Hello, Razzball Friends!
Here’s a clue about what you are going to see a lot today:
Back boys,
Back boys,
Whatcha gonna do,
Whatcha gonna do when the IL comes for you?
Updates From Last Time
A few situations from the previous column that deserve a check-in:
Garrett Crochet (SP, BOS..NOT CWS) – Shoulder Inflammation: Has been taking live BP with more to come this weekend. If he can skip a rehab assignment, he will be back in early June. Otherwise, it will be mid-June if all goes well.
Edwin Díaz (RP, LAD) – Elbow Surgery: The Dodgers are still looking at a post All-Star break return for Díaz. He was expected to resume throwing earlier this week.
In good pitching news for the Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow is currently playing catch after back issues caused him to pause his throwing progression.
Francisco Lindor (SS, NYM) – Strained Calf: Lindor has resumed baseball activities, but there is still no timeline for return in sight.
Casey Mize (SP, DET) – Adductor: Deja vu as Mize returns to the IL with a right adductor inflammation. Not a strain, which is some good news.
The Triage Report: Pitchers
Dylan Cease (SP, TOR) – Strained Hamstring
IL: 15-Day | Eligible: 06/09 | Status: No timetable
What happened: Cease landed on the IL on May 24 with a mild hamstring strain.
Current outlook: A mild hamstring isn’t THAT bad. While no timeline has been released, John Schneider shared that Cease might throw a bullpen session this weekend. A mild hamstring strain should only take about two weeks to heal.
Fantasy impact: High. Cease is currently in second place in the AL Cy Young poll. I don’t think I have to tell anyone not to drop him over a hamstring injury.
Clay Holmes (SP, NYM) – Fractured Fibula
IL: 60-Day | Eligible: 07/15 | Status: Shut down 6-8 weeks
What happened: Holmes fractured his fibula and is shut down for the foreseeable future.
Current outlook: This one is straightforward but not in the good way. The 60-Day IL and 6-8 week shutdown signal lands his realistic return somewhere in August if all goes well.
Clay Holmes won’t need surgery on his fibula, per Jon Heyman
— Roger Cormier (@themetsnewsletter.com) 2026-05-28T23:34:10.415Z
Fantasy impact: Moderate to High. In 22.7 IP, Holmes had 26 K and 3 BB.
Replacement: I was going to say Troy Melton (DET) is back from the shadow realm, and his return has been successful so far. However, in his start against the White Sox, he pitched 7.0 IP with only 1 SO. So, maybe temper your expectations, but I think he will come around.
Kris Bubic (SP, KC) – Elbow Soreness
IL: 15-Day | Eligible: 05/30 | Status: June return
What happened: Bubic went to the IL with elbow soreness, which is now being called general arm fatigue, on May 14. Bubic described it as “mild” (source).
Current outlook: Bubic has been throwing and playing catch, which is a positive note.
Fantasy impact: Moderate. Bubic is a reliable enough arm. Hold for now, but have a contingency ready.
Replacement: Kai-Wei Teng (HOU) is cooking lately, and he has been decent this season. Some of it might be a little smoke and mirrors looking at FIP, BABIP, and K:BB. However, not a bad streaming candidate.
Teng Kai-Wei with an excellent start to the #Astros v Brewers series. That sweeper is looking sick.
— Astrosoup Dumpling (@heybrendan.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T00:16:47.729Z
Edward Cabrera (SP, CHC) – Blister (Right Middle Finger)
IL: 15-Day | Eligible: 06/05 | Status: No timetable
What happened: A blister on his right middle finger put Cabrera on the IL on May 20.
Current outlook: Blisters are genuinely unpredictable. Some pitchers come back in two weeks, others drag for a month. Luckily, Cabrera is throwing again. He had a 25-pitch BP session on Thursday, and he will also throw on Sunday.
Fantasy impact: Moderate.
Replacement: Hopefully, this won’t be long for Cabrera. Just in case, Anthony Kay (CWS) had a rough start to the season, but he made some pitching adjustments and has turned it around. In his last 6 IP, he had 5 K and 1 BB.
