It’s Week 1 of the 2023 fantasy baseball season and we’re already seeing players get injured. This week’s MLB injury report features players who just got hurt on Opening Day and others who were expected to start the season on the MLB Injured List. Teams such as the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets are now dealing with multiple pitchers being out. Justin Verlander and Max Fried headline this week's fantasy baseball injury report and top MLB injury news. Be sure to check out the latest fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups to find injury replacements for your lineups. Plus, the monthly fantasy baseball rankings and rest-of-season MLB projections could be impacted by the below MLB injury updates. Here are the latest MLB injuries for Week 1 of the 2023 fantasy baseball season. 

 

Fantasy Baseball MLB Injury Report Week 1

MLB Catcher Injury News

Willson Contreras, St. Louis Cardinals (Knee)

Contreras hurt his knee in the Cardinals' first game and, for now, it’s not looking like he’ll be out for a while. Nothing seems broken, but he will undergo more testing to see what the exact damage is. Consider Contreras day-to-day until we get more information. Andrew Knizner should start at catcher for St. Louis until Contreras is ready to return.

 

MLB First Baseman Injury News

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (Shoulder)

Votto still needs some more time to heal up before joining the Reds for regular-season action. He was put on the Injured List to start the season and Cincinnati will look to either Jason Vosler or Wil Myers to fill in at first base.

Alex Kirilloff, Minnesota Twins (Wrist)

The Twins want to give Kirilloff’s wrist more time to recover as he’s starting the season on the Injured List, but he shouldn’t be out for a long time. While Kirilloff is out for the first couple of weeks of the season, the Twins could utilize Joey Gallo and Donovan Solano at first base. 

Jared Walsh, Los Angeles Angels (Head)

Migraines will keep Walsh out of action for at least the first couple of weeks of the season. Walsh is having trouble sleeping with head migraines, so it's tough to tell how long he'll be out. We saw the Angels start Brandon Drury in his place on Opening Day and that is who will likely be the primary fill-in first baseman until Walsh returns to action.

 

MLB Second Baseman Injury News

Jose Altuve, Houston Astros (Thumb)

Altuve fractured his thumb earlier in March in the World Baseball Classic. The current timetable that we’ve seen indicates that Altuve could make his regular-season debut towards the end of May. While he’s sidelined, Mauricio Dubon should be the main replacement for Altuve at second base. David Hensley can fill in as well. 

Jorge Polanco, Minnesota Twins (Knee)

Polanco is on the Injured List with a sore knee and while he’s out, Nick Gordon will start in his place. Minnesota can also potentially place Kyle Farmer or Donovan Solano at second base at times for the next few weeks.

 

 

MLB Third Baseman Injury News

Luis Urias, Milwaukee Brewers (Hamstring) 

Urias hurt himself at the end of the Brewers' Opening Day game and we’re awaiting test results regarding his injured hamstring. If he needs to miss time, Mike Brosseau and Brian Anderson can substitute for him at third base.

 

MLB Outfielder Injury News

Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs (Oblique)

Suzuki is on the Injured List and he’ll miss the next few weeks with a strained oblique. The Cubs started Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, and Miles Mastrobuoni in the outfield for Opening Day. 

Mitch Haniger, San Francisco Giants (Oblique)

Haniger has a mildly-strained oblique and should be back within the next couple of weeks. The Giants could opt to replace him with either Blake Sabol, Joc Pederson, or Brett Wisely to fill out their outfield.

Harrison Bader, New York Yankees (Oblique)

Bader will need at least a few weeks to recover from an injured oblique. The Yankees started Oswaldo Cabrera in the outfield, along with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, to start the season. 

Randal Grichuk, Colorado Rockies (Groin)

Grichuk is recovering from hernia surgery and he was put on the Injured List to start the year. The Rockies will utilize other outfielders in his place, such as Harold Castro and Yonathan Daza. Colorado could also put Charlie Blackmon out there as well if it wants.  

Michael Brantley, Houston Astros (Shoulder)

Brantley had a procedure on his shoulder in the offseason and could make it back to the field before the end of April. Houston opened with Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, and Jake Meyers in the outfield with Yainer Diaz at DH.

 

 

MLB Starting Pitcher Injury News

Justin Verlander, New York Mets (Shoulder)

Verlander is suffering from a shoulder strain and he was put on the 15-day Injured List to start the season. However, he could potentially be out longer if the pain doesn’t subside. Tylor Megill will start in his place at least for the first go-around in the Mets rotation. The timetable for Verlander is a bit unclear, though, so continue to monitor his recovery. This is brutal for the Mets who invested a lot of money into both Verlander and Edwin Diaz, who tore his knee in the World Baseball Classic.

Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Guardians (Shoulder)

McKenzie could miss up to two months with an injured shoulder. There was fear that he wouldn’t be expected back until June, but the Guardians haven’t put him on the 60-day Injured List – which is a good sign. That can all change, though, if he’s not healing properly. Hunter Gaddis will replace McKenzie in the Guardians rotation.

Max Fried, Atlanta Braves (Hamstring)

Fried left his Opening Day start with a hamstring injury. While he hasn’t been placed on the Injured List yet, that report is likely on its way. We already know that Fried will miss his next scheduled start.

 

MLB Relief Pitcher Injury News

Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves (Shoulder)

Iglesias is dealing with a shoulder injury, but it isn’t major, and he should only miss a few weeks. While he’s out, A.J. Minter could be in line to pick up saves for the Braves until Iglesias returns. Joe Jimenez is another available option for Atlanta to pitch in the ninth inning.

Giovanny Gallegos, St. Louis Cardinals (Back)

Gallegos has pain in his back and the Cardinals held him out for their Opening Day game. He hasn’t been placed on the Injured List just yet, though. We saw Jordan Hicks come in and surrender two earned runs on Thursday. 

 

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