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Dr. Reuven Guy's fantasy baseball injury report for Week 5 (2025). Read the latest injury updates for Ronald Acuna Jr., Clayton Kershaw, Masyn Winn, Ben Joyce, and much more.
Recently, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that he was going to have to make tough decisions. Those tough decisions have to be made because he has both Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez coming off the IL soon. His tough decision involves having to send players down to the minors and these players happen to be playing well. These are the types of decisions that fantasy baseball managers wish to have.
Besides having to figure out who will take the place of injured players on our fantasy rosters, we also have to decide who gets cut or sent to the bench when our injured players come back. The best method of who to cut from our fantasy rosters when injured players come back is to ask yourself if that player will be picked up by another team the following week. If the answer to that is yes, try to find someone else to drop as those players have been found with hidden value. I will continue to highlight fantasy-relevant injured players, the timelines for return, and the next man up to help make better fantasy roster decisions.
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!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Royce Lewis (3B, MIN)- Hamstring
Lewis was placed on the IL with a moderate left hamstring strain. Lewis ran the bases this week and should begin a rehab assignment by this weekend. Lewis could return to the Twins lineup next week.
Royce Lewis continues to make progress from his hamstring strain. He did sprints on Monday and ran the bases again this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/Ub3vDngNKW
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) April 22, 2025
Luis Arraez (1B, SD)- Concussion
Arraez is on the concussion IL after a collision at first base. This type of injury could vary, and Arraez will be eligible to return when he has no more symptoms of a concussion. Gavin Sheets and Oscar Gonzalez should get more playing time with Arraez out.
3x batting champ Luis Arraez is carted off the field after apparently getting knocked out in a terrifying collision at 1B. My goodness, you hope he’s okay. Arraez is one of the best in the game, an absolute throwback to the days of bat-to-ball magicians. pic.twitter.com/Rg4i3MUuvL
— Not Gaetti (@notgaetti) April 20, 2025
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. Wong has been swinging a bat and catching. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment by the weekend and a return next week is possible.
Daulton Varsho (OF, TOR)- Shoulder
Varsho was placed on the IL as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. He is on a rehab assignment in Triple-A and could make his season debut for the Blue Jays this weekend.
Daulton Varsho gets his first hit with The Herd!🔥 #BlueJays
110.2 pic.twitter.com/MPofF3OOJd
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) April 23, 2025
Ivan Herrera (C, STL)- Knee
Herrera was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee and is out for at least two to three more weeks. He has been running straight but has not yet progressed to turning the bases. Pedro Pages remains the Cardinals' primary catcher while Herrera is out, and Yohel Pozo will back him up.
Lane Thomas (OF, CLE)- Wrist
Thomas is on the IL with a right wrist bone bruise. He was hit by a pitch two weeks ago. Because he has not fully recovered since then, the Guardians put him on the IL. Angel Martinez has been receiving most of the playing time with Thomas out.
Yoan Moncada (3B, LAA)- Thumb
Moncada is on the IL with a right thumb sprain. He has been able to swing right-handed and field grounders. There remains no timeline for his return yet.
Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL)- Hip
Tovar was placed on the IL with a left hip contusion. There is no timeline for his return. Aaron Schunk was called up, and Kyle Farmer could see some playing time at shortstop while Tovar is out.
Josh Lowe (OF, TB)- Oblique
Lowe has been on the IL with an oblique strain. He took dry swings this week. Lowe said after the swinging session that his oblique feels good and added that he is hoping to start hitting off a tee next week. Lowe said that he is "pleased with his progress." Lowe will still likely require a rehab assignment before he's ready to rejoin the Rays.
Brandon Marsh (OF, PHI)- Hamstring
Marsh was placed on the IL this week with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to April 17. There is no word on how long he will be out for. Johan Rojas and Cal Stevenson should fill in for Marsh and the Phillies.
CJ Abrams (SS, WAS)- Hip
Abrams is on the IL with a right hip flexor strain. He has begun a rehab assignment and could go to the Nats lineup this weekend.
Jake Cronenworth (1B, SD)- Rib
Cronenworth was placed on the IL with a non-displaced fracture in his ribs. He has begun dry swings and taken ground balls already. Cronenworth is optimistic he will beat the four-to-six-week time frame for his return.
Giancarlo Stanton (DH, NYY)- Elbows
Stanton is on the IL with torn tendons in both elbows. He has received three rounds of PRP injections. He took batting practice on the field this week, but still does not have a solid timeline for his return yet.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Blake Snell (SP, LAD)- Shoulder
Snell is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He had a setback this week and has been shut down from throwing. He will meet with team doctors again to see what the next course of action is. There is no timeline for his return.
#Dodgers scrapped Blake Snell bullpen session after he felt discomfort after playing catch yesterday.
