Another offseason is in the books, and it’s time for the fantasy baseball season. It may have taken a while to get used to the newly named injured list, but it didn’t take long for injuries to mount for your fantasy squads. Every Monday, the injury report column will keep you updated on injury news from all over the league.
One of the biggest blows from the spring happened in early March, when Luis Severino experienced pain in his shoulder while warming up. An MRI revealed rotator cuff inflammation, and Severino is expected to be out until May. He has been throwing long toss and has not experienced any setbacks. Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga will start the year in the Yankees rotation with Severino and CC Sabathia on the injured list.
After Francisco Lindor strained his right calf in February, it appeared that he may return from the injured list within the first week of the season. Unfortunately, the shortstop sprained his ankle while running the bases in a minor league rehab game. He is seeking a second opinion on the ankle, and it is not clear when he will be able to return for the Indians.
Daniel Murphy injured his finger Saturday while fielding a ground ball. X-rays later revealed a fractured index finger on his left hand. He was placed on the 10-day injured list and currently does not have a timetable to return. Mark Reynolds got the start at first base on Sunday, but Garrett Hampson could see a bump in playing time with Ryan McMahon sliding over to first base.
Hunter Strickland had a jolt in fantasy value after saving the first two games of the season in Tokyo. In his third appearance, however, he allowed three-run jack to Mitch Moreland in a blown save. To add injury to insult, Strickland was sent for an MRI for tightness in his shoulder and placed on the injured list Saturday. He is expected to miss at least a couple of months. In his absence, the Mariners will likely use a closer-by-committee.
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Andrew Benintendi (OF – BOS)
Benintendi was out of Sunday’s lineup with a knee injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Scooter Gennett (2B – CIN)
Gennett is expected to miss 8-12 weeks with a groin strain. He has started the season on the injured list, and Jose Iglesias will receive the boost in playing time as Jose Peraza moves to second base.
Shohei Ohtani (DH/SP – LAA)
Ohtani had Tommy John surgery in October and was placed on the injured list to begin the season. He will not be able to pitch in 2019, but he is expecting to return as early as May as a hitter.
Andrew Heaney (SP – LAA)
Heaney has started the season on the IL with left elbow inflammation. Expected to undergo an MRI on Monday, he does not have a timetable to return.
Justin Upton (OF – LAA)
Upton had to be removed from a spring training game on March 24 and was later placed on the IL with a sprained left big toe. It is more severe than initially anticipated, as he’s now expected to miss 8-12 weeks.
Steven Souza (OF – ARI)
Souza’s season is over after tearing his ACL and LCL with a partial PCL tear and a posterior lateral capsule tear in his left knee.
Clayton Kershaw (SP – LAD)
Kershaw, working his way back from shoulder inflammation, threw a simulated inning against minor league hitters last Monday. He could return in mid-April.
Mike Foltynewicz (SP – ATL)
Foltynewicz was held out of most of spring training with elbow soreness, but he has been working his pitch count up to a rehab assignment on Thursday. He started the season on the IL, but it looks like he could return to the Braves as soon as April 9.
Kevin Gausman (SP – ATL)
Gausman started the year in extended spring training and on the IL with shoulder soreness. It is still possible that he takes his first turn for the Braves this Friday.
Jimmy Nelson (SP – MIL)
Nelson’s throwing program was shut down after experiencing some elbow soreness in spring training. Officially placed on the injured list last Monday, he does not have a set date to return.
Jeremy Jeffress (RP – MIL)
Jeffress is dealing with weakness in his pitching shoulder and was placed on the injured list on March 19. He could return in mid-April.
Carlos Martinez (SP – STL)
Martinez has been experiencing discomfort in his shoulder. Placed on the IL last week, it looks like he could be a week away from throwing off a mound. He could potentially return sometime in May.
Michael Fulmer (SP – DET)
Fulmer will be out 14-16 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was placed on the 60-day injured list and will miss all of 2019.
Corey Knebel (RP – MIL)
An MRI revealed a UCL issue in Knebel’s elbow. He is expected to have season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Gregory Polanco (OF – PIT)
Polanco had shoulder surgery in September and started playing in the outfield at the end of spring training. He began the season on the injured list and probably won’t return until May.
Miguel Sano (3B – MIN)
Sano has a serious laceration near the Achilles tendon on his right leg. He had the sutures removed on March 26 and has since resumed workouts. Starting the season on the IL, he aims to start a rehab assignment in mid-April and rejoin the Twins in May.
Salvador Perez (C – KC)
Perez underwent Tommy John surgery on March 6 and will miss the entire 2019 season.
Alex Wood (SP – CIN)
Wood has started throwing live batting practice after missing spring training with a sore lower back. He likely won’t return until the end of April.
Matt Olson (1B – OAK)
Olson exited the second game of the season in Tokyo after fouling a pitch off his hand. He has already undergone surgery to remove a broken hamate bone and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Rich Hill (SP – LAD)
Hill has an MCL strain in his left knee that landed him on the injured list on March 22. He is expected to return in mid-April.
Aaron Hicks (OF – NYY)
The Yankees placed on the IL on Thursday with stiffness in his lower back. Even though he is not expected to miss significant time, he still has not resumed baseball activities.
A.J. Minter (RP – ATL)
Minter is on the injured list with shoulder inflammation after a car accident in February. It looks like he could return as early as Thursday.
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Shane McDonald is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Shane, check out his archive or follow him @coachshanemac.
