UPDATED June 22nd @ 1:25pm ET

This week’s fantasy baseball injury report features some pretty notable stars across Major League Baseball. There’s a little bit of trouble brewing in Los Angeles, as star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has hit the injured list and Mookie Betts is facing a lengthy absence after suffering a fractured hand over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Houston Astros continue to evaluate Kyle Tucker, and they remain hopeful that Justin Verlander can take his next turn in the rotation.

Furthermore, Kyle Bradish, Henry Davis, Jordan Wicks and Michael Harris were all recently placed on the injury list as well. Make sure to review the fantasy baseball injury report and Howard Bender’s article on the best fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups before setting your lineups for the upcoming week. Stay tuned for more waiver wire pickups and weekend streamers on Caught Stealing with Matt Selz and me later this week! 

Let's jump into this week's fantasy baseball injury report now!

 

 

 

MLB Injury Report: Starting Pitchers

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers - Triceps/Shoulder

Yamamoto left his last start early with tightness in right triceps and has already been placed on the injured list. It’s being called a strained rotator cuff at this juncture.

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees - Elbow

UPDATE: Cole will return to the rotation this week and start on Wednesday against the Orioles.

I thought Cole would return to the Yankees this week, but it sounds like he’ll make one more rehab start, setting up a return to the New York rotation next week.

Justin Verlander, Houston Astros - Neck

UPDATED 6/19: Verlander was placed on the injured list due to this next discomfort.

Verlander was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday due to neck tightness. Consider him day-to-day for the time being.

 

 

 

Max Scherzer, Texas Rangers - Back/Thumb

UPDATED 6/22: Scherzer's debut will be Sunday, not Saturday.

UPDATED 6/19: Scherzer will make his 2024 season debut on Saturday against the Royals!

Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers - Hip

UPDATED 6/21: The team was kicking the tires on what to do with Buehler prior to his Tuesday start. However, he took a line drive off his hip, and the team will place him on the injured list.

Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles - Elbow

UPDATED 6/21: Bradish will have Tommy John surgery and be out for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Bradish dealt with a UCL issue in the spring, causing him to have a delayed start to the 2024 campaign. Now, he heads to the injured list with a UCL sprain. The team figures to play it relatively conservatively with its young right-hander, so expect an absence that extends beyond the minimum time requirement.

Jesus Luzardo, Miami Marlins - Back

UPDATED 6/22: Luzardo was scratched from his Saturday start due to a back issue, and was subsequently placed on the injured list.

Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers - Shoulder

Miler will return to the Dodgers’ rotation this week and take on the Rockies at Coors Field in his first start with the big-league club since April 10.

Jordan Wicks, Chicago Cubs - Oblique

Wicks left his last start early due to some side tightness, and an oblique strain will send him to the injured list. You can see he’s in some discomfort after what turned out to be his final pitch.

MLB Injury Report: Hitters

Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers - Hand

UPDATE: The team believes Betts will be out of action for 6-8 weeks.

Betts took a heater to his left hand, and testing revealed a fracture. Betts will head to the injured list, though the team doesn’t believe this will end his 2024 season.

Aaron Judge, New York Yankees - Hand

UPDATED 6/21: Judge is fine and has been back in the lineup, including hitting a home run in his first game back since the HBP.

UPDATED 6/19: Judge took a fastball to his hand and was removed prior to his next AB. The initial tests came back negative, and Judge didn't appear concerned after the contest.

Fernando Tatis, San Diego Padres - Quad

UPDATED 6/22: Tatis left Friday's game after getting hit in the elbow/triceps area.

UPDATED 6/21: Tatis has been able to play through it thus far, and he hopes to remain off the injured list. The team will likely try to manage this, but it could explain why Tatis hasn't been more aggressive on the bases.

Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros - Shin

The timetable for Tucker's return has shifted in recent days. Once it was discovered he avoided any significant injury, the thought was that he could return once eligible. That didn’t happen. The thought was that he wouldn’t need any rehab assignment of sorts. Well, that option may be on the table now. We should know more early this week as to his return timetable, as well as if a rehab assignment is warranted for the star outfielder.

 

 

 

Josh Jung, Texas Rangers - Wrist

Jung is heading out on a rehab assignment, signaling his return to the Rangers is drawing closer and closer.

Michael Harris, Atlanta Braves - Hamstring

Harris II was removed from Friday’s game with a hamstring injury, and an MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain. Early reports expect Harris II to miss about a month of action, and he’s been placed on the IL.

Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays - Calf

UPDATED 6/19: Bichette was placed on the injured list. The move is retroactive to June 15, and fantasy managers will be hoping that this allows Bichette to get fully healthy, and maybe allow some time for a mental reset, too. Bichette has underwhelmed this season, slashing just .237/.286/.342 with four home runs and four stolen bases across 66 games.

Bichette missed both contests over the weekend with what the team is calling soreness in his right calf. Consider him day-to-day at this time.

Anthony Rizzo, New York Yankees - Hand/Wrist

UPDATE: Further testing revealed a fracture in Rizzo's arm, and he's expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Rizzo was involved in a collision on Sunday and is now dealing with hand/wrist discomfort. Initial tests were negative, but more tests will take place Monday.

Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles - Hip

UPDATED 6/19: Westburg was involved in a collision on Tuesday and he left the contest with what the team is calling hip discomfort. He should be considered day-to-day at this juncture.

Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees - Groin

UPDATED 6/21: Torres exited Thursday's game with what the Yankees called right groin tightness. He was not in the lineup on Friday.

C.J. Abrams, Washington Nationals - Wrist

UPDATED 6/21: While his issue sounds pretty gnarly, he's considered day-to-day. It was discovered that Abrams has a small ganglion cyst in his left wrist.

Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals - Elbow

UPDATED 6/21: Arenado was hit by a pitch and he hopes to return to the lineup at some point over the weekend.

 

 

Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox - Rib

Casas is able to return to the lineup on June 21, but the team is targeting a return on July 2.

Kris Bryant, Colorado Rockies - Oblique/Rib

Bryant is currently nursing a rib contusion, but a recent MRI revealed that there’s also an oblique strain on his left side. Bryant was last in the lineup on June 2, and this newfound oblique strain will lengthen his absence.

Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox - Ankle

UPDATED 6/21: Abreu was expected to return to the lineup on Friday or Saturday, but he was not in the lineup on Friday. So, all eyes are on Abreu for a Saturday return.

Abreu sprained his ankle while going down the dugout steps, but he’s been running at full speed, and as long as there are no setbacks on a rehab assignment, he should return in the latter part of this week.

Henry Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates - Head

Davis was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list after concussion-like symptoms popped up on Friday against the Rockies.

Elias Diaz, Colorado Rockies - Calf

Diaz hit the injured list with a strain in his left calf. It comes at a rather unfortunate time for Diaz, as he was slashing .320/.370/.520 in his last seven contests.