As we inch toward weekend MLB action, there are several key pitchers in the injuries headlines. Needless to say, absences will impact fantasy baseball lineups. That said, let's take a look at injured pitchers Edwin Diaz, Yu Darvish, Chris Bassitt, Gerrit Cole, Alek Manoah, Trevor Megill, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of May 30, 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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Edwin Diaz Injury Update
The New York Mets announced on Wednesday that they have placed right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder impingement. In a corresponding move, left-hander Josh Walker was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. In his first year back from a knee injury that caused him to miss all of 2023, Diaz has struggled, posting a 5.40 ERA (4.58 FIP), a 1.25 WHIP, five saves, seven walks and 30 strikeouts in 20 innings out of the bullpen.
The Mets announced they’ve placed Edwin Díaz on the injured list with a shoulder impingement.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) May 29, 2024
Before landing on the IL, Diaz was temporarily removed from the closer role after a three-outing stretch in which he gave up seven earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking three and blowing two saves. He also blew his fourth save in his last appearance against the Giants. It remains to be seen when he'll be able to return to the Mets, let alone be rewarded with save chances again. In the meantime, Reed Garrett and Adam Ottavino could both factor into ninth-inning duties.
Yu Darvish Injury Update
San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (hamstring) left his start early on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins with left-hamstring tightness. Darvish is currently undergoing testing, and we should have a better idea of whether he'll be forced to miss his next scheduled start after we receive those results.
Yu Darvish departed today’s game with left hamstring tightness.
He is currently undergoing testing away from Petco Park.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) May 29, 2024
Before being pulled, the 37-year-old Japanese hurler gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out two to take his third loss of the season. Until we know more, fantasy managers may want to prepare for a possible trip to the injured list for Darvish. If Darvish is forced to miss a few starts, Randy Vasquez could be in line to join SD's rotation for a bit. Heading into Wednesday's game, Darvish had been solid this year, going 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 51 K's in 53 1/3 innings over 10 starts.
Chris Bassitt Injury Update
The Toronto Blue Jays have released their probable starting pitchers for their three-game weekend series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates that starts on Friday, and right-hander Chris Bassitt (neck) is listed as the team's starter for Sunday's series finale. Bassitt will make his next start after having to leave his last start early on Monday against the Chicago White Sox after he battled through neck spasms for five scoreless innings.
Blue Jays weekend probables vs. Pirates:
Friday: José Berríos
Saturday: Yusei Kikuchi
Sunday: Chris BassittPirates starters are TBA, but Jared Jones & Paul Skenes both pitched today so they're not in play.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) May 29, 2024
The 35-year-old veteran has been great for the Blue Jays and fantasy managers of late and will carry a 12-inning scoreless streak into a strong matchup at home against Pittsburgh. The Pirates rank 26th in Major League Baseball with a .661 OPS. Bassitt has gone 5-6 this year with a 4.03 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 56 K's in 60 1/3 frames over 11 starts.
Gerrit Cole Injury Update
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to toss live batting practice again on Thursday in Tampa Bay, manager Aaron Boone said prior to Wednesday's game against the hosting Los Angeles Angels. It'll be Cole's third session facing hitters, with a two-inning, 30-pitch outing set to follow on Saturday. Cole still has a chance to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list sometime in June as long as he starts a minor-league rehab assignment sometime in the next week or two.
Gerrit Cole is scheduled to toss live batting practice again on Thursday in Tampa, Aaron Boone said. It'll be Cole's third session vs. hitters, following a two-inning, 30-pitch outing on Saturday.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 29, 2024
The 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner is obviously a must-stash fantasy asset, but the Yankees will have a tough decision to make regarding the odd man out when their ace returns from right elbow discomfort. Right-handers Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil have done an admirable job in New York's rotation, and they remain close to must-roster players at this point in time.
Alek Manoah Injury Update
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (elbow) left Wednesday's game against the hosting Chicago White Sox due to right elbow discomfort in the second inning after striking out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings of work. There was nothing obvious as to why Manoah needed to exit the contest at first, but there wasn't much discussion on the mound before he departed and Trevor Richards took over.
