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Dr. Reuven Guy's fantasy baseball injury report for Week 3 (2025). Read the latest injury updates for Blake Snell, Ketel Marte, Wyatt Langford, Justin Steele, Matt McLain, more.
What a difference a week makes! How the injuries have piled up so quickly around Major League Baseball. The cold weather and players possibly pushing themselves too hard, too early in the season, may play into this trend. The worst type of injured player is the one who gets added to the IL on Monday or Tuesday after lineups have locked. I have been asked many times if there is a way to avoid this, and my answer is no, and I have to deal with the same issue.
This week, one of my teams had three players go on the IL either Monday or Tuesday after the lineups were locked. They all had a common issue- a muscle/tendon/ligament sprain or strain. The only word of advice I would give is that hamstring, oblique, and other core body muscle injuries do require some time to recover. If a player misses two to three days before the lineups lock, there is a good chance that they will end up on the IL. I will continue to highlight the fantasy-relevant players and hopefully help your team avoid having a zero spot on your fantasy baseball active roster.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning readers. My name is Reuven Guy, and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management Physician Assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 19+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I also played fantasy baseball during that time. This has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you. I am also the co-host of the 2025 FSWA award-winning podcast Beat the Shift. Stay updated on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24/7 push notification alerts!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF, ATL) Knee
Acuna is on the IL as he continues to rehab his ACL, which was surgically repaired last year. He has been taking batting practice and has done some baseball activities, but has not yet been given the final clearance to begin ramping up his running.
Acuna seems to be on the precipice of being cleared for full activities, and once that happens, he'll likely steadily increase the intensity of his workouts over the next few weeks before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. An early to mid-May return is still possible for Acuna.
Wyatt Langford (OF, TEX)- Oblique
Langford was placed on the IL this week with a right oblique strain. An MRI showed enough damage that a trip to the IL was needed. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Langford felt "pretty good" when he reported to the clubhouse, and it is unclear how long he will be out. Kevin Pillar, Josh Smith, Dustin Harris, and Ezequiel Duran are all in the mix to see more playing time.
Wyatt Langford did lobby to stay off IL, but acknowledged this was right decision. Minimal time missed with 3 off days in next 12 days. Get issue right. Back before April is done. Smart to be cautious with oblique
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) April 9, 2025
Royce Lewis (3B, MIN) - Hamstring
Lewis was placed on the IL with a moderate left hamstring strain. Lewis is likely three weeks away from being cleared to begin a rehab assignment. He has started a running progression." Any time they let me do something more, it's always pretty good," said Lewis.
"I'll probably run three days in a row, take a break, then try to get on the bases. It's a long progression." Jose Miranda and Willi Castro will continue to see playing time at third for the Twins. Brooks Lee will also be in the mix as he should come off the IL next week.
Ketel Marte (2B, ARI)- Hamstring
Marte was placed on the IL with a grade one left hamstring strain. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said that Marte will miss a "series of weeks" with a left hamstring strain. "There's no timeline on it…We just gotta let him heal, let him recover, and once we get to that point, we'll start to initiate some baseball activities." Tim Tawa and Garrett Hampson will get more playing time with Marte out.
Matt McLain (SS, CIN)- Hamstring
McLain was placed on the IL this week with a left hamstring strain. The severity of the strain is not yet known, but it will tell us whether he misses two weeks or eight weeks. Santiago Espinal could benefit from increased playing time with McLain out.
Jackson Merrill (OF, SD)- Hamstring
Merrill was placed on the IL this week with a right hamstring strain. He has been out since this past Monday and has not recovered enough to avoid the stint. The severity of the strain is not yet known. Oscar Gonzalez was called up.
Francisco Alvarez (C, NYM)- Wrist
Alvarez is on the IL status post-surgery for a fractured hamate bone in his wrist. He began a rehab assignment this week and could return to the Mets sometime next week.
Francisco Alvarez with a line drive hit in the first game of his rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie! pic.twitter.com/Mui8H2ON9D
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 9, 2025
Matt Vierling (OF, DET) - Shoulder
Vierling is on the IL with a strained right rotator cuff muscle. Vierling has begun a throwing program and still has a late April or early May timetable for return.
Matt Vierling has been cleared to begin a return to play program.
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) April 8, 2025
Victor Robles (OF, SEA)- Shoulder
Robles dislocated his shoulder and has a small fracture in the humeral head of his left shoulder based on an MRI. The injury occurred while making a leaping catch into the wall/netting. It looks like Robles does not need surgery but he is expected to miss twelve weeks. Dominic Canzone was called up and Luke Raley may see more playing time with Robles out.
Robles #Mariners will be out for at least 12 weeks, possibly the year, with a small fracture in the humeral head of his left shoulder.
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) April 8, 2025
Jeff McNeil (2B, NYM) - Oblique
McNeil was placed on the IL with a low-grade right oblique strain. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon and could return to the Mets as early as the end of next week. Brett Baty or Luisangel Acuna may end up losing time or be sent to the minors when McNeil comes back.
