RADIO
Opening day has just passed us by as teams continue to open their new seasons. All teams have not yet had home openers, and with those openers comes the hope of a great season. Rosters have been named with some young players making it, while others have not. Some injured players are also back, while others have started the season on the IL.
One of the toughest things to do early in the season is to know which injured players to drop. Roster crunches are inevitable, and some injured players will be out longer than others. Pitchers on the IL usually take longer to come back, especially starting pitchers, as they must build up their workload capability. Relievers could be activated sooner as they do not have to pitch as long. Hitters will deal with the colder weather, which could affect their injuries. Knowing which players will be back sooner will help you manage your early-season roster construction and help your team immensely. I will highlight the fantasy-relevant players, their return timeline, and the next man up to help your fantasy teams.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning readers. My name is Reuven Guy, and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management Physician Assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 19+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I also played fantasy baseball during that time. This has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you. I am also the co-host of the 2025 FSWA award-winning podcast Beat the Shift. Stay updated on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24/7 push notification alerts!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Gunnar Henderson (SS, BAL) - Side
Henderson is on the IL with a side injury/intercostal strain. He is expected to start a rehab assignment this weekend and could be back with the Orioles next week. Jackson Holliday and Jorge Mateo will fill in until he returns, and the question will be what their futures hold when Henderson returns.
Gunnar Henderson will begin rehab assignment with Norfolk. #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 27, 2025
Royce Lewis (3B, MIN) - Hamstring
Lewis was placed on the IL with a moderate left hamstring strain. This injury usually sidelines a player for four-to-six weeks. There is no timeline for his return yet. With Brooks Lee also on the IL with a back strain, Jose Miranda and Willi Castro will see playing time at third for the Twins.
Francisco Alvarez (C, NYM) - Wrist
Alvarez is on the IL status post surgery for a fractured hamate bone in his wrist. The stitches came out this week, and his rehab has begun. Alvarez is expected to be out for another six weeks or so. Luis Torrens is the main catcher for the Mets at this time.
Francisco Alvarez got his stitches out on Monday
He will begin working on strength and will ramp up to baseball activities pic.twitter.com/XKVMLpgbGl
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 26, 2025
Matt Vierling (OF, DET) - Shoulder
Vierling is on the IL with a strained right rotator cuff muscle. Vierling was cleared to resume hitting and perform shoulder strengthening exercises, but still remains a few weeks away from a rehab assignment. Barring any setbacks, Vierling could be back by the end of April or the beginning of May. Manuel Margot and Spencer Torkelson will both gain playing time with Vierling out.
Sean Murphy (C, ATL) - Rib
Murphy remains out with a fractured rib after being hit by a pitch. He is expected to be out until mid-April for four-to-six weeks. Drake Baldwin and Chadwick Tromp are the catchers for the Braves until Murphy comes back.
Parker Meadows (OF, DET) - Arm
Meadows is on the 60-day IL with a nerve issue in his right arm. He will require at least four more weeks of rest before he can begin throwing. The earliest he could come back is the end of May. Ryan Kreidler has his roster spot for the Tigers.
Zack Gelof (2B, ATH) - Wrist
Gelof is on the IL following surgery for a hamate fracture in his right wrist. Recovery time for this is six-to-eight weeks. Max Muncy and Max Schuemann could get playing time at second base for the Athletics.
Highly regarded prospect Max Muncy will make A’s. Starting 2B Zack Gelof is hurt.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 23, 2025
Connor Norby (3B, MIA) - Oblique
Norby was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain and is expected to be out until late April. Graham Pauley got the start at third on Opening Day.
Grade 1 left oblique strain for Connor Norby, per manager Clayton McCullough. Likely sidelined about 4 weeks.
— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) March 25, 2025
Daulton Varsho (OF, TOR) - Shoulder
Varsho was placed on the IL as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. He did DH during spring training, but will not be activated until he is able to play the outfield.
Thairo Estrada (2B, COL) - Wrist
Estrada is on the IL with a fractured right wrist. He is expected to miss four-to-eight weeks. Kyle Farmer and Tyler Freeman should see time at second for the Rockies with Estrada out.
Jeff McNeil (2B, NYM) - Oblique
McNeil was placed on the IL with a low-grade right oblique strain. He is expected to miss three or four weeks. Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna will get playing time at second for the Mets.
Zach Neto (SS, LAA) - Shoulder
Neto continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. He was placed on the IL with no definite timeline for return. Kevin Newman, Tim Anderson, Nicky Lopez, and Kyren Paris are all candidates to see time at shortstop with Neto out.