UPDATE: RHP Alek Manoah was removed from tonight's game with right elbow discomfort.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 30, 2024
Manoah should be deemed day-to-day ahead of his next projected start that lines up for Tuesday against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles, but there's a chance he may need to either miss a turn in the rotation or head to the injured list. It's not what you want to hear after the inconsistent 26-year-old right-hander didn't rejoin Toronto's rotation until early May due to soreness in his right shoulder, but he's got a solid 3.70 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 26:8 K:BB through 24 1/3 frames (five starts) this season. UPDATE: Manoah will get an MRI on his right elbow on Thursday, according to manager John Schneider.
Trevor Megill Injury Update
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed reliever Trevor Megill (elbow) might need a few days to let his right elbow calm down after he took a comebacker off of it in his appearance on Tuesday night in the loss to the division-rival Chicago Cubs, but the good news is that he has avoided being placed on the injured list for now. X-rays on the 30-year-old's elbow came back negative for any breaks, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be available for any save chances for at least a few days.
Trevor Megill might need a few days to let his elbow calm down after the shot he took off it last night, but the good news is no IL placement for him today.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) May 29, 2024
In the meantime, Elvis Peguero, Joel Payamps, and Bryan Hudson could all be in the mix to be used if a save situation arises in the next couple of days. With Devin Williams (back) still on the injured list, Megill has emerged as Milwaukee's preferred closing choice and has pitched to a 2.57 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with his first eight saves in 2024.
Alex Wood Injury Update
After seeing team doctors in Oakland on May 14, Athletics left-hander Alex Wood (shoulder) was diagnosed with rotator-cuff tendonitis in his left shoulder and was expected to be shut down from throwing for at least 10 to 14 days from that date. Manager Mark Kotsay said on Tuesday that the plan is for Wood to begin playing catch on Saturday, June 1.
His 15-day injured list placement is retroactive to May 13. The time off from throwing looks like it has been good for the 33-year-old veteran southpaw, but Wood still has a ways to go before he's pitching in live games and is on the cusp of a return from the IL. In the meantime, he belongs on the waiver wire in standard-sized mixed fantasy leagues. Before his shoulder injury, Wood had gone 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings over his first nine starts with the A's. (MLB.com)
Cade Horton Injury Update
Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton (back) exited Wednesday's start with Triple-A Iowa due to back soreness. Horton gave up a two-run homer in the first inning on Wednesday and returned to the mound for warmups prior to the second, but he departed under his own power after tossing several pitches. Horton was making his fifth start for Iowa and ninth overall in 2024 after tearing up the Double-A competition earlier this season.
Back soreness for the Cubs top pitching prospect. He’ll be further evaluated. https://t.co/b3kXpFmWET
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) May 29, 2024
The 22-year-old right-hander is Chicago's No. 1 prospect and MLB's No. 18 prospect for 2024, per MLB Pipeline, and he's struck out 40 batters over 34 1/3 innings. It remains to be seen if Horton is dealing with a significant setback, but his major-league debut could be delayed a bit as a result. Even so, Horton is unlikely to be called up until he improves on his 7.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP at the Triple-A level.
Austin Gomber Injury Update
Colorado Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber (arm) will take his normal spot in the team's starting rotation and toe the rubber on Sunday in Los Angeles against the first-place Dodgers this weekend. It's great news for the Rockies and Gomber's fantasy managers after he needed to be scratched from his last scheduled start on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians due to general arm soreness.
Austin Gomber will take his normal spot in the #Rockies rotation and start on Sunday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) May 29, 2024
The 30-year-old will be well-rested, but the matchup in LA against the best lineup in the game is one to shy away from, at least in DFS. Gomber has looked great so far in 2024 for the Rockies, recording a fine 2.76 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with a 41:17 K:BB in 58 2/3 innings and 10 starts. As is the case with most Rockies pitchers, Gomber has been slightly better on the road than at hitter-friendly Coors Field, but keep in mind the Dodgers sport the second-best OPS (.758) in baseball.
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