MLB Injury Report – Major Yordan Alvarez Update… Again

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Monday, August 18, 2025. In today’s report, Yordan Alvarez will be starting a rehab assignment soon, Zach Wheeler has a potentially major injury, and Jackson Merrill could need some time off. Read about all of this and so much more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

MLB Injury Report

Yordan Alvarez – OF Houston Astros

Yordan Alvarez will report to Corpus Christi on Tuesday to start a rehab assignment, Joe Espada said. He’ll DH on Tuesday.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 17, 2025

This is great news regarding Yordan Alvarez, who will begin what should be a long rehab assignment tomorrow. Fun fact: Alvarez has been out just under two weeks longer than Kyle Tucker was last year, both with misdiagnosed injuries.

Jackson Merrill – OF San Diego Padres

Jackson Merrill said the ankle he rolled Friday felt progressively worse this weekend. “It’s f—ing frustrating,” Merrill said. “Hopefully, I play tomorrow if I wake up and it feels brand new, but I can't really say anything right now."

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) August 17, 2025

Merrill was pulled from yesterday’s game early as a result of this progressively worsening ankle injury. It remains to be seen when he’ll return to the lineup, because if using it made things worse, naturally, rest should make it better.

Chris Sale – SP Atlanta Braves

Chris Sale in 4K(s)

4.0 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 1 BB | 4 K pic.twitter.com/CCYggjOok5

— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 17, 2025

Sale had a shaky first inning, but settled in nicely after that. He threw 56 pitches, which was close to the 60 that he had planned to toss. It was a successful outing for him, and something to build on for the next rehab outing. All things considered, he could be one strong outing away from a return to the Braves.

Josh Lowe – OF Tampa Bay Rays

#Rays’ Josh Lowe feels oblique tightness but not expecting to go on IL https://t.co/9FJrEi8Rbo

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 17, 2025

While it’s good news that Lowe isn’t expected to miss much time, it is concerning that this is just another injury to add to the list of ailments that seem to be growing in the injury history of the young outfielder.

Lars Nootbaar – OF St. Louis Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar is out of the game, replaced in left field by Garrett Hampson. Nootbaar is experiencing muscle cramping, per team official. #stlcards #Cardinals

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) August 17, 2025

This is, unfortunately, another example of Nootbaar’s inability to stay healthy and perform like people expect him to. The hope is that he won’t miss much time, if any at all, and can get back to the lineup this week.

St. Louis Cardinals – Team Update

No Contreras in the lineup today but he’s available off the bench, he says. Cardinals will reevaluate him and Brendan Donovan ahead of the Marlins series.

Expect Nathan Church to get “a run” in CF in Scott’s absence. Cardinals are still waiting for a timetable on Scott.

— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) August 17, 2025

Neither Willson Contreras nor Brendan Donovan appeared in this game, and both remain questionable to do so shortly. If the Cardinals are going to make a run for the playoffs (specifically the Wild Card), both of these players will not only need to return but also be successful at the plate.

Francisco Alvarez – C New York Mets

Francisco Alvarez was removed from the game before the top of the eighth inning after jamming his right hand into second base on a headfirst slide in the bottom of the seventh.

— Andrew Tredinnick (@andrew_tred) August 18, 2025

Alvarez, once again, leaves a game early because of an injury. This is becoming more and more frequent, and it remains to be seen if he will require time on the Injured List.

Marcelo Mayer – SS Boston Red Sox

Alex Cora says the team will pass along more details of the procedure shortly but the expectation is it will be a three-month recovery and that Mayer should be ready in time for spring training.

— Mac Cerullo (@MacCerullo) August 17, 2025

Mayer will receive season-ending surgery on his ailing wrist, thus ending his season and being a disappointing end to his rookie year.

Jake Burger – 1B/3B Texas Rangers

Jake Burger will head back to Arlington for scans on his wrist, per Bruce Bochy. He will be out 2-3 days at least, Bochy said.

— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) August 17, 2025

This will be the second injury this month to Burger, who will now miss some time with a wrist injury that could sap his power. It’s frustrating because he’s typically a second-half player, but he’s running out of time to maintain that status.

Kyle Stowers – OF Miami Marlins

Kyle Stowers is going to the IL with a Grade-1 left side strain. Will miss “several weeks”, per McCullough.

— Daniel Álvarez-Montes (@DanielAlvarezEE) August 16, 2025

With the announcement that Stowers will miss several weeks, it’s quite possible that we don’t see him for up to a month, maybe even more than that. As such, he is droppable in redraft leagues.

Zach Wheeler – SP Philadelphia Phillies

Zack Wheeler is heading back to Philadelphia today and further testing will begin tomorrow, Rob Thomson said.

— Charlotte Varnes (@charlottevarnes) August 17, 2025

The news regarding Wheeler over the weekend was both disheartening and concerning. Blood clots can be life-threatening and, in the name of athletes, career-altering. While I won’t pretend to be anywhere near a medical expert here, all I will say is that there is a chance that his 2025 season is done.