Here is the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Thursday, May 2, 2024. In today’s edition, Walker Buehler gets his debut date, Byron Buxton injures his knee, and Grayson Rodriguez surprisingly heads to the Injured List. All that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report – Thursday, May 2, 2024
Walker Buehler – SP Los Angeles Dodgers (Tommy John Surgery)
Walker Buehler will make his MLB return from Tommy John surgery on Monday against the Marlins, Dave Roberts said.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 2, 2024
Be prepared.
Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins (knee)
Rocco Baldelli said Byron Buxton would have some imaging done on his right knee so they can better assess what they're dealing with.
He said he thought it was something that came up during today's game.
The Twins have tomorrow off but should know more on Friday.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) May 1, 2024
Buxton hurt himself while running toward second base. The team will know more after they get the results back from this imaging. There is a chance that he will miss some time given his injury history.
Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees (elbow)
Gerrit Cole had a “heavy day” of throwing yesterday, according to Aaron Boone, who said he doesn’t know when Cole is scheduled to throw from a mound.
Considering it is May 1, Boone was asked if the All-Star break is realistic for Cole. Boone said he would not speculate.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 1, 2024
Cole has been progressing well for quite a while, however now he appears to have plateaued. He will need to clear the hurdle of throwing from a mound first before he is able to do anything else. Once he does that, his return time will be better known.
Francisco Lindor – SS New York Mets (flu)
Flu-like symptoms for Lindor, the Mets say. https://t.co/PKg1KSLAwq
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) May 1, 2024
This is nothing to worry about long-term for the Mets and fantasy owners. Lindor should be back any day now.
Grayson Rodriguez – SP Baltimore Orioles (shoulder inflammation)
Orioles news: Grayson Rodriguez is going on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to April 30. John Means was activated
It is interesting that they are bringing Means back now, not on a start day, which makes me think he could be going in the bullpen
— Danielle Allentuck (@d_allentuck) May 1, 2024
Rodrguez woke up yesterday with a pain in his shoulder and subsequently went for some testing. He has since been placed on the 15-day Injured List as a result, and will miss the next two weeks. There has been little indication as to whether or not he would require more time than that.
Boston Red Sox – Team Update
Vaughn Grissom likely to join the team Friday
Brayan Bello threw a bullpen yesterday, is expected to make a rehab start Tuesday
Nick Pivetta will make his rehab start tomorrow for Worcester
Romy Gonzalez is close to a rehab assignment
Yoshida is going on IL. MRI is right now— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) May 1, 2024
Of note here, Vaughn Grissom (hamstring, illness) will likely make his season debut this week after missing all of April. He will be a welcome sight for an ailing Boston club. As for Braya Bello (lat), the team has been consistently encouraged by his progress. With a rehab start this upcoming week, one has to wonder if they are speeding things up too quickly. Meanwhile, Nick Pivetta (elbow) threw 50 pitches the other day and will now transition into a rehab outing. Finally, Masataka Yoshida (thumb) will miss at least ten days, and one has to think that the team anticipates a bit more given that they have signed Garrett Cooper and Dominic Smith.
Justin Steele – SP Chicago Cubs (hamstring)
Per Craig Counsell, everything went well in Justin Steele’s rehab start with the @IowaCubs. He will workout in Iowa tomorrow and then meet the team in Chicago Friday. Nothing official on where/when his next start will be. #Cubs
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) May 1, 2024
Given that this was not an arm injury, it shouldn’t be surprising if he is able to return to the Cubs after this outing. Stay tuned as he could be activated next week.
Chas McCormick – OF Houston Astros (hamstring)
The Astros have recalled IF Jacob Amaya from Triple-A Sugar Land and have placed OF Chas McCormick on the 10-day IL with right hamstring discomfort.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 1, 2024
It was apparently a close call for the team, but they ultimately went the safer route to place McCormick on the Injured List. Chances are that he doesn’t miss much more than the ten-day minimum.
Cristian Javier – SP Houston Astros (neck)
Cristian Javier threw a side session off the mound and could return to action this weekend.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 1, 2024
Every day it is looking more and more like he will be back this weekend. Be prepared.
Zack Gelof – 2B Oakland Athletics (oblique)
Zack Gelof is back to baseball activity. Took grounders at second base today and played catch. Still no timetable for a return but a good sign.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) May 1, 2024
This is great news considering he was shut down completely just a few days ago. Still, as mentioned, there is no timetable for a return, so not much else is known at this time.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 1B Cincinnati Reds (hand), Tyler Stephenson – C Cincinnati Reds (hand)
Encarnacion-Strand (left hand) and Stephenson (right hand) have not played since their HBP's Saturday at Texas. Bell said the IL not a consideration.
“I think they’re pretty close,” Bell said. “With the off day [Thursday], I would imagine both guys will start on Friday."
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) May 1, 2024
That sounds like potentially good news for both ailing stars. Ultimately time will tell if this is the case, but it looks like they will be ready to play this weekend.
Frankie Montas – SP Cincannati Reds (forearm contusion)
Great news here as it would appear that Montas is ready to return.
Kris Bryant – 1B Colorado Rockies (back)
Bryant has been plagued with back injuries for the last little while of his career and has been slow to recover from them. This would appear to be the same sort of situation as he has still not even been cleared to start baseball activity.
Josh Lowe – OF Tampa Bay Rays ((oblique, hamstring)
#Rays Cash said Josh Lowe – whose expected return Saturday from an oblique strain was further delayed by hamstring tightness- is heading to AAA @DurhamBulls and will play there Thursday, then be evaluated on a day to day basis.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 1, 2024
Lowe returning to the Durham Bulls sounds disappointing, but it could be a short visit. Once he is physically ready to play and he is cleared, he will make his 2024 debut with the Rays.