MLB Injury Update 2025 Ahead of Weekend Games: Clayton Kershaw, Marcell Ozuna
Throughout the entire 2025 Major League Baseball season, I’ll have you covered here at Fantasy Alarm with the fantasy baseball injury report. Each Friday, we’ll do a look around the league for notable updates regarding MLB injuries, and how they impact your fantasy baseball teams.
The fantasy baseball injury update this week features some notable names, including Grayson Rodriguez, Brandon Woodruff, and potential 2025 breakouts like Ivan Herrera and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. With fantasy baseball waivers right around the corner, be sure to read on to learn more about some notable MLB injuries.
MLB Injury Report Update Ahead of This Weekend's Games: Fantasy Baseball Injuries
The MLB injury report update ahead of this weekend’s games features a lot of news regarding players on rehab stints nearing returns, headlined by Brandon Woodruff, Clayton Kershaw, and Lance McCullers.
Brenton Doyle seems likely to avoid an IL stint, despite already missing a handful of games. Other notable names you’ll find in this week’s MLB injury update include Wyatt Langford, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Marcell Ozuna, and more.
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 waiver wire pickups, and check out the Caught Stealing Podcast with Howard Bender and yours truly for important fantasy baseball news and notes!
MLB Week 4 Injury Report Update: Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers - Knee/Toe
Kershaw is eligible to return on May 17th, and he worked up to three innings in his last rehab appearance which was on April 16.
Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles - Shoulder
Rodriguez is working his way back from inflammation in his elbow, but a recent side session was cancelled due to soreness in shoulder.
Evan Phillips, Los Angeles Dodgers - Shoulder
Phillips is getting closer to returning to the big-league bullpen, but it’s hard to imagine he’d step right back into the closer role for the team, despite closing a combined 42 games across the ‘23 and ‘24 seasons.
Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies - Back
There’s a possibility that Suarez’s next rehab start will be his last. Expect them to have him work up to 75-ish pitches in his next rehab appearance, and if all goes well, the door should be open for a possible return to the big-league team.
Lance McCullers, Houston Astros - Flexor Tendon
McCullers’ next rehab start (April 19) could be his last before making his return to the Houston rotation. We last saw McCullers pitching for the Astros in October of 2022.
Tony Gonsolin, Los Angeles Dodgers - Back
Gonsolin continues to progress in his return from Tommy John surgery, and the Los Angeles right-hander has a 13:4 K/BB ratio with an even 3.00 ERA across three rehab starts (9 IP). The team will likely want him to get to 75-80 pitches in his next rehab outing.
Luis Gil, New York Yankees - Lat
Gil’s rehab plan will be set back 10 days.
Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers - Shoulder
Woodruff is continuing to work his way back from shoulder surgery, and the plan is for the veteran righty to work up to four innings in today’s (4/18) rehab appearance. He struck out five batters across 3.2 IP in his first rehab appearance.
Tobias Myers, Milwaukee Brewers - Oblique
Myers is expected to work up to 70ish pitches in his rehab start today, with the potential of being activated afterwards. April 24th could be his first start with the Brewers in 2025.
Liam Hendriks, Boston Red Sox - Elbow
After firing three scoreless innings across as many rehab appearances, Hendriks will rejoin the big-league club on April 18 and should likely begin as a setup man to Aroldis Chapman.
Bryan Bello (Shoulder) & Lucas Giolito (Hamstring), Boston Red Sox
Bello’s next start should come with the Red Sox with April 22nd looking like the most probable date for the Boston right-hander. On the other hand, Giolito could use another rehab start (or two) as he has a 9:7 K/BB ratio and 2.09 WHIP across 7.2 IP.
MLB Week 4 Injury Report Update: Hitters
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers - Oblique
Langford could be activated as early as today (April 18). Langford homered in his first (and possibly only) rehab appearance.
Ivan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals - Knee
Herrera continues to work his way back from a knee issue and remains on pace for a return in early-to-mid May.
Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies - Hip
Castellanos was removed early on Thursday with left hip flexor tightness, but Rob Thompson said that the expectation is Castellanos will be in the lineup on Friday.
Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves - Hip
Ozuna is day to day with inflammation in his hip.
Matt Wallner, Minnesota Twins - Hamstring
Wallner hit the IL with tightness in his left hamstring.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Cincinnati Reds - Back
CES was placed on the IL with inflammation in his lower back. Jeimer Candelario figures to play 1B while CES is out.
Paul DeJong, Washington Nationals - Face
DeJong took a Mitch Keller fastball to the face and was placed on the 10-day IL.
Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies - Quad
Doyle is still dealing with some quad tightness, and his pinch-hit appearance on 4/16 was his first appearance since 4/10.
Kris Bryant, Colorado Rockies - Back
Bryant hit the IL with lumbar degenerative disc disease. Bryant’s back has been an issue for a couple of years now, and unfortunately, he’s been no stranger to the injured list since joining the Rockies.
Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies - Hip
Tovar is dealing with some pain in his hip. Consider him day to day.
Jose Siri, New York Mets - Leg
Siri fouled a ball off his leg, fracturing his left tibia. He’s going to miss a considerable amount of time.
Want more ways to win on the diamond? Check out our daily MLB picks, DFS tools, and betting insights.
We’re breaking down every matchup all season long – join the FA Discord and subscribe on YouTube for more.
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.