Early MLB Injury Report: Key Fantasy Baseball Impacts Across the League

We are not even a week into the MLB regular season, and there's injuries all over the place.

Let's discuss some injuries to notable players, looking at real-world and fantasy baseball implications of the injuries.

Fantasy baseball injury news can be found all season on FantasySP.

Blue Jays

Another starting pitcher for Toronto could hit the injured list after Cody Ponce injured his right knee in his first start.

Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios and Shane Bieber are already on the injury list, so Toronto is starting to run thin at starting pitcher. Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer are the other starting pitchers in the rotation right now.

Toronto might have to piece things together a bit if Ponce ends up hitting the injured list. 

Ponce is rostered in 62% of fantasy leagues right now, and that will drop if he hits the IL. He's worth stashing on an IR spot in fantasy if you have one available, and as long as his injury won't keep him out too long.

We'll see who Toronto adds to the roster if Ponce hits the IL, but whoever it is is only likely to be a short-term fantasy option with all those pitchers eventually coming back. We'll need to keep close tabs on the Toronto injury report so that we know who will be in and out of the rotation in the days/weeks/months to come.

UPDATE: Ponce has a right ACL sprain, and will miss significant time. 

Jacob deGrom - Texas Rangers

deGrom was scratched from his first scheduled start with neck stiffness. He is set to debut tonight instead.

It's worth mentioning as deGrom has had an injury-plagued career. If you are worried about him, then trading him away now could save you a lot of headaches down the line.

Of course, deGrom is one of the top pitchers in the game when healthy, so you have to be able to live with that if you trade him away, he stays healthy and also delivers big.

Weigh the risk, but it really comes down to how much you trust deGrom to stay healthy all season. I'd at least see what he'd net me in a trade, so I could maybe avoid the headaches the rest of the season if the right deal came about.

Spencer Strider - Atlanta Braves

Strider is another pitcher with an injury-riddled career. He's on the injured list with a left oblique strain.

There's good news today though, as he's expected back “sooner rather than later.” He's out until at least April 6, and he could return shortly after that.

Obviously, the sooner he gets back on the mound, the better it is for his fantasy owners, and the Braves in real life. Keep stashing Strider, and hope for a clean bill of health after he returns.

He's another one who will have injury concerns hanging over his head all season, so if there ever comes a point where you can part with him, I'd seriously consider it, despite what he can do when healthy.

Seiya Suzuki - Chicago Cubs

Suzuki is on the IL with a PCL strain in his right knee. He's reportedly nearing a rehab assignment.

It might not take Suzuki long to ramp up, since he hasn't missed a ton of time. However, he might not return right after his 10-day IL trip is up.

He's another guy with injury concerns, so it's a wait-and-see game with him. There's a chance to buy him (or Strider) a bit low right now, but just know that you are taking on plenty of risk.

Nick Lodolo - Cincinnati Reds

Lodolo is on the IL with a blister on his left index finger.

He has been throwing bullpen sessions and if he continues to trend in a positive direction, he could make a rehab start on April 2, then join the big league team between April 6-9.

Keep tabs on Lodolo and be ready to fire him up when he nears his MLB debut this season. He's owned in about 94% of leagues right now, but could be dropped in some more leagues, so be ready to pounce if he becomes available.

Brewers

Jackson Chourio is a player we discussed last week at length. He has a fracture in his left hand. There's no exact timetable for his return yet.

His absence leaves a gap near the top of the Brewers' order, and opens a spot in the outfield. It's been a few different guys filling the void so far, and it's worth watching the lineups daily to see who is filling in.

Andrew Vaughn fractured the hamate bone in his left hand on Opening Day and will miss roughly 4-6 weeks in total.

That opens an everyday spot at first base, which has been split between Jake Bauers and Gary Sanchez so far. Jeferson Quero, a highly-regarded prospect, was called up in a corresponding move, but likely won't play a ton with William Contreras around.

Being down Vaughn and Chourio opens playing time in Milwaukee, so be watching waiver wire lists to see who is rising in the expanded opportunities.

Pitcher Quinn Priester is ramping things up, and could face hitters soon. He's on the 15-day IL with right neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

His return is likely a couple weeks away, at least, so that opens the door for the likes of Brandon Sproat and Kyle Harrison to keep making starts. Whoever is starting for Milwaukee is at least a streaming option, but be ready to add and utilize Priester when he's nearing a return.

Jackson Holliday - Baltimore Orioles

Holliday had surgery to fix a right hamate injury. He began a rehab assignment, so he should be back with the big league team shortly.

His absence opens up second base for Baltimore. Be ready to add and utilize Holliday when he's back out there. 

Holliday is sitting near 77% owned right now. He could drop further if he misses more time, but he should be nearing a return, granted he has no setbacks.

Yankees

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are two pitchers on the mend, while shortstop Anthony Volpe is ramping up and closest to returning.

Cole is expected to throw in the minor leagues over the next several weeks, and after that, he'll hopefully be back in the big leagues.

Rodon threw 50 pitches in a live batting practice, and he's now continuing to rehab away from the team. He is more available than Cole, and could return sooner, so be watching his status and willing to stash him a bit as he nears a return.

Volpe is working back after having surgery on his left shoulder. He is expected to advance to live at-bats at the start of April, and it shouldn't take him too long after that to return.

He's widely available in fantasy leagues, and if that surgery gets him back on track at the plate, Volpe will be picked up in a hurry. So he's one to keep closer tabs on, especially if you have a need at shortstop.

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader is expected to face hitters in mid-April, so his return is still a ways off.

He has left biceps tendinitis, and the team is working him along slowly after he was injured to end the 2025 season.

In the meantime, Bryan Abreu should handle the closer role in Houston, so utilize him in fantasy leagues, especially if he's excelling in that role.

Carlos Estevez - Kansas City Royals

Estevez had an awful start to his season, giving up six runs in a save situation and also picking up an injury after getting drilled by a comebacker.

The left foot contusion could eventually send him to the IL, but after getting hurt on March 28, the Royals might just hold him out a handful of days.

Keep tabs on him, but it's hard to keep rostering the closer if he's not pitching. Lucas Erceg has been inserted into the closer role for the time being.

We'll cover this situation more in a closer update at the end of this week.