Edward Cabrera (right middle finger blister) threw 25-pitch bullpen today at PNC Park. He was able to throw entire pitch mix, a good sign since offspeed stuff is what causes biggest issue with it.Cabrera is scheduled to throw a higher intent up-down 'pen Sunday. He's eligible to come off IL June 5
— Meghan Montemurro (@mmontemurro.bsky.social) 2026-05-28T21:23:18.074Z
Logan Henderson (SP, MIL) – Strained Lower Back
IL: 15-Day | Eligible: 06/07 | Status: No timetable
What happened: Henderson made a trip to the IL with lower back tightness on May 22.
Current outlook: Lower back injuries often come with the rotational stress involved in pitching mechanics. An MRI cleared Henderson of any structural damage (source). If I was a bettin’ (wo)man, I would guess a mid-to-late June return.
Fantasy impact: Moderate. Henderson is familiar with the IL. So, if you had him on your roster, you were probably somewhat prepared for this. It doesn’t ease the pain when you lose someone with a 2.23 ERA through 10 career starts.
Replacement: Martin Perez (ATL) and Andre Pallante (STL) are streamable options for you here.
Final line for Martín Pérez: 5.2IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB/2Ks on 86 pitches (55 strikes). Only 2 whiffs and a 19% CSW, but also got 7 groundball outs. ERA is now 2.70
— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@crosbybaseball.bsky.social) 2026-05-24T21:57:39.401Z
The Triage Report: Hitters
Munetaka Murakami (1B, CWS) – Hamstring Tightness
What happened: Murakami injured his hamstring during a play against Detroit. At the time of publication, not much information is available.
Current outlook: After the game, Adam Venable shared that Murakami strained his hamstring and would be out for a few weeks. However, no imaging had been done at that time.
Fantasy Impact: Pretty bad for any Murakami managers. Great for everyone else.
Replacement: The White Sox called up Jacob Gonzalez.
The Chicago White Sox are calling up infielder Jacob Gonzalez, sources tell ESPN. With Munetaka Murakami facing a multi-week absence due to a hamstring injury, the White Sox summon one of the hottest hitters in the minor leagues, batting .308/.414/.646 with 18 homers in 51 games.
— Jeff Passan Bot (@jeffpassanbot.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T02:54:07.000Z
Corey Seager (SS, TEX) – Lower Back Inflammation
IL: 10-Day | Eligible: 05/25 | Status: No timetable
What happened: Coming off a wild slump, Seager went on the IL May 13 with lower back inflammation. He was eligible to return May 25, but it’s now May 29. Math.
Current outlook: The math tells us something. Skip Schumaker shared that Seager is still days away from batting practice or taking ground balls (source). Watch the next 48–72 hours of beat reporter coverage closely.
Fantasy impact: High. Seager is widely rostered and a cornerstone of some rosters.
Jose Altuve (2B, HOU) – Strained Oblique
IL: 10-Day | Eligible: 05/27 | Status: No timetable
What happened: Altuve went on the IL on May 16 with a grade 2 oblique strain.
Current outlook: The reliably unreliable oblique strain with no timetable. Budget 3-5 weeks. Like Seager, Altuve is also past his eligible date. However, Joe Espada shared that Altuve is healing at an “incredible pace”, which is interesting phrasing.
Joe Espada intimated that the Astros are exploring the possibility of simulating some at-bats in West Palm Beach in lieu of a rehab assignment for Jose Altuve, who is healing at an "incredible" pace. Altuve ran the bases, took grounders and is swinging at 75-80% effort.
— Chandler Rome (@chandlerrome.bsky.social) 2026-05-27T22:36:52.728Z
Fantasy impact: High. Altuve, even with a lack of power this year, is one of the most widely rostered second basemen. Hold him as he is working out with the team and may skip a rehab assignment.
Replacement: Chase Meidroth (CWS) and Cole Young (SEA) should be available and are serviceable. Also, Nick Gonzales (PIT) is 2B eligible in some leagues.
Chase Meidroth hits a grand slam, Munetaka Murakami slugs his 20th homer of the season and the @WhiteSox roll to a victory!
Trevor Story (SS, BOS) – Sports Hernia Surgery
IL: 10-Day | Eligible: 05/25 | Status: Expected to miss 6–10 weeks
What happened: Story had sports hernia surgery with a 6-10 week timeline communicated by the Red Sox.
Current outlook: The team volunteered the timeline, which is somewhat unusual. That puts his return in late June and mid-July.
Fantasy impact: High. You will need a big bridge or a series of tiny bridges.
