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 names with this MLB injury update piece, and how they impact your fantasy baseball teams.

The fantasy baseball injury update this week features some notable names, including Pablo Lopez and Jackson Merrill, and up-and-coming fantasy baseball breakouts like Ivan Herrera and Spencer Arrighetti. 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 update report ahead of this weekend’s games features a lot of news regarding players on rehab stints with nearing returns, headlined by Atlanta Braves righty Spencer Strider and New York Yankees’ starter Clarke Schmidt.

The San Diego Padres were fortunate to avoid major injury to one of its star outfielders (Fernando Tatis), but they did have to place early round fantasy baseball selection Jackson Merrill on the IL. Other notable names you’ll find in this week’s MLB injury update include Justin Steele, Wyatt Langford, Matt McLain, 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 3 Injury Report Update: Pitchers

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves - Elbow

Strider dominated in his most recent rehab start, and his next start should come with the Atlanta Braves sometime next week (somewhere between April 16th-19th). Reports are that his fastball was sitting in the 95-97 range, which is near his averages from 2023 (97.2 mph) and 2022 (98.2 mph).

Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees - Shoulder

Like Strider, Clarke Schmidt’s next start very well could be with the big-league club. Schmidt was sharp again, and his return seems imminent. There’s an opening on 4/15, but that’s a bit tight for Schmidt to make that start, but perhaps they move Marcus Stroman up a day, and Schmidt makes his season debut on April 16.

Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins - Hamstring

A Grade 1 hamstring strain will send Lopez to the injured list, and it doesn’t sound as if he should miss too much time. It likely extends beyond the minimum stay, but I think we are looking more at weeks than months.

Spencer Arrighetti, Houston Astros - Thumb

Arrighetti took a ball of the thumb in BP, resulting in a fractured thumb on his pitching hand. In about a week and a half, more imaging and testing will be done, providing a clearer picture on his return.

Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs - Elbow

After pitching in a very cold game, Steele was placed on the IL with tendinitis in his pitching elbow. The left-hander missed about two weeks near the end of the year last year with the same issue, and his fastball velocity was down the last two starts.

Lucas Giolito, Boston Red Sox - Hamstring

Yet another starter working their way back! Giolito worked up to 64 pitches over his last rehab appearance. He’s likely another rehab appearance or two away before joining the big-league rotation.

Zach Eflin, Baltimore Orioles - Lat

Eflin will be shut down from throwing for seven days and head to the IL with a low-grade lat strain.

Nestor Cortes, Milwaukee Brewers - Elbow

Cortes received a PRP injection and his timeline for return is undetermined. In most leagues, outside of deeper mixed or NL-only formats, I’m dropping Cortes, as I think we are talking months, not weeks here.

 

 

 

MLB Week 3 Injury Report Update: Hitters

Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers - Oblique

Langford suffered an oblique strain on April 8 and was placed on the injured list the next day. He reportedly lobbied to avoid the injured list, but better to be safe than sorry with the fickleness of oblique issues.

Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds - Hamstring

What started as a precautionary ended up being serious enough to put McLain on the IL with tightness in his left hamstring. Gavin Lux and Santiago Espinal will hold down the fort at 2B until McLain’s return.

Jackson Merrill (Hamstring) & Fernando Tatis (Shoulder), San Diego Padres

Merrill was placed on the injured list with a hamstring strain, but the Padres seemed to have avoided significant injury with Tatis. The expectation is that Tatis can avoid an IL stint, despite the injury to his surgically repaired shoulder.

Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers - Ankle

The expectation is that Freeman will be activated from the IL today (April 11).

Ivan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals - Knee

Herrera was off to a hot start to the season, but a bone bruise will put him on the IL and keep him out of the lineup for about a month.

Victor Robles (Shoulder) & Ryan Bliss (Biceps), Seattle Mariners

Robles’ insane catch didn’t come without consequence, as testing revealed a small fracture in his shoulder, and he was placed on the IL. The expectation is that he’ll be able to return around the All-Star break. On the other hand, Bliss will miss 4+ months with a right biceps tear.

Yoan Moncada, Los Angeles Angels - Thumb

Moncada was placed on the IL with thumb soreness. This injury should open the door for regular ABs for young standout Kyren Paris in the LA lineup.

Connor Wong, Boston Red Sox - Finger

Wong will head to the injured list with a fractured pinkie on his catching hand.