Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, September 25, 2024. In today’s edition, it looks like Francisco Lindor could return today, Austin Riley won’t return at all in 2024, Reynaldo Lopez may return as a reliever, and Yordan Alvarez is pondering any return despite an improving knee injury. All of that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report
Francisco Lindor – SS New York Mets (back)
Francisco Lindor “could be in play” Wednesday, Carlos Mendoza said. He was going to pinch hit in the ninth if the Mets got anybody on.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) September 25, 2024
There was a lot of news on Lindor yesterday, but this was the biggest piece out of them all. Lindor was getting himself ready to pinch-hit last night when the opportunity presented itself, but the game concluded before he was given a chance. For full context, Lindor was seen running the base paths and hitting the ball hard during pre-game batting practice, and he had a scan taken of his back which revealed no structural damage whatsoever. The hope is that he feels good enough to be inserted back into the starting lineup today and work to help the Mets in their attempt to secure a Wild Card spot.
Yordan Alvarez – OF Houston Astros (knee)
Yordan Alvarez said his knee feels better today – he was not able to put much weight on it yesterday – but there is still inflammation and his movement is limited. He said he is hopeful but unsure if he would be able to play this weekend in Cleveland.
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) September 24, 2024
The good news here is that Alvarez felt better one day later. The fact that he was (likely) able to put weight on his knee indicates some level of improvement. All that being said, it doesn’t appear that he will be ready for much of the weekend, leading to some speculation that he has in fact played his final game of the regular season. With the Astros having claimed the AL West title last night, there may not be a big need to rush him back.
Reynaldo Lopez – SP Atlanta Braves (shoulder)
Reynaldo Lòpez threw a side session today. Sounds like there’s a chance he could be activated to work as a reliever or starter this week
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 24, 2024
Lopez is trending in the right direction here and could be activated for a team that needs all the help they can get in their pursuit of a Wild Card spot. It remains to be seen how he will be used, but getting back one of their best pitchers in any capacity is better than not having him at all.
Austin Riley – 3B Atlanta Braves (hand)
Austin Riley's season is over according to #Braves manager Brian Snitker. Simply was not healing fast enough, CT scan showed yesterday.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) September 24, 2024
Unfortunate news here as the Braves have lost Riley for the rest of the regular and (possible) postseason with a hand injury that isn’t healing as well as it should be. While he should be ready for the start of the 2025 season, for now, he will have to work on the recovery process and cheer on the Braves from a distance. It seems rather fitting for a team that has struggled to keep their stars healthy all season.
Esteury Ruiz – OF Oakland Athletics (knee)
A’s announce Esteury Ruiz underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery today in Texas. pic.twitter.com/QCqa4ZO20r
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) September 24, 2024
Ruiz had a major surgery yesterday on his knee, calling into question whether or not he will be ready for the start of the 2025 season and how he will perform. For what it’s worth, patella tendon debridement and a chondroplasty procedure are both major procedures, though the media release does not reveal concerns about his availability for next year. Time will tell how he is able to not only prepare, but get back to his base-stealing ways, despite a lackluster 2024 campaign.
Matt Wallner – OF Minnesota Twins (oblique)
Left oblique tightness for Matt Wallner, per Rocco. The Twins will hope to know more tomorrow.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) September 25, 2024
Wallner grabbed his side during an at-bat midway through the game last night, and it turns out that it was his oblique giving him problems. While the Twins are mathematically still alive in the Wild Card race and need all the help they can get, oblique injuries tend to take weeks if not months to heal. We may have seen Wallner’s final at-bat in 2024.
Minnesota Twins – Team Update
Max Kepler isn’t expected to return in the regular season, Rocco says.
Chris Paddack threw live yesterday and plans to throw again Thursday, with a decision point possible after that.
Justin Topa feels physically ready to return, he says, after his two Saints outings went well.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) September 24, 2024
From a fantasy perspective, Max Kepler (knee) will miss the rest of the regular season, and given how the Twins are playing, we won’t see them in the postseason, making 2025 the next time Kepler plays. The often-injured outfielder has received an injection for his lingering hip issues as well, but it’s the tendinitis in the knee that is the biggest culprit. As for Chris Paddack (forearm) the Twins’ chances in the standings might be the biggest indicator of if they will activate him this season or not.
Seiya Suzuki – OF Chicago Cubs (ankle)
#Cubs Seiya Suzuki was removed from the game after spraining his right ankle.
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) September 25, 2024
Suzuki injured himself last night while running the bases. With the Cubs out of any playoff or Wild Card contention, there is a chance that this is the last we see of Suzuki in 2024. Stay tuned.
Michael Busch – INF Chicago Cubs (tricep)
Michael Busch is out of the game in the bottom of the 2nd, replaced at first base by Bellinger, who shifts from right field.
Busch got hit by a 91.9 mph pitch in the 2nd. He stayed in to run the bases but didn't come out following the half inning.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) September 24, 2024
Busch suffered the injury early in last night’s game and was forced to leave. The official diagnosis was a tricep contusion, which leads one to believe that this isn’t as serious as it could have been, despite all bruises still hurt. With the Cubs not playing for much, they will likely be extra cautious with Busch here and not force him back into the lineup if he is not ready.