Zach Neto has been DHing in minor league games in Arizona. He’s already hit a few homers.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) March 27, 2025
Jesus Sanchez (OF, MIA) - Oblique
Sanchez is on the IL with a low-grade left oblique strain. Barring any setbacks, he could be back with the Marlins around April 10. Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine will see more playing time with Sanchez out.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Shane McClanahan (SP, TB) - Triceps
McClanahan does not have an official timeline to return from the IL as he recovers from a nerve-related triceps injury. He has not yet begun a throwing program. Zack Littell and Drew Rasmussen should take the back end of the rotation for the Rays with McClanahan out.
#Rays ace Shane McClanahan on the nerve issue in his triceps, which is causing him to start the season on the IL (audio shared via @joeyjohnston813):
“I'm definitely frustrated,” Mac said. “I've done a really good job of controlling everything I needed to control…God's honest… pic.twitter.com/aWapxTf59A
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) March 24, 2025
George Kirby (SP, SEA) - Shoulder
Kirby is on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. There is no timeline for his return, but he will increase his throwing distance over the weekend. Emerson Hancock will take his rotation spot for the Mariners.
Brayan Bello (SP, BOS) - Shoulder
Bello is on the IL with shoulder soreness. The Red Sox are hopeful he could return to their rotation by mid-April. Richard Fitts has his rotation spot for now as he broke camp with the Red Sox.
Yu Darvish (SP, SD) - Elbow
Darvish is beginning the season on the IL with elbow inflammation. There is no timeline for his return. Kyle Hart broke camp with the Padres for his rotation spot.
Ryan Weathers (SP, MIA) - Forearm
Weathers is on the IL with a left forearm strain. Severity is not yet known, and there is no timeline for his return.
Lucas Giolito (SP, BOS) - Hamstring
Giolito was placed on the IL with a low-grade left hamstring strain. He is still throwing and hopes to return by mid-to-late-April. Sean Newcomb has Giolito’s rotation spot for the Red Sox.
Andrew Abbott (SP, CIN) - Shoulder
Abbott is on the IL with a shoulder strain. He continues to build up his pitch count and is expected to be activated off the IL by the end of next week.
Jon Gray (SP, TEX) - Wrist
Gray was placed on the 60-day IL with a right wrist fracture. Patrick Corbin was signed by the Rangers to eat up innings for the Rangers' rotation.
Clarke Schmidt (SP, NYY) - Shoulder
Schmidt was placed on the IL as he continues to build up arm strength following a shoulder injury. He is expected to be back for the Yankees within the first few weeks of the season, as early as the end of next week.
Kutter Crawford (SP, BOS) - Knee
Crawford was placed on the IL with patellar tendon soreness. There is no timeline for his return, but he could be back for the Red Sox by the end of April.
Ranger Suarez (SP, PHI) - Back
Suarez was placed on the IL to start the season due to a low back strain. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that he is hopeful that Suarez "would pitch sometime in April. Taijuan Walker is the Phillies' fifth starter until then.
Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL) - Triceps
Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a triceps strain. He is expected to start throwing this weekend, and the Orioles hope he can be activated from the IL by the end of April. Cade Povich will be in the open rotation spot for Baltimore.
Jared Jones (SP, PIT) - Elbow
Jones was placed on the IL with right elbow soreness/UCL sprain and received multiple opinions on his elbow. He will not throw for six weeks and will probably require at least six weeks to build up arm strength.
Jared Jones Will Not Require Surgery, To Be Shut Down For Six Weeks https://t.co/5hhqZAdZAg pic.twitter.com/DGpYoBb9uK
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) March 25, 2025
Tobias Myers (SP, MIL) - Oblique
Myers is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Severity is not known, and there is no definite timeline for his return. He has been playing catch but will require a rehab assignment before returning.
Cody Bradford (SP, TEX) - Elbow
Bradford was placed on the IL with left elbow soreness. He will not throw for at least four weeks and then go through a throwing program. Jack Leiter made the Opening Day roster for the Rangers.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Evan Phillips (RP, LAD) - Shoulder
Phillips was placed on the IL with a torn shoulder muscle that he suffered during the postseason last year. There is no timeline for his return at this time.
Alexis Diaz (RP, CIN) - Hamstring
Diaz was placed on the IL with hamstring inflammation. Severity is not known, but the soonest he could be activated from the IL is April 8. The first save opportunity this year for the Reds went to Ian Gibaut, who blew the save. Tony Santillan may get a shot to close as well.
Liam Hendriks (RP, BOS) - Arm
Hendriks was diagnosed with a compressed nerve in his right elbow and expects to resume throwing early next week. There is no timeline for his return yet. Aroldis Chapman and Justin Slaten could close for the Red Sox.
In a last minute roster surprise, Liam Hendriks on the IL with elbow inflammation. Criswell gets the last spot.
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) March 27, 2025
Kevin Ginkel (RP, ARI) - Shoulder
Ginkel was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. He is not expected to miss much time, and upon his return, he is an option for high-leverage situations for the Diamondbacks.
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