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Josh's top 25 injured players to stash for fantasy baseball as of April 22, 2025 (Week 4). His top fantasy baseball injury stashes for IL spots and redraft leagues.
Welcome, RotoBallers, to another installment of the Injured Players to Stash for Fantasy Baseball series as we head into Week 4 of the 2025 MLB season. Today, we list the top 25 high-profile injured MLB players worth stashing in your leagues, including names like Spencer Strider, Ezequiel Tovar, Sean Manaea, 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!
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Top-25 Injured Players For Fantasy Baseball
| Player | Team | IL Type | Roster Percentage | Estimated Return |
| Jackson Merrill | San Diego Padres | IL 10 (Hamstring) | 99% | Late April |
| 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 |
| Pablo Lopez | Minnesota Twins | IL 15 (Hamstring) | 97% | April 23 |
| CJ Abrams | Washington Nationals | IL 10 (Hip) | 97% | Early May |
| Spencer Strider | Atlanta Braves | IL 15 (Hamstring) | 96% | TBD |
| George Kirby | Seattle Mariners | IL 15 (Shoulder) | 94% | TBD |
| Shane McClanahan | Tampa Bay Rays | IL 15 (Triceps) | 87% | TBD |
| Royce Lewis | Minnesota Twins | IL 10 (Hamstring) | 81% | TBD |
| Zach Eflin | Baltimore Orioles | IL 15 (Lat) | 80% | Mid-May |
| Colton Cowser | Baltimore Orioles | IL 10 (Thumb) | 72% | Late May |
| Ezequiel Tovar | Colorado Rockies | IL 10 (Hip) | 71% | TBD |
| Grayson Rodriguez | Baltimore Orioles | IL 15 (Elbow) | 65% | TBD |
| Josh Lowe | Tampa Bay Rays | IL 10 (Oblique) | 64% | Mid-May |
| Brandon Woodruff | Milwaukee Brewers | IL 15 (Shoulder) | 62% | Early May |
| Jack Leiter | Texas Rangers | IL 15 (Finger) | 56% | Late April |
| Masyn Winn | St. Louis Cardinals | IL 10 (Back) | 54% | April 22 |
| Jared Jones | Pittsburgh Pirates | IL 60 (Elbow) | 52% | June |
| Ivan Herrera | St. Louis Cardinals | IL 10 (Knee) | 48% | Mid-May |
| A.J. Puk | Arizona Diamondbacks | IL 15 (Elbow) | 46% | TBD |
| Reynaldo Lopez | Atlanta Braves | IL 60 (Shoulder) | 45% | TBD |
| Sean Manaea | New York Mets | IL 15 (Oblique) | 45% | Late May |
| Max Scherzer | Toronto Blue Jays | IL 15 (Thumb) | 43% | TBD |
| Tyler Stephenson | Cincinnati Reds | IL 10 (Oblique) | 42% | Early-May |
Fantasy Baseball Players To Monitor Closely
Spencer Strider, SP - Atlanta Braves
Rostered: 96% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: TBD
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider was placed back on the 15-day injured list after just one start in 2025. Strider had missed the first few weeks of the season while recovering from elbow surgery, but now his hamstring is what ails him.
Strider tweaked his hamstring while playing catch on Monday, and his return timeline has not yet been determined. The timing of this injury is unfortunate, but it could open a window of opportunity for those brave enough to deal with his injury history.
The Braves' flamethrower burst onto the scene back in 2023 and was immediately one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in the game. His 36.8 percent strikeout rate ranked in the 99th percentile among qualified pitchers that year.
Since his impressive 2023 season, Strider has only made three starts across 2024 and 2025. Strider managers who held onto him through his first injured list stint may feel the fatigue of carrying a player who does not play. Now may be the only time you'll be able to buy low on Strider this season, so send out some offers.
Ezequiel Tovar, SS - Colorado Rockies
Rostered: 71% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: TBD
Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is on the 10-day injured list, dealing with a hip injury. His timeline to return will depend on how he responds to rest and treatment.
The 23-year-old was off to a slow start this season, but his numbers last season show his power. Tovar mashed 26 home runs and 45 doubles in 157 games in 2024. Playing at Coors Field is a plus for his offensive output, but Tovar hit half his home runs on the road last year.
Tovar is a capable power threat from a middle infield position that may be available at a discounted price. Contact the Tovar manager and try to sneak him into a multi-player deal.
Ivan Herrera, C - St. Louis Cardinals
Rostered: 48% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Late May
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera is dealing with a knee injury on the 10-day injured list and is likely still a month away from returning. Herrera was off to a blazing start to the 2025 season, hitting four home runs in just 21 at-bats.
The 24-year-old demonstrated excellent bat-to-ball skills during his time in the majors and could break out if the power output continues.
Iván Herrera becomes the first catcher in Cardinals history with three home runs in one game! 💣 pic.twitter.com/pJ7SJ1wpWw
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 2, 2025
Herrera only hit five home runs in 72 games during the 2024 season, but he nearly matched that total in just seven games this year. The Cardinals catcher is available in almost half of all leagues, so stash him where he's available.
Sean Manaea, SP - New York Mets
Rostered: 45% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Late May
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea is yet to make his 2025 debut due to an oblique injury, but he had a good 2024 season with the team.
1/12/2024 Sean Manaea signs a two-year, $28 million deal with the Mets. Manaea posted a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts during his first season in New York. In Manaea's final 12 starts of the regular season, the Mets went 10-2 and he had a 3.09 ERA after adjusting his arm angle. pic.twitter.com/C8ofn0LfKt
— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) January 12, 2025
The 33-year-old finished the season with a 3.47 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 181 2/3 innings. The Mets' offense is dangerous with Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso rounding out the top of the order. Manaea can be a solid rotation piece for a team that is expected to rack up many wins this season.
The southpaw is available in over half of leagues, so he may be floating around in your league. Scoop him up now before news starts coming up about his eventual return.
Tyler Stephenson, C - Cincinnati Reds
Rostered: 42% Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Early May
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson is on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury, but when healthy, he's one of the surest bets at the position.
Across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Stephenson ranked fifth in games played among catchers. When it comes to fantasy catchers, the best ability is availability. Stephenson also slashed .251/.328/.411 in that span, ranking fifth among catchers.
Stephenson can start at catcher, first base, or designated hitter for the Reds, which gives him a high chance of getting in the lineup daily. Stash Stephenson for the next few weeks if you don't have a top-end option at catcher, and he should produce top-10 numbers at the position upon his arrival.
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