Gleyber Torres (2B, DET) - Oblique
Torres was placed on the IL this week with a left oblique strain. He suffered the injury while hitting a home run. Torres may or may not require a rehab assignment and could be activated as early as April 11.
Josh Lowe (OF, TB) - Oblique
Lowe was placed on the IL this week with a Grade 2 right oblique strain. Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Lowe is now moving pain-free, but there is no timetable yet for his return. This usually has a shelf life of six to eight weeks. Jake Mangum and Kameron Misner have been getting more playing time with Lowe out.
Connor Wong (C, BOS)- Finger
Wong was placed on the IL with a fractured finger when his hand was hit by a bat on a catcher's interference. Severity is not yet known, and if no surgery is needed, he may miss up to a month. Carlos Narvaez will be the Red Sox's primary catcher with Blake Sabol backing him up.
Alex Cora says Connor Wong has a fracture on the “pinky area,” and that he’ll be heading to the IL:
“How long? We don’t know. Late swing got him good, so we’re gonna have to make a move.”@WEEI @SoxBooth #RedSox pic.twitter.com/2LRj4lF55b
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) April 8, 2025
Daulton Varsho (OF, TOR) - Shoulder
Varsho was placed on the IL as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. He has still not yet been throwing in games yet and remains without a clear timetable for a return.
Ivan Herrera (C, STL)- Knee
Herrera was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee and is out for at least four weeks. Testing showed no structural damage to the knee. Pedro Pages will be the main catcher for the Cardinals while Herrera is out and Yohel Pozo will back him up.
Andrew Benintendi (OF, CHW)- Adductor
Benintendi is on the IL with a left adductor strain. The severity is not yet known, and there is no timetable for his return. He is eligible to be activated from the IL on April 16. The White Sox could turn to Brooks Baldwin, Michael Taylor, or Greg Jones to fill in.
Jonny DeLuca (OF, TB)- Shoulder
DeLuca was placed on the IL this week with a right shoulder strain. He is expected to miss two to four weeks. He is able to swing a bat and run without issue, but throwing is a problem. Kameron Misner should see more playing time.
Yoan Moncada (3B, LAA)- Thumb
Moncada was placed on the IL this week with a right thumb sprain. He first aggravated it mid-March. Manager Ron Washington was unwilling to speculate whether Moncada would miss more than the minimum time, as Moncada is still being evaluated. Kyren Paris will continue to see more playing time with Moncada out.
Zach Neto (SS, LAA) - Shoulder
Neto continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. He is on a rehab assignment and could return to the Angels as early as April 11.
Jake Rogers (C, DET)- Oblique
Rogers was placed on the IL with an oblique injury. He is expected to miss at least one month. Dillon Dingler should be the primary catcher for the Tigers, with Tomas Nido being the backup.
Jake Rogers injured his oblique while taking swings in the batting cage before the game.
It was quickly clear an IL stint was unavoidable, so the Tigers scrambled to get Tomás Nido up from Toledo.
A.J. Hinch: "They let me know when he parked, when he was getting dressed, and…
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) April 8, 2025
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Spencer Strider (SP, ATL)- Elbow
Strider continues to rehab following Tommy John surgery last year. He made another rehab outing on Thursday and was able to reach the 90-pitch mark for the first time. Strider should make his season debut next week.
Spencer Strider just struck out 13 of the 21 batters he faced on 90 pitches... Chat, is that good?
5.1 IP | 3 H | 1 ER | 2 BB | 13 SO pic.twitter.com/3MDs4zZArV
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 10, 2025
Blake Snell (SP, LAD)- Shoulder
Snell is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He said he has had this issue for the past three weeks, and the Dodgers now have him shut down from throwing at least until next week. There is no timetable for his return, but it looks to be more than the minimum IL stint.
Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack could fill in for the Dodgers, or they may go with bullpen games in his rotation spot going forward.
Blake Snell said he’s been pitching through soreness in his left shoulder for three weeks. Thought he could get to the other side of it but couldn’t finish his bullpen yesterday.
MRI yesterday showed inflammation, no structural damage.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) April 7, 2025
Justin Steele (SP, CHC)- Elbow
Steele began feeling elbow discomfort in the middle of his last start and pitched through it. He continued to feel sore the next day and was placed on the IL. The Cubs are calling in tendonitis, which is vague. There is no timeline for his return, but Steele believes he will require only a minimum 15-day stay on the IL.
Cubs Justin Steele said he will get an MRI on Thursday after going on the IL with elbow soreness.He said cold weather was possibly a factor..Steele said the arm started to get tight in the 5th inning. Craig Counsell is unsure who would be used as of today.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) April 9, 2025
Pablo Lopez (SP, MIN)- Hamstring
Lopez was placed on the IL this week with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, but could now miss up to three to four weeks with this injury if multiple rehab starts are needed. David Festa is projected to be promoted from Triple-A and start on Friday. Zebby Matthews could also be in the mix to join the rotation.
