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Kipp highlights five injured fantasy baseball players worth stashing in redraft leagues, as of August 1, 2025 (Week 19). His waiver wire pickups for IL players.
We've got another edition of the Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball series for Week 19 as we continue the 2025 season into the summer months. Today's article examines injured players, including Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho, and Ryan Mountcastle, among others.
With the 2025 fantasy baseball season starting to enter the dog days of summer, several injured players who are out there have low roster percentages and may be available on your league's waiver wires. These players can provide significant value to fantasy managers, especially if they have an IL spot available on their roster.
This article will be featured weekly with updated players for fantasy managers to consider picking up and stashing off the waiver wire. We will typically highlight two pitchers as well as three hitters who should be added with a sense of urgency before your league mates can scoop them up. Without further ado, let's look at what Week 19 of the fantasy baseball season has to offer.
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Shane Bieber, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Rostered: 39% rostered
Estimated Return: Mid-August
2023 Stats: 3.80 ERA/107 K/10 BB/128 IP
We are going to kick this week's article off with an all-too-familiar face in Bieber. Bieber was off and running on his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery before being shut down for a few weeks with what was described as normal soreness associated with Tommy John recovery. He has since ramped back up and just finished another rehab start at Double-A Akron.
In that rehab start, Bieber went four innings pitched and managed to strike out seven batters while allowing just one run. It was a great start, and the Toronto Blue Jays will certainly be pleased to add him to their rotation once he comes off the IL. Bieber should be entering a solid situation in Toronto with his recent trade from Cleveland, as the run support he receives is sure to be a major benefit. Since the All-Star break, the Blue Jays have posted the highest wRC+ mark in baseball.
It is quite surprising that the former Cy Young winner is still just 39% rostered, but I would imagine that number will trickle up significantly by the time this article goes live on Friday. Bieber can help anchor a fantasy rotation down the stretch and provides great value for wins, strikeouts, and ERA. Look to add him right now, as he will not be available in the coming weeks once he is activated off the IL.
Rehab Update: @CleGuardians Shane Bieber tossed four innings allowing one run while striking out seven! He topped out at 94 mph 🔥@GuardsInsider pic.twitter.com/irJXF4U1aT
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 29, 2025
Spencer Arrighetti, SP, Houston Astros
Rostered: 33% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Early-August
2025 Stats: 5.59 ERA/8 K/5 BB/9 2/3 IP
Spencer Arrighetti is another pitcher who has been featured in this article, and he is nearing the end of his rehab assignment and is close to returning to the Houston Astros rotation. He just finished up his second rehab start at Double-A Corpus Christi and should make at least one more rehab start before being activated off the IL.
Arrighetti struggled to the tune of posting a 5.59 ERA to begin the season and also posted a lackluster 4.53 ERA a season ago, but his upside can be seen in terms of strikeouts. In 2024, Arrighetti struck out 171 batters across 145 IP. The metrics also show a pitcher with a lot of upside. He posted a 14.6% SwrStr%, ranking him in the top 7% of the league.
The walk rate was somewhat concerning in 2024, but if he is able to cut down on those numbers upon his return, he should also be able to rack up some wins in a Houston Astros lineup that ranks inside the top half of baseball this season in terms of wRC+.
Arrighetti has already climbed to a 33% share on Yahoo and should be added now, as he will be a hot commodity for all fantasy teams down the stretch.
Daulton Varsho, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Rostered: 8% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Early-August
2025 stats: .207/.240/.543/8 HR/20 RBI/1 SB
Varsho has been on the shelf with a hamstring injury for nearly two months, but he could be returning this weekend after completing his rehab assignment, and that is good news for fantasy managers.
Varsho has ripped eight home runs across just 24 games this season and was putting up some solid power metrics before going on the IL. Overall, Varsho has posted an average exit velocity of 89,3 mph, which ranks him in the top half of baseball. More impressive is his hard hit rate of 25.9%, which ranks him in the top 27% of the league. Lastly, he has posted an 11% Barrels/PA mark, which ranks him in the top 2% of the league.
Vasho especially performed well against right-handed pitchers, as noted by his .925 OPS across 81 PA. Varsho can provide a ton of fantasy value to managers in the playoffs, especially if this Blue Jays lineup continues to stay hot. Since the All-Star break, the Blue Jays have posted a wRC+ mark of 143, which ranks first in baseball.
Lars Nootbaar, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Rostered: 26% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Early-August
2025 Stats: .227/.332/.381/12 HRs/37 RBI/48 BB/4 SBs
Lars Nootbaar posted a respectable 12 home runs and 48 walks across 386 PA before going on the IL earlier this month with an injury to his ribs. He is now on his way to a rehab assignment and should be back with the Cardinals in the next week or so.
Nootbaar is not going to blow you away with his power, as he has maxed out at just 14 home runs thus far in his three-plus-year career, but he was well on his way to eclipsing that this year and was starting to put some umph behind his swings. This is noted by his 91.8 mph average exit velocity, which ranks him in the top 13% of the league. He has also posted a very respectable 34.4% hard hit rate, which ranks him in the top 38% of the league.
Nootbaar also performs well against right-handed pitchers, as noted by his .787 OPS against them since 2023 across 926 PA. Look to add Nootbaar if you need additional depth in the outfield or want to platoon him with a right-handed bat.
Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, Baltimore Orioles
Rostered: 23% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Early-August
2025 Stats: .246/.280/.348/2 HR/15 RBI/8 BB
Mountcastle has been featured in this article as well, but it was quite some time ago. He is now looking to return within the next week or two from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since the end of May. Mountcastle is a solid addition for a number of fantasy managers looking for help in various categories.
Mountcastle has always been known as a bit of a lefty masher, as he has ripped 16 home runs and posted an .866 OPS against them since 2023. Thus far in 2025, Mountcastle managed to post a 90.5 mph average exit velocity, which ranks him in the top 29% of the league. He has also posted an 8% Barrela/PA mark, which ranks him in the top 17% of the league.
Mountcastle has also been known to get on base against left-handed pitchers. Since 2023, he has posted a .358 OBP vs. lefties compared to a .291 vs righties. He clearly makes for a great platoon option at first base, which tends to be a tough position to find depth. This Orioles lineup is also starting to cook a bit as they have posted a wRC+ mark of 126 since the All-Star break, which ranks them third-best overall.
Mountcastle clearly has value given that he has remained 23% rostered despite being out for over two months. Look to add him in all formats.
Ryan Mountcastle with an RBI 2B to make it 4-0
He is 5-9 with 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI in his rehab so far pic.twitter.com/TGAydw1HCf
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 27, 2025
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