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Heading into the weekend, there is no shortage of big-name hurlers on the injury report. As always, fantasy baseball will be impacted by superstar players out of action. Let's take a look at injured pitchers Eury Perez, Sonny Gray, Justin Verlander, Alek Manoah, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of April 5, 2024. Whether your top ace is out of action, or a depth player is banged up, some players on this list are sure to affect fantasy baseball lineup decisions.
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Eury Perez Injury Update
The Miami Marlins announced on Thursday that right-hander Eury Perez (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the 2024 season. Not only have the Marlins become the first team in MLB history to start a season 0-7 a year after making the playoffs, but now they'll be without their two best pitchers in Perez and Sandy Alcantara (elbow) for all of 2024.
The Marlins announced today that Eury Pérez will have surgery Monday and will miss the entire season. pic.twitter.com/XmHrI9tXNZ
— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) April 4, 2024
The 20-year-old Perez was diagnosed with right-elbow inflammation during spring training and opened the year on the injured list, but now he won't be available to the Fish or fantasy managers for all of this year and the start of 2025. You can now safely drop him in single-year fantasy leagues, but the impressive young hurler needs to remain stashed in all dynasty/keeper formats.
Sonny Gray Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) threw 54 pitches and started three innings during his simulated game on Wednesday and also had some plays in the field while covering first base. Gray came out of the session feeling good and will make a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Memphis next.
Sonny Gray threw 54 pitches, started three innings (so he got the four ups, or warmups, that was his target), and had some plays in the field covering first base.
Came out of it feeling good, on his way to attend festivities in STL. Memphis start next. https://t.co/lN63Rqrsy5
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) April 3, 2024
If the 34-year-old veteran comes out of his rehab start without any setbacks with his hamstring, he should be cleared to make his Cardinals debut. He traveled back to St. Louis to be a part of the home-opening festivities on Thursday, but then he will depart for Memphis after that. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned about Gray to begin the year based solely on the fact that his injury wasn't to his pitching arm.
Justin Verlander Injury Update
Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander will throw a bullpen session on Thursday at Minute Maid Park before going on his minor-league rehab assignment. The Astros are optimistic that Verlander will only need two starts at Sugar Land before rejoining Houston's starting rotation.
Justin Verlander is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Joe Espada said. He’ll throw a bullpen tomorrow at Minute Maid Park before beginning the rehab assignment. The Astros are optimistic Verlander will only need two starts at AAA before returning.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 3, 2024
The future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner didn't pitch at all during Spring Training due to right-shoulder issues, but he hasn't had any setbacks while building his arm up and could make his 2024 debut for Houston in late April. Verlander shouldn't be viewed as a fantasy ace anymore, but it doesn't mean he still can't be productive as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter if he stays healthy.
Walker Buehler Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Walker Buehler's (elbow) next minor-league rehab start will be on Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City again. It will be Buehler's second rehab start after he gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out two in 3 1/3 innings (54 pitches) in his first rehab start with OKC on Easter Sunday.
Dave Roberts said Walker Buehler’s next rehab start will be on Saturday for AAA Oklahoma City again. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 2, 2024
The 29-year-old's first rehab start wasn't very pretty, but all that matters is that he didn't have a setback with his surgically repaired right elbow that kept him from pitching all of last year. If everything goes smoothly during his rehab assignment, Buehler is expected to make four rehab starts and then make his 2024 debut for the Dodgers later this month. Things may be bumpy early on, but Buehler deserves to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues.
Trevor Megill Injury Update
The Milwaukee Brewers placed right-hander Trevor Megill (concussion) on the seven-day concussion list on Wednesday (retroactive to March 31) and recalled right-hander J.B. Bukauskas from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Megill hurt his head after contracting food poisoning. He was feeling faint and fell back and hit his head on the ground, suffering a concussion.
RHP Trevor Megill placed on the 7-day concussion list, retroactive to March 31.
RHP JB Bukauskas recalled from Triple-A Nashville. pic.twitter.com/Pz3dSmTPIB
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 3, 2024
Abner Uribe has recorded all three of the team's saves in the early going with Devin Williams (back) sidelined, with Megill serving as a late-inning setup man. The 30-year-old Megill had tossed two scoreless innings with a walk and three strikeouts out of the bullpen in the early going before getting hurt. With Megill out for at least a week, the Brewers' bullpen will be a little more vulnerable in the late innings.
Michael Lorenzen Injury Update
Texas Rangers right-hander Michael Lorenzen (neck) allowed one run in four innings in his second minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday night. Lorenzen allowed three hits while walking two over 70 pitches (41 strikes). Because the 32-year-old veteran signed with the Rangers so late in spring training, he was placed on the injured list to start the regular season so that he could go to the minors and build up his arm before joining the big-league starting rotation.
One run in four innings tonight for Michael Lorenzen in his second rehab appearance for @RRExpress. Three hits, two walks, 70 pitches/41 strikes. #Rangers
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) April 5, 2024
It's unknown if the team wants him to make another start down on the farm, but if they choose to activate him and bring him to the big leagues, his first start of 2024 could be as good as it gets next week against the lowly Oakland Athletics. Lorenzen doesn't have a ton of fantasy upside for those in mixed leagues, but there is still some streaming appeal in the right matchups in DFS and deeper formats.
Edward Cabrera Injury Update
Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera (shoulder) is set to throw four innings in a minor-league rehab game on Friday with Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins got bad news on Thursday that young righty Eury Perez (elbow) will need Tommy John surgery and miss all of 2024. The good news is the Fish have rotation reinforcements coming in Cabrera and left-hander Braxton Garrett (shoulder).
Other #Marlins injury updates
-Cabrera 4 innings with Jax on Friday
-Chargois continues throwing program
-Edwards treated for bacterial foot infection; no baseball activities for now
-Garrett 4 innings with Jax on Sunday
-Simpson 1 inning with Jupiter on Saturday— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) April 4, 2024
Cabrera threw three scoreless innings on 43 pitches in his first rehab start with Jacksonville last Sunday, so he's slightly ahead of Garrett, who will be making his first rehab start this Sunday. If the 25-year-old Cabrera looks good in his second rehab start on Friday, the Marlins could decide to activate him from the 15-day injured to make his 2024 big-league debut next week.
Alek Manoah Injury Update
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (shoulder) threw a three-inning simulated game in Florida on Tuesday. "He did really well," manager John Schneider said. Schneider also said the next step will "probably" be for Manoah to pitch in a game with Single-A Dunedin on Sunday when he will likely throw four innings and add "at least 15 pitches or so" to what he has thrown. The big right-hander was limited to one appearance of spring ball before experiencing soreness in his right shoulder, giving up four runs in 1.2 innings.
It sounds like Manoah is progressing well and could return to Toronto's rotation in late April after a couple of rehab starts in the next few weeks, but he's not at all a must-stash fantasy asset after stumbling to a 5.87 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, and 79:59 K:BB over 87.1 frames last year. In the interim, Bowden Francis will hold streaming consideration in the appropriate matchups. (MLB.com)
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