a vascular issue with his right middle finger … Michael Conforto was scratched from the Mets’ lineup Tuesday due to minor inflammation in his right thumb … Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struck out the side to net his 34th save of the season on Tuesday in Pittsburgh … Kris Bryant suffered a left hand contusion when he was hit by a pitch in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday and will likely get the day off Wednesday … Yangervis Solarte had a monster night at the dish Tuesday in St. Louis, homering and doubling twice as part of a six-RBI showing … Noah Syndergaard (lat) is scheduled to throw batting practice on Wednesday … Addison Russell (foot) said Tuesday that he's aiming to return to the Cubs' active roster in “maybe a week and a half” … Johnny Cueto (forearm) worked three scoreless innings Tuesday with Triple-A Sacramento … Cardinals manager Mike Matheny indicated Tuesday that Mike Leake could be skipped on his next turn through the rotation … Trevor Rosenthal is having his elbow scans reviewed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache … Hunter Pence was scratched from the Giants' lineup Tuesday due to a tight left hamstring … Eugenio Suarez went 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBI in a losing cause Tuesday against the Cubs … Braves right-hander Lucas Sims had the best start of his young career Tuesday, spinning six shutout frames in a win over the Mariners … Reds starter Scott Feldman underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right knee … Diamondbacks catcher Jeff Mathis is likely done for the season after being diagnosed with an avulsion fracture in his right hand … Brandon McCarthy (finger) is expected to begin a rehab assignment in the next few days … Freddie Freeman conceded Tuesday that his left wrist is at "probably about 80-85 percent" strength … Doug Fister turned back the clock Tuesday, spinning a one-hit complete game in Boston’s win over the Indians … Rockies placed catcher Ryan Hanigan on the 10-day disabled list with a left groin strain …Homer Bailey left Tuesday's game against the Cubs after three innings due to irritation in his right shoulder … Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) has resumed a throwing program … Cardinals setup man Kevin Siegrist (forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with High-A Palm Beach … Asher Wojciechowski will start for the Reds on Wednesday against the Cubs … Rubby De La Rosa underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery on Tuesday … Phillies signed right-hander Henderson Alvarez to a minor league contract.

American League Quick Hits: Royals closer Kelvin Herrera experienced tightness in his right forearm in the ninth inning Tuesday and will be reevaluated on Wednesday … Rangers placed Joey Gallo on the 7-day concussion disabled list … Gary Sanchez went 3-for-6 with two homers and four RBI as the Yankees crushed the Tigers … Aaron Judge's strikeout streak finally ended at 37 games after he singled and walked three times Tuesday against the Tigers … David Price (elbow) extended his throwing to 90 feet on Tuesday … Carlos Santana (back) was held out of the Indians’ starting lineup Tuesday night against the Red Sox … Eduardo Nunez launched a three-run home run and a two-RBI double Tuesday against the Indians … Jason Kipnis is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his troublesome right hamstring Wednesday … Marcus Semien (wrist) remained out of the Athletics’ starting lineup on Tuesday … Dustin Pedroia (knee) was able to do some light running on Tuesday … Nicholas Castellanos homered twice to drive in three of the Tigers' four runs Tuesday against the Yankees … Lance McCullers (back) threw another bullpen session on Tuesday … Ryon Healy slugged a solo home run and a two-run shot in Tuesday's win over the Orioles … Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley will return to Boston on Wednesday morning for an MRI on his left thumb … Salvador Perez (intercostal) went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in his return to the Royals’ active roster Tuesday … White Sox manager Rick Renteria hinted Tuesday that Matt Davidson (wrist) won't be back before September 1 … Mariners placed setup man Tony Zych on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to August 20, with a right elbow flexor bundle strain … Max Kepler remained out of the Twins' starting lineup Tuesday because of an illness … Daniel Gossett will be called up to start for the Athletics on Wednesday in Baltimore … Rangers setup man Keone Kela (shoulder) remains shut down from throwing … Kyle Gibson was dominant in Tuesday's win over the White Sox, punching out eight over seven innings of one-run ball … Rays right-hander Matt Andriese (hip, shin) will make another rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Durham … Twins relief prospect John Curtiss will be promoted to the major league level on Wednesday … Rays designated first baseman Trevor Plouffe for assignment.