X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top 25 Injured Players to Stash for Fantasy Baseball - Week 3 (2025)

Masyn Winn - fantasy baseball prospects draft sleepers DFS MLB injury news

Josh's top 25 injured players to stash for fantasy baseball as of April 15, 2025 (Week 3). His top fantasy baseball injury stashes for IL spots and redraft leagues.

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another installment of the Injured Players to Stash for Fantasy Baseball series as we head into Week 3 of the 2025 MLB season. Today, we list the top 25 high-profile injured MLB players worth stashing in your leagues, including names like Pablo Lopez, Zach Eflin, Josh Lowe, and more.

Whether managers had to drop these players or they were left off rosters, you can capitalize on your league mates' mistakes. With some savvy moves to begin the year, you can set yourself up for season-long success.

Below, I've listed my top 25 injured players in fantasy baseball in order of Yahoo! roster percentage. I've also highlighted five players to watch, as they could return sooner rather than later. Without further ado, let's get to the list!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Top-25 Injured Players For Fantasy Baseball

Player Team IL Type Roster Percentage Estimated Return
Jackson Merrill San Diego Padres IL 10 (Hamstring) 99% TBD
Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta Braves IL 10 (Knee) 99% Late May
Ketel Marte Arizona Diamondbacks IL 10 (Hamstring) 99% Early May
Blake Snell Los Angeles Dodgers IL 15 (Shoulder) 98% Early May
Wyatt Langford Texas Rangers IL 10 (Oblique) 97% Early May
Pablo Lopez Minnesota Twins IL 15 (Hamstring) 97% TBD
CJ Abrams Washington Nationals IL 10 (Hip) 97% April 20
Spencer Strider Atlanta Braves IL 15 (Elbow) 96% April 16
Matt McLain Cincinnati Reds IL 10 (Hamstring) 95% April 15
George Kirby Seattle Mariners IL 15 (Shoulder) 94% Late May
Shane McClanahan Tampa Bay Rays IL 15 (Triceps) 88% TBD
Royce Lewis Minnesota Twins IL 10 (Hamstring) 81% Late May
Zach Eflin Baltimore Orioles IL 15 (Lat) 81% TBD
Colton Cowser Baltimore Orioles IL 10 (Thumb) 74% Late May
Grayson Rodriguez Baltimore Orioles IL 15 (Elbow) 73% Mid-May
Alexis Diaz Cincinnati Reds IL 15 (Hamstring) 70% April 15
Josh Lowe Tampa Bay Rays IL 10 (Oblique) 66% TBD
Zach Neto Los Angeles Angels IL 10 (Shoulder) 66% April 15-20
Brandon Woodruff Milwaukee Brewers IL 15 (Shoulder) 60% Early May
Masyn Winn St. Louis Cardinals IL 10 (Back) 57% April 22
Clarke Schmidt New York Yankees IL 15 (Shoulder) 57% April 16
Jack Leiter Texas Rangers IL 15 (Finger) 54% TBD
Jared Jones Pittsburgh Pirates IL 60 (Elbow) 54% TBD
Reynaldo Lopez Atlanta Braves IL 60 (Shoulder) 49% TBD
Ivan Herrera St. Louis Cardinals IL 10 (Knee) 48% Mid-May

 

Fantasy Baseball Players To Monitor Closely

Pablo Lopez, SP - Minnesota Twins

Rostered: 97% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: April 25, 2025

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez is on the 15-day injured list with a hamstring injury. Soft tissue injuries can be hard to predict since setbacks are common, but now could be the perfect time to buy low on Lopez.

Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Lopez has quietly been one of the best starting pitchers in the Majors. His 3.66 ERA, 48 wins, 3.48 FIP, 3.41 xFIP, 3.54 SIERA, and 15.1 WAR all rank within the top 12 of qualified pitchers in the last five years.

The Twins may be cautious with their ace and slow-play his return, which allows you to swoop in on him. You can offer the Lopez manager pitchers, like Kevin Gausman and Luis Castillo, who are off to good starts but likely to regress.

Zach Eflin, SP - Baltimore Orioles

Rostered: 81% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: TBD

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Eflin is dealing with a lat injury, which placed him on the 15-day IL. Eflin produced three straight quality starts to begin the season before suffering the injury.

The 31-year-old has been a reliable innings-eater the last two seasons, eclipsing 165 innings pitched each year. His 2023 season with the Tampa Bay Rays was the best of his career and indicative of his ceiling.