A Zebby Matthews recall to the big leagues feels imminent after last night’s start and Pablo Lopez’s injury
5 IP
4 H
2 ER
BB
9 K
14 WhiffsPitch velo was up across the board compared to his season averages as well, and if the velo gains stick Matthews has the upside of a… pic.twitter.com/oV9o65IvHs
— Owen Hurd (@Owen_FBB) April 9, 2025
Nestor Cortes (SP, MIL)- Elbow
Cortes is on the IL with a left elbow flexor strain. He went for a second opinion already and has received a PRP injection this week. There is no timetable for his return but he does not seem to be close to a return.
Jack Leiter (SP, TEX)- Finger
Leiter was placed on the IL with a blister issue. The move to the IL was retroactive to April 2, and he could return by April 17.
Spencer Arrighetti (SP, HOU)- Hand
Arrighetti was diagnosed with a right thumb fracture and is on the IL. He was hit in the hand during batting practice. He is expected to wear a cast for about two to three weeks, and no surgery is thought to be needed. His timetable for return should fall within the six to eight-week period. There is no word on his replacement in the rotation yet.
Spencer Arrighetti will not require surgery on his fractured thumb. Joe Espada said Arrighetti will be in a cast for “two or two and a half weeks,” after which there will be follow-up imaging to make sure everything is healing. More clarity after that.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 9, 2025
Zach Eflin (SP, BAL)- Lat
Eflin was placed on the IL with a low-grade lat strain, based on an MRI. There is no timetable for his return yet. Once Eflin is cleared to throw, we will have a better idea. He has been shut down from throwing for at least one week.
Orioles’ Zach Eflin is going on the IL with a low-grade lat strain, Brandon Hyde announced. He’ll be shut down from throwing for a week.
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) April 9, 2025
Brayan Bello (SP, BOS) - Shoulder
Bello is on the IL with shoulder soreness. The Red Sox are hopeful he could return to their rotation by mid-April. Bello may need only one more rehab start before activation from the IL.
Lucas Giolito (SP, BOS) - Hamstring
Giolito was placed on the IL with a low-grade left hamstring strain. He may need only one more rehab start before making his season debut with the Red Sox.
George Kirby (SP, SEA) - Shoulder
Kirby is on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said this week that Kirby "felt great" while throwing a bullpen session over last weekend. Kirby will throw two more bullpen sessions before beginning a game progression. Kirby may return to the Mariners sometime in May based on his progression.
Reynaldo Lopez (SP, ATL) - Shoulder
Lopez has shoulder surgery this week and is on the IL. He is expected to rehab for the next twelve months, and the Braves hope he pitches again this year.
#Braves Reynaldo Lopez had a cleanup procedure on his right shoulder out in Los Angeles this morning. He will be reevaluated in 12 weeks – at which point they'll know whether or not he'll pitch again this season.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) April 8, 2025
Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL) - Shoulder
Woodruff continues to rehab from shoulder surgery last year and is on the IL. Woodruff is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment soon and may need the full 30 days of the rehab assignment before joining the Brewers rotation.
Tobias Myers (SP, MIL) - Oblique
Myers is on the IL with a left oblique strain. He began a rehab assignment this week and may need two more rehab starts before returning to the majors with the Brewers.
Michael Soroka (SP, WAS)- Biceps
Soroka is on the IL with a right biceps strain. The severity is not yet known. The Nationals have not yet decided who will take his place in their rotation. :
Clarke Schmidt (SP, NYY) - Shoulder
Schmidt was placed on the IL as he continues to build up arm strength following a shoulder injury. He is on a rehab assignment and should be activated from IL next week.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD) - Back
Gonsolin is on the IL with a back injury suffered while lifting weights in early March. He began a rehab assignment and could return to the Dodgers rotation in about two weeks or so.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI) - Back
Suarez was placed on the IL to start the season due to a low back strain. Suarez has been cleared to start a rehab assignment and may require at least two rehab starts. Suarez should be expected back with the Phillies by late April.
Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL) - Triceps
Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a triceps strain. He has thrown three bullpen sessions, but there is still no concrete timeline for his return. Cade Povich has his rotation spot for the Orioles.
Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, HOU) - Forearm
McCullers continues to make progress in his rehab, which has now stretched for more than two years. He has made two rehab starts and may require two more before being activated from IL sometime late April, barring any setbacks.
Max Scherzer (SP, TOR) - Thumb/Lat
Scherzer left his last start with a lat issue and was placed on the IL after his thumb issue flared up as well. His right thumb has no structural damage, and he has had two injections so far. He has resumed throwing but still feels “lingering tightness." There is no timeline for his return.
Kutter Crawford (SP, BOS) - Knee
Crawford was placed on the IL with patellar tendon soreness. There is no timeline for his return, but he could be back for the Red Sox by the end of April, more likely in May. He has still not been cleared to face hitters.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Evan Phillips (RP, LAD) - Shoulder
Phillips was placed on the IL with a torn shoulder muscle that he suffered during the postseason last year. He has begun a rehab assignment and could join the Dodgers' bullpen by last April.
Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS) - Arm
Hendriks was diagnosed with a compressed nerve in his right elbow and expects to start a rehab assignment this weekend. When he returns, it may be in a setup role for the Red Sox.
Kevin Ginkel (RP, ARI) - Shoulder
Ginkel was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He has had a bullpen session already, but there remains no timeline for his return.
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