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When will Acuna Jr., Strider, and McClanahan return and play? Will Acuna Jr., Strider, and McClanahan be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 8 of the 2025 MLB season.
Even though we are nearly two months into the 2025 MLB season, several star players have landed on the injured list. This has caused several fantasy managers to pivot to alternative options to keep their teams afloat in the standings.
In this piece, we will analyze the latest injury update on two Atlanta stars and Tampa Bay's ace: outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., starting pitcher Spencer Strider, and starting pitcher Shane McClanahan.
When should fantasy managers expect these high-end players to return to the diamond? Let's dive in!
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Ronald Acuna Jr. Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
After winning the 2023 NL MVP Award, Acuna saw his 2024 season end in disappointment. After just 49 games, the superstar suffered his second career torn ACL which ended his season. Before the injury, Acuna was off to a slow start, posting a .250/.351/.365 slash line with four home runs and 16 stolen bases.
However, Acuna continued progressing well in spring training and remained on track for an early return in the 2025 campaign.
After spring training, the Braves placed Acuna on the 15-day injured list (as expected), leaving the door open for him to miss only roughly a month of action. Throughout April, the 27-year-old progressed well through his recovery plan but was never given a definitive timeline.
Brian Snitker said he didn’t have an update on Ronald Acuña Jr.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) April 29, 2025
On May 12, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Acuna was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League. In his lone game in the FCL, Acuna went deep and was quickly cleared to join Triple-A Gwinnett for the final steps in his recovery.
Through his first three games at the Triple-A level, Acuna held a .500/.750/1.167 slash line with a double and a home run.
Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Acuna would not be activated before their three-game series against the Nationals, which begins on Tuesday. However, given his current progress with Triple-A, the team could activate him before their weekend series against the San Diego Padres.
Confirming what many speculated, per a source, Ronald Acuña Jr is expected to continue his rehab assignment on Tuesday and is NOT being activated tomorrow.
I really thought they might go ahead and bring him back, but no, I'm told he's traveling with the minor league team.
— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) May 19, 2025
Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his status over the next few days. When he is cleared to return, he should be viewed as a must-start option in all formats.
During his MVP season, Acuna established the 40/70 club as he went deep 41 times and swiped 73 bases. During this campaign, Acuna posted a stellar .337/.416/.596 slash line. Even though he had a slow start to the 2024 season, under the hood, he generated an elite .350 xwOBA, 48.2% hard-hit rate, and a 92.2 mph average exit velocity, which suggests he should return to form.
He will carry high-end OF1 upside in all formats going forward.
Spencer Strider Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Like Acuna, Strider saw his 2024 season cut short. After his second start, the hard-throwing pitcher underwent an internal brace procedure, which ended his season.
While Strider was set to miss the early part of the campaign, he was expected to make his season debut earlier in April. Following spring training, the Braves placed Strider on the 15-day IL. He progressed well through the final steps of his recovery and made his season debut on April 16 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
In this outing, Strider logged five innings of two-run ball with five punchouts.
However, shortly after that start, Strider was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right hamstring. While this injury was disappointing, it was not serious and did not keep him sidelined for long.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Michael Petersen to Atlanta and placed RHP Spencer Strider on the 15-day injured list, backdated to April 18, with a strained right hamstring.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 21, 2025
On May 7, Strider was able to throw his first bullpen session since landing on the injured list. Then on May 12, the right-hander was given the green light to toss a 70-75 pitch simulated game, suggesting he was on the verge of his return.
Strider will throw five innings or 70-75 pitches in a sim game on Wednesday. The Braves will then decide if he needs to make a rehab start before being activated
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 12, 2025
Earlier on Monday, Strider was officially activated off the injured list ahead of his next start on Tuesday evening against the Washington Nationals.
The #Braves today reinstated RHP Spencer Strider from the injured list.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 19, 2025
As a result, fantasy managers should ensure Strider is in their starting lineup this week. While he may be on a slight pitch limit, given his strikeout upside, he should be started in all formats.
During the 2023 campaign, Strider tallied at least 200 punchouts for the second-straight season. Strider tallied a career-best 281 punchouts during this campaign, leading the National League. Across 186 2/3 innings of work, the 26-year-old posted a 3.86 ERA with a strong 1.09 WHIP.
Given his elite strikeout potential, Strider should be considered a solid SP1 in all formats as we advance.
Shane McClanahan Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
McClanahan has been held out of action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2023, but was on track to return to action at the start of the 2025 campaign.
During spring training, the lefty was named Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter. However, during a spring training start against the Red Sox, McClanahan exited a contest in pain with an apparent arm injury. Following the contest, the left-hander was diagnosed with an inflamed nerve in his left triceps.
Great news on #Rays Shane McClanahan. It’s an inflamed nerve in the left triceps, imaging confirmed. He’ll start the season on the IL, but Kevin Cash said they’re “very fortunate” it wasn’t worse. No timeline on a return yet, as they see how Mac responds to rest and recovery, but…
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) March 23, 2025
Shortly after this injury, the Rays placed McClanahan on the 15-day injured list. Throughout April, the team did not provide any update on his status, and he was eventually shifted to the 60-day IL, which pushed his earliest return date even further back.
Rays make announcement official, acquiring OF Travis Jankowski from the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations. He’s been added to the active roster.
To make room on the active and 40-man rosters, INF Coco Montes was optioned to Triple-A Durham and LHP Shane McClanahan (left…
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) April 26, 2025
On May 7, the 28-year-old was officially cleared to throw from 60 feet. However, manager Kevin Cash noted that the southpaw still felt discomfort in his left triceps. As a result, fantasy managers should expect the team to keep his recovery plan relatively slow.
Fantasy managers in shallow formats should feel comfortable cutting ties with McClanahan, mainly if their other IR spots are currently occupied by players with a more defined timetable. However, in deeper 12+ team formats, fantasy managers should still try to keep him stashed.
When on the bump, he has flashed a high strikeout upside. In 2022 and 2023, McClanahan logged 281 1/3 total innings with a 2.85 ERA and a stellar 1.03 WHIP. During these two campaigns, the lefty struck out 315 batters.
While he remains sidelined, Zack Littell should stay in the starting rotation.
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