During the 2023 season, Eflin finished with a 3.50 ERA and 3.02 xERA in 177 2/3 IP. His 9.42 K/9 was also the second-highest mark of his career. If Eflin can pair that strikeout pace with his career 43.9 GB percentage, he can be a reliable back-end starter for a team that should score a ton of runs.

Eflin is 81 percent rostered on Yahoo!, but his manager may not value him as they should. Once the Orioles' offense gets rolling, Eflin will eat innings and rack up wins.

Josh Lowe, OF - Tampa Bay Rays

Rostered: 66% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: TBD

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe only recorded two at-bats in the 2025 season before landing on the IL with an oblique injury. Lowe has been a frequent visitor on the IL within the last calendar year.

The 27-year-old suffered four separate injuries during the 2024 season, causing him to play 29 fewer games than he did the year prior. During his healthy 2023 season, Lowe enjoyed a ton of success.

During his breakout campaign, the Rays outfielder slashed .292/.335/.500 with 20 home runs and 32 stolen bases. Once he returns, Lowe will be a crucial bat in the Tampa Bay lineup. Snatch him up where he's available and send some feelers where he is rostered.

Masyn Winn, SS - St. Louis Cardinals

Rostered: 57% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: April 22

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn was off to a slow start before landing on the IL with back spasms. Winn slashed .222/.314/.289 with a 31.4 percent strikeout rate through his first 51 plate appearances.

The young slugger appeared to be pressing at the plate since he had a 17.1 percent strikeout rate last season, but he showed signs of turning the corner on his slump before his back issue flared up.

Winn was a hot name during draft season, and it's easy to forget the upside he offers. The 23-year-old has room for growth after hitting 15 home runs and stealing 11 bases in 2o24. Stash him while you can since he is eligible to return on April 22.

Jared Jones, SP - Pittsburgh Pirates

Rostered: 54% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: TBD

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones is on the 60-day IL with an elbow injury that will keep him out for a large chunk of the season.

The 23-year-old finished the 2024 season with a 4.14 ERA and 9.74 K/9 across 121 2/3 IP as a rookie. With a full season under his belt, Jones is poised to take the next step.

Jones possesses amazing stuff, and it's easy to see the path to more strikeouts with those nasty pitches in his arsenal. Even if Jones doesn't take a step forward, his 2024 season is an example of an above-replacement-level pitcher who is valuable in fantasy.

If you have the luxury to stash a player on the 60-day IL, keep Jones tucked away until he returns later this year.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

CFB

Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach
C.J. Stroud

Week 12 Status Unclear
Quentin Johnston

Expected to Play in Week 11
Drake London

Should Play Vs. Panthers
Davante Adams

Trending Toward Playing
Brian Thomas Jr.

On the Wrong Side of Questionable
Calvin Ridley

Expected to Play in Week 11
Coby White

Could Make Season Debut Sunday
Josh Giddey

Set to Return Sunday
Zion Williamson

Tagged as Questionable for Sunday
Ja Morant

Exits With Calf Injury Saturday
Alex Caruso

Injures Hand, Won't Return Saturday
Domantas Sabonis

Considered Questionable for Sunday
Paolo Banchero

Out Again on Sunday
Anthony Davis

Listed as Doubtful for Sunday
Aaron Nesmith

Ruled Out for at Least Four Weeks
Victor Wembanyama

Questionable for Sunday
Tari Eason

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Julian Strawther

Will Play on Saturday Versus the Timberwolves
Marcus Smart

Out With Illness Saturday
Cameron Johnson

Ruled Out on Saturday Evening
Rui Hachimura

Won't Play on Saturday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Officially Available Versus the Lakers
Jeff Skinner

Placed on Injured Reserve
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Available on Saturday Night
Matt Duchene

Continues to Sit Saturday
Thomas Harley

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kaapo Kakko

Out Week-to-Week
Joseph Woll

Starts on Saturday
John Carlson

Out on Saturday
Rasmus Dahlin

Rejoins Sabres Lineup Saturday
Jack Hughes

to Miss Eight Weeks After Finger Surgery
Luguentz Dort

Will Return Versus Charlotte
Darius Garland

Remains Out on Saturday Night
Zach Edey

Cleared to Make 2025 Debut on Saturday
Cedric Coward

Available Against Cleveland
Sam LaPorta

Placed on Injured Reserve
J.K. Dobbins

Will Undergo Season-Ending Surgery to Repair "Significant" Foot Injury
Tyler Bertuzzi

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Andre Burakovsky

Available Saturday
Alex Nedeljkovic

Available for Saturday's Action
Filip Hronek

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Friday
Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Hurts Ankle in Friday's Win
Seth Jarvis

Not Expected to Be Out for Long
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful vs. Arkansas On Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Blue Jays Interested in Signing Edwin Diaz?
Jacob deGrom

Named AL Comeback Player of the Year
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Wins NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
Aroldis Chapman

Named AL Reliever of the Year
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Named NL Reliever of the Year
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't Pursue NFL Head-Coaching Vacancies
Khalil Shakir

in the Clear to Play in Week 11
Bam Knight

Considered Questionable for Week 11
Brian Thomas Jr.

