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The MLB has never seen a more impressive group of pitchers at one time around the league, so many have become fantasy baseball studs. 2023 is no different, but the flurry of injuries at the position is always a factor. Today, we'll look at injured pitchers, including Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Luis Severino, Andres Munoz, Nick Lodolo, and more. Searching the waiver wire for fill-in pitchers is already a key aspect of fantasy baseball, so finding replacements for players out of action isn't too much different.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of May 11, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.
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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Jacob deGrom Injury Update
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (elbow) could be "another 2-3 weeks" from returning from the injured list. deGrom continues to only do light throwing as he rehabs from a right forearm/elbow injury, and the Rangers certainly aren't going to rush the oft-injured 34-year-old right-hander back into action.
There is no timetable for deGrom to get back onto a mound at this point, so fantasy managers are just going to have to continue being patient with the All-Star hurler. It would be a surprise at this point if he's back pitching for Texas in May. In his six starts this year, deGrom has been solid with a 2.67 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.
Max Scherzer Injury Update
New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (neck, shoulder) said he expects to miss a couple of days and pitch against the Washington Nationals in the next series this weekend. Scherzer's neck discomfort set in on Sunday and was much worse Monday morning, leading to him being scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. "I wish I could pitch, but when this locks up, you can't do a thing until it subsides," Scherzer said.
The 38-year-old right-hander is hoping to avoid the injured list, but fantasy managers can't rule out the possibility of it going that way if Scherzer isn't ready to face his old team by the weekend. The three-time Cy Young winner hasn't been at his best so far in 2023, and injuries haven't helped.
Luis Severino Injury Update
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (lat) made his first minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. He allowed a run on two hits (one home run) while walking one and striking out three in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Severino threw 49 pitches in the outing, so there's a chance that the Yankees activate him from the injured list to make his 2023 debut at some point early next week.
The 29-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in the big leagues at all this year, so he'll be a bit more risky than usual in his first few big-league starts for the Yanks. Still, Severino has ace potential for fantasy managers when he's healthy, so he needs to be rostered in all leagues right now.
Andres Munoz Injury Update
An MRI exam on Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (shoulder) showed inflammation in his deltoid area. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection and has been shut down for a few days as a result. If all goes well, Munoz should be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment in late May/early June. The 24-year-old could now end up missing close to two months with this injury but fantasy managers should still try to keep him stashed in an injured-list spot.
When he's healthy enough to return to Seattle's bullpen, he should eventually return to a high-leverage role with considerable upside. For now, Paul Sewald will continue to be the M's primary closer at the back end of the bullpen.
Nick Lodolo Injury Update
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (calf) is dealing with a sore left calf and is having his next start pushed back from Thursday to Saturday against the Miami Marlins so that he can get some extra rest. Right-hander Hunter Greene will pitch on Wednesday against the New York Mets, with the Reds listed as TBA for Thursday. Graham Ashcraft will go on Friday to kick off the weekend series against Miami.
There's a good chance that Ben Lively will make the spot start for Cincy on Thursday. Lodolo could use the extra rest after pitching poorly in his last start, and he's now sporting a 6.29 ERA (5.88 FIP), 1.75 WHIP, 10 walks, and 47 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings over his seven starts. His next matchup will be a better one against the Fish, but fantasy managers should still tread lightly.
Noah Syndergaard Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Noah Syndergaard (finger) had to come out of Tuesday's start after just one inning with a cut on his right index finger. After the game, manager Dave Roberts spoke to reporters and said that the 30-year-old may need a trip to the injured list but that they'll know more in the next couple of days, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
Syndergaard has struggled to begin his first season with the Dodgers, posting a 6.12 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with just 21 strikeouts over 32.1 innings. If he does miss time, fantasy managers should expect Gavin Stone to get the call once again. In his lone start of the campaign, he allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings of work with one punchout but he has the talent and owns a 24.6% strikeout rate in Triple-A.
Carlos Carrasco Injury Update
New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow, illness) made his first minor-league rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday. He allowed a run on three hits while walking one and striking out one in three innings of work. Carrasco only threw 33 pitches in the outing, so it's more than likely that he'll need at least one more rehab start before the Mets feel comfortable returning him to their starting rotation.
The 36-year-old right-hander has been on the injured list since the middle of April due to right elbow inflammation. He was sporting an ugly 8.56 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and only eight strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings in his three starts for the team before his injury. Carrasco's first rehab start was pushed back to Tuesday due to an illness.
Lance McCullers Jr. Injury Update
Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) said he threw 25 pitches during a bullpen session on Tuesday, reaching 91.6 mph with his fastball. He will start mixing in breaking pitches in his next bullpen, which will likely come Saturday in Chicago. After that, he will have a normal Spring training build-up from there. The oft-injured 29-year-old is getting closer to making his 2023 debut, but he's not out of the woods yet and will need a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before he can help out fantasy managers.
Barring setbacks along the way, there's a chance that McCullers will rejoin Houston's starting rotation in early June. If he's available on your league's waiver wire, now is the time to start thinking about stashing him.
Jose Alvarado Injury Update
Philadelphia Phillies closer Jose Alvarado (elbow), who went on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with left elbow inflammation, had an MRI exam and is seeing a doctor to review it. A lot is unknown right now about his condition, but the Phillies hope to gain some more clarity later on Wednesday. "I'm a little concerned, for sure," manager Rob Thomson said. The 27-year-old southpaw could be looking at an extended absence, which would obviously be terrible news for the Phillies and fantasy managers.
Alvarado had been one of the best relievers in the game in the first month-plus of the season, as he has a 1.88 ERA, five saves, and 24 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings of work. Craig Kimbrel will likely see most of the save chances with Alvarado out, but Seranthony Dominguez, Gregory Soto, and Matt Strahm could also see opportunities along the way.
Vince Velasquez Injury Update
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Vince Velasquez (elbow) will throw live batting practice early next week. The team is optimistic he'll miss the minimum amount of time on the injured list, according to Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk. Velasquez was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 5 with right elbow inflammation, but he could return to the team's starting rotation around May 20.
The 30-year-old veteran has been solid through his first seven starts for the Pirates in 2023, posting a 3.06 ERA (4.06 FIP), 1.16 WHIP, 13 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings pitched. There isn't a ton of upside with Velasquez, but he's at least worth streaming in deeper leagues if he continues to pitch well upon his return from the injured list.
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