Ambulance Chasers: Freddie Took a Fall

Things were quiet…too quiet last week so of course, we are back with another edition of Ambulance Chasers in Week 2. The Baseball Gods laughed as we got our hopes up during Opening Weekend. The past few games have not been a bloodbath but they also have not been kind. Several big-name stars are going to miss time for the next few weeks along with a couple of exciting young guns. Let’s dive in.

Injuries to Monitor

Freddie Freeman (1B, LAD) Ankle

All you can do is laugh. Freddie Freeman reaggravated his surgically repaired ankle earlier this week in a “shower incident” which could mean anything (we are not here to judge). There was hope that Freeman could return by this weekend’s series but that is out of the question as he has been placed on the 10-Day IL retroactive to Monday.

Assuming that this re-injury is minor, we can expect a return as soon as Freeman is eligible yet we should not be too relieved. Freeman is a fragile asset this season who is best traded to someone else’s roster. Let him return, show signs of life again, and then deal him elsewhere. He is going to receive regular days off (according to Dave Roberts) and could easily get hurt again.

Ketel Marte (2B, ARI) Hamstring

The Diamondbacks’ recently-paid star second baseman is hurt. Ketel Marte injured his hamstring while running the bases and was replaced mid-game by Garrett Hampson. Marte has a history of hamstring injuries which were prevalent from 2019 through 2022. Despite not knowing the severity of this injury yet, we can assume a stint on the Injured List is inevitable.

Unless this injury is long-term, it is unlikely the Diamondbacks call up top prospect Jordan Lawlar who is struggling to start the season in Triple-A. Hampson is likely the short-term replacement and has some fantasy upside given his speed but that bat is not playable.

Sean Manaea (SP, NYM) Oblique

Sean Manaea has been shut down from throwing after experiencing lingering soreness in his oblique and will receive a PRP injection. The injection will hopefully speed up healing but given this added delay in his ramp-up, Manaea may not contribute to the Mets or fantasy teams until the second half of this season. If IL spots on your fantasy teams are tight, feel free to drop him.

Jack Leiter (SP, TEX) Blister

Jack Leiter will be placed on the 15-Day IL due to a blister issue that popped up in his most recent start. Leiter was dealing against the Reds but was removed after just five innings. Blisters can be tricky issues (see: Hill, Rich) and should be allotted the proper time to heal.

Luckily, it did not appear to be a significant issue and there was consideration for Leiter to make his next scheduled start. Given what we have seen from Leiter mixed with his pedigree, he is a worthwhile IL stash who should return by late April.

Colton Cowser (OF, BAL) Thumb

Colton Cowser is out for the next 6-8 weeks with a fractured thumb. Cowser injured his thumb sliding into first base (not saying it’s his fault, but also, not-not his fault). This injury opens up more playing time for Heston Kjerstad, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ryan Mountcastle who were all in a likely rotation upon Gunnar Henderson’s activation.

Mountcastle is worth rostering in all leagues while O’Hearn is a JAG for fantasy. Kjerstad has some upside but is still in a platoon at best. The former second-overall pick will not hit high enough or play enough days of the week to be anything more than an OF streamer (and not the kind I pay good money for).

Meanwhile, Cowser’s 2025 value is potentially shot. He was a fringe fantasy OF option entering the season after his second-half decline in 2024 and could be out of the Orioles’ regular lineup if Kjerstad hits well in his absence. Cowser has plus-fielding to his credit but if he can’t hit upon his return from the thumb, there is not much to do besides look towards 2026.

Gleyber Torres (2B, DET) Oblique

The Tigers’ big off-season acquisition on offense is already hurt. Gleyber Torres has been placed on the 10-Day IL (first time since 2021) due to a strained oblique. There is no information on the severity of Torres’s oblique strain but he is “completing rehab daily” since the injury. Nevertheless, we should be nervous anytime the muscle is injured.

Between Torres and Parker Meadows, the Tigers are down two of their projected top-four hitters entering this season. Luckily, Riley Greene is elite and Spencer Torkelson is waking up to keep the offense competent. Torres should be held on fantasy ILs given the state of middle infields across the league but if he starts slow from the injury, a drop is reasonable.