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.

 

 

 

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