MLB Injury Report – Oh No, Not Witt Too!

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Monday, June 8, 2026. In today’s edition, the Pirates suddenly find themselves in a ton of trouble with injuries, and updates on Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz, and Konnor Griffin. Also, Tarik Skubal looked phenomenal in a rehab start. The Royals will play the waiting game on two key pieces, and Byron Buxton is almost ready to return. You can read about all of this and so much more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

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MLB Injury Report

Bobby Witt Jr. – SS Kansas City Royals

Bobby Witt Jr.’s knee soreness was something that progressed throughout the game, and there was a long at-bat in the 3rd that didn’t help. Said he was hoping to get to the off day tomorrow to rest it but the ache never wore off. He’ll continue to be evaluated tomorrow & Tuesday.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) June 7, 2026

This is a potentially scary situation if it escalates. It’s not great that Witt was playing through this injury throughout most of the game, as it probably got worse as time went on. In fact, as mentioned, the aching not wearing off isn’t really the sign that it’s going to go away anytime soon. However, I’m not a doctor, and all I can do is look at the facts. The good news is that the Royals do have today off, and sometimes that’s all a player would need. As mentioned, he’ll be evaluated today, and chances are we’ll find out more about his status before the opening pitch tomorrow. That being said, fantasy managers are advised to have a backup plan at shortstop, just in case this lingers.

Brandon Lowe – 2B Pittsburgh Pirates

Asked Brandon Lowe what it took to get his knee well enough to pinch hit. (He was moving slow this morning.) pic.twitter.com/Kwl3STlAPw

— Jason Mackey (@JMackey_PGH) June 7, 2026

Fantasy managers and Pirates fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief….maybe. For anyone who watched this injury happen, Lowe looked to be in considerable pain on Saturday. There was some speculation that he had fractured his kneecap. The good news here is that yesterday, he could be seen moving around on the field, shuffling from side to side under the watchful eyes of the Pirates staff. He also had a pinch-hit double late in the game, as described in the excerpt above. It would appear that everyone here has avoided a major bullet, as any chance the team has to win rides on him playing. He is a true day-to-day designation, and there still could be a trip to the Injured List here, but chances are the potential multi-month absence won’t come to fruition. However, it will be interesting to see how he is used going forward. Can he play in the field?

Konnor Griffin – SS Pittsburgh Pirates

IMPORTANT… GM Ben Cherington with update on Konnor Griffin –

Visited with Dr. Meister in Dallas when the team was in Houston to get more info.

Flexor Mass Muscle strain

The location of the injury has changed.
Given the exact spot of the injury, Pirates are going to be…

— Dan Zangrilli (@DanZangrilli) June 7, 2026

The update here on Griffin is bittersweet. He does have a flexor mass muscle strain, but with the exact location of it changing, the Pirates want to be extra cautious with how they handle this. He is asymptomatic, which is great, but if he rushes back too soon, chances are that he reaggravates the injury and they’re starting from scratch. The Pirates would be wise to remain slow and steady here.

Oneil Cruz – OF Pittsburgh Pirates

Ben Cherington on Oneil Cruz:

He is 'banged up' [hand] after sliding into home plate yesterday. That's why he's not in the lineup today.

He's day-to-day.

Sounds like it could be one more / a few games, but Cherington sounds confident they'll avoid an IL stint with Cruz.

— Dan Zangrilli (@DanZangrilli) June 7, 2026

Cruz missed Sunday’s game with this hand injury, and the news here isn’t overly worrying, but not nothing either. It sounds like he could miss a handful of games this upcoming week, making it a bit of a challenge to start him in weekly leagues. The good news here is that Cruz had imaging done, and it all came back negative.

