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Frank's top 25 injured players to stash for fantasy baseball as of Week 1 (2026). His top fantasy baseball injury stashes for IL spots and redraft leagues.
Welcome back to the Injured Players to Stash for Fantasy Baseball series as we continue Week 1 of the 2026 MLB season. Even though we're still extremely early in the season, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be stashing injured players. They can make a major impact on your roster down the road. If you have IL spots like most leagues, these players are worth stashing on your bench.
In this column, we'll include the top 25 injured MLB players rostered in less than 65% of Yahoo! leagues who are worth stashing, including names like Shane Bieber, Corbin Burnes, Justin Steele, and more. The ranking will be by roster percentages, and then we'll dive into five of my favorite targets. Projected return dates are an estimate. Always assume they'll come back a bit later just to be safe.
I've dug through the waiver wire to find some potential values for you. You'll find projected timelines for when these players will be back in the lineup. So, without further ado, let's find out my top-25 injured players to stash for Week 1 of the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
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Top Injured Players For Fantasy Baseball
| Player | Team | IL Type | Ros. % | Estimated Return |
| Merrill Kelly | Diamondbacks | IL15 (Nerve) | 64% | Mid-April |
| Shane Bieber | Blue Jays | IL15 (Elbow) | 58% | Mid-May |
| Jackson Holliday | Orioles | IL15 (Hand) | 57% | Mid-April |
| Spencer Schwellenbach | Braves | IL60 (Shoulder) | 48% | Mid-July |
| Corbin Burnes | Diamondbacks | IL60 (Elbow) | 46% | Mid-July |
| Andrew Vaughn | Brewers | IL10 (Hamate) | 42% | Late-May |
| Jordan Westburg | Orioles | IL10 (Elbow) | 34% | Mid-June |
| Joe Musgrove | Padres | IL15 (Elbow) | 34% | Early-June |
| Bryce Miller | Mariners | IL15 (Oblique) | 31% | Mid-May |
| Quinn Priester | Brewers | IL15 (Wrist) | 28% | Early-May |
| Jared Jones | Pirates | IL60 (Elbow) | 21% | Mid-July |
| Justin Steele | Cubs | IL60 (Elbow) | 19% | Early-June |
| Kirby Yates | Angels | IL15 (Knee) | 16% | Mid-May |
| Edwin Uceta | Rays | IL15 (Shoulder) | 16% | Early-May |
| Grayson Rodriguez | Angels | IL15 (Shoulder) | 15% | Mid-May |
| Kyle Teel | White Sox | IL10 (Hamstring) | 12% | Early-May |
| Mickey Moniak | Rockies | IL10 (Finger) | 11% | Mid-April |
| Jason Adam | Padres | IL15 (Quad) | 10% | Early-April |
| Hunter Gaddis | Guardians | IL15 (Forearm) | 10% | Early-April |
| Tommy Edman | Dodgers | IL10 (Ankle) | 9% | Late-May |
| Anthony Volpe | Yankees | IL10 (Shoulder) | 7% | Late-April |
| Anthony Santander | Blue Jays | IL10 (Shoulder) | 6% | Late-August |
| J.P. Crawford | Mariners | IL10 (Shoulder) | 6% | Late-April |
| Ben Joyce | Angels | IL15 (Shoulder) | 5% | Late-April |
| Jose Berrios | Blue Jays | IL15 (Elbow) | 4% | Late-April |
Fantasy Baseball Players To Monitor Closely
Shane Bieber, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Rostered: 58% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Mid-May
Trey Yesavage will throw a sim game on Friday around 3 innings and 45 pitches.
• José Berríos will throw bullpen tomorrow, then a live BP on Saturday
• Yimi García will throw a bullpen tomorrow
• Shane Bieber will throw off a mound for the first time Saturday #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 30, 2026
Bieber put up a 3.57 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP with a 23.3 K% and a 4.4 BB% in 40.1 innings for the Blue Jays last year. The surface stats were backed up by the advanced metrics, as highlighted by a 3.52 SIERA. You have to be intrigued by how Bieber was able to immediately show strong command upon returning from Tommy John surgery.
The Blue Jays have taken a cautious approach to deploying Bieber this season, with a slow ramp-up to ensure that he's healthy for the stretch run.
It's a good idea to stash Bieber on your bench because I expect him back by June at the latest. When he returns, you have a WHIP asset who could rack up wins for you while playing for this World Series contender. The best part about Bieber is that, unlike the other pitchers on this list, we've seen him come back from Tommy John, and the results were solid.
Jackson Holliday, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Rostered: 57% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Mid-April
My gut feeling is that Jackson Holliday breaks out this season.
Trimmed his strikeout rate from 33.2% to 21.6% last year.
Finished with 17 HR and 17 SB.
Still only entering his age-22 season.
Perfect post-hype prospect to target.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) November 10, 2025
I had high hopes for Jackson Holliday, as this was a highly-touted prospect who showed signs of growth last season, especially since he trimmed his strikeout rate by nearly 12 percent. Those hopes took a hit with his preseason hand injury. Not because he's facing a lengthy absence (he'll be back sometime in April), but due to the risk that this injury affects Holliday's power.
The good news is that the former top prospect in baseball can still contribute on the basepaths, with 20+ SB upside.
But if you're stashing him, you may want to temper your expectations with power. It may take some time for Holliday to get back to top form at the plate, so keep that in mind.
Corbin Burnes, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Rostered: 46% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Mid-July
Burnes is expected to return from Tommy John surgery sometime around the All-Star break. While we should always tread lightly for pitchers returning from such a serious elbow injury, we have to remember that there's still a chance that they provide fantasy value.
Just think about what Bieber did for the Blue Jays last year. Even though it was only a 40-inning sample, that could be exactly what your team needs down the stretch as you compete for a fantasy baseball championship.
Burnes strikes me as the type of pitcher who can get back on track quickly. Just imagine an innings-eater at the end of your bench to help you get to the finish line when you need a dependable arm.
Jared Jones, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Rostered: 21% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Mid-July
Thinking about Jared Jones joining Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler in the 2nd half.
Pirates catching fire and making the playoffs.
It's happening.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 5, 2026
Jared Jones is an enticing stash because of his electric arsenal. Playing in a pitcher-friendly environment, he could make an impact when we get to August and September. But unlike Burnes, who is more of a crafty veteran, we should probably be a bit more patient with a young flamethrower like Jones.
It's likely that there could be some rough patches, at least in the first few outings, once Jones comes back.
But if he can get rolling, there's a lot of upside here. Think back to 2024, when Jones had an impressive 26.2% strikeout rate with a 7.7% walk rate. It's worth the dart throw to see if he can recapture that form this season. Just give him a bit of leeway because it's expected that he'll struggle a bit in his first few starts.
Justin Steele, SP, Chicago Cubs
Rostered: 19% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Early-June
Steele is one of my favorite injury stashes right now because, unlike Burnes and Jones, he's expected to return sometime in the first half.
Remember, this is a crafty lefty who put up a 3.18 ERA or better in each of his three seasons before getting injured in 2025. Playing for a contending Cubs team, there will be plenty of opportunities for wins.
Even though the Cubs will likely slow-play Steele, it could be worth the wait for the solid ratios that he can bring to your team. What's great about Steele is that he's more widely available than others on this list, so there's a good chance that you can grab him with ease. Pick him up if you have a spot on your injured list.