Snell will be reexamined when team returns to Los Angeles.
Dave Roberts said Dodgers have stressed big picture so Snell doesn’t pitch thru anything.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 23, 2025
Spencer Strider (SP, ATL)- Hamstring
Strider is on the IL with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring on Tuesday. His return timeline is expected to be determined over the next couple of weeks. This type of injury could keep him out three to four weeks.
Strider has a Grade 1 hamstring strain. This is the mildest of strains, but it will still take some time to heal. A timetable for return will be determined over the next couple weeks.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 22, 2025
Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL)- Elbow/Lat
Rodriguez has been on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said this week that Rodriguez now has a mild right lat strain. He has been feeling better and plans to resume a throwing program in a couple of weeks.
Grayson Rodriguez has a mild lat strain. #Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is optimistic Rodriguez will resume throwing in a few weeks.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) April 23, 2025
Pablo Lopez (SP, MIN)- Hamstring
Lopez is on the IL with a hamstring strain. He had one rehab start and is expected to be activated from the IL this weekend.
Martin Perez (SP, CHW)- Elbow
Perez is on the IL with an elbow sprain. He is not expected to return this season. The only thing we do know about this injury is that he will not have Tommy John surgery at this point.
Michael Soroka (SP, WAS)- Biceps
Soroka is on the IL due to a right biceps strain. He made his first rehab start this week and there is no timeline as to when he will return yet.
Michael Soroka made his first rehab start last night.
The righty on how he felt and where his rehab stands. pic.twitter.com/n32Whxz0pK
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) April 23, 2025
Jack Leiter (SP, TEX)- Finger
Leiter was placed on the IL with a blister issue. He has had one rehab start and the Rangers have to now decide if he is ready to return to the rotation.
Jack Leiter's final line in his rehab start with the Express against the Las Vegas Aviators (A's):
— 4.2 IP
— 1 H
— 1 BB
— 4 SO
— 60/40 strikes
— top velo 98.9📸 @MxttVGC pic.twitter.com/GYtTg4qT7u
— The Prospect Times (@ProspectTimes) April 23, 2025
Zach Eflin (SP, BAL)- Lat
Eflin was placed on the IL with a low-grade lat strain. He is scheduled to throw a side session this weekend. He remains a few weeks from returning to the Orioles rotation.
Zach Eflin (right lat strain) will throw a side session on either Friday or Saturday, per #Orioles manager Brandon Hyde
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) April 23, 2025
Lucas Giolito (SP, BOS)- Hamstring
Giolito was placed on the IL with a low-grade left hamstring strain. He is scheduled to make his season debut on May 1.
Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL)- Shoulder
Woodruff continues to rehab from shoulder surgery last year and is on the IL. He made his second rehab start this week and should require at least one more before being activated from the IL.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD)- Back
Gonsolin is on the IL with a back injury suffered while lifting weights in early March. He continues on his rehab assignment and could be activated by the Dodgers next week.
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Elbow
Darvish is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. He is expected to have a bullpen session this weekend but may not return for the Padres until the end of May.
Aaron Civale (SP, MIL)- Hamstring
Civale is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He had a setback this week and will most probably undergo further testing. There is no timeline for his return.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI)- Back
Suarez was placed on the IL to start the season due to a low back strain. Suarez has rehab starts and with Cristopher Sanchez possibly out, Suarez may make his next start in the majors next week.
Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, HOU)- Forearm
McCullers continues to make progress in his rehab, which has now stretched for more than two years. He is possibly scheduled to make a rehab start soon and a possible early May return to the Astros rotation.
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)- Toe/Knee
Kershaw continues to recover from offseason surgeries and is on the IL. He will continue his rehab assignment this week, his second start. He is not eligible to return to the Dodgers until May 17.
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. He played catch this week, but there is still no timeline for his return.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
A.J. Puk (RP, ARI)- Elbow
Puk was placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation. Severity is not yet known. Once the results of his MRI are known, we should get a timeline for his return. With Puk out, Justin Martinez will likely become the primary option for saves for the Diamondbacks.
Manager Torey Lovullo says reliever A.J. Puk is seeking multiple opinions after undergoing an MRI yesterday.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 22, 2025
Hunter Harvey (RP, KC)- Shoulder
Harvey is on the IL with a Grade 1 right teres major strain, which is one of the shoulder girdle muscles. He played catch this week but remains weeks away from a return.
Blake Treinen (RP, LAD)- Forearm
Treinen was placed on the IL with a low-grade forearm strain, based on an MRI. Manager Dave Roberts said that Treinen will begin a conservative rehab program. There is no timeline for his return. Tanner Scott should continue to be the top Dodgers closer, with Kirby Yates and Evan Phillips being the set-up men.
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