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Dr. Reuven Guy's fantasy baseball injury report for Week 9 (2025). Read the latest injury updates for Alex Bregman, Xavier Edwards, Aaron Nola, Luis Gil, Nick Kurtz, and much more...
Memorial Day has come and gone. We are at the part of the MLB season when flukes are no longer flukes, and slumps are not just considered short-term things. Only so long could a player be overachieving or failing to meet his own historical standards. This is also the time when our fantasy standards start to become more real.
The end of May is a great time to evaluate how you are doing in the standings. This is the time to see which stats could be fixed, need to be fixed, and cannot be fixed. Having an optimal roster to help you stay on top of the standings or just to stay afloat in your league is crucial. I will continue to highlight fantasy-relevant injured players and players returning from injury for you to better help figure out which categories still "have hope" in your quest for a league title.
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!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Alex Bregman (3B, BOS)- Quad
Bregman injured his right quad running the bases last week and is on the IL. Red Sox manager Alex Cora called it a “significant” strain. Bregman had a similar injury in 2021 that knocked him out of 50+ games. Marcelo Mayer was called up and could get an extended look by the Red Sox.
Xavier Edwards (SS, MIA)- Back
Edwards is on the IL with a left mid-back strain. He has been participating in baseball activities and still needs a rehab assignment before returning, albeit a short one. He could return this coming week. There is no timeline for his return.
Andres Gimenez (2B, TOR)- Quad
Gimenez is on the IL with a right quad strain. He could be cleared for a rehab assignment by the end of the week. His rehab assignment may be up to two weeks long.
Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)- Hand
Alvarez is on the IL with right-hand inflammation. He has ramped up baseball activity, but there is no clear timeline for his return.
Yordan Alvarez hit off the machine today. That’s the first time.
“I am very happy where he is today. I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves today.” pic.twitter.com/E5N3AlXXR8
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) May 23, 2025
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (1B, CIN)- Back
Encarnacion-Strand is on a rehab assignment, rehabbing from his back injury. He could be activated, at the earliest, this weekend.
Thairo Estrada (2B, COL)- Wrist
Estrada continues to recover from a fractured right wrist. He is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment as early as May 29. Estrada could make his Rockies debut sometime next week.
Mike Trout (OF, LAA)- Knee
Trout was placed on the IL with a left knee contusion. Trout is scheduled to run the bases this week, but remains without a return timeline.
Mike Trout. ⏳
— Angels Latam (@AngelsLatam_27) May 27, 2025
Matt Vierling (OF, DET)- Shoulder
Vierling is back on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He played in only four games since coming back from a shoulder injury. There is no timeline for his return. Wenceel Perez was activated from the IL to take his roster spot.
Nick Kurtz (1B, ATH)- Hip
Kurtz is on the IL with a strained left hip flexor. It occurred while running the bases. There is no timeline for his return. Logan Davidson was called up and could see playing time with Kurtz out.
Nick Kurtz is back on the IL 😬
The A's prospect has a strained left hip flexor. His pro debut in 2024 was limited to just 12 games with a hamstring injury.
More: https://t.co/u2hzaEVNiL pic.twitter.com/0trNKbZxLO
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 28, 2025
Miguel Amaya (C, CHC)- Oblique
Amaya is on the IL with a strained oblique. Cub manager Craig Counsell said that Amaya will likely be out for another four to six weeks. Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire should see more playing time.
Jake Mangum (OF, TB)- Groin
Mangum is recovering from a left groin strain. His rehab assignment is now at Triple-A and could return to the Rays sometime next week. Chandler Simpson, Kameron Misner, and Josh Lowe have been filling in.
Jonny DeLuca (OF, TB)- Shoulder
DeLuca was on a rehab assignment for a right shoulder strain but has had a setback. He was moved to the 60-day IL, and there is no timeline for his return.
Victor Robles (OF, SEA)- Shoulder
Robles is recovering from a shoulder injury, and recent testing has shown good healing. He can start baseball activities again in July and possibly return by September.
Victor Robles is beginning the strengthening part of his rehab after his latest scan “showed stability and good healing,” per Justin Hollander.
Because he’ll need much buildup, and won’t take part in baseball activities until July, Robles probably won’t be back until September.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 27, 2025
Zack Gelof (2B, ATH)- Ribs
Gelof was on the IL following wrist surgery and has now been cleared from a rib injury to begin a hitting progression. There is no clear timeline for his return yet.
Dane Myers (OF, MIA)- Oblique
Myers has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment for his oblique injury. He has been out since May 12. He may need a handful of games before he is activated.
Jerar Encarnacion (OF, SF)- Hand
Encarnacion has been out with a left-hand fracture since mid-March. He is playing in rehab games and could be activated early in June.
Evan Carter (OF, TEX)- Quad
Carter was placed on the IL with a Grade 2 right quad strain. He has been running and facing live pitching. Carter could begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week with a target return of next week.
Joc Pederson (DH, TEX)- Hand
Pederson has a right-hand fracture and is expected to miss at least six weeks. Alejandro Osuna was called up and could see playing time with Pederson out.
Jake Fraley (OF, CIN)- Calf
Fraley was placed on the IL with left calf tenderness. Fraley is on a rehab assignment and could be activated by May 30.
Joey Bart (C, PIT)- Head
Bart is in the seven-day concussion protocol. There is no timeline for his return. Endy Rodriguez was activated from the IL and should back up Henry Davis at the catcher position for the Pirates.
We have ended the rehab assignment of C/1B Endy Rodríguez and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list.
