Fantasy Baseball Injury Reports for Pitchers - Updates for Devin Williams, Gerrit Cole, Eury Perez, Kodai Senga, Gavin Williams, and more

Opening Day is just two weeks away, meaning the MLB season will be here before we know it. That also means fantasy baseball drafts are in full force, and as always, injuries are already a challenge in the preseason. Many key hurlers are dealing with bumps and bruises before the season kicks off. Let's take a look at injured pitchers Devin Williams, Gerrit Cole, Eury Perez, Kodai Senga, Gavin Williams, and more.

This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of March 14, 2024. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will be important when the season begins.

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Devin Williams Injury Update

Milwaukee Brewers star closer Devin Williams (back) has two stress fractures in his back and is expected to miss around three months, according to sources. Williams pitched through back soreness last September, but it returned this spring. He will rehab and is expected to return by midseason.

Milwaukee Brewers star closer Devin Williams has two stress fractures in his back and is expected to miss around three months, sources tell ESPN. Williams pitched through back soreness in September, but it returned earlier this spring. He'll rehab and should return by midseason.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 14, 2024

The top fantasy closer will now miss at least half the season, which will obviously cause his stock to drop considerably for those who have yet to draft for the 2024 season. The 29-year-old right-hander saved 36 games for the Brew Crew in 40 chances last year while also posting an elite 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 87 strikeouts, and 28 walks in 58 2/3 innings pitched. It's a massive blow to the back end of Milwaukee's bullpen before the start of the season. Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps, and Abner Uribe could all be options for saves in Milwaukee with Williams hurt.

Gerrit Cole Injury Update

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) has had X-rays and a CT scan on his elbow, in addition to an MRI. He flew to Los Angeles on Wednesday for an in-person visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, where more testing is planned. There remains no official timeline from the Yankees for Cole's return/recovery, although the New York Post reported on Wednesday morning that Cole would miss at least a month or two.

Gerrit Cole has had X-rays and a CT scan on his elbow in addition to an MRI. He flew to Los Angeles today for an in-person visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, where more testing is planned. Still no official timeline from the Yankees for his return/recovery.

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 13, 2024

ElAttrache and Yankees doctors haven't found a tear in the reigning American League Cy Young winner's right elbow, but there remains some concern. Cole is one of, if not the most, dominant starting pitchers in baseball, so losing him for an extended period of time would be a devastating blow to New York's rotation to begin the year. Stay tuned for more news on Cole, but needless to say, he's now become a huge risk as a fantasy ace in 2024.

Eury Perez Injury Update

Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (finger) left his Grapefruit League start early on Wednesday after only 14 pitches due to what appeared to be a fingernail/blister issue. Perez has been dealing with a right middle finger issue this spring, and the issue apparently cropped up again on Wednesday. The 20-year-old isn't dealing with any kind of serious arm injury, which is good, but this is still something that fantasy managers shouldn't completely ignore when considering Perez as a No. 2 starter in upcoming drafts.

Marlins starter Eury Perez is out of the game after only 14 pitches due to what appears to be a fingernail/blister issue.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 13, 2024

Perez was electric after being called up to the big leagues last year. He wasn't so good after a midseason break to conserve his innings, but if healthy, Perez has high-end fantasy appeal for the long term with his fastball-slider-curveball-changeup mix.

Kodai Senga Injury Update

The New York Mets are planning to wait an extra week beyond March 15 (the original target) for right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) to begin throwing. "But that doesn't mean he's having any setback," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "We want to make sure that before he picks up a baseball he's strong and we're comfortable." The Mets want to make absolutely sure the 31-year-old is healthy coming off a bout with a moderate posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder this spring.

Mets are planning to wait an extra week beyond March 15 (the original target) for Kodai Senga to begin throwing: "But that doesn't mean he's having any setback," Carlos Mendoza said. "We want to make sure that before he picks up a baseball he's strong and we're comfortable."

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) March 13, 2024

The extra week layoff is going to push Senga's eventual 2024 season debut to sometime in either late April or early May. His injury has set up veteran lefty Jose Quintana to make the team's Opening Day start on March 28 on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers. Senga's injury makes him a more risky No. 3/4 fantasy starter going into the season.

