MLB Injury Report – Concerns about Ohtani

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Monday, July 20, 2026. In today’s edition, the Royals are dealing with back tightness from Bobby Witt Jr., the Yankees continue to play the waiting game with Aaron Judge, and the Dodgers continue to find ways to manage their rotation and lineup because of Shohei Ohtani’s left knee. 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. is out of the lineup today with a tight back. Manager Matt Quatraro said it progressed during yesterday’s game and they wanted to be cautious with him today. #Royals

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 19, 2026

Interesting development here, as Witt is working through some tightness in his back. The Royals play seven games this week, making it a difficult choice before opening pitch today. Stay tuned for updates, but it doesn’t sound like this will be a major issue.

Shohei Ohtani – DH/SP Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani won’t start on Wednesday. Dave Roberts said #Dodgers and Ohtani decided to be cautious with left knee and not have him pitch for undetermined amount time.

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 19, 2026

Ohtani won’t pitch for the time being, as his knee problem isn’t going away. Whether or not this can go away with rest remains to be seen, but he’s already had it drained. This is a bigger deal than what we’ve been led to believe, and his offensive contributions have also suffered. With the Dodgers always keen on ensuring that they have their best foot forward in October, he may miss time on the Injured List at some point.

Aaron Judge – OF New York Yankees

Boone said the Yankees have heard back from the specialist regarding Judge’s broken rib and the recommendation is that he is not yet ready to resume baseball activities. Judge is feeling significantly less pain than he was before

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) July 18, 2026

The news on Judge was just confirmation that he isn’t yet ready to resume baseball activities. It’s good that the pain is significantly less than it once was, but we are bordering on the final two months of the season, and if he doesn’t resume these activities anytime soon, fantasy baseball managers will have a tough decision to make.

Nick Kurtz – 1B Sacramento Athletics

Kurtz was placed on the Injured List last week, so expecting him to resume baseball activities this soon may have been a little optimistic. However, the team has been very obtuse about anything resembling a timeline here, leading one to believe that this is a rather serious injury that will require extensive time away. That being said, no rash decisions on whether he should be rostered should be made just yet. There’s still enough time for him to return and be a league-winning player.

Carlos Rodon – SP New York Yankees

Carlos Rodón had a second round of shots, including another PRP, on Friday after throwing about 10 pitches from the mound. The goal is for him to throw a full bullpen session this coming week. #Yankees

— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) July 19, 2026

This should not be considered a setback, as there are rumblings that this was part of the plan for the southpaw. That said, he still has a ways to go before returning to the mound for the Yankees.

Corbin Carroll – OF Arizona Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll is day to day with a hyperextended right elbow, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo says. No imaging, chance to play tomorrow.

— José M. Romero (@RomeroJoseM) July 20, 2026

Carroll injured himself while swinging a bat on Sunday and needed to exit the game early. There was some fear that this could have been a lot more serious than it apparently is. For now, consider him day-to-day, but stay tuned for an update, as sometimes, a day after the injury, plans change based on how a player sleeps on things. That being said, it would appear that the Diamondbacks and fantasy baseball managers have dodged a bullet here.

Brandon Woodruff – SP Milwaukee Brewers

Absolutely horrific news regarding Woodruff, though for what it could have been, some say this is relatively positive. The part that is difficult to swallow is that this is a recurring injury, and as such, the team will likely take things a lot slower than before. And while the minimum time away expected should be 20 months, the fact of the matter is that he will be 35 years old when ramping himself up for a comeback. It’s not impossible, but it’s also far less than ideal as well. Speaking frankly, it feels like his best route back is that of a reliever. Though nothing has been spoken of a comeback in the bullpen, the time from now until then is long enough for that conversation to take place.

Jose Ramirez – 3B Cleveland Guardians

The news here isn’t insignificant, as this would cut his time away from the team and offer more fantasy value. There was some speculation that he would be ready to return just around the trade deadline. However, if this report is to be believed and he doesn’t need a rehab assignment, a late-July return isn’t out of the question. He’s already begun facing live pitching, and he’s good enough to know when he’s ready. Perhaps he is activated this upcoming week at some point?

Kyle Harrison – SP Milwaukee Brewers

Kyle Harrison says his precautionary MRI came back “all good” and he threw off the mound yesterday with no issues. Now it’s just a matter of whether he faces hitters before coming off the IL. Eligible beginning Friday.

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) July 19, 2026

Harrison has seemingly avoided anything structurally wrong here, but rest will be key. It’s a good sign that he was able to throw on Saturday with no issues whatsoever. Let’s just hope that both he and the team don’t push things too far too fast, resulting in a setback here. That being said, there is no timetable for a return and no plan in place.

Ryan Helsley – RP Baltimore Orioles

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/Gz2fmdNd54

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 19, 2026

The move means that Helsley won’t be able to return until the beginning of September. He didn’t suffer a setback here, but the team felt it necessary to move him there now.

Baltimore Orioles – Team Update

When it rains, it pours.

Sam Huff enters the game for Samuel Basallo. Orioles announce Basallo left with right shoulder discomfort.

Adley Rutschman might be dealing with something, and now Basallo, too. Unclear if Rutschman is available.

Looks like it happened on this swing. pic.twitter.com/rQnVaVnjJe

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) July 19, 2026

Adley Rutschman missed yesterday’s game with an unknown ailment. Meanwhile, Samuel Basallo left Sunday’s game early. With that in mind, Sam Huff might be the starting catcher for the Orioles this week. As Meyer said above, when it rains, it pours.

Oneil Cruz – OF Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are selecting the contract of Khristian Curtis for game 1 of today’s doubleheader. Wilber Dotel will be activated off the injured list for game 2. Oneil Cruz to 60-day injured list to open up 40 man spot.

No setback in Cruz’s rehab. Eligible to come off the IL Aug. 8

— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) July 18, 2026

Cruz did not suffer a setback. That said, it is somewhat disappointing in that he won’t be able to return until August 7, 2026.

Casey Mize – SP Detroit Tigers

AJ Hinch said Mize was dealing with groin tightness as well as the wrist. The wrist will be ok. More rehab and tests on the groin. Mize said he came out of the as a precaution

— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) July 19, 2026

Mize left Sunday’s game early as a precaution. However, knowing that he is dealing with multiple ailments isn’t a ringing endorsement for playing time in the future. There is a chance that he misses time here, especially given his extensive injury history.

Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins

Byron Buxton continues to build up baseball activity in Chicago today. #MNTwins manager says they’re still taking things day-by-day, but they’re optimistic about him being activated sometime during the Cleveland series.

— Theodore Tollefson (@TheodoreTollef1) July 19, 2026

Be prepared!

Luis Robert Jr. – OF New York Mets

The Mets are hopeful that Luis Robert Jr. will be back for their series in Milwaukee starting Monday.

Here's how Andy Green plans to split up playing time in the outfield when Robert returns:

"All of them are going to play … When it comes to the two kids that we feel strongly…

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 18, 2026

Be prepared!