Fantasy Baseball Injury Report - Week 2 Updates for Freddie Freeman, Reynaldo Lopez, Josh Lowe, Josh Jung, Alexis Diaz, Colton Cowser, Sean Murphy, more

April 4, 2025

Dr. Reuven Guy's fantasy baseball injury report for Week 2 (2025). Read the latest injury updates for Freddie Freeman, Reynaldo Lopez, Josh Lowe, Josh Jung, Alexis Diaz, Colton Cowser, Sean Murphy, more.

One week of the baseball season is in the books. It is great to have meaningful baseball back, and we get to see how our drafting skills start to pay off. It is only a week into the season, but there are some big names scuffling at their positions (Rafael Devers, Francisco Lindor) while others are off to a hot start. There is always the question of when to sit cold players and how long to ride the hot streak of players.

One saving grace of having a deep roster is being able to sit out the cold players. Knowing when to drop cold or injured players is one way to enjoy a deep roster. When it comes to dropping cold players, top picks are usually safe, while round 25 and over players could usually be dropped. The key to remember is that you know you could drop the player if he will not be picked up the next by another team in your league. Knowing when to drop injured players comes with knowing the extent of that player's injury. I will continue to highlight these players to help you better round out your roster.

Here's a little about myself for both new and returning readers. My name is Reuven Guy, and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management Physician Assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 19+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I also played fantasy baseball during that time. This has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you. I am also the co-host of the 2025 FSWA award-winning podcast Beat the Shift. Stay updated on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24/7 push notification alerts!

Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball

Freddie Freeman (1B, LAD) - Ankle

Freeman was placed on the IL this week after aggravating his previous ankle injury in the shower. The severity is not yet known, and this may be more of a precautionary IL placement than anything. It is retroactive to March 31, and Enrique Hernandez should get more playing time with Freeman out. 

Gleyber Torres (2B, DET) - Oblique

Torres was placed on the IL this week with a left oblique strain. He suffered the injury hitting a home run. Severity is not yet known. A grade 1 sprain could have him out two to four weeks, a grade 2 sprain could have him out four to six weeks. Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson should benefit with more playing time.

Gleyber Torres hits his first home run as a Tiger but then heads to the clubhouse after grabbing his side while rounding the bases pic.twitter.com/3pQX3MdHaU

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 29, 2025

Francisco Alvarez (C, NYM) - Wrist

Alvarez is on the IL status post-surgery for a fractured hamate bone in his wrist. The stitches came out this week, and his rehab has begun. Alvarez remains on track to make his season debut at the end of April. Luis Torrens is the primary option at catcher for the Mets.

Josh Lowe (OF, TB) - Oblique

Lowe was placed on the IL this week with a Grade 2 right oblique strain. This usually has a shelf life of six to eight weeks. Jake Mangum was called up and Kameron Misner will get more playing time as well. 

Nick Gonzales (2B, PIT) - Ankle

Gonzalez was placed on the IL with a non-displaced fracture in his left ankle. He injured his ankle while hitting a home run. The typical healing time for this fracture is about six weeks. Enmanuel Valdez was called up, and Adam Frazier should get most starts at second base for the Pirates.

Colton Cowser (OF, BAL) - Thumb

Cowser fractured his left thumb sliding into second base. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that he expects Cowser to be out "probably six-to-eight weeks minimum". It would be closer to the eight-week mark if surgery is needed. Dylan Carlson was called up but Heston Kjerstad appears to be the most likely to get more playing time.

Sean Murphy (C, ATL) - Rib

Murphy remains out with a fractured rib after being hit by a pitch. He has begun a rehab assignment during which he homered in his first game. He is eligible to return from the IL this weekend. 

We don't mean to alarm you, but...

SEAN MURPHY JUST HIT A 415ft @SoFi BOMB TO STRAIGHTAWAY CENTER.

2-0 Stripers. Carry on. pic.twitter.com/qFcQqQSCZq

— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 1, 2025

Connor Norby (3B, MIA) - Oblique

Norby was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain. He has begun baseball activities but has not yet been given a clear timeline to return. Graham Pauley has been getting more playing time with Norby out. 

Daulton Varsho (OF, TOR) - Shoulder

Varsho was placed on the IL as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. He did DH during spring training and now has increased his throwing distance. Varsho could be back by the mid to end of April.  

Josh Jung (3B, TEX) - Neck

Jung was placed on the IL this week with neck spasms. The severity is not known. The earliest he could be back is April 8. Josh Smith looks to see more playing time with Jung out. 

Ha-Seong Kim (SS, TB) - Shoulder

Kim is on the IL as he recovers from off season right shoulder surgery. He has been throwing, hitting and has been taking part in fielding drills. His possible return date is around the end of April or the beginning of May. 

Zach Neto (SS, LAA) - Shoulder

Neto continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. He has begun a rehab assignment and could be back with the Angels within a week or two.

Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

George Kirby (SP, SEA) - Shoulder

Kirby is on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. There is no timeline for his return, but he has begun a throwing program for the Mariners. 

Reynaldo Lopez (SP, ATL) - Shoulder

Lopez was diagnosed with inflammation in his right shoulder and is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery. He was placed on the 60 day IL as he is expected to be out a few months pending the results of the surgery. Jason Delay was called up to take his roster spot. 

