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When will Wheeler, Hader, and Cole return and play? Will Wheeler, Hader, and Cole be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 2 of the 2026 MLB season.
Even though the regular season has just begun, there are several key players currently on the injured list. This has left some fantasy rosters shorthanded and caused managers to look ot the waiver wire much earlier than expected.
In this piece, we will analyze the latest injury updates regarding Zack Wheeler, Josh Hader, and Gerrit Cole.
When should fantasy managers expect these players back in the major leagues? Should they remain stashed on our rosters? Let's dive in!
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Zack Wheeler Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
The 35-year-old has been on the shelf since undergoing venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last season. However, Wheeler has progressed quite well during camp and could return much earlier than expected from the 15-day injured list.
According to Corey Seidman of PHLY Sports, the ace is set to throw three innings (or 50 pitches) in a rehab outing with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday. This is a massive step in the right direction, as he is not only facing live hitters but also beginning to take on a larger workload.
Zack Wheeler to Throw Three Innings in Rehab Start https://t.co/W0PqHSYRq7
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 26, 2026
Given that Wheeler has been sidelined since mid-August of 2025, Wheeler will likely need to participate in several rehab outings before being cleared to return to the major leagues.
In spring training, Wheeler progressed well through several live bullpen sessions and even participated in short minor-league games. This weekend will mark the first time Wheeler will look to hit the 50-pitch plateau. Managers should pay close attention to this rehab outing as he could be cleared to increase his workload sometime next week.
Before his injury in 2025, Wheeler was looking like his typical dominant self and was on pace to be a strong contender for the NY Cy Young. Across 149 2/3 innings, the right-hander posted a strong 2.71 ERA with an elite 0.94 WHIP. During this stint, Wheeler struck out 195 hitters (33.3% K%) while holding a stellar 5.6% BB%.
Under the hood, he generated a 2.49 xERA and a .189 xBA, placing him in the 98th and 97th percentiles, respectively. While it may take him some time to return to his previous career workload, when on the bump, he should possess high-end upside on a per-game basis.
He remains a top stash candidate and could make his season debut before the end of April. When he does return, the Phillies could work in a six-man rotation in the short-term, demote Taijuan Walker to a long-term role, or move Andrew Painter back to Triple-A.
Josh Hader Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Josh Hader has been on the shelf since the beginning of spring training and was expected to begin the campaign on the injured list, long before the regular season began. Early in February, the star reliever was diagnosed with biceps inflammation.
He battled a shoulder strain last season and was limited to only 52 2/3 innings, which has raised concerns about his current health.
This new injury caused him to drop quite far in drafts. However, managers should not be overly concerned with his status, as he has already begun to make steady progress during camp. In early March, the southpaw already began throwing off a mound, which was a massive step in his recovery.
The following week, Hader completed a successful bullpen session and noted that everything was "all-positive" following the short 15-pitch outing. While he began the season on their injured list due to not having enough time to build up, managers may not have to wait too long before Hader returns to action.
Josh Hader (biceps) returned to the mound just now, throwing about 15 pitches in the bullpen.
"Speed is there, fastball is there, action is there, synched up. All positives," he said.
When asked about Opening Day, he said: "We'll see." pic.twitter.com/PTYZlXy3Xb
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 10, 2026
Earlier this week, the team announced that the reliver will begin facing live hitters in mid-April. While he has not faced any setbacks in the recovery, the team is clearly proceeding with caution due to the time he missed during the 2025 campaign. Given this update, managers should not expect Hader back in the major leagues anytime before the end of April.
Astros Hope Josh Hader Can Face Hitters "by Mid-April" https://t.co/MxLRQGOO2l
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 26, 2026
While Hader has begun to see his upside limited by injury, when active, he is still one of the game's most dominant closers. Last summer, Hader logged 52 2/3 innings with the Astros and held an elite 2.05 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP. He tallied 28 saves while striking out hitters at a 99th percentile 36.9% rate and limiting walks to a 7.8% rate. He placed in the 100th percentile in xERA (2.00) and xBA (.149), suggesting his face-value statistics are sustainable.
In the meantime, managers should expect Bryan Abreu to remain the go-to option in save situations in the Space City for the foreseeable future. Abreu is coming off a 2.28 ERA campaign with a 35.5% K% and remains a high-end top-12 RP for the opening month of the season.
Gerrit Cole Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
The final player to spotlight is New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Cole missed the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in March of 2025. While he was not expected to be ready at the start of the 2026 campaign, he was placed on the 15-day IL (not the 60-day IL), suggesting his recovery timeline is much sooner than anticipated.
Gerrit Cole Officially Placed on 15-Day Injured List https://t.co/8NY3vIfDca
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 25, 2026
In camp, Cole was not only able to throw off a mound but also participated in several live spring training games, which is an excellent sign. In these short spring outings, Cole logged 2 2/3 total innings and allowed just one run, three hits, and struck out three hitters. He did not allow a free pass.
However, given that he only logged under three innings over two appearances, the right-hander still needs to significantly increase his workload before he is in contention to make his season debut. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status as he could be cleared to join a minor league affiliate on a rehab assignment in the coming days, similar to Wheeler.
Seeing that Cole avoided a stint on the 60-day IL suggests he should be in the mix to return to the starting rotation before the end of April, making him a prime stash option in all formats.
Gerrit Cole's first bullpen of the spring pic.twitter.com/WhPoU1woht
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 13, 2026
In 2024, Cole logged just 95 innings as he missed time with an elbow injury, but was his typical self on the mound, holding a strong 2.63 ERA with a 0.68 WHIP. He struck out 99 hitters and allowed walks at a low 7.4% rate. However, in 2023, Cole took home the AL Cy Young in dominant fashion, tossing 209 innings to the tune of a 2.63 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.
During this campaign, the right-hander tallied 222 strikeouts while walking a low 5.8% of the batters he faced. This was his lowest walk rate since 2021 and the third-lowest of his career.
When Cole returns, he should carry high-end upside on a per-game basis and be viewed as a must-start option in all leagues. When he does return, managers should expect either Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, or Luis Gil (who is set to join the rotation in the coming days) to shift to a long-relief role or be moved to Triple-A.
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