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Heading into the second weekend of the 2024 MLB season, there is no shortage of big-name hurlers on the injury report. As always, fantasy baseball will be impacted by superstar players out of action. Let's take a look at injured pitchers Gerrit Cole, Walker Buehler, Justin Verlander, Sonny Gray, Shane Baz, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of April 4, 2024. Whether your top ace is out of action, or a depth player is banged up, some players on this list are sure to affect fantasy baseball lineup decisions.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy baseball player news page, and download the free RotoBaller fantasy baseball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the injury updates for pitchers.
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Gerrit Cole Injury Update
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday that he thinks starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is close to throwing again. Boone didn't specify a day, but he added that things have gone well so far. New York placed Cole on the 60-day injured list to start the season as he works his way from inflammation in his right elbow, so the right-hander won't be a factor for fantasy managers until the end of May at the earliest.
Aaron Boone said that he thinks Gerrit Cole is close to throwing again. He didn't have a day for the #Yankees ace but added things have gone well so far.
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) April 2, 2024
If all goes well for the 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner in his recovery, he could build his arm back up and return when first eligible. Cole led the AL in ERA (2.63) and hits per nine innings (6.8) last year, and his 0.98 WHIP was the best mark in the majors. In his stead, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil will serve as starters in the rotation and carry streaming appeal in fantasy in the proper matchups.
Walker Buehler Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Walker Buehler's (elbow) next minor-league rehab start will be on Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City again. It will be Buehler's second rehab start after he gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out two in 3.1 innings (54 pitches) in his first rehab start with OKC on Easter Sunday.
Dave Roberts said Walker Buehler’s next rehab start will be on Saturday for AAA Oklahoma City again. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 2, 2024
The 29-year-old's first rehab start wasn't very pretty, but all that matters is that he didn't have a setback with his surgically repaired right elbow that kept him from pitching all of last year. If everything goes smoothly during his rehab assignment, Buehler is expected to make four rehab starts and then make his 2024 debut for the Dodgers later this month. Things may be bumpy early on, but Buehler deserves to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues.
Justin Verlander Injury Update
Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander will throw a bullpen session on Thursday at Minute Maid Park before going on his minor-league rehab assignment. The Astros are optimistic that Verlander will only need two starts at Sugar Land before rejoining Houston's starting rotation.
Justin Verlander is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Joe Espada said. He’ll throw a bullpen tomorrow at Minute Maid Park before beginning the rehab assignment. The Astros are optimistic Verlander will only need two starts at AAA before returning.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 3, 2024
The future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner didn't pitch at all during Spring Training due to right-shoulder issues, but he hasn't had any setbacks while building his arm up and could make his 2024 debut for Houston in late April. Verlander shouldn't be viewed as a fantasy ace anymore, but it doesn't mean he still can't be productive as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter if he stays healthy.
Sonny Gray Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) shifted his minor-league rehab start scheduled for Wednesday to a simulated game because of weather concerns. The earliest he will be available to start for the Cardinals is the series in Arizona against the Diamondbacks from Friday, April 12, to Sunday, April 14.
Sonny Gray will shift his rehab start scheduled for tomorrow to a sim game at Springfield (Mo.). Re: weather.
Earliest he will be available to start for #Cardinals is series at AZ. Will attend opening day festivities in St. Louis. He’s set for a rehab start w/ Memphis next week.
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) April 2, 2024
Gray will attend the team's Opening Day festivities in St. Louis and is set for a rehab start with Triple-A Memphis next week. Fantasy managers were hoping that the 34-year-old veteran would be making his 2024 debut earlier, but the earliest he'll be available for lineups will be next weekend in a tough matchup on the road against the defending National League champions. Coming off a strong season in 2023 with the Twins, Gray should be a high-floor No. 3 fantasy starter in his first year with the Cards.
