Numerous big-name players have returned to action over the last two weeks, and more are on the way. I was amazed to see how many of the guys in this article are due back in the next two weeks, with many superstars inching closer to a return. The only issue is that the injury door opens up both ways, and we’ll inevitably have some guys land on the IL once these guys return. That’s the brutality of a 162-game schedule, but tracking the injuries this closely is a great way to put yourself ahead of the field.
With that in mind, let’s dive into this week’s fantasy baseball injury updates and rankings.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Start/Sit Lineup Advice
- Rest-of-Season Rankings
- Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Baseball Injury Stashes (Week 12)
Here are fantasy baseball injury updates for ailing pitchers.
Pitchers to Stash Right Now
Some thought Gerrit Cole would miss the season when he had elbow issues during spring training, but the ace is close to making his 2024 debut. He’s allowed just one run through two rehab starts and reportedly needs just one more before returning to the Yankees’ rotation. That will likely be Friday or Saturday, with the righty returning sometime next week.
Zac Gallen has been nursing a hamstring issue since spring training, which finally forced him to the injured list (IL). The time off has done wonders, though, with Gallen throwing off a mound on Tuesday. He’s slated for a bullpen session on Friday and could get in a simulated game on Monday. If that goes well, Gallen could return to the rotation or make a rehab start in the minors sometime next week.
This Bobby Miller absence has been going on much longer than anticipated. The righty has been out since April 13, making three rehab starts over the last two weeks. He’s looked terrible in those games, though, posting a 6.97 ERA and 1.74 WHIP. That’s why L.A. said he’ll make one final rehab start in the coming days and will likely be back with the Dodgers next week.
Blake Snell is having a nightmare season, tallying a 9.51 ERA and 1.94 WHIP through six starts. Those six outings have been surrounded by two IL stints, with Snell nursing a mild groin strain right now. The issue isn’t believed to be serious, with Snell throwing off a mound sometime this week. He didn’t allow a hit in his two minor league rehab games after his first IL stint and will likely need another sometime next week.
We haven’t had many updates regarding Yu Darvish landing on the IL two weeks ago with a groin strain. San Diego said he’s been progressing with some side sessions but will need a simulated game before returning to the rotation. He’s eligible to come off the IL today but likely won’t be ready to return for at least a week, depending on how the Padres want to approach a rehab assignment.
Max Scherzer missed the opening month due to a back issue and then had his rehab assignment stalled due to a hand injury. He’s fully recovered from both, allowing just one hit across four scoreless innings in a rehab start on Sunday. It took 53 pitches to get through those four innings, and it looks like the veteran will need one or two more rehab starts before returning to the Rangers.
Jordan Romano has been on the IL twice this season due to an elbow issue, getting an injection last week. We’re thankful he resumed a throwing program this week because that means he’s well into rehab. He’ll need a few bullpen sessions before returning, but he could be back with the Blue Jays by the end of June.
This Joe Musgrove situation is tricky. The righty was happy to hear that his arm injury was only a bone spur because that’s not a season-ending injury. He got a PRP injection last week and is projected to resume a throwing program next week. It’ll take him a week or two to rehab and then another two weeks of simulated games and then rehab starts to come back. A return after the All-Star break might be the most likely scenario.
Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher of this generation, and he’s finally getting ready to return. The ace threw a two-inning simulated game over the weekend and is in line for a three-inning simulated game in the coming days. A rehab assignment is on deck after that, with Kershaw needing at least a few starts before being ready to return to the rotation. This is a 36-year-old coming off shoulder surgery, so don’t be surprised to see him limited or ineffective at first.
Gavin Williams’ rehabilitation from an elbow issue has been lengthy. He made his third rehab start over the weekend. He threw just three innings and is projected for 65 pitches and four frames in his next outing. This is a deliberate rehab, but Williams should be ready to return in two weeks.
On the Border Fantasy Baseball Injury Pitcher Stashes
Jacob deGrom, Kodai Senga, Merrill Kelly, Jeffrey Springs, Robbie Ray, Devin Williams, Eduardo Rodriguez, Luis Garcia, Clarke Schmidt
Hitters to Stash Right Now
Here are fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters on the mend.
Trea Turner has been rehabbing a hamstring strain, but he suffered a setback two weeks ago. It appears he’s at nearly 100% because the Phils said he’s inching close to a return. That makes it sound like he might forgo a rehab assignment and could be back sometime early next week.
Kyle Tucker was seen in crutches over the weekend after a nasty foul ball off the shin, but he shed those this week. The All-Star is eligible to come off the IL on Friday and says he will do just that. That doesn’t sound likely, but a return next week could be in play.
This is a strange situation. Nolan Jones has been on a rehab assignment for weeks because the Rockies said they want him to find his swing before returning. He’s still hitting below .200 in Albuquerque but should return to Colorado before publishing our next article. With that said, we said the same thing last week, rehabbing back and knee issues.
JT Realmuto was added to the IL on Tuesday, having meniscus surgery. That’s usually a nightmarish diagnosis, but it sounds like it was just a clean-up job to fix a meniscus issue. The All-Star catcher said he should be ready to return in a month, with a return after the All-Star break being the most likely outcome.
Max Muncy suffered an oblique strain a month ago but has recovered slowly. He resumed baseball activities a few weeks ago but has been experiencing renewed soreness in his oblique. That’s left him on the shelf since then, taking some dry swings a few days ago. Muncy stated that he’s frustrated with how slow this recovery has been. It sounds like he’s at least a few weeks from a return.
Mike Trout had meniscus surgery about a month ago and resumed running on a treadmill last week. That’s a massive step in his rehabilitation, with the superstar likely starting some real baseball activities in the coming week. It’ll take the outfielder a few weeks to return, with the All-Star break being a realistic outcome.
Triston Casas suffered a fractured rib in the second week of the season, landing on the 60-Day IL. He said he’ll be ready to return on July 1, fielding some grounders this week. Boston said he’ll likely resume swinging a bat some next week, with a July 1 return looking like the best-case scenario. We wouldn’t bet on that, but returning after the All-Star break wouldn’t be the worst thing two weeks after that initial timetable.
Willson Contreras suffered a nasty fractured arm and had surgery on May 9. The initial timetable was 8-10 weeks, but Contreras is motivated to beat that. He’s already done some soft toss and even caught a bullpen session on Tuesday. Hitting is the next step, but Contreras looks poised to return before June ends.
Josh Jung’s brother, Jace Jung, has made some noise in Triple-A, but Josh is quite the beast himself. He had a 1.415 OPS through the opening week before a wrist fracture, landing him on the 60-day IL. He’s fully recovered from the procedure and took a live batting practice on Wednesday. That’s the final step before a rehab assignment, with Jung likely starting that in the next few days.
Jasson Dominguez had Tommy John surgery in the offseason but has resumed some minor league games over the last two weeks. The slugger has a 1.073 OPS through three weeks of games after totaling a .980 OPS between Triple-A and the Majors last year. This might be an issue of not having a spot for the slugger because getting in an outfield with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo and Giancarlo Stanton is tough. If it were me, I’d put one of those guys at first base and get Dominguez in this lineup as soon as possible!
On the Border Fantasy Baseball Injury Hitter Stashes
Xander Boegarts, Evan Carter, Kerry Carpenter, Matt McLain, Tommy Edman, Jung Hoo Lee, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Wilyer Abreu
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | SoundCloud | TuneIn
Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