Tagged as Questionable for Week 11
Calvin Ridley

Listed as Questionable for Week 11
John Gibson

Fine for Saturday
Kaiden Guhle

Ruled Out for 8-10 Weeks
Justin Thomas

Will Miss Start Of 2026 After Undergoing Back Surgery
Alex Newhook

to Miss Four Months With Broken Ankle
Marco Rossi

Out Week-to-Week
J.K. Dobbins

Out in Week 11 and for "Foreseeable Future"
Zach Hyman

Set for Season Debut Saturday
Jack Hughes

Sustains Non-Hockey Hand Injury
Quinn Hughes

a Game-Time Decision Friday
Rashod Bateman

Ruled Out for Week 11
Sam LaPorta

Ruled Out for Week 11 With Back Injury
Isiah Pacheco

Officially Ruled Out for Week 11
Trey Hendrickson

Shemar Stewart Both Out for Week 11
Jaxson Dart

Officially Ruled Out for Week 11 Due to Concussion
Darius Slayton

Ruled Out for Sunday
Davante Adams

Questionable for Sunday but Expected to Play
Islam Makhachev

Set For UFC 322 Main Event
Jack Della Maddalena

Set For His First Title Defense
Zhang Weili

Can Become The New Women's Flyweight Champion
Valentina Shevchenko

Set For UFC 322 Co-Main Event
Michael Morales

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Mario Craver a Game-Time Decision for Week 12
Sean Brady

Set For Title Eliminator Bout
Carlos Prates

A Favorite At UFC 322
Leon Edwards

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set To Open Up UFC 322 Main Card
Beneil Dariush

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
CFB

Virginia's Chandler Morris Trending Toward Facing Duke on Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Says There's a "50-50" Chance he Returns to Mets
Shohei Ohtani

Wins his Fourth MVP Award
Aaron Judge

Wins AL MVP Award Again
Raisel Iglesias

Dodgers Interested in Signing Raisel Iglesias
Pete Alonso

Orioles Could be in the Mix to Sign Pete Alonso
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista Could Return in Second Half in 2026
Kodai Senga

Attracting Trade Interest, Will the Mets Move him?
Yordan Alvarez

Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
Byron Buxton

Could Waive his No-Trade Clause
Paul Skenes

the Unanimous NL Cy Young Winner
Tarik Skubal

Wins AL Cy Young for Second Straight Year
CFB

Still No Update on Jermod McCoy's Return Timeline
Sami Valimaki

Riding Momentum Into Bermuda
Matthieu Pavon

Struggling Through a Rough Season
Taylor Montgomery

Hopes to Get Back on Track at Port Royal
Ben Martin

a Risky Play at Bermuda Championship
Mark Hubbard

Primed for a Bounce-Back Week in Bermuda
Lee Hodges

Searching for a Spark in Bermuda
Stephen Vogt

Wins Back-to-Back AL Manager of the Year Honors
Milwaukee Brewers

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager of the Year Again
Patrick Fishburn

Looking to Bounce Back in Bermuda
Eric Cole

Carrying Momentum into Bermuda
Tommy Edman

to Have Ankle Surgery Next Week
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks Unlikely to Trade Ketel Marte
Roman Anthony

to Have a Normal Offseason
Sahith Theegala

Finishes Tied for 27th at Bank of Utah Championship
Sam Stevens

Finishes Tied for 36th at Baycurrent Classic
Patrick Rodgers

Finishes Tied For Sixth at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke List

Finishes 75th at World Wide Technology Championship
Ben Kohles

Finishes Tied for 63rd at World Wide Technology Championship
PGA

Nico Echavarria Finishes Tied for 14th at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke Clanton

Finishes Tied for 46th at World Wide Technology Championship
Blades Brown

Finishes Tied for 18th at Korn Ferry Tour Championship
CFB

Nic Anderson Could Return for LSU this Season

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP