MLB Injury Report – Big Bats Back for Braves!

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, August 13, 2025. In today’s report, Atlanta finally gets some good news this season, as three of their biggest injured players took a big step forward in their development and progression back. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley both have imminent returns, while Chris Sale worked his way through 40 pitches thrown. Read about all of this and so much more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

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MLB Injury Report

Atlanta Braves – Team Update

Acuña and Riley are with the team and both could be activated during this trip. Ronald is further along. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the lineup tomorrow or Thursday. Riley is eligible Thursday, but he may not be activated before this weekend's series in Cleveland.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 12, 2025

Finally, some good news for the Braves. It appears that both Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley are making their way back this week, possibly even by the weekend. Both should be able to help a struggling team that is still technically alive in the playoff hunt and could challenge for a Wild Card with a strong string of wins here.

Chris Sale – SP Atlanta Braves

https://twitter.com/DOBrienATL/status/1955417999730676108

A successful day, despite the first inning struggles, as Sale still managed to throw 40 pitches. He will likely need a few more starts, and it remains to be seen how hard they will push him to return. Some of that may depend on how competitive the team will be in the near future.

Milwaukee Brewers – Team Update

Injury updates from the Brewers:

-Logan Henderson is on the docket for a target return of late September/early October
-Jacob Misiorowski is slated to throw a bullpen today; could begin a short rehab assignment Friday
-Jake Bauers will begin a rehab assignment Thursday

— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) August 12, 2025

On the contrary, not the best news here for the Milwaukee Brewers. It turns out that Jacob Misiorowski will, in fact, need a rehab assignment, albeit a short one. Still, it’s innings needed to prove his health, which will not be used to help the Brewers in Major League games. As for Logan Henderson, it feels like he will be playoff-bound if the team makes it that far. Assuming he is healthy, there’s no guarantee that he makes this postseason roster.

Baltimore Orioles – Team Update

Orioles pitchers Félix Bautista and Zach Eflin are out for the rest of the season, Tony Mansolino announced.

Bautista has a “significant shoulder injury,” going to an appointment for it later this week. Eflin is undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy in his lower back.

— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) August 12, 2025

This is a disappointing end to both of their seasons, with possible repercussions heading into 2026. We should get more updates as we move along through this month, but for now, get them out of your lineups in all redraft leagues.

Cole Ragans – SP Kansas City Royals

Cole Ragans threw 15 pitches in his first bullpen today. Monitored his intensity but said he felt good. As long as everything checks out tomorrow and coming days, he’ll throw another bullpen session and remains on track in his progression.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) August 12, 2025

Ragans had himself a successful day, as he was able to throw 15 pitches with moderate success. The true test will be determining how he feels in the coming days, but if he does feel good enough to throw again, we could see some momentum for his return. The Royals refuse to give up, so they will likely try to get him back until they are mathematically eliminated.

Yordan Alvarez – OF Houston Astros

Yordan Alvarez could face live pitching this weekend in West Palm Beach, Joe Espada said.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 12, 2025

On the surface, this seems like a big step forward. Alvarez had been taking batting practice for the last little while with no reported setbacks or recurring pain. He is now moving forward to live pitching this weekend, which in the real world would be what a sensible team would allow because of the healing that they have seen take place. However, this is the Astros, and they operate in their world of magic and mystique, so who the heck really knows?

Josh Hader – RP Houston Astros

Josh Hader is getting further testing to determine severity of his shoulder strain, Joe Espada said. Espada called Hader’s injury a “punch in the gut.”

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 12, 2025

Speaking of the Astros, they are now in the process of figuring out the severity of a potentially serious injury here that could cripple their bullpen. It’s hard to imagine Hader back before the beginning of September, and he may be done for the regular season. Needless to say, go grab Bryan Abreu if he’s somehow available.

Oneil Cruz – OF Pittsburgh Pirates

Oneil Cruz was removed from this evening’s game and is being evaluated for a head injury.

He is currently being treated by the club’s medical staff. We will provide an update as new information becomes available.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 13, 2025

Cruz was removed from Tuesday’s game with a head injury, and the only update that we received was that he was being evaluated. The team has an early start to today’s game, so there’s a good chance that he sits this one out in the name of caution.

Willson Contreras – 1B St. Louis Cardinals

Frustrated by being hit by a pitch for the 18th time this season — and probably the pain in his right foot — #STLCards first baseman Willson Contreras snapped the bat over his knee and angrily tossed away the two pieces. pic.twitter.com/cAvbQanHt2

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) August 13, 2025

There were no updates on the status of Contreras after Wednesday’s game, and, much like the aforementioned Oneil Cruz, he plays for a team that also has an early game on Wednesday. As such, there’s a good chance that he also misses at least one game here.