UPDATED 6/7 @ 2:50pm ET

Coming off the Ronald Acuna injury news from last week, we are once again met with some higher profile names in fantasy baseball hitting the shelf. Fantasy managers will be without the likes of Zac Gallen, Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish for at least the next two weeks, as all three of these right-handers were placed on the injured list. 

Meanwhile, another trip to the IL could be in store for Blake Snell, as he appears to have re-injured his previously ailing adductor. On a more positive note, Luis Robert and Royce Lewis should be returning early this week, providing some much-needed offensive help to their respective clubs. 

As you get ready to set your fantasy baseball lineups for the week ahead, be sure to check out the fantasy baseball injury report below, as well as Howard Bender’s article on the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups. Later this week, Matt Selz and I will break down some more waiver wire pickups and weekend streamers on Caught Stealing, so tune in there, too! 

Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s MLB injuries with our fantasy baseball injury report!

 

 

 

MLB Injury Report: Starting Pitchers

Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks - Hamstring

Gallen lasted just six pitches in his most recent start, as he was forced to exit early with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. He was subsequently placed on the injured list.

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees - Elbow

UPDATED 6/7: Cole logged 3.1 IP in his first rehab start earlier this week, punching out five batters. He could see 4+ IP in his next rehab outing.

Cole continues to make positive steps in his recovery, and his first rehab start will come on Tuesday of this week!

Blake Snell, San Francisco Giants - Groin/Hip/Adductor

Snell was recently on the IL for an adductor issue, and the video below makes it look like he may have re-injured it. Another IL stint could be in Snell’s future.

Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres - Elbow

UPDATED 6/7: Further testing revealed a bone spur in Musgrove's pitching elbow. This likely will not be a minimum stay on the IL for Musgrove, as this will take some time to work through.

Musgrove was placed on the injured list over the weekend with right elbow inflammation. While there was no substantial dip in his velocity over the last couple of starts, there was a very slight drop in his fastball velocity.

Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres - Groin

Darvish being placed on the injured list is another blow to the Padres’ rotation. The veteran right-hander had a 3.20 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 56.1 IP thus far in 2024.

Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies - Hand

UPDATED 6/7: Suarez is expected to start on Saturday.

Suarez took a line drive off the hand, and that had to sting! He left the start with the hand contusion, and given that it was his throwing hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if his next start doesn’t come on his normal turn in the rotation.

Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals - Foot

Wacha was able to continue to pitch after being hit by a comebacker, but further testing revealed a fracture, and he’ll head to the injured list.

John Means and Tyler Wells, Baltimore Orioles - Elbow

Both Means and Wells will undergo UCL surgery, ending their 2024 seasons. The hope at this point is that neither will require Tommy John surgery, but nonetheless, Baltimore will be without these two for the rest of 2024.

Alek Manoah, Toronto Blue Jays - Elbow

Testing revealed that Manoah has a UCL sprain, and he was placed on the injured list. The team is still gathering information on his elbow, but for now, it’s thought to only be a sprain.

Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees - Lat

A right lat strain sent Schmidt to the injured list early last week. Through 11 starts this season, Schmidt was 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.

Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy, Houston Astros - Elbow

UPDATED 6/7: Both pitches are undergoing surgery and will be out for the rest of the 2024 season.

Kenta Maeda, Detroit Tigers - Side

UPDATED 6/7: Maeda lasted just two pitches in his most recent start before exiting with what the team called right side abdominal discomfort. Consider his next start in question, as he could miss this turn.

Jack Flaherty, Detroit Tigers - Back

UPDATED 6/7: Flaherty left his most recent start after five innings due to back tightness. While it's positive that he called it “more precautionary than anything,” there's still some concern given his lengthy injury history.

Robert Gasser, Milwaukee Brewers - Elbow

UPDATED 6/7: After reporting soreness in his elbow, it was determined that Gasser has a flexor strain in his pitching elbow. The young southpaw had a 2.57 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through five starts prior to hitting the injured list.

 

 

MLB Injury Report: Relief Pitchers

Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays - Elbow

While additional testing didn’t reveal any structural damage, Romano will still head to the IL with inflammation in his throwing elbow. In the chart below, courtesy of Baseball Savant, you can see his average pitch velocity recently, and the noticeable drop in his last couple outings.

 

 

Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners - Back

UPDATED 6/7: Munoz got hurt in a collision at home plate, but the team is confident that he can avoid a trip to the IL. He last pitched on June 4, and the Seattle closer has 12 saves and a 1.73 ERA on the season.

MLB Injury Report: Hitters

Juan Soto, New York Yankees - Forearm

UPDATED 6/7: Soto is reportedly dealing with some forearm soreness and the team is sending him for further testing. More information should be made available after testing concludes.

Corey Seager, Texas Rangers - Hamstring

UPDATED 6/7: Seager exited Wednesday's contest with left hamstring tightness. In an effort to hopefully avoid an IL stint, expect the team to be cautious with its star infielder.

Manny Machado, San Diego Padres - Hip

UPDATED 6/7: Machado pulled his hip flexor earlier in the week, and while he didn't start the following game, he did pinch hit. The team will likely be cautious with him the rest of this week, in an effort to not aggravate the issue further.

Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros - Shin

UPDATED 6/7: Tucker fouled a ball off his shin and has not played since doing so on Monday, June 3.

Kris Bryant, Colorado Rockies - Rib

UPDATED 6/7: Bryant was placed on the injured list due to a rib contusion. The move is retroactive to Monday, June 3.

Starling Marte, New York Mets - Knee

UPDATED 6/7: Marte was a late scratch from the lineup in the middle of the week, and while the team said he would have been available the next day, he did not play. We'll see how his availability looks over the weekend.

Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox - Ankle

UPDATED 6/7: Abreu was placed on the injured list after a misstep in the dugout caused him to sprain his ankle last weekend.

Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox - Hip

UPDATED 6/7: Robert is back for the White Sox and fantasy managers.

Robert has been progressing through his rehab assignment, and it sounds like his activation is imminent. Tuesday seems to be most likely for his activation, so fantasy managers should be excited to be adding a player of Robert’s caliber to their lineup(s).

Josh Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays - Oblique

UPDATED 6/7: Lowe returned to the lineup on June 5.

Much like Robert above, an activation for Lowe should occur early this week. Lowe has been banged up a good bit this season, but he should be healthy enough to join the Rays and add a notable presence against right-handed pitching.

Josh Jung, Texas Rangers - Wrist

Jung has been cleared to swing off a tee. A return prior to the end of June still seems in play for the talented third baseman, but perhaps a more definitive timetable will become available as he continues to progress through his rehab.

Vaughn Grissom, Boston Red Sox - Hamstring

A left hamstring strain delayed his 2024 season, and now a right hamstring strain will send him to the injured list. It’s been a rough go of things for Grissom, as he’s hit just .148/.207/.367 in 23 games this year.

 

 

 

Andrew Benintendi, Chicago White Sox - Achilles

Benintendi was placed on the injured list with what the team is calling tendonitis in his left Achilles. The veteran outfielder was hitting just .195 on the year with a .514 OPS prior to hitting the injured list.

Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers - Back

Carpenter was placed on the IL with a back issue, and further tests revealed that there was a bit more than just inflammation. It was revealed that Carpenter has a lumbar spine stress fracture, and his timetable to return is unknown at this juncture.