Fantasy Baseball Injuries - Week 18: Clayton Kershaw, Ozzie Albies, More
![Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Injuries Fantasy Baseball Injury Report](https://d29m18w01sxjzp.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/source/fatest/Clayton_Kershaw_Los_Angeles_Dodgers_MLB_Injuries_Fantasy_Baseball_Injury_Report-1000x600.jpg)
UPDATED JULY 25th @ 6:48am ET
As we emerge from the All-Star break, we are slowly approaching the MLB trade deadline, which is sure to have quite the ripple effect for our fantasy teams. However, before we see who the fantasy baseball risers and fallers from the deadline were, we have quite a few notable injuries to discuss this week.
The Atlanta Braves lost Max Fried and Ozzie Albies to the injured list in recent days, whereas the Seattle Mariners seemed to have avoided major injury to star outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Out in Los Angeles, reinforcements are coming for the Dodgers, as Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow are both expected to return to the rotation this week, with the former making his season debut.
As you prepare to finalize your fantasy baseball lineups for the upcoming week, make sure to review the fantasy baseball injury report provided below, along with Howard Bender’s piece on the best fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups. Stay tuned for additional waiver wire suggestions and weekend streaming options from Matt Selz and myself on Caught Stealing later this week.
Without further delay, let’s delve into this week’s fantasy baseball injury report!
MLB Injury Report: Starting Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw (Shoulder) & Tyler Glasnow (Back), Los Angeles Dodgers
Pitching reinforcements are coming for the Dodgers! Glasnow is expected to start on Wednesday, and Kershaw will make his season debut on Thursday.
Kodai Senga, New York Mets - Shoulder
UPDATE 7/26: Should be all systems go for Senga on Friday.
The expectation is that Senga will make his 2024 season debut on Friday against the Atlanta Braves.
Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants - Elbow
UPDATE 7/26: Ray made his season debut and looked excellent.
Ray is expected to make his 2024 season debut in this series against Los Angeles. It would be his first MLB start since March 31, 2023.
Max Fried, Atlanta Braves - Elbow
Fried is dealing with neuritis in his pitching elbow, and Atlanta has placed him on the injured list. The hope is that he doesn’t miss an extended period of time.
Ranger Suarez & Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies - Back
Suarez and Wheeler will return to the rotation this week, with both expected to start during this three-game set against the Twins.
Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres - Elbow
Musgrove is slowly but surely moving through his rehab program, and there have been no setbacks of late. He’s still only throwing in bullpen sessions, so his return isn’t overly imminent.
Reese Olson, Detroit Tigers - Shoulder
UPDATE 7/26: Olson will not require surgery, but he remains without a return date.
Olson exited his last start early with some shoulder soreness, and it didn’t take long for the team to place him on the IL with a strain in his shoulder.
Ryan Pepiot, Tampa Bay Rays - Knee
An infection in Pepiot’s right knee is the culprit for him heading to the 15-day injured list.
Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians - Cramps
UPDATE 7/26: Bibee was removed from his last start after he reported to have been cramping in both legs. Bibee also acknowledged that he dealt with some cramping in the start prior. While he should make his next start, he better be hammering the electrolytes, water, and pickle juice.
Christian Scott, New York Mets - Elbow
UPDATE 7/26: Scott was placed on the injured list with a sprained UCL.
MLB Injury Report: Relief Pitchers
Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers - Back
Williams’ rehab assignment has moved to the Triple-A level, and through two rehab appearances overall, he has a 4:1 K/BB ratio across two scoreless innings. He should reclaim the closer role upon his return to the big-league club.
Mason Miller, Oakland Athletics
UPDATE 7/26: Miller will head to the IL with a fractured pinky after hitting a table.
MLB Injury Report: Hitters
Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves - Hand/Wrist
Albies was removed from the game after this play late on Sunday. He is expected to miss around eight weeks with a fractured wrist.
Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners - Ankle
UPDATE 7/26: Rodriguez hit the injured list due to this high ankle sprain.
Rodriguez suffered a sprained ankle on Sunday after crashing into the centerfield wall. The X-Rays came back negative, and the star outfielder is day-to-day.
Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers - Back
UPDATE 7/26: We know Yelich has a back issue that will never fully go away, and he'll visit a spine specialist to deal with some inflammation in his low back. There was a possibility of season-ending surgery, but the star outfielder will opt to just rest, in the hopes that a non-surgical rehab plan can get him back on the field before season's end.
Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros - Shin
The severity of Tucker’s shin injury seems to have been severely downplayed. He has worked up to performing “intense defensive drills,” but there’s still no definitive timeline on his return. Tucker last played on June 3rd.
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels - Knee
UPDATE 7/26: Trout's rehab assignment begun, but he was removed after a couple of innings due to soreness in his knee. I'm not overly concerned, though this likely sets him back a few days.
Trout will head out on a rehab assignment with a potential to return to the Angels by week’s end.
Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox - Rib(s)
Casas’ rib injury has been coming along slowly, and the team has said he’s still quite far away from heading out on a rehab assignment. It sounds like his absence will extend beyond the August 1 date he had his eyes on a few weeks back.
Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees - Hamstring
It’s expected that the Yankees will decide later this week on Stanton’s status, and if he’ll need a rehab assignment. In the video below, you’ll hear Aaron Boone talk about Stanton’s progress, and what he’s been doing of late (swinging, running, etc.)
Jacob Wilson, Oakland Athletics - Hamstring
Oakland’s top prospect recorded his first big league hit in his debut but strained his hamstring while running the bases. Consider him day-to-day at this juncture.
Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays - Calf
Bichette is expected to miss multiple weeks with a moderate calf strain. This is the second time this season he’s hit the injured list due to a calf ailment.
Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins - Foot
UPDATE 7/26: Correa received an injection in his foot, and hopes to return to the lineup within the next two weeks.
Correa was placed on the IL with plantar fasciitis.
Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins - Adductor
UPDATE 7/26: As mentioned below, the door is open, and Lewis walked right through it. He began his rehab assignment in the early part of the week.
The door is wide open for Lewis to head out on a rehab assignment this week. The Minnesota slugger has been limited to just 24 games this season due to injury, though he’s posted 10 home runs, and 1.039 OPS when on the field.
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins - Forearm
UPDATE 7/26: Buxton is day-to-day with a forearm bruise after getting struck by a pitch earlier this week.
Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates - Back
UPDATE 7/26: Reynolds had some back spasms pop up, and he's day-to-day at the moment.
Josh Jung, Texas Rangers - Wrist
UPDATE 7/26: Jung is resuming his rehab assignment. He tried to return earlier, but soreness in his surgically repaired wrist continued to linger. The hope is that the soreness is gone, and after a few rehab appearances, he can rejoin the big league club.