Fantasy Baseball Injury Rankings: Top 40 IL stashes reflect growing concerns for Max Muncy

Willy Adames and Lance Lynn are nearing a return.

Maybe Max Muncy's elbow isn't OK after all.

The struggling slugger finally conceded to an IL stint Saturday with what the Dodgers have deemed inflammation, but we know there's more to the story. It all points back to the UCL tear he suffered on the final day of last season, a gruesome-looking injury that he never had surgery to correct. Because it happened to his non-throwing arm, it hasn't hindered him in the field, as you might expect. But it is his top hand when he's hitting, and the lack of power has been evident.

His average exit velocity last year was 91.2 mph. This year, it's 87.3. Meanwhile, he's batting .150 after batting .185 in spring training and generally looking nothing like the borderline MVP candidate he was for most of last year.

"Maybe like subconsciously, it's been there," Muncy said. "Maybe not quite getting through the ball like I'm used to. But it's not something I'm thinking about. It just kind of happens. Like I said, I'm not going to use my elbow as an excuse. I haven't been good. But maybe it's there, maybe it's not."

The Dodgers don't have a timetable for Muncy's return, but manager Dave Roberts has suggested it might be only a couple weeks. At this point, you have to consider that a rosy outlook. Given Muncy's track record, he's worth stashing in the hopes a period of rest will get him right, but as these IL stash rankings show, he's not as high of a priority as you might assume.

Too valuable to drop, period

1	Fernando Tatis San Diego Padres SS
wrist surgery
2	Tim Anderson Chicago White Sox SS
strained groin
3	Brandon Woodruff Milwaukee Brewers SP
sprained ankle
4	Max Scherzer New York Mets SP
strained oblique
5	Wander Franco Tampa Bay Rays SS
strained quadriceps
6	Giancarlo Stanton New York Yankees RF
ankle inflammation
7	Willy Adames Milwaukee Brewers SS
sprained ankle
8	Lance Lynn Chicago White Sox SP
torn meniscus
9	Carlos Correa Minnesota Twins SS
COVID-19
10	Eloy Jimenez Chicago White Sox LF
torn hamstring
11	Jacob deGrom New York Mets SP
stress reaction in shoulder
12	Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers SP
hip inflammation
13	Anthony Rendon Los Angeles Angels 3B
wrist inflammation
14	Kris Bryant Colorado Rockies LF
strained back
15	Joe Ryan Minnesota Twins SP
COVID-19
16	Aroldis Chapman New York Yankees RP
Achilles tendinitis
17	Shane Baz Tampa Bay Rays SP
loose bodies in elbow
18	Jack Flaherty St. Louis Cardinals SP
shoulder inflammation
19	Chris Sale Boston Red Sox SP
stress fracture in rib cage

Also really difficult to drop

20	Jonathan India Cincinnati Reds 2B
strained hamstring
21	Max Muncy Los Angeles Dodgers 3B
elbow inflammation
22	Brandon Lowe Tampa Bay Rays 2B
stress reaction in back
23	Tyler O'Neill St. Louis Cardinals LF
shoulder impingement
24	Jesus Luzardo Miami Marlins SP
strained forearm
25	Andrew Heaney Los Angeles Dodgers SP
shoulder inflammation
26	Seiya Suzuki Chicago Cubs RF
sprained finger
27	Tylor Megill New York Mets SP
biceps tendinitis
28	Freddy Peralta Milwaukee Brewers SP
strained lat

If you have to, you have to

29	Andrew Kittredge Tampa Bay Rays RP
back tightness
30	Mike Clevinger San Diego Padres SP
strained triceps
31	Josh Donaldson New York Yankees 3B
shoulder inflammation
32	Hunter Renfroe Milwaukee Brewers RF
strained hamstring
33	Royce Lewis Minnesota Twins SS
bruised knee
34	Mitch Haniger Seattle Mariners RF
sprained ankle
35	Franmil Reyes Cleveland Guardians DH
strained hamstring

Stashing is purely a luxury

36	Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals SP
thoracic outlet syndrome
37	Anthony DeSclafani San Francisco Giants SP
ankle inflammation
38	Ken Giles Seattle Mariners RP
strained finger
39	Lance McCullers Houston Astros SP
strained forearm
40	Eduardo Rodriguez Detroit Tigers SP
sprained rib cage