Replacement: The call is coming from inside the house. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa is 2B and SS eligible (as is Chase Meidroth, from above). It’s kind of late, and I have been staring at the computer a lot. I had to squint my eyes a lot to make sure I was reading his stats correctly. Kiner-Falefa is also “fighting for his career” and to keep a spot on the Red Sox roster (source).
Drake Baldwin (C, ATL) – Strained Oblique
IL: 10-Day | Eligible: 05/29 | Status: No timetable
What happened: Baldwin landed on the IL with a grade 1 oblique strain on May 18.
Current outlook: See the oblique formula above. While no timetable is set, he likely won’t return before mid-June.
Fantasy impact: Depends on how you were using Baldwin. Stream if you need to keep him.
Replacement: There are thousands of injured catchers right now. So, the pickings are slim. Christian Vazquez (HOU) has been getting some time and is available and serviceable. Dalton Rushing is Dalton Rushing.
Secondary / Monitoring
Brendan Donovan (INF/OF, SEA) – Strained Groin
IL: 10-Day | Eligible: 05/26 | Status: No timetable
Donovan is back on the IL with a groin strain. This is a recurring situation for him this month. The team shared this will be a slow return. Donovan has resumed some running, but no baseball activities. His versatility makes him worth holding until we learn more.
Ryan Jeffers (C, MIN) – Fractured Hamate (Left Hand)
Hamate fractures at catcher are particularly difficult because, well, catchers need to use their hands. Jeffers will be out 6-8 weeks recovering from a hamate fracture.
Day 1 without Ryan Jeffers? Pretty good! New starting catcher Victor Caratini homered for the first time since April 13 and caught nine innings of one-run ball.My look at how the Twins will try to replace Jeffers for 6-8 weeks and why it won't be easy: www.aarongleeman.com/ryan-jeffers…
— Aaron Gleeman (@aarongleeman.bsky.social) 2026-05-20T21:10:13.706Z
Heliot Ramos (OF, SF) – Strained Quad
IL: 10-Day | Eligible: 05/26 | Status: “quite some time”
Ramos goes on the IL with a quad strain for the Giants. He had a PRP injection but hasn’t been participating in baseball activities.
Brenton Doyle (OF, COL) – Oblique Contusion
IL: 10-Day | Eligible: 05/30 | Status: No timetable
Don’t worry. This is an oblique contusion rather than a strain! So it should resolve faster. Still no timetable, but Doyle has resumed baseball activities.
Quick Hits
Blake Snell (SP, LAD): Elbow surgery (loose body removal) on May 19. No timetable. With the Dodgers’ depth, if you’re carrying Snell as a speculative hold, the surgery designation changes the math.
José Berríos (SP, TOR): Tommy John surgery, out for the 2026 season. This was pre-existing news, but the confirmation date fell within this reporting window.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (OF, ARI): Hamstring strain, IL on May 22 with no timetable. Hold him if you’re starting him.
Matt Shaw (INF/OF, CHC): Back tightness, 10-Day IL. No timetable.
Garrett Whitlock (RP, BOS): Knee inflammation, 15-Day IL. No timetable. Boston’s bullpen continues to deal with its own issues alongside the Crochet situation.
Teoscar Hernández (OF, LAD) – Strained Hamstring: Hernández lands on the IL with a mild strained hamstring. Even though it’s mild, he’s expected to be out for weeks.
Brant Hurter (RP, DET) – Lumbar Spine Inflammation: I mentioned Hurter as a Mize replacement option two weeks ago. He’s now on the 60-day IL with a lumbar spine issue and no timetable. This makes room for Beau Brieske.
Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, CIN) – Lumbar Bulging Disc: “Bulging disc” is more specific than generic back tightness. Hayes isn’t widely rostered in most leagues except maybe NL-leagues. No timetable, and disc issues tend to linger. But hey, Eugenio Suárez is back.
That’s it for this edition of Ambulance Chasers.
I’m Keelin, your bi-weekly reminder that injuries don’t follow timelines. Find me on Bluesky at keelin12ft.bsky.social.
This column focuses on injury situations that meaningfully affect fantasy baseball decisions. It is not a complete injury ledger or a prediction of exact timelines. Teams are often vague, information changes quickly, and this is best viewed as a snapshot of where things stand.
