MLB Injury Report – Help is on the Way!

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Friday, August 15, 2025. In today’s report, we get some tentative return timeframes for players that can help you win down the stretch. For example, Ronald Acuna Jr. could be back any day, Austin Riley next week, Kyle Bradish in about a week, and Aaron Nola this weekend. Read about this and so much more in today’s edition of the MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

MLB Injury Report

Michael King – SP San Diego Padres

A day before he was scheduled to start a big series opener at Dodger Stadium, the Padres placed Michael King on the 15-day IL, citing knee inflammation. Randy Vásquez, who threw 68 pitches in a Triple-A start Sunday, was recalled. Tomorrow’s starter is TBA.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) August 14, 2025

We can officially label the 2025 season a lost cause for King, as he will now miss time with a second injury. While we’re unsure just how significant this ailment is, it comes just days after his first start in months on August 9, during which he pitched for only two innings. From here, he will likely be unable to keep his arm loose, and he may need a rehab assignment to rebuild his strength. This is not ideal for him, the Padres, and for anyone who has rostered him all season long.

Aaron Nola – SP Philadelphia Phillies

Aaron Nola will start Sundays 11:35 am game, and the #Phillies will move to a six-man rotation next week with Taijuan Walker as No. 6. Ranger Suárez will start Monday.

— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) August 14, 2025

Great news here, as Nola will make his return after three months away. It remains to be seen how this affects the rest of the Phillies’ rotation. On the one hand, this eliminates potential starts from them, meaning fewer opportunities for production fantasy-wise. On the other hand, there have been reports of fatigue throughout the rotation, so perhaps this will allow for better results. Quality over quantity?

Austin Riley – 3B Atlanta Braves

Snit said Austin Riley felt something in his lower abdomen while throwing on Tuesday. So, it’s a good sign to see the third baseman taking grounders again today. He was eligible to be activated today pic.twitter.com/WGYcNkM1c7

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 14, 2025

Here was some added context, giving details on Riley’s injury setback from earlier in the week. Seeing him out there running and taking groundballs is a very good sign for a quick return. All that being said, the real test will be how he feels in the coming days. If the pain returns yet again, then he may have to ramp up how he is preparing to come back and be ready for activation.

Ronald Acuna Jr. – OF Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuña is expected to be back in the Braves’ lineup this weekend, as soon as tomorrow.

— Gabe Burns (@GabeBurnsAJC) August 14, 2025

It seems like Acuna is all but ready to return to the Braves.

Atlanta Braves – Team Update

Sale will start for Gwinnett on Sunday. Snit is now far less optimistic about the possibility of Lopez or Schwellenbach pitching again this year. Jimenez won’t pitch this year

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 14, 2025

Great news here that Chris Sale has not suffered any setbacks and looks ready to take the next step in his journey to return this season. The hope is that he can go a bit longer than last time and be more efficient in his outing. As for Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Joe Jimenez, they can all be dropped in redraft leagues.

Pablo Lopez – SP Minnesota Twins

Pablo López is throwing two innings of live batting practice on Friday. It'll be his sixth time off the mound, including bullpens, etc. Big step. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 14, 2025

Lopez is expected back later this month or in early September, and a successful live batting practice session would go a long way to get him back. If all goes well, fantasy players could still get three or four outings out of him upon his return.

Roki Sasaki – SP Los Angeles Dodgers

Roki Sasaki's first Minor League appearance is in the books ☑️

2025's No. 1 international prospect (@Dodgers) throws 41 pitches (25 strikes) in a rehab start for the @OKC_comets, his first outing since May 9. pic.twitter.com/OP32S3FJHn

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 15, 2025

Sasaki’s first rehab assignment is complete, and the results are mixed. He was expected to pitch at least three innings, but he got into trouble in the third and was subsequently pulled. His splitter looked great, which is a good sign, but his velocity was down, and he didn’t generate any whiffs via his fastball. Overall, he gets a passing grade for this start, simply because it was his first appearance in so long that there’s a chance he had to get rid of the cobwebs and mechanical issues. If these things persist in his next appearance, then the worries will most definitely increase.

Kyle Bradish – SP Baltimore Orioles

Kyle Bradish’s final line for Triple-A Norfolk:

5 innings
2 hits
0 runs
2 walks
9 strikeouts

One more rehab start, and then Bradish should be doing this in an Orioles uniform.

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) August 15, 2025

This was undoubtedly his best rehab outing to date. Fantasy players would be wise to stash him in the deepest of leagues because even at a fraction of this type of output, he still possesses some value this late in the season.