MLB Injury Report – Judge Sentenced to 10 Days

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Monday, July 28, 2025. In today’s report, the Royals received bad news on Kris Bubic, the Yankees received devastating news on Aaron Judge, but the Twins got some positive updates on both Byron Buxton and Bailey Ober. All of this, and so much more, in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

MLB Injury Report

Kris Bubic – SP Kansas City Royals

It’s a left rotator cuff strain officially for Bubic, who will undergo further testing now to determine next steps.

Safe to say this is fairly terrible news for a #Royals rotation already with two starters on the IL in Ragans and Lorenzen. https://t.co/zTm82XYsNJ

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 27, 2025

Bubic pitched on Saturday, and he labored through 2.2 innings of work. His velocity was down, and his command was non-existent. He said afterward that something felt physically off. We learned a day later that he has a strained rotator cuff and will need some time away to heal. How long that time will be is unknown, but given that we are in August, he has already surpassed his career-high in innings by a fair amount, and that the Royals are likely not making the playoffs, there is a significant chance that he gets shut down for the season. We should know more in the future, but for now, he’s someone who can be dropped in all redraft leagues.

Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins

https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1949577860059910275

Buxton left Saturday’s game with tightness in his side. The worst was feared, given how extensive his injury history has been over the years. It turns out that he is suffering from rib cartilage irritation, and the team views that as good news. As such, he is likely in a day-to-day situation, though given that it’s irritation, if he returns too early, it could become more severe.

Bailey Ober – SP Minnesota Twins

#MNTwins are leaving the upcoming rotation schedule fluid for now, but it sounds like Bailey Ober's next start will be in the majors.

Ober has been on the injured list since June 29 with a left hip impingement. He made two Triple-A rehab starts, allowing one run in nine innings.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 27, 2025

The results in his rehab assignment were promising, as he struck out nine batters and walked just one, while giving up six hits. If he has this hip issue under control, he can be a league winner for you in the final two months.

Aroldis Chapman – RP Boston Red Sox

Red Sox nation, take a sigh of relief. Aroldis Chapman on being taken out of the game:

"Just a spasm that should be gone in a couple days." pic.twitter.com/Ra4AHkcOi2

— NESN (@NESN) July 27, 2025

Chapman left Sunday’s game with what was believed to be a serious injury. It would appear that the crisis has been averted. He remains a candidate to be traded by the deadline, though if he misses some time here, that could become quite difficult.

Grant Holmes – SP Atlanta Braves

The #Braves today acquired RHP Erick Fedde and cash considerations from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred RHP Grant Holmes to the 60-day injured list.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 27, 2025

This was done for two reasons, one of which was explained above. The other reason for the quick 60-day designation is that Holmes is likely out for the remainder of the season, given that the team may have little to play for down the stretch.

Dylan Crews – OF Washington Nationals

Dylan Crews is heading to Rochester to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 27, 2025

Crews has been gradually ramping himself up with more and more work being done with the team. It appears that he is now ready to take a big step forward in his recovery and test himself out with a rehab assignment. He is a significant part of the team’s future, so they will be cautious about how quickly they allow him to return.

Nick Kurtz – 1B The Athletics

Rest day for Nick Kurtz. Kotsay said he’s been “doing a lot of running lately” and is just dealing with general soreness/fatigue with his lower half. He’s available off the bench.

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 27, 2025

To say that he was on fire this weekend would be an understatement. The hope here is that he can continue his streak shortly and that these minor conditions will resolve sooner rather than later.

Isaac Paredes – 3B Houston Astros

Isaac Paredes’ hamstring injury is “a little bit more severe than we had projected,” Dana Brown told @raford3 on the Astros’ pregame show. Paredes is getting a second opinion and should have results back in the next week, Brown said. @AstrosRadioMLB

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 27, 2025

It’s a toss-up between what’s the more concerning detail. The fact that there’s a chance that Paredes doesn’t play again this season, or that it took the Astros’ medical staff more than a week to get this kind of inconclusive diagnosis.

Aaron Judge – OF New York Yankees

Aaron Boone was asked if Judge can DH right now without hurting himself more, and if he's not because Giancarlo Stanton isn't ready for the OF:

"So there's the feeling that if he just DH'd now that he probably would not compromise his UCL. Obviously, throwing would. That said,…

— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) July 27, 2025

The most impactful news of the weekend came when Aaron Judge was placed on the Injured List with a right flexor strain in his elbow. The good news is that his UCL is intact, meaning that (for now) he won’t require any surgery. The bad news is that he will miss the foreseeable future with an injury that may need a lot of time to heal, and it could impact his production. He does have a chance to return early in August, but he would do so as the team’s designated hitter while he progresses toward throwing a baseball. With him unable to play in the outfield, there have been murmurs of Giancarlo Stanton getting outfield reps, which feels like a “break glass in case of emergency” situation. There is no doubt that the team will look for outfield help at the deadline.

Baltimore Orioles – Team Update

Injury updates from Tony Mansolino:

• Adley Rutschman and Keegan Akin expected to come off IL on Monday.
• Kyle Bradish getting a 2nd rehab outing Tuesday with Double-A Chesapeake.
• Tyler Wells beginning his rehab outing Wednesday with Chesapeake.

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) July 27, 2025

A lot to unpack here, but for fantasy purposes, let’s start with Kyle Bradish. He will get another rehab outing tomorrow and look to improve on what was an impressive first outing last week. As for Adley Rutschman, be prepared!