Fantasy Baseball Injury Rankings: Top 35 IL stashes show concern level rising for Max Muncy

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.

Note: Both Tim Anderson (strained groin) and Royce Lewis (bruised knee) seemed destined for the IL at time of publication. Anderson would rank fourth on this list and Lewis would rank 23rd. 

Too valuable to drop, period

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

Also really difficult to drop

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

If you have to, you have to

25	Andrew Kittredge Tampa Bay Rays RP
back tightness
26	Mike Clevinger San Diego Padres SP
strained triceps
27	Josh Donaldson New York Yankees 3B
shoulder inflammation
28	Hunter Renfroe Milwaukee Brewers RF
strained hamstring
29	Mitch Haniger Seattle Mariners RF
sprained ankle
30	Franmil Reyes Cleveland Guardians DH
strained hamstring

Stashing is purely a luxury

31	Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals SP
thoracic outlet syndrome
32	Anthony DeSclafani San Francisco Giants SP
ankle inflammation
33	Ken Giles Seattle Mariners RP
strained finger
34	Lance McCullers Houston Astros SP
strained forearm
35	Eduardo Rodriguez Detroit Tigers SP
sprained rib cage