Fantasy Baseball Injuries - Week 17: Ranger Suarez, Carlos Correa, More
As we head into the MLB All-Star break, many players will get a few free days to rest up some bumps and bruises, and other teams will be eagerly awaiting returns from some key assets. Fantasy baseball managers needing some pitching help should be excited to see that Clayton Kershaw and Robbie Ray are expected to be activated from the IL shortly after the break. Additionally, Kodai Senga might not be too far behind.
On the other hand, the Minnesota Twins will be without Jose Miranda and possibly Carlos Correa for a little bit, as the two nurse injuries. As you get ready to set your fantasy baseball lineups for the week ahead, be sure to check out the fantasy baseball injury report below, as well as Howard Bender’s article on the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.
Be sure to catch Matt Selz and me as we analyze more waiver wire pickups and weekend streamers on Caught Stealing later this week! Let's not waste any more time and get into this week's fantasy baseball injuries.
MLB Injury Report: Starting Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers - Shoulder
Kershaw logged three innings over the weekend, allowing no runs and firing 38 pitches. He’ll continue his rehab assignment later this week and will likely work up to 4 IP and/or 50 pitches. It sounds like after his next rehab appearance, Kershaw will join the big-league rotation.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers - Shoulder/Triceps
Merely a formality here. Yamamoto was moved to the 60-day IL, though he’s thrown a couple of times recently with no reported pain or soreness. He is unable to return until mid-August.
Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants - Elbow
Ray made another rehab appearance over the weekend, and he was dominant. Across five scoreless innings, the veteran southpaw allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out nine batters. He fired 74 pitches (56 strikes), and his activation from the IL should come shortly after the All-Star break.
Kodai Senga, New York Mets - Shoulder
Senga’s activation from the IL is nearing. It’s possible his next start is with the Mets, but the team didn’t close the door on one more rehab appearance.
Justin Verlander, Houston Astros - Neck
While you’ll see the bullpen session below was far from max effort, Verlander was able to work in all of his pitches, and supposedly came out of this session healthy and feeling good.
Drew Rasmussen, Tampa Bay Rays - Elbow/Forearm
Rasmussen could be looking at heading out on a rehab assignment after the All-Star break. His last start was May 11, 2023.
Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies - Back
Back spasms will keep Suarez out of the All-Star game, though we likely won’t get information on the status of his next start until later in the week.
MLB Injury Report: Relief Pitchers
Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers - Back
Well, we can call Williams’ first rehab appearance a success. He struck out the side on just 14 pitches.
MLB Injury Report: Hitters
Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins - Foot
Plantar fasciitis has returned for Correa, although it’s in his right foot this season. Last year, he was placed on the injured list at the end of the regular season with plantar fasciitis, though the team is saying that this year’s instance is not as severe as it was in 2023.
Josh Jung, Texas Rangers - Wrist
Jung was able to take some swings with no reported soreness. Albeit a positive step, this provides no further clarification on his timeline to return.
Jose Miranda, Minnesota Twins - Back
A low back strain will interrupt an unprecedented hot streak for Miranda, as he’ll head to the IL. In the seven games prior to being placed on the IL, Miranda posted a .577 batting average and .885 SLG.
Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays - Calf
Bichette is dealing with a fascia strain in his calf, and while he hasn’t been placed on the IL, that hasn’t yet been ruled out. He hasn’t played since July 10th.
Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees - Hamstring
Stanton should be activated from the IL shortly after the team returns from the All-Star break. He’s been sidelined since June 22nd with this hamstring strain.
J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies - Knee
Realmuto’s activation from the IL shouldn’t come too long after the team returns to action after the All-Star break.
Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles - Head
Kjerstad suffered a concussion after being hit by a pitch against the Yankees over the weekend. He was placed on the 7-day concussion IL.
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.