Fantasy Baseball Injury Report - Week 2: Max Scherzer, Jose Ramirez & More
Throughout the entire 2025 Major League Baseball season, I’ll have you covered here at Fantasy Alarm with the fantasy baseball injury report. This week’s fantasy baseball injury report features some notable names, including first round selections like Jose Ramirez and Gunnar Henderson.
Most leagues have already had their fantasy baseball waivers run, but in case your league allows for daily moves, be sure to read on to learn more about some notable MLB injuries.
Fantasy Baseball Injury Report This Week
The San Diego Padres seemed to have avoided a major injury with Manny Machado, but the Toronto Blue Jays weren’t as lucky when it comes to veteran right-hander Max Scherzer. On the other hand, the Atlanta Braves continue to receive positive news when it comes to ace Spencer Strider, and the Baltimore Orioles should be welcoming Gunnar Henderson to its lineup at some point this week.
As you prepare to finalize your fantasy baseball lineups for the upcoming week, don’t forget to take a look at James Grande’s best MLB waiver wire pickups, and tune in to the Caught Stealing Podcast later this week with Howard Bender and yours truly for all things fantasy baseball!
MLB Injury Report: Starting Pitchers
Max Scherzer, Toronto Blue Jays - Thumb/Lat
After leaving his Toronto debut early with soreness in his lat, the veteran right-hander heads to the IL due to inflammation in his right thumb. Scherzer said that he is overcompensating due to his thumb discomfort, leading to his lat issue. While he’s being placed on the IL for the thumb issue, some lat soreness is also in play. Listen to Scherzer talk about it below:
Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies - Back
Suarez is on the injured list with lower back stiffness. Despite being eligible to return on April 8th, he won’t be activated at that juncture.
Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays - Triceps
McClanahan avoided serious injury, but he’s going to miss some time with this triceps issue.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves - Elbow
After posting a 10:1 K/BB ratio across four innings of work in the spring, Strider struck out six batters across three innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. He worked up to 60 pitches in this outing, and his return to Atlanta’s rotation seems destined to occur in mid-April, likely after another rehab start or two.
MLB Injury Report: Relievers
Ryan Walker, San Francisco Giants - Back
Walker was unavailable on Saturday due to a bad back, but the injury isn’t considered serious. Camilo Doval figures to be the primary ninth inning option for San Fran while Walker is unavailable, but again, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be unavailable for long.
MLB Injury Report: Hitters
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians - Wrist
Ramirez was not in the lineup on Sunday after spraining his wrist the day before. The positive news is that imaging came back negative, and the team is calling its superstar “day-to-day” at the moment.
Josh Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays - Oblique
Lowe only had two ABs before getting injured, and his Grade 2 oblique strain forced the team to place him on the injured list. Lowe served two separate stints on the IL last season with right oblique strains, the longer of which cost him 4-5 weeks, and he mentioned that this is a little bit worse than last year.
Josh Jung, Texas Rangers - Neck
Jung was placed on the injured list with neck spasms. Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran figure to man the hot corner until Jung returns.
Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles - Intercostal
Henderson is slashing .333/.333/.583 through three rehab appearances, and he seems likely to return in the early-to-middle parts of this week.
Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies - Back
After being scratched on Saturday with back spasms, Turner’s name wasn’t on the lineup card again on Sunday. Consider him day-to-day with this back issue, and you’ll see below that the earliest we likely see Turner return to the lineup is Wednesday.
J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies - Foot
After leaving Saturday’s game early after fouling a ball off his foot, Realmuto didn’t play on Sunday. However, the team stated that they removed him for precautionary reasons, and it’s been reported he could be in the lineup as early as Monday (see embedded post above).
Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers - Ribs
Torres hasn’t seen the field since exiting early on March 28th, and he’s considered day-to-day with rib tightness.
Nick Gonzales, Pittsburgh Pirates - Ankle
On Gonzales’s first home run of the season, he suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle. I’d expect Gonzales to miss at least two months of action, and Adam Frazier to see most of the starts at 2B during Gonzales’ absence.
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels - Hip
Adell is dealing with a left hip issue, and until more information is made available, consider him day-to-day.
Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds - Oblique
Stephenson is improving from his oblique strain, and he has another MRI scheduled for April 7. The Reds will continue to use Jose Trevino and Austin Wynns behind the dish until Stephenson is activated from the IL.
Jonathan India, Kansas City Royals - Head
India took a heater to the side of the helmet on Sunday, and while the team said he avoided a concussion, they are going to monitor his status over the next couple of days. Consider him day-to-day, but a return in the latter part of the weeks seems plausible, barring any setbacks.
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.