Shane Baz Injury Update
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said on Tuesday that starting pitcher Shane Baz (oblique) "felt his oblique again a little bit" at the end of his latest live batting practice session, and he will be re-evaluated on Thursday. The issue isn't expected to be a significant setback, but it marks the second time within the previous month that Baz's buildup for the season following 2022 Tommy John surgery has been affected by an oblique injury.
Baz missed the entire 2023 season and will be limited this season, but the 24-year-old former No. 12 overall pick has a promising 4.02 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 48:12 K:BB over 40.1 career major-league innings. Barring another setback, Baz could be an option for the Rays and fantasy managers around mid-May and is still worth a stash in most mixed leagues. (MLB.com)
Trevor Megill Injury Update
The Milwaukee Brewers placed right-hander Trevor Megill (concussion) on the seven-day concussion list on Wednesday (retroactive to March 31) and recalled right-hander J.B. Bukauskas from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Megill hurt his head after contracting food poisoning. He was feeling faint and fell back and hit his head on the ground, suffering a concussion.
RHP Trevor Megill placed on the 7-day concussion list, retroactive to March 31.
RHP JB Bukauskas recalled from Triple-A Nashville. pic.twitter.com/Pz3dSmTPIB
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 3, 2024
Abner Uribe has recorded all three of the team's saves in the early going with Devin Williams (back) sidelined, with Megill serving as a late-inning setup man. The 30-year-old Megill had tossed two scoreless innings with a walk and three strikeouts out of the bullpen in the early going before getting hurt. With Megill out for at least a week, the Brewers' bullpen will be a little more vulnerable in the late innings.
Jameson Taillon Injury Update
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (back) faced hitters in a live batting practice session on Tuesday in Arizona, per manager Craig Counsell. Taillon previously threw live BP on Friday in Arizona and then put in a bullpen session with the team on Sunday in Texas. If all goes well in his recovery from a back strain, the next step for Taillon could be a minor-league rehab appearance on Sunday with Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs will re-evaluate his status after those steps, but the 32-year-old right-hander is not a convincing fantasy stash after throwing for a career-worst 4.84 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 140:41 K:BB through 154.1 innings in 2023. With Justin Steele (hamstring) on the shelf, however, Chicago's pitching staff could use the reinforcements. Swingman Javier Assad will take on a spot in the starting rotation and warrant streaming consideration in fantasy until Taillon is ready to make his 2024 debut. (MLB.com)
Alek Manoah Injury Update
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (shoulder) threw a three-inning simulated game in Florida on Tuesday. "He did really well," manager John Schneider said. Schneider also said the next step will "probably" be for Manoah to pitch in a game with Single-A Dunedin on Sunday when he will likely throw four innings and add "at least 15 pitches or so" to what he has thrown. The big right-hander was limited to one appearance of spring ball before experiencing soreness in his right shoulder, giving up four runs in 1.2 innings.
It sounds like Manoah is progressing well and could return to Toronto's rotation in late April after a couple of rehab starts in the next few weeks, but he's not at all a must-stash fantasy asset after stumbling to a 5.87 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, and 79:59 K:BB over 87.1 frames last year. In the interim, Bowden Francis will hold streaming consideration in the appropriate matchups. (MLB.com)
Brusdar Graterol Injury Update
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Tuesday that they have moved right-hander Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list and acquired left-handed reliever Nick Ramirez from the New York Yankees in a corresponding move in exchange for cash considerations. Graterol was cleared to throw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time since being placed on the injured list due to right-shoulder inflammation, but the 25-year-old reliever isn't going to return to LA's bullpen anytime soon.
The Dodgers just announced they have placed Brusdar Graterol on the 60-day injured list
In a corresponding move, they acquired left-handed reliever Nick Ramirez from the Yankees for cash considerations
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) April 3, 2024
Graterol will take his time working his way back and now won't be eligible to return to the Dodgers until May 18. With both Graterol and Blake Treinen (chest) on the IL early in the year, relievers Daniel Hudson and Joe Kelly have had expanded setup roles ahead of closer Evan Phillips.
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