MLB Injury Report – Fingers crossed for Taylor Ward

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Monday, September 1, 2025. In today’s report, Taylor Ward took a huge tumble but should be alright, Matt Chapman might not miss much time away from the Giants, and Nick Kurtz should be back soon enough. Read about all of this and so much more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

MLB Injury Report

Taylor Ward – OF Los Angeles Angels

Scary scene here in Houston.

Hopefully Taylor Ward is OK.

(Just last night after the game, he and Jo Adell were talking about how dangerous it can be to hit that that out of town scoreboard wrong.) pic.twitter.com/P6yAzKLCtx

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 31, 2025

Very scary indeed, as Ward rammed himself into the outfield wall here, causing a massive laceration in his forehead. This is the same guy who took a pitch to the face and missed significant time with massive facial surgery. He was eventually carted off the field, with the hope and belief that it was for precautionary reasons. Judging from this late-night update on Ward, the hope and belief is that he will be fine and that this injury is just a short-term setback..

Randy Rdoriguez – RP San Francisco Giants

An absolutely brutal piece of news here, as Rodriguez had been breaking out, becoming one of the league’s best relievers. Now, he needs major surgery and will likely not pitch again until the 2027 season. Ryan Walker will take over as the team’s closer, but it’s unclear what they will do in the offseason to enter next year.

Matt Chapman – 3B San Francisco Giants

Chapman is fine and expects to play tomorrow. https://t.co/UJIiMsRHvS

— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) August 31, 2025

Chapman’s self-diagnosis is a piece of hopeful news, though player conditions tend to change after a night’s sleep. Stay tuned for updates tomorrow when deciding to put him in your daily lineups. As for a weekly lineup inclusion, it seems safe to assume that he’ll play more, if not all, of the week.

Nick Kurtz – 1B Sacramento Athletics

Good news on Nick Kurtz. His MRI came back clean. No strain. Kotsay said he’s hopeful to get Kurtz back on the field “sooner than later.”

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) August 30, 2025

Kurtz did not return this weekend, but it sounds like he will be able to avoid the Injured List. The problem with returning too soon from an oblique injury is that it’s easily triggered and could intensify.

MacKenzie Gore – SP Washington Nationals

MacKenzie Gore says an MRI of his shoulder showed “nothing crazy” and he believes they caught this quickly. He made it sound like he expects to return this season, but of course the team will have some say in that as well.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) August 30, 2025

The team hasn’t revealed any specific diagnosis here, other than he Gore has shoulder inflammation. While his return this season hasn’t been ruled out, it would feel weird for him to pitch more than one “peace of mind” game at the end of the season to have himself a normal offseason. While there’s still a month to go, a lot can happen in that time.

Max Scherzer – SP Toronto Blue Jays

Max Scherzer felt “upper back tightness” that was affecting his pitches per Schneider

— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) August 31, 2025

This might explain his struggles in yesterday’s game, as he gave up four runs in six innings of work, which pales in comparison to his previous four outings, where he gave up a total of five runs. At age 41, these sorts of ailments are bound to happen, and fantasy players should be ready with a backup plan.

Jake Burger – 3B Texas Rangers

Jake Burger (wrist) is in Arizona facing live pitching. Bruce Bochy said he could be activated as soon as tomorrow.

— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) August 31, 2025

It’s looking like Jake Burger will be back this week, if not as soon as tomorrow. Whether or not he plays every day AND produces is another thing altogether.

Max Muncy – 3B Los Angeles Dodgers

Dave Roberts said Max Muncy will not rejoin #Dodgers on this road trip due to his chest cold that has delayed his rehab.

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 31, 2025

It looks like Muncy’s return will be delayed for most of, if not all, of this week, making him someone to exclude from fantasy lineups.

Pablo Lopez – SP Minnesota Twins

Making his third (and likely final) Triple-A rehab start, Pablo López (shoulder) threw 5 2/3 shutout innings on 82 pitches.

Seven strikeouts, one walk, and just one hard-hit ball.

Fastball averaged 93.9 mph and topped out at 95.6.

Looks ready to rejoin the #MNTwins rotation.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) August 31, 2025

The belief is that Lopez will make his return next weekend. Needless to say, fantasy players should BE PREPARED!

Luis Garcia – SP Houston Astros

Luis Garcia will be activated from the IL tomorrow to start the series finale against the Angels. It will be his first start since May 1, 2023.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 31, 2025

Normally, there would be a reminder for readers to be prepared (see below), but with Garcia making his first start in over two years and with this being his first appearance after a major injury with setbacks, it feels safer to look elsewhere for streamers.

Jac Caglianone – OF Kansas City Royals

We anticipate the following roster moves tomorrow:

C Carter Jensen selected from Omaha (AAA)

OF/1B Jac Caglianone reinstated from the Injured List

RHP Luinder Avila recalled from Omaha (AAA)

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 31, 2025

Be prepared!