Gavin Williams Injury Update

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) was scratched ahead of his scheduled start on Sunday. The right-hander is dealing with right elbow discomfort, so the organization is going to proceed with extreme caution. Luckily, Williams is currently considered day-to-day, so the team doesn't believe it's a long-term issue.

Carl Willis on Gavin Williams: "We're still getting information...All the news has been good. He continues to improve, which is great news. It's still day-to-day because we want to be assured when he touches a mound again -- and I think that'll be soon -- that he's ready to go."

— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) March 13, 2024

The Guardians are likely going to ease Williams back into activities throughout the spring. Williams has been a stud this spring, so the hope is that he'll be ready to go by Opening Day.

Justin Verlander Injury Update

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (shoulder) is close to progressing to facing hitters again. Astros manager Joe Espada recently said that Verlander is slated to throw another bullpen session on Thursday. The team will wait and see how Verlander feels after that before deciding on when he'll face hitters again. The 41-year-old will open the season on the injured list, but it doesn't sound like Verlander is going to miss an extended period of time.

Justin Verlander is scheduled for a bullpen tomorrow. If that goes well, his next time out should be facing hitters, Joe Espada said.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) March 13, 2024

Lucas Giolito Injury Update

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (elbow) had successful right-elbow UCL repair with an internal brace on Tuesday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Giolito will miss all of the 2024 season as a result, but it's still considered good news overall, as he was able to avoid having the second Tommy John surgery of his career.

Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito yesterday underwent a successful right elbow ulnar collateral ligament repair with internal brace. The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopedics Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) March 13, 2024

If everything goes well with his recovery this year and into next offseason, the 29-year-old could have a shot to be ready for Opening Day in 2025 for the BoSox. Giolito was hoping to rebound from a rocky 2023 campaign that saw him pitch for three different teams (White Sox, Angels, Reds), but that will now have to wait until 2025.

Kyle Bradish Injury Update

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) threw a bullpen session off a mound in camp on Wednesday and only threw fastballs. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Bradish felt good afterward. It's a big step for the 27-year-old, as it was his first time throwing off a mound since he was diagnosed with a partial tear of his UCL in February.

#Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (right UCL sprain) had a side session off a mound today, threw only fastballs. Manager Brandon Hyde said Bradish felt good afterward.

— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 13, 2024

Despite the big step, Bradish still has a ways to go before he's ready to make his 2024 regular season debut, and he will begin the year on the injured list. He was a breakout arm for the O's and fantasy managers in 2023 by going 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 168 strikeouts in 168 2/3 frames over 30 starts, but fantasy managers should be very wary of him this year. Even though he's trending in the right direction now, surgery could still be on the table if he has a setback along the way.

John Brebbia Injury Update

Chicago White Sox right-handed reliever John Brebbia (calf) threw live batting practice in camp on Wednesday. Brebbia suffered a right calf strain early in camp and has not appeared in a Cactus League game yet because of it. However, the 33-year-old veteran is working his way back and could still be ready for Opening Day on March 28.

Fedde, Shaw, Hill, Leasure today.

Brebbia live BP.

— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 13, 2024

When healthy, Brebbia has a chance to close out games for the White Sox this year, although he could have to share ninth-inning duties with the likes of Deivi Garcia, Jordan Leasure and Dominic Leone in a not-so-pretty closer-by-committee approach. Brebbia only has two career saves (back in 2018), although he pitched well out of the San Francisco Giants bullpen the last two years, posting a 3.47 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 32 walks and 101 K's in 106 1/3 innings.

J.P. France Injury Update

Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France (shoulder) will take the mound for his spring debut on Saturday. Astros manager Joe Espada mentioned that France is expected to throw roughly 50 pitches during this outing. The right-hander is behind the rest of the starters but still has plenty of time to get ready in time for Opening Day. There's a decent chance that France begins the season in the rotation with Justin Verlander (shoulder) sidelined right now.

J.P. France is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League start Saturday against the Mets and is tentatively down for three innings and 50 pitches, Espada said.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) March 13, 2024

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