When Will Shota Imanaga, Tyler Glasnow, Casey Mize Return? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

May 19, 2025

When will Imanaga, Glasnow, and Mize return and play? Will Imanaga, Glasnow, and Mize be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 7 of the 2025 MLB season.

Starting pitcher injuries are an unfortunate reality for fantasy managers every season, and losing top options in a rotation can be hard to navigate. Earlier this season, several key pitchers landed on the injured list and are slowly working their way back. In this post, we'll look at the latest news and updates regarding Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs, Tyler Glasnow of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Casey Mize of the Detroit Tigers.

Keeping up with the latest updates on key injured players is critical to fantasy baseball success. Knowing when a player is expected to return and some of the risk factors involved can help you correctly value players for both redraft and dynasty leagues. The eventual return of these players to teams that are currently in the playoff hunt will also impact the rest of the rotation and cause a ripple effect, so be sure to be aware of their status even if you don't have them on your roster.

All three of the starting pitchers in this post can be key fantasy players when they return. Let's take a look at the outlook for each player and how you should approach them and the other players impacted by their eventual returns on your fantasy baseball roster.

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Shota Imanaga Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball

Imanaga started eight games for the Cubs this season before sustaining a hamstring injury while going to cover first base on May 4.

#Cubs Shota Imanaga left with a hamstring injury.

It happened while running to cover first base. pic.twitter.com/R2qVW2Floz

— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) May 4, 2025

As you can see in the video, the 31-year-old lefty immediately grabbed at his left hamstring. After he left the game, the team quickly announced that he was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain. He landed on the 15-day injured list the next day.

Before the injury, Imanaga went 3-2 in his eight starts, compiling a 2.82 ERA, 4.56 FIP, and 34 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings. His metrics indicate he didn't pitch quite as well as his ERA looks, since he allowed a 10.5% barrel rate and had a below-average .222 BABIP against. Imanaga was still a very important source of innings for the Cubs, though, and allowed one or zero earned runs in five of his eight outings.

Since Imanga's injury, the team hasn't issued much of an update about his return timeframe, although we're nearing the 15-day minimum for his IL stay. They are expected to reevaluate him over the weekend and set out a clear timeline for his return early next week.

He was able to play catch in the outfield last Monday, but the team is expected to be cautious about rushing him back too early. He is expected to miss the rest of this month, but unless there is a setback, he could return in early June. After missing a month, he may need a rehab outing or two to ramp back up as well.

Imanaga's absence stretched the rotation even thinner after the team lost Justin Steele (elbow) at the start of the season due to an elbow injury that will sideline him until 2026. Javier Assad suffered a setback in his rehab from an oblique injury and had to be shut down as well.

In the absence of those established arms, the Cubs have turned to Matthew Boyd to anchor their rotation, and the veteran has done a very solid job. Colin Rea and Jameson Taillon have provided depth, while Ben Brown and recent call-up Cade Horton are also in the current rotation.

Horton is a promising prospect who has won each of his two appearances. When Imanaga returns, he could end up heading back to Triple-A for more development. The Cubs have also tried to add organizational depth at the position by signing Kenta Maeda to a minor league contract.

The team could look to add more help to their rotation at the MLB Trade Deadline since the rest of their team looks ready for a potential postseason run. Getting Imanaga back will be a huge step in the right direction as well.

Tyler Glasnow Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball

The Dodgers built an impressive rotation this past offseason by making multiple big-name acquisitions after their 2024 World Series championship. Glasnow was still expected to be one of the team's top pitchers, but the Dodgers have had multiple key arms go down due to injury this season, including Glasnow.

The 31-year-old made five starts before landing on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He left two straight outings with shoulder discomfort, which he said began as a result of changing his mechanics to avoid elbow issues.

In his five starts, he went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA, 5.42 FIP, and 1.28 WHIP over 18 innings while piling up 23 strikeouts.

The Dodgers gave Glasnow a couple of weeks off before he was cleared to resume a throwing program. He has not started throwing off a mound yet or worked in the bullpen and will likely need at least a couple of rehab starts before returning. He is throwing now, though, which is the first step towards his return.

#Dodgers Tyler Glasnow ⁦@DodgersBeat⁩ pic.twitter.com/ATyMYvmAei

— 🇺🇸 DooM_Sal (@msalas24) May 17, 2025

While the team has yet to share a clear timetable, he seems on track to return in mid-June at some point. It depends on how his shoulder responds to the workload as he tries to ramp back up and make adjustments to avoid the inflammation. Glasnow has been very effective when available, but injuries continue to plague him as they have throughout his career.

Along with Glasnow, the Dodgers are without starting pitchers Blake Snell (shoulder) and Roki Sasaki (shoulder). The team's current rotation is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and Landon Knack. When Glasnow is ready, he'll definitely have a place in the rotation, although it isn't clear yet exactly how all the spots will shake out as the Dodgers get healthier later in the season.

Whoever starts for the Dodgers is always worth a look in fantasy baseball, especially with such a powerful lineup behind them and a good chance for wins.

Casey Mize Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball

Mize was off to a strong start to the season before landing on the 15-day injured list with a mild left hamstring strain. While the issue caused a brief detour in his breakout season, it doesn't look like it will be a long-term injury.

Mize was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft but has taken longer to develop than many other players taken at the same time. He finally looked ready to deliver on his potential this season, going 6-1 in seven starts and posting a 2.53 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.01 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings.

He tweaked his hamstring in his last start against the Rockies, and the team opted to be conservative and give Mize a few starts off to recover. He said he may have been able to pitch through the issue if it were late in the year.

Since landing on the IL, Mize has been able to throw a bullpen, and on Monday, he'll throw a simulated game against other Tigers trying to recover from injury. He'll face Matt Vierling (shoulder) and Parker Meadows (arm), and the simulated game should put him on track to return from injury when first eligible this Saturday, May 24.

Mize looked outstanding before the injury, and if he is available, he is worth picking up in all formats.

Casey Mize, K'ing the Side in the 6th.

8Ks thru 6. pic.twitter.com/fxtm8VdRs0

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 8, 2025

While he has been out, Keider Montero stepped into the starting rotation, but when Mize returns, he'll most likely step back into his spot after his brief absence, joining Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson, and Jackson Jobe in one of the top rotations in Major League Baseball.

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