UPDATED 4/12 @ 10:09am ET

It’s been a rough couple of days for pitchers in Major League Baseball to say the least, meaning that this week’s fantasy baseball injury report is loaded with injury news, notes, and updates. 

 

 

 

Eury Perez and Shane Bieber are out for the year due to going under the knife for Tommy John surgery, and the top starting pitcher in fantasy baseball rankings coming into the year, Spencer Strider, has damage to his UCL, and could miss an extended amount of time. These MLB injuries have started some interesting topics of discussion; is the pitch clock to blame? Is it due to velocity and spin rates? Is it bad luck? 

Suffice to say, it was a massive week for injuries, especially on the mound. Plus, Luis Robert is going to miss some time due to a hip flexor strain, and Trevor Story dislocated his shoulder and was placed on the injured list. 

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.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Starting Pitchers

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves - Elbow

Strider was placed on the injured list, but upon further examination, there is damage to his UCL. More evaluations will take place on Strider’s elbow, and the hope is that he can avoid going under the knife and missing substantial time. For now, Braves fans and those who drafted Strider will wait for further updates.

Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians - Elbow

Bieber is undergoing Tommy John surgery, ending his 2024 season. After working at Driveline this offseason, Bieber was enjoying increased velocity across the board, en route to 12 scoreless innings and a 20:1 K/BB ratio to open the 2024 campaign.

Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers - Elbow

Dave Roberts said Buehler will need one more rehab appearance before joining the big-league club, which could mean a return at some point in the week of April 15.

Justin Verlander, Houston Astros - Shoulder

Six strikeouts across three innings of work? Good. Seven runs (six earned) on seven hits across three innings of work? Not as good. However, health over results at this point for Verlander, and Verlander called it a “great step” for him and his return, which is likely still two-to-three-ish weeks away.

Nick Lodolo, Cincinnati Reds - Shin

The results weren’t ideal, but Lodolo came out of his last rehab start healthy.

April 12th could be when Lodolo makes his return, which could come against a depleted Chicago White Sox lineup.

Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins - Shoulder

Cabrera logged 67 pitches across four innings of work on Friday, April 5, and the reports are that he’s healthy and ready to go. There’s no clarity on when he’ll join the big-league rotation, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Miami wanted him to get another rehab start to try to clean up some of the command issues (3:7 K/BB ratio across 7 IP). Nonetheless, he should be joining the team’s rotation within the next week or two.

Aaron Ashby, Milwaukee Brewers - Shoulder

Ashby logged five innings of work back on April 2 in the minors and was recalled by Milwaukee. With some recent ailments for the big-league club, Ashby could join the starting rotation for the Brewers. Ashby has a lot of volatility from a fantasy perspective, but when things are going well, he can be a great source of strikeouts for fantasy managers.

Framber Valdez, Houston Astros - Elbow

ADDED 4/11: Valdez was scratched from his start due to elbow soreness, and was later placed on the injured list with elbow inflammation. While Valdez is sidelined, pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti figures to have a spot in the Houston rotation.

Nick Pivetta, Boston Red Sox - Elbow

ADDED 4/11: Another elbow injury for a relevant fantasy starter. Pivetta was placed on the injured list with a mild flexor strain in his right elbow. The hope is that his time on the injured list isn't more than the minimum required time.

Josiah Gray, Washington Nationals - Elbow

ADDED 4/11: Another one! It's a flexor strain for Gray, but the MRI came back clean, in terms of no damage to any surrounding areas (namely the UCL). Gray described it as a “dull linger” on the muscle.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Relief Pitchers

Orion Kerkering, Philadelphia Phillies - Forearm

It’s possible that the Phillies get Kerkering back in its bullpen by the end of the week. If the reports are accurate, he’ll make two more minor league appearances (Tuesday and Thursday), and potentially be activated during the weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays - Elbow

Romano could face some live hitters in the coming days, and maybe a rehab assignment shortly thereafter. Upon his return to the big-league bullpen, expect him to resume his role as the primary ninth inning guy for the Blue Jays.

Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins - Oblique

Duran has said that he’s pain free, and he’s worked up to throwing 100+ feet. However, there’s still been no mound work, and no clarity on a timeline for the team’s ninth inning man.

 

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Hitters

Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers - Oblique

ADDED 4/12: A rehab assignment appears to be in Lowe's future! He's been taking live BP and running the bases, and the hope is that he shouldn't need a lengthy rehab assignment before rejoining the big league club. Lowe had just 18 ABs in spring training, so he may need well more than a game or two on the rehab assignment.

Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox - Shoulder

ADDED 4/12: Devers has had a shoulder issue that has been bothering him reportedly for the last couple of weeks. He didn't play Thursday, and should be considered day-to-day at this point. He's hit just .184 with a .721 OPS thus far in 2024.

Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox - Shoulder

UPDATED 4/11: Story will be out for the rest of the season due to this shoulder injury. Incredibly unfortunate.

Incredibly unfortunate for Story, as he will head to the injured list with a dislocated left shoulder he suffered on the play below.

There’s been no timeline given regarding when he might be able to return to the lineup, but it sounds like more information should be made available early this week. Fantasy managers (and Boston) should be prepared to be without Story for the foreseeable future.

Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox - Hip Flexor

UPDATED 4/11: Robert is actually only expected to be sidelined for 6-8 weeks. Albeit quite a lengthy absence, it's far more positive than the original expectation.

After rounding first base on Friday night, Robert pulled up a bit lame, appearing very hesitant to put any weight on his right leg. Robert will head to the injured list for a right hip flexor strain, something that cost him nearly half of the season back in 2021. Fantasy managers should prepare to be without Robert for months.

Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox - Adductor

Well, it took Chicago long enough. After holding out hope that Jimenez could get back on the field, it just wasn’t meant to be for Jimenez, who was placed on the injured list back on Friday April 5, retroactive to April 2. He can return as soon as April 12.

 

 

 

CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals - Finger

Abrams didn’t start on Sunday due to a sore left pinkie finger. He injured the finger while sliding on Friday, didn’t play Saturday, and was also absent from the lineup on Sunday. While the X-Rays were negative, consider him day-to-day for the time being.

Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics - Core

UPDATED 4/11: Rooker was placed on the injured list with a costochondral cartilage injury. In less fancy terminology, it's a rib issue for the Oakland slugger.

Rooker left Sunday’s game with what is being described as abdominal soreness. Consider the power hitter as day-to-day at this juncture until more information is made available.

Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks - Knee

Perdomo was placed on the injured list with a torn meniscus in his right knee. The tentative timeline looks to be about a month for the middle infielder.

Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays - Oblique

ADDED 4/11: Lowe heads to the injured list with his Grade 1 oblique strain. He last appeared in the lineup for the Rays on April 7.

Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox - Adductor

ADDED 4/11: The injury bug is running rampant in Chicago, as Moncada becomes the latest domino to fall. He collapsed while running to first and his adductor strain is expected to sideline him for 3-6 months.

Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins - Knee

ADDED 4/11: Rather than continue to try to push through it, with it being so early in the season, Kepler will take the time now and let his knee heal. He was placed on the injured list on April 9, and hopefully he doesn't need more than the 10-day minimum.