Salvador Perez – C Kansas City Royals

Salvador Perez is not in the lineup for a second consecutive day as he deals with a right thumb injury, which was sustained on a wild pitch that hit him Friday. It led to some swelling, but #Royals are hopeful that by Tuesday he’s feeling back to normal, Quatraro said.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) June 7, 2026

Perez missed both Saturday and Sunday’s games with this injury, but the good news is that it would appear that there’s only swelling and nothing more. It’s unclear when he’ll return, but chances are that he won’t require a trip to the Injured List. It’s been a rough year for him at the plate, and his health has been an issue with an ailing hip and now a finger. There’s still time for him to turn things around, though.

Jac Caglianone – OF Kansas City Royals

Jac Caglianone (shoulder) feels better today but is being evaluated pregame to determine his availability off the bench, manager Matt Quatraro said. #Royals don’t believe there’s anything wrong structurally, so the hope is he’s ready to get back in games in the coming days.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) June 7, 2026

Caglianone crashed into the wall on Friday and has missed the rest of the weekend as a result. He did manage a pinch-hit at-bat on Saturday, which does indicate that perhaps he’s not going to miss too much more time. With the team almost ruling out structural damage, chances are he plays this week.

Detroit Tigers – Team Update

Justin Verlander will make a rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo. Casey Mixe will pitch Tuesday in Clearwater with Class A Lakeland.

— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) June 7, 2026

There was some thought that Justin Verlander would be back this week, but with him making another rehab appearance on Wednesday, it looks like we will have to wait until the following week for his eventual return. All that being said, he’s close. As for Casey Mize, a reminder that he hurt his thigh, and because it’s not an upper-body injury, he could very well be ready to go after one rehab outing. Stay tuned.

Kenley Jansen – RP Detroit Tigers

Kenley Jansen is set to pitch Tuesday for the Mud Hens, weather permitting.

— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) June 7, 2026

Jansen might need just a handful of appearances here and could be back up with the Tigers when first eligible in the middle of June.

Jameson Taillon – SP Chicago Cubs

"I don't think it's surgical or anything like that. I'm getting an MRI tomorrow and will know more."

Jameson Taillon on his exit from today's start with a hamstring strain. pic.twitter.com/58tNdO25J1

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 8, 2026

Taillon exited Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury that will now cost him some time away. It’s unclear exactly what the severity of the situation is, as Taillon himself did say that he’s moving around and is aiming to keep his arm moving and conditioned while gone. This is another big blow to the Cubs, who have now lost most of their Opening Day starting rotation, and will be scrounging around to find help wherever they can.

Hurston Waldrep – SP Atlanta Braves

Hurston Waldrep went two innings today in his second Florida Complex League outing.

Waldrep threw two innings, walked three, struck out four and allowed a run on two hits. Also had a wild pitch and pitch timer violation.

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) June 6, 2026

Waldrep will need many more rehab starts before returning, but if you can pick him now for next to nothing, I’d do that.

Tarik Skubal – SP Detroit Tigers

Tarik Skubal's rehab start:
5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
54 pitches, 44 strikes
Fastball topped out at 99 early, settled in around 97-98.

Tigers probably would've liked his pitch count to go deeper, but he can finish that out in bullpen. https://t.co/Rx7ZHcx4uV

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) June 7, 2026

Fantastic outing here for Skubal, who looked absolutely stunning here. Mind you, he was against younger, inexperienced competition, but this is very promising. He is making those who doubted him look foolish, myself included. Let’s see how he feels after this start.

Max Fried – SP New York Yankees

Max Fried is expected to throw from 120 feet this week. He'll also get another round of imaging to determine if he can start working off the mound. #Yankees

— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) June 7, 2026

Fried continues to slowly make progress, and the next line of imaging should tell us exactly where he’s at. If he can start throwing from a mound, that’s a great sign that things are healing and that bullpen sessions could be right around the corner.

Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins

Filling in for @nightengalejr Byron Buxton is undergoing a fitness check this morning. Twins manager Derek Shelton might be able to use him at DH.

— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) June 7, 2026

The team has already said that they would be taking things slowly with Buxton, simply because he re-injured the shoulder that cost him time earlier this season. Makes sense, given his injury history, as it’s a responsible way of handling things. All that being said, it’s a good sign that he isn’t on the Injured List as it is.