Here is the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Tuesday, March 26, 2023. In today’s edition, Bryan Woo will start the season on the Injured List with elbow inflammation, Kevin Gausman instills confidence with a solid debut, and Dylan Carlson injures his shoulder after a collision in the outfield. All that and much more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report for Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Bryan Woo – SP Seattle Mariners
Mariners GM Justin Hollander said Bryan Woo will open the year on the IL with elbow inflammation. Said Woo couldn’t get loose in his last bullpen and was shut down. MRI came back clean. Emerson Hancock will take Woo’s place in the rotation
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) March 25, 2024
The inflammation has been described as mild, which is important. As it stands, the team says that Woo should not miss much time, as the injury is reminiscent of what he suffered last year. It was then where he missed the minimum time and the Mariners hope that the same will happen here. It is somewhat concerning though that less than a year and a mere 32.2 innings later, he once again feels the same inflammation in his elbow. If he misses more than the minimum, then he could be on a one-way road to a bigger issue later on. Emerson Hancock will replace him in the rotation.
Matt Brash – RP Seattle Mariners
Matt Brash threw 25 pitches off the mound at 85 percent effort. He remains on a positive track to return to the bullpen.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) March 25, 2024
This is an improvement from the last time when he threw at nearly 70% effort. Brash is slowly, but surely, improving. It will be important to see how he feels after he’s at 10% effort. He is aiming to return as a mid-season piece to the Mariners bullpen.
Justin Verlander – SP Houston Astros
Justin Verlander will throw a 2 inning/30-35 pitch live bullpen tomorrow then will likely go out on a rehab assignment, says Joe Espada.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) March 25, 2024
The hope is that Verlander goes through this smoothly and without issue. If he’s feeling good afterward, then a rehab assignment seems likely once the season begins. He remains on track to only miss a handful of starts.
Kevin Gausman – SP Toronto Blue Jays
"It's an unusual approach, to say the least. And if this was a lesser pitcher, you wouldn't see it."@bnicholsonsmith outlines the #BlueJays' plans for Kevin Gausman after his strong start in Spring Training with @ailishforfar & @jccuthbert.
LIVE ⤵️
📺 https://t.co/SqK7M993Jz pic.twitter.com/HFRxwB0BEc— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) March 25, 2024
Gausman went out there and provided a ton of confidence in himself by striking out seven batters over three innings of work. As stated in the interview, the team has a decision to make with some unusual circumstances. Do they allow Gausman to stretch himself out over time, or do they place him on the Injured List to do so in a more traditional manner? The last thing they want to do is have him be rushed and subsequently hurt himself and do more damage. On the other hand, he is a key component to their success. Either way, it’s important to see how he feels today and go from there.
Garrett Mitchell – OF Milwaukee Brewers
Garrett Mitchell has a fracture in his left hand. He will open the year on the Injured List. pic.twitter.com/IMI1e4ax4n
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) March 25, 2024
This is by no means how Mitchell or the Brewers wanted to begin their season. He will now see a hand specialist to figure out the severity of the situation alongside a potential timeline for a return. Needless to say, this is horrible news for a promising player who just can’t stay on the field.
Paul Sewald – RP Arizona Diamondbacks
Paul Sewald said he first felt some discomfort in the oblique area after his outing last Monday.
He felt fine for several days after and got the okay to pitch on Saturday, but didn't feel good during the outing and decided to get an MRI. pic.twitter.com/2KbH2konDk
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) March 26, 2024
Sewald was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Above, he details how insignificant the pain that he felt was for a few days. When it didn’t necessarily go away, he opted to get an MRI, which revealed the strain. Chances are that he misses at least one month of action here while recovering from this injury. That said, obliques are tricky and fickle and their recovery time can vary. Kevin Ginkel appears ready to take over as the team’s closer, though nothing has officially been announced.
Randal Grichuk – OF Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are opting to give Randal Grichuk more time so that he can play in the outfield as opposed to just DH, Torey Lovullo said.
Seemed to imply Grichuk will open the year on the IL.
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) March 25, 2024
Grichuk had surgery to remove some bone spurs last month. While nothing has been officially announced, chances are that he is not 100% healthy and will need time to get there. Stay tuned.
Dylan Carlson – OF St. Louis Cardinals
#STLCards are calling Dylan Carlson's ailment a "left shoulder injury," per a club official. The severity of the injury has not been determined yet.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 25, 2024
Both Carlson and Jordan Walker collided while trying to track down a fly ball in right field on Monday. Carlson landed awkwardly, injuring his left shoulder in the process. The team hasn’t provided much of an update other than that he is injured. We should know more later today, but there is a significant chance that he will wind up beginning the season on the Injured List. Victor Scott II could be called up as an alternative if this is the case.
Lars Nootbar – OF St. Louis Cardinals
The #STLCards got good news about the steady progress of LF Lars Nootbaar, who took soft-toss swings on Sunday and Monday without ill effects from the rib fractures on his left side.
Nootbaar, who was slated to be the Opening Day starter in LF, will open on the 10-day IL.
(1/2)
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 25, 2024
#STLCards manager Oli Marmol on the progress being made by LF Lars Nootbaar back at the team headquarters in Florida:
“Nootbaar swung [Sunday] and [Monday], and I was able to see video of his swings today and it looked really good. His body is responding well.”
(2/2)
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 25, 2024
The team seems happy with the progress that Nootbar is making. The hope is that he won’t miss too much time to begin the season, as he is out of action with two non-displaced fractures in his ribs. There is no timeline for a return, but the team does not anticipate being long.
Walker Buehler – SP Los Angeles Dodgers
Dave Roberts said Walker Buehler pitched four simulated innings to Dodgers hitters before the game. A rehab assignment is "close," but up first is a bullpen session in 2-3 days
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) March 26, 2024
There was no word on any velocity readings, but it’s promising nonetheless here that Buehler was able to do what he did. It would seem that he won’t be out of action for too long and that a May debut is quite possible. That said, the team wants to conserve his innings for later in the season.
Bryan Reynolds – OF Pittsburgh Pirates
Also, Reynolds held out past 3 days due to minor mid-back discomfort. Tomczyk says Reynolds will be fine & good to go vs. Miami. https://t.co/PyWpoKgkJX
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) March 25, 2024
This seems more precautionary than anything for Reynolds. The team fully believes that he will be ready for Opening Day.
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