C Joey Bart was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 28, 2025
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Logan Gilbert (SP, SEA)- Elbow
Gilbert was placed on the IL with a right elbow flexor strain. Gilbert threw a simulated game and could require multiple rehab starts before being activated. He has a possible return in mid-June.
Mariners GM Justin Hollander provides injury updates on:
- Logan Gilbert (starting rehab assignment on Thursday)
- Bryce Miller (expected to join the rotation this home stand)
- Luke Raley (expected to start a rehab assignment the week of June 3rd) pic.twitter.com/B4vTPEMNbO
— Marine Layer Podcast (@MarineLayerPod) May 27, 2025
Tyler Glasnow (SP, LAD)- Shoulder
Glasnow left his last start and was placed on the IL due to right shoulder inflammation. Glasnow threw off a mound last week, his first mound work since his injury. There is no clear timetable for his return.
Roki Sasaki (SP, LAD)- Shoulder
Sasaki was placed on the IL this week with right shoulder impingement. Sasaki is nearing a throwing program but remains weeks away from a return.
Aaron Nola (SP, PHI)- Ankle
Nola was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain. Nola said he will need a rehab assignment before returning. His return date would be the second or third week in June.
“It’s frustrating. I haven’t been on the IL in a long time”
Aaron Nola tweaked his ankle at Steinbrenner Field doing an agility drill in the outfield. Now, he’s heading to the IL for the first time since 2017. pic.twitter.com/Hr6BvnxLrR
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) May 16, 2025
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, ARI)- Shoulder
Rodriguez was placed on the IL this week due to left shoulder inflammation. He is expected to make one more rehab start before activation, possibly next week.
Ronel Blanco (SP, HOU)- Elbow
Blanco is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery and is done for the year. He is expected back mid-to-late 2026.
Reese Olson (SP, DET)- Finger
Olson was placed on the IL with right ring finger inflammation. He has thrown a bullpen session, but there is no timeline for his return.
Seth Lugo (SP, KC)- Finger
Lugo was placed on the IL with right middle finger inflammation. Lugo is expected to come off the IL on May 30.
Cole Ragans (SP, KC)- Groin
Ragans was placed on the IL this week with left groin tightness. He is expected to start a rehab assignment soon, but it is not known how many starts will be needed.
Bryce Miller (SP, SEA)- Elbow
Miller was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Miller felt good after a bullpen session and could return from the IL this weekend.
Jose Quintana (SP, MIL)- Shoulder
Quintana is on the IL with left shoulder impingement. He has had one rehab start and is scheduled to return from the IL this weekend.
Sean Manaea (SP, NYM)- Oblique
Manaea continues to rehab an oblique injury suffered early this spring. He has thrown a few bullpen sessions and is scheduled to face live hitters soon. Manaea is tracking for an early July return.
Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL)- Shoulder
Woodruff continues to rehab from shoulder surgery last year and is on the IL. He is on a rehab assignment and could return to the Brewers rotation as early as next week.
Max Scherzer (SP, TOR)- Thumb/Lat/Back
Scherzer left his last start with a lat issue and has dealt with thumb and back issues since. He has been throwing bullpen sessions and should face live hitters soon. There is no clear timetable for his return.
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Elbow
Darvish is on the IL with an elbow injury. He felt tightness in his elbow following his most recent rehab start. Darvish said that he does not feel ready to pitch in a big league game. There is no timeline for his return.
Luis Gil (SP, NYY)- Lat
Gil has been on the IL with a lat strain since early this year. Gil could throw off a mound this weekend and is trending in the right direction.
Kyle Wright (SP, KC)- Shoulder
Wright continues to rehab following shoulder surgery. He threw two innings in a recent rehab game, his first since his rehab had been paused due to shoulder fatigue. He will need a few more rehab outings before being activated.
Frankie Montas (SP, NYM)- Lat
Montas suffered a lat injury in March and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. He will need a few rehab starts before being activated.
Justin Verlander (SP, SF)- Pectoral
Verlander is on the IL with a right pectoral strain. He threw 40 pitches in a recent bullpen session and is “trending forward”. He can return as early as late next week.
Tanner Houck (SP, BOS)- Elbow
Houck is on the IL with a right flexor pronator strain. His MRI came back normal. He has been working on a throwing program but is still not ready for a rehab assignment.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Porter Hodge (RP, CHC)- Oblique
Hodge was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said this week that Hodge’s recovery “was not making progress.” There is no timeline for his return. Daniel Palencia has been closing for the Cubs.
Evan Phillips (RP, LAD)- Elbow
Phillips was placed on the IL and shut down due to right elbow inflammation. He has not yet begun a throwing program, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “It’s starting to get a little concerning.” There is no timeline for his return.
Kyle Finnegan (RP, WAS)- Shoulder
Finngan is currently dealing with shoulder fatigue. He has not yet been placed on the IL, but it is a possibility. He had an MRI and it came back clean. He is still considered day to day for now.
Kyle Finnegan is good to go, per Davey Martinez. (Now they just need to take a lead into the 9th …)
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) May 28, 2025
Hunter Harvey (RP, KC)- Shoulder
Harvey is on the IL with a right teres major strain (shoulder). Royals manager Matt Quatraro said, “He's not throwing off the mound and he is continuing to play catch to keep his arm going. But we need to get all the symptoms out of there before we progress." There is no timetable for his return.
Fernando Cruz (RP, NYY)- Shoulder
Cruz was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Cruz said he felt a tug in the right trapezius (neck) area, and an MRI came back normal. He was given a cortisone injection and could begin throwing on flat ground soon.
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