UPDATED 5/24 @ 3:52pm ET

The MLB injury report isn’t as full as it has been in previous weeks, and hopefully it stays that way! Also, are oblique injuries the equivalent to elbow issues for pitchers these days? It seems like we’ve had a ton of hitters deal with oblique/side issues this year. 

Anyways, while the San Francisco Giants have lost Jung Hoo Lee for the year, they should be welcoming Blake Snell back into its starting rotation this week. Returns for Yariel Rodriguez and Jose Urquidy should be coming in the near future, too. Atlanta Braves slugger Austin Riley is hoping to avoid a trip to the IL, as is Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia.

As you get ready to set your fantasy baseball lineups for the week ahead, be sure to check out the below MLB injuries, as well as Howard Bender’s article on the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups. Matt Selz and I will be analyzing more waiver wire pickups and weekend streamers on Caught Stealing later this week. Make sure to tune in! 

But before that, let's dive straight into this week's MLB injury report.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Starting Pitchers

Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox - Oblique/Elbow

This certainly isn’t ideal, as the Boston right-hander felt soreness in his elbow after a recent rehab outing. The team has shut him down for now, and there’s no definitive timetable for him. Whitlock had a 1.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through his four starts of the year, before his oblique issue popped up, sending him to the IL.

Jose Urquidy, Houston Astros - Forearm

Urquidy is expected to make one more rehab start before returning to the Houston rotation, likely at some point in early June. Urquidy hasn’t been prolific across his two rehab outings, but he worked up to 59 pitches in his last outing. If he gets to about 70 pitches in his next outing, he should be equipped to handle 80-85 pitches in what would be his 2024 debut.

Yariel Rodriguez, Toronto Blue Jays - Back

UPDATED 5/24: Rodriguez may need a bit more time than expected to work his way back. The team is hoping he can get to 30-35 pitches in his next outing, so maybe two appearances after that before he returns to the big league club.

Rodriguez will make a rehab start on Tuesday, with the expectation that he’ll need at least one or two more after that. A return to Toronto for Rodriguez should be penciled in for early-to-mid June as he continues to work his way back from inflammation in his spine.

John Means, Baltimore Orioles - Forearm/Elbow

UPDATED 5/24: Means was cruising in his last start, but was removed early with discomfort in his throwing forearm/elbow. He's been placed on the 15-day injured list, and the team is seeking more information regarding the severity of Means' injury.

Jon Gray, Texas Rangers - Groin

UPDATED 5/24: Gray was placed on the 15-day injured list with a mild right groin strain. The veteran righty had been excellent for Texas thus far, posting a 2.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 11 games (10 starts).

Kodai Senga, New York Mets - Shoulder

UPDATED 5/24: Tough break here for the Mets, as Senga mentioned some tightness in his right triceps in his recent days. The injury isn't expected to be serious, and the team believes he'll be back on the mound by week's end.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Hitters

Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves - Oblique

UPDATED 5/24: Why did the Braves not just put Riley on the IL? He's missed more than 10 days already, and he was just cleared to swing a bat in the early part of the week. A return seems to be drawing closer for Riley, but nothing concrete at this juncture.

The Braves are hoping that Riley can avoid an IL stint, and he reported no soreness over the weekend. It seems like he’s still multiple days away from getting back into the lineup.

Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres - Shoulder

UPDATED 5/24: Bogaerts has a fracture in his shoulder and he was placed on the 10-day injured list, with the understanding that he'll miss time well beyond the minimum required stay.

Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox - Hamstring

UPDATED 5/24: Jimenez heads to the injured list with a hamstring strain and the team has said they expect him to miss an “extended period of time.” Jimenez has appeared in just 36 games for the White Sox this season, and this is his second trip to the injured list this season.

Josh Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays - Side

UPDATED 5/24: Remember, Lowe missed time in spring training and the early part of the season due to an oblique strain on his right side. Well, he left Wednesday's game this week with, you guessed it, right side tightness. Not ideal to say the least, but the team is calling him day-to-day at the moment.

Nico Hoerner (Hamstring) & Dansby Swanson (Knee), Chicago Cubs

UPDATED 5/24: Both Hoerner and Swanson have returned to the lineup.

After successful pregame warmups over the weekend, both Hoerner and Swanson are likely to return to the Chicago lineup in advance of Tuesday’s game against Atlanta.

 

 

 

Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers - Forearm

UPDATED 5/24: Garcia returned to the lineup on Wednesday for Texas.

Garcia wasn’t in the lineup on Sunday following a collision in Saturday’s contest. The MRI came back “pretty good” according to Bruce Bochy, and they’re optimistic that he can avoid an IL stint.

Jung Hoo Lee, San Francisco Giants - Shoulder

Lee will have surgery to address his dislocated shoulder and torn labrum, thus ending his 2024 season. Across 37 games for the Giants, Lee slashed .262/.310/.331 with two home runs and two stolen bases in his first MLB action.

Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels - Elbow

UPDATED 5/24: Neto reported some elbow soreness during Wednesday's game. Consider him day-to-day at this juncture.

Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers - Oblique

Muncy felt a “grab” in his side after a swing in BP a few days ago, and the team placed him on the IL. It was determined a grade 1 mild strain, and they hope his absence doesn’t extend far beyond the minimum required stay on the IL.

DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees - Foot

UPDATED 5/24: The Yankees are targeting a return for LeMahieu during the series against the Angels (5/28-5/30).

LeMahieu’s return to play has been quite the journey, as he’s dealt with a setback or two, but barring anything more popping up, a return by end of May or early June at the latest seems probable.

 

 

 

J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners - Oblique/Hand

UPDATED 5/24: Crawford returned to the lineup on 5/20.

During Crawford’s rehab stint for his oblique, he took a pitch to his right hand, but the injury isn’t serious. The team expects to have Crawford back in its lineup at some point in the early-to-middle part of this week.

Jorge Polanco, Seattle Mariners - Hamstring

UPDATED 5/24: Polanco returned to the lineup on 5/22.

Seattle is hoping that Polanco can avoid the injured list, but a decision is likely coming later today about that. Polanco is feeling better reportedly, and doing what is considered as “explosive running drills.”