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When will McClanahan, Strider, and Lowe return and play? Will McClanahan, Strider, and Lowe be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 2 of the 2025 MLB season.
Even though the MLB regular season is not even a week in, there are several high-end players on the injured list. Fantasy managers must continue to monitor the latest on these players as they will carry high value in all formats when they return.
In this piece, we take a look at the latest injury updates on Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (triceps), Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (elbow), and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique). While all three players are currently on the injured list, they are progressing well in their recovery.
Be sure to continue to monitor our MLB news desk for the latest injury updates! Let's dive in!
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Shane McClanahan Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Shane McClanahan missed the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2023. However, the southpaw pitched in spring training and was even named the team's Opening Day starter.
Across his first seven innings of work in the Grapefruit League, McClanahan did not allow a run and held a strong 1.00 WHIP. He tallied eight punchouts and served up just two walks. Unfortunately, he exited his spring start on March 22 in pain. After the contest, he went for imaging and was diagnosed with an inflamed nerve in his left triceps.
Great news on #Rays Shane McClanahan. It’s an inflamed nerve in the left triceps, imaging confirmed. He’ll start the season on the IL, but Kevin Cash said they’re “very fortunate” it wasn’t worse. No timeline on a return yet, as they see how Mac responds to rest and recovery, but…
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) March 23, 2025
While this was not great news, it was the best-case scenario, as this injury could have been more serious.
The Rays placed McClanahan on the 15-day injured list at the start of the regular season. However, the 27-year-old has already begun to express that his arm is feeling better, even though he does not have a definite timetable.
Shane McClanahan says his arm is already feeling better but there’s no timetable on his return from nerve irritation in his triceps. Waiting for the nerve to calm down. “Granted, situation could be a lot worse. I'm very frustrated that I'm going to be missing a little more time.”
— John Romano (@romano_tbtimes) March 24, 2025
Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he has yet to begin a throwing program, but seeing that his arm is feeling better is a positive sign.
In 2022, the southpaw enjoyed a breakout campaign as he posted a strong 2.54 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP across a career-high 166 1/3 innings. He tallied 194 punchouts, which was the seventh most in the American League. In 2023, he took a slight step back but was still productive, as he posted a 3.29 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP in 115 innings of work.
He was named to the American League All-Star team in both seasons.
While he remains out, Drew Rasmussen will have a permanent spot in the starting rotation. Fantasy managers should continue to stash McClanahan on their injured reserve, as he will still carry a high strikeout upside when he returns to the bump.
Shane McClanahan's 30th, 31st and 32nd Whiffs
10Ks
Thru 6. pic.twitter.com/trhgVrJogY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 22, 2023
Spencer Strider Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Spencer Strider's 2024 campaign lasted just nine innings, as he had to undergo an internal brace procedure.
Strider was able to return to the bump during spring training and flashed his typical elite strikeout upside. He logged four innings and struck out an impressive 10 batters while allowing just one walk.
The 26-year-old recently began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett and looked like his elite self. Across three innings, Strider allowed just two hits and one earned run. He served up one free pass while striking out six batters.
Spencer Strider @GoStripers starts ... say that five times fast 😅
The @Braves starter fans six batters over three innings in a rehab outing. pic.twitter.com/ZI2Tc62PRK
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) March 30, 2025
Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as Strider will likely need another few rehab assignments to increase his workload. However, seeing the Clemson product tallying strikeouts at an elite rate, even in a rehab assignment, is an excellent sign.
During the 2023 campaign, Strider led the National League in strikeouts (281) and held a 3.86 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP across 186 2/3 innings. During that campaign, he generated an elite 3.09 xERA, which suggests he could even see some positive regression when he returns to the mound in 2025. He also generated a strong .205 xBA and a .273 xwOBA, which were well above the average marks.
The Braves recently placed starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation. This means that both Grant Holmes and potentially AJ Smith-Shawver could keep their spots in the rotation even when Strider returns later in April.
When Strider returns, he will be viewed as a must-start starting pitcher in all formats.
Josh Lowe Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Josh Lowe suffered an oblique injury during the season opener against the Colorado Rockies. Lowe injured his oblique after hitting a single. Following the contest, the 27-year-old was diagnosed with a right oblique strain and was placed on the 10-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Rays promoted Jake Mangum from Triple-A Durham.
#Rays place OF Josh Lowe on 10-day IL due to a right oblique strain, call up OF Jake Mangum
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 29, 2025
While the team did not provide a definitive timetable for his potential recovery, fantasy managers should expect Lowe to remain sidelined for at least a few weeks.
The 27-year-old battled oblique injuries during the 2024 campaign as well and could face a longer absence, given his injury history. Last season, the 27-year-old appeared in just 106 contests with Tampa Bay. Across this stretch, Lowe held a .241/.302/.391 slash line with 19 doubles and 10 round-trippers. He was productive on the basepaths as he swiped 25 bags.
Under the hood, he generated an impressive 46.1 percent hard-hit rate and 10.3 percent barrel rate, which were both above the average marks of qualified hitters. Lowe also placed in the 79th percentile in sprint speed.
During the 2023 campaign, Lowe enjoyed a breakout season as he posted a stellar .292/.335/.500 slash line with 20 long balls and 32 stolen bases. His stolen base total was the fifth most in the American League. He also added 83 RBI and 71 runs, batting at the top of the Tampa Bay lineup.
Josh Lowe goes oppo for his 2nd home run of the night. 💥 pic.twitter.com/ET1WsO8mfV
— MLB (@MLB) August 4, 2024
While Lowe remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Kameron Misner to see most of the starting opportunities in right field. Minser has enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign as he has tallied four hits (two for extra bases) across four contests. He is worth adding in all 12+ team formats that require five outfielders.
Fantasy managers in category formats should continue to stash Lowe on their injured reserve as he carries a five-category upside when he returns to action. In addition, Lowe should see everyday at-bats in a Tampa Bay lineup that calls George M. Steinbrenner Field home, which is a very favorable venue for left-handed bats.
When Lowe does return, he carries high-end OF3 upside in standard formats.
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