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When will Freeman, Acuna Jr., and Strider return and play? Will Freeman, Acuna Jr., and Strider be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 2 of the 2025 MLB season.
The MLB regular season is over a week old, but some stars are still conspicuously absent from the lineup for their fantasy baseball teams and their MLB teams. If you're anxiously awaiting the return of Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers or Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves, you'll want to stay up on the latest on these stars' recoveries.
As all fantasy baseball players are very aware, injuries can radically impact your team's season. Keeping up on the latest news about your players' injuries and navigating the absence of key contributors is critical to success. Knowing the latest info can help you correctly value players for redraft or dynasty leagues and plan for fill-in measures if needed.
All three of the National League stars covered in this update are currently on the injured list but are working their way back to the lineup. All three will be critical to their team's playoff aspirations and give their fantasy owners a big boost when they are back in the lineup. Let's take a look at the latest news and how toy approach each situation.
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Freddie Freeman Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Freeman was scratched on Opening Day with left ribcage soreness and missed both of the games in the Tokyo Series. He played the three games in the series against the Tigers, going 3-for-12 (.250) with two home runs, four RBI, and a .453 wOBA.
However, during that weekend, he had what manager Dave Roberts described as a "mishap" in the shower and tweaked his surgically repaired right ankle. The team hoped to get him back in the lineup right away, but ultimately, he missed the whole series against the Braves and was not expected to be available for Friday's series opener against the Phillies.
Even though X-rays were negative, the team opted to play it safe and place him on the 10-day injured list on Friday, retroactive to March 31.
The Dodgers placed first baseman Freddie Freeman on the 10-day injured list.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2025
In good news, there hasn't been any indication that Freeman is headed for a long-term absence, and he is currently expected to return after the minimum days on the IL or shortly after that. However, the issue was also expected to be minor when the mishap happened, but it has lingered longer than the Dodgers or Freeman's fantasy owners would like.
Hopefully, he will be able to return in mid-April and keep producing as he did in his limited availability. He already showed that he can still be an elite producer when he's on the field, but the lingering injuries are starting to be a cause for concern. So far, there isn't anything major, but multiple minor things could start to add up for the 35-year-old lefty.
While he is out, the Dodgers have been starting Kike Hernandez at 1B. In his first five games of the season, Hernandez went 2-for-19 (.105), but both of those hits were home runs. He does have a little power potential but is not a great long-term option at the position. He'll return to his utility role as soon as Freeman is ready to return, so he is unlikely to retain fantasy value.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
The Braves continue to bide their time while waiting for Acuna to be cleared for work in the outfield and to be able to cut on his surgically repaired ACL. The last update from manager Brian Snitker came early this week when he said that the star outfielder still hasn't been cleared for those activities.
Snitker said they’ll probably go day-to-day with leadoff decisions until Acuña returns. Acuña isn’t doing any cutting or outfield drills yet, Snitker said. https://t.co/JcpQpzD6pN
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 1, 2025
Acuna is still on the long road back from his torn left ACL suffered last May against the Pirates. He sustained the dreaded "non-contact injury" while running the bases. It is the second torn ACL he has suffered in his time with the Braves. Acuna tore the ACL in his right knee in 2021 and was able to return to win the NL MVP in 2023 with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases.
Initially, the team was hopeful that he would return in time for Opening Day, but they have moved his timeline back to early May. However, they did only place him on the 10-day injured list, not the 60-day injured list, which means they still think he'll be back before the end of May.
The last time he returned from the IL after an ACL injury, he had a little bit of a down year, hitting .266 with 15 homers, 29 stolen bases, and a .332 wOBA in 2022. The team seems to be trying to take a more conservative route this time so that he can return closer to full strength.
Since he's still not doing cutting or fielding drills, he has a long way to go before he's ready to play the outfield on a regular basis. He will likely need an extended minor league rehab stint since he did not see any spring training action.
The Braves initially plugged the huge hole left by Acuna with Jurickson Profar, who was leading off every day before getting hit with an 80-game suspension for PED use. Without Profar now, the Braves have gone with Michael Harris II in the leadoff spot against lefties and Ozzie Alibes against righties.
They'll likely continue to split time at the top of the lineup while Bryan De La Cruz starts on one side of the outfield with Jarred Kelenic and Stuart Fairchild platooning in the other corner outfield spot.
Spencer Strider Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Strider is much closer to a return for the Braves and is currently on his rehab assignment in Triple-A with the Gwinnett Stripers. He got in four innings in two spring training starts, totaling 10 strikeouts in four innings, but he wasn't quite ready to break camp with the MLB club.
In those two Grapefruit League outings, he shook off some rust, but he also showed that his elite strikeout potential was back with 10 strikeouts in the 17 batters he faced against the Orioles and Red Sox.
In Triple-A, Strider threw 60 pitches in his first start for the Stripers, getting through three innings with just two hits and one earned run while racking up six strikeouts. He was even sharper in his second rehab start on Friday, working up to 75 pitches and not allowing a hit or a run in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.
The Strikeout King is so back.
5.1 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 0 ER | 2 BB | 8 SO pic.twitter.com/V5E5Ogbf02
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 5, 2025
Strider was limited to just two starts before his injury last season and only totaled nine innings before requiring a procedure on his elbow.
However, instead of full-blown Tommy John surgery, which typically requires an 18-month recovery, Strider had an internal brace procedure to stabilize his damaged ulnar collateral ligament that only requires a nine to 12-month recovery, enabling him to come back just a year after the initial injury.
After his strong rehab outings, he may be ready to return in his next start, although the initial plan was for him to get in at least one more start in Gwinnett. Throwing so effectively, Strider will obviously be a huge boost for the rotation with his elite ceiling.
Right now, the Braves are using a rotation of Chris Sale, Bryce Elder, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Grant Holmes. With Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) on the 60-day IL, the Braves could opt to send either the 25-year-old Elder or the 22-year-old Smith-Shawver to the minors or to the bullpen when Strider is ready to take over his spot in the rotation.
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