Fantasy Baseball Week 5 Injury Report - Updates on Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Jackson Merrill, Ivan Herrera, Blake Snell, Luis Arraez, more

Dave Funnell's fantasy baseball injury report for Week 5 Injury Report - Updates on Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Jackson Merrill, Ivan Herrera, and more

Welcome, RotoBallers, to my fantasy baseball injury report for April 27. Every week, we look back at the major injury developments in baseball and look ahead at what might transpire. Today, we examine recent injuries and updates for Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Jackson Merrill, Ivan Herrera, and many others.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, but how you handle them can mean the difference between a last-place finish and somewhere near the top of your league's standings.

The hope is that whatever comes your way, you can understand what the injury is, what it means for your fantasy team, and what actions you should take. Let's get right to this week's injury-related news.

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Logan Gilbert - SP, Seattle Mariners

This was a disheartening way to begin the weekend, as Mariners ace Logan Gilbert was removed after three innings on Friday night with right forearm soreness. Looking at this velocity, it was down across the board, albeit slightly diminished from its usual speeds.

What's notable about these numbers is that Gilbert can carry his velocity deep within and throughout his starts, usually maintaining his normal numbers in any innings. For this to happen, it is noteworthy that it occurred just three innings into a game.

Additionally, it was noted that during his pregame warmups, Gilbert was using less effort on his long tosses and also excluded the windup from his delivery between innings. These tidbits, although small in stature, all appear to have contributed to a physically poor outing altogether.

Gilbert did undergo an MRI yesterday, which revealed a right elbow flexor strain. The plan for him is to be shut down for two weeks, with a reevaluation to take place then. It is worth noting that since 2023, Gilbert has been second in baseball in innings pitched and 10th overall in pitches thrown.

There is a lot of mileage there, and he could be overworked. It's hard not to jump to conclusions here, but fantasy owners should aim for a backup with some long-lasting substance during this weekend in their FAAB runs.

MLB Injury News Quick Hits

The Mariners are also working on getting George Kirby back, and he took a big step forward on Friday by throwing his first bullpen session of the year. Most notable was the fact that this was a pain-free session, which could lead to him progressing toward the next elevated step of a live-bullpen session as soon as tomorrow. Still, before everyone gets their hopes up, it's essential to note that the team stated that Kirby would receive a full build-up, similar to what he would have received during spring training. That means his rehab assignment would be the equivalent of the innings pitched in the spring. Whatever that number is or would have been, he will not be rushed, and his buildup will be gradual. Expecting him back before the end of May might be advantageous.

Finally, some good news for Seattle, as Victor Robles is trending toward a non-surgically repaired healing for his shoulder. It's healing on point with how it should be, and it looks as if he will be able to return sooner than originally anticipated. Still, given the magnitude of his injury, the team will likely take things slowly, making his return before the All-Star break inconceivable.

Cristopher Sanchez, who left his start this week with forearm tightness of his own, wound up playing catch on Friday, baffling fantasy players everywhere. In all fairness, playing catch is the easiest of hurdles to clear concerning any pitcher ramp-up, as the action is as simple as something done in your backyard. Later today, he is expected to throw a bullpen session, which will be the ultimate test to determine what he's dealing with here. After the game, Sanchez went on record saying that he felt great, while the team believes it dodged a bullet for what could have happened, and there are no plans for an MRI. Still, how he performs with this bullpen and how he feels after that will go a long way in determining what the future holds for the young ace.

Jackson Merrill continues to build up his tolerance for physical activities, inching closer to his impending return to the Padres. Still, the team has said that he likely won't be back for the duration of its homestand, which ends on Wednesday. The Padres travel to Pittsburgh on Friday to begin a nine-game road trip before heading home by May 12. Merrill last played on April 6, making today the three-week mark of his absence. There has been no talk about a rehab assignment, but if he continues to miss time, the likelihood of him needing one increases. The team has said that it is worried about him reinjuring himself, thus the slow-played return.

Luke Keaschall suffered a non-displaced fracture on his right forearm on Friday and will miss the foreseeable future while he recovers. There is no timeline for a return, but it will undoubtedly be more than the 10-day minimum for his trip to the injured list. The Twins are running dangerously low on healthy options right now and are relying on Byron Buxton to carry the load for them.

The Rangers will activate Jack Leiter from the injured list today, as he will be their starter. Fantasy owners are advised to put him into their starting lineup.

Baltimore placed Tyler O'Neill on the injured list for his aching neck yesterday. It was thought of as a precautionary move to give him the time he needed to get himself right. The good news is that the Orioles don't think this is a serious issue that will linger. All that being said, this is O'Neill's 15th trip to the injured list over his career, and the 12th body part that has given him issues. This is what makes him difficult to trust in fantasy for health reasons.

Blake Snell remains without a timeline for a return to the Dodgers, but it seems likely that he will receive another injection for his ailing shoulder. Despite their needs in the rotation to work with a six-man rotation, Snell's return will require patience and a slow road back to recovery, as any quick return could signal an even bigger injury. The team feels as though it has avoided the worst, but it is not out of the woods just yet.

The Rockies will have to wait at least another week before Ezequiel Tovar can return from his left hip contusion. From the sounds of it, though, it doesn't look like he will require a rehab assignment.

Ivan Herrera caught a bullpen session for the Cardinals yesterday, and it would appear that he is days away from beginning a rehab assignment later this week.

Luis Arraez had a session of batting practice yesterday, but his return when he is first eligible is of the "wait and see" approach. While he's moving around and has recovered nicely, this is a very tenuous situation, where any wrong move could be costly.

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