Reynaldo Lopez will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder to determine if he has any structural damage. Imaging only showed inflammation. Timetable for return won’t be known until after surgery. You can expect him to miss at least a couple months.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 2, 2025

Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL) - Shoulder

Woodruff continues to rehab from shoulder surgery last year, and he is on the IL now. He threw a 51-pitch simulated game this week. He should throw one more sim game and then be cleared to begin a rehab assignment. He is expected to join the Brewers rotation sometime in May.  

Tobias Myers (SP, MIL) - Oblique

Myers is on the IL with a left oblique strain. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at the beginning of next week. Barring any setbacks, Myers could make his season debut as early as April 23. 

Tobias Myers threw 38 pitches in two innings of a live BP today. Next step is starting a rehab assignment with Nashville Sounds on Tuesday.

— Sophia Minnaert (@SophiaMinnaert) April 4, 2025

Aaron Civale (SP, MIL) - Hamstring

Civale is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session over the weekend and could start throwing off of a mound next week. Civale will probably need at least one rehab start as well, pushing his return date to the end of April or the beginning of May.

Brayan Bello (SP, BOS) - Shoulder

Bello is on the IL with shoulder soreness. He is scheduled to make his second rehab start over the weekend and could return to the Red Sox as early as next weekend. Red Sox manager Alex Cora did, however, say Bello will need two more rehab starts.

Yu Darvish (SP, SD) - Elbow

Darvish is beginning the season on the IL with elbow inflammation. There is no timeline for his return. Kyle Hart broke camp with the Padres for his rotation spot.

Ryan Weathers (SP, MIA) - Forearm

Weathers is on the IL with a left forearm strain. The severity is not yet known. He has recently begun a throwing program, but there is still no timeline for his return. 

Eury Perez (SP, MIA) - Elbow

Perez is on the IL following Tommy John surgery last April. He just began facing hitters as his recovery continues. He could be ready to make his 2025 debut with the Marlins at some point around the All-Star break.

A sight for sore eyes:

Eury Perez throwing off the mound at loanDepot park. pic.twitter.com/CCYhTAH80N

— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) April 1, 2025

Lucas Giolito (SP, BOS) - Hamstring

Giolito was placed on the IL with a low-grade left hamstring strain. He is still throwing and hopes to return by mid-to-late-April. His first rehab assignment start was this past week. 

Andrew Abbott (SP, CIN) - Shoulder

Abbott is on the IL with a shoulder strain. He is currently on a rehab assignment and could join the Reds rotation as early as next week.

Clarke Schmidt (SP, NYY) - Shoulder

Schmidt was placed on the IL as he continues to build up arm strength following a shoulder injury. He threw a three inning simulated game and remains on track to join the Yankees by mid to end of April.  

Clarke Schmidt threw 3 innings (46 pitches) in a simulated game in Tampa yesterday. Responded well today. Will throw again Saturday as he continues to build up #yankees

— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) April 1, 2025

Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD) - Back

Gonsolin is on the IL with a back injury suffered lifting weights in early March. He threw against live hitters last week and is scheduled to have a simulated game, followed by a rehab assignment.

Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI) - Back

Suarez was placed on the IL to start the season due to a low back strain. Suarez is set to have a bullpen session this weekend. Suarez should be expected back with the Phillies by late April. 

Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL) - Triceps

Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a triceps strain. He has thrown two bullpen sessions. This is after he had received an injection. There is no new timeline for his return. 

Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, HOU) - Forearm

McCullers continues to make progress in his rehab which has now stretched for more than two years. He will make a rehab start this weekend to try to stretch him out. There is a chance he could return to the majors by the end of April or the beginning of May. 

Sean Manaea (SP, NYM) - Oblique

Manaea is on the IL with a right oblique strain. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said this week that Manaea is still having problems with his strained right oblique and will be shut down from throwing for two weeks after receiving a PRP injection. This setback pushes his possible season debut towards the end of May. Griffin Canning has been filling in.

Carlos Mendoza says Sean Manaea experienced discomfort while ramping up and an MRI revealed inflammation in his oblique and he received a PRP injection.

He will be shut down for two weeks. pic.twitter.com/Rfj6SndFwz

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 1, 2025

Max Scherzer (SP, TOR) - Thumb/Lat

Scherzer left his last start with a lat issue and was placed on the IL after his thumb issue flared up as well. There is no structural damage in his right thumb and has had two injections to it so far. There is no timeline for his return. Easton Lucas was called up to start for the Blue Jays.

Max Scherzer received a cortisone shot in his right thumb. John Schneider said the hope is it’ll knock out the inflammation, and in turn help with the discomfort, “then we’ll go from there.”

Scherzer will travel with the team. As far as throwing he’s Day to day #BlueJays

— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) April 1, 2025

 

Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Evan Phillips (RP, LAD) - Shoulder

Phillips was placed on the IL with a torn shoulder muscle that he suffered during the postseason last year. There is no timeline for his return at this time. He has just been cleared to face hitters this weekend.

Alexis Diaz (RP, CIN) - Hamstring

Diaz was placed on the IL with hamstring inflammation. The severity is not known. Diaz is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and could return to the Reds next week. 

Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS) - Arm

Hendriks was diagnosed with a compressed nerve in his right elbow and has resumed playing catch. The Red Sox are hopeful that Hendriks could join the team next week, but that remains to be seen. 

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