MLB Injury Report – Return of the Griffin

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Friday, September 4, 2026. In today’s edition, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani may be at a crossroads with respect to how to treat his nagging injuries, the Rangers and Eovaldi may be having a reunion of sorts sooner than originally expected, and the Pirates are set to welcome back Konnor Griffin to their lineup as soon as today. You can read about all of that and so much more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

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MLB Injury Report

Shohei Ohtani – SP/DH Los Angeles Dodgers

Ohtani is hurt. There’s no way around it; he has been battling through injuries all season long, and it feels like we are on the precipice of something big here. He hasn’t been the same in quite some time, as he’s been battling through knee and biceps discomfort. As such, his performance on the field has suffered. First, any pitching return is seemingly out of reach right now, after having bullpens postponed. The team decided to wait because he wasn’t 100% ready. Now, some time after that development, we learn that the team is going to bench him on Thursday night, giving him additional time to rest. The problem here is that I don’t think Ohtani wants to sit. He wants to get out there and play, and while his fighting spirit is welcomed, it is ultimately hurting both him and the team. With the Dodgers up by so many games right now in the National League West, why not give him ten days of rest, let Dalton Rushing earn his roster spot, and see if he can be better in more than a week? Doing that might be just enough to get him close to or at 100% health for the playoffs. It’s up to Ohtani, I think, to make that choice.

Nathan Eovaldi – SP Texas Rangers

Nathan Eovaldi threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session today, and did so without restriction. The next step will depend on how he feels Friday. Could be another bullpen or a live BP. #Rangers

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) September 3, 2026

Eovaldi continues to work hard at returning. From the sound of how things are going, we could very well see him pitch for the final two weeks of the season. He may need a short rehab assignment, which could cause him to miss more time down the stretch. Still, for a team that is trying to win a Wild Card spot, they will need him healthy later this month and possibly beyond.

Josh Jung – 3B Texas Rangers

Josh Jung's run progression will shift from jogging to sprints. #Rangers are cautiously optimistic that Jung is on the right track now.

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) September 3, 2026

Jung has been slowly progressing here, as his time away has been longer than originally expected. It’s not like there have been setbacks, but rather Jung’s body hasn’t healed as quickly as both he and the team thought he would, and as such, he’s bordering on five weeks away. While he may come back and contribute again this season, the bigger takeaway should be a reminder that if and when Jung gets hurt again- and he might, because of his extensive injury history- his recovery time will likely be longer than expected. Plan accordingly.

Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins

Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said last week that hip surgery "is definitely a potential option" for Byron Buxton.

Good scoop from @nightengalejr, who got Buxton to confirm he will need surgery, but is waiting to see if he can play again this season: https://t.co/032oofFEiC

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) September 3, 2026

It always felt like surgery wasn’t just on the table, but that it was on the plate, heated up nicely, and served on a silver platter for everyone. The often-injured superstar is likely having hip surgery this offseason, and it may happen earlier if the team deems that he won’t be returning at any point this season.

Ceddanne Rafaela – OF Boston Red Sox

Chad Tracy on Ceddanne Rafaela (right quad): "He's still sore. Still some tightness and soreness in there. So obviously off. And then we'll essentially be day-to-day. He's going to get treatment like crazy and he'll be day-to-day to see how he feels and how he's progressing."

— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) September 3, 2026

Rafaela exited late in Wednesday’s game and wasn’t in the lineup a day later. The team will continue to work on the tightness he is feeling, with the hopes that he can return this weekend. Stay up to date with what manager Chad Tracy is saying and how the Red Sox are handling things. It doesn’t feel like a trip to the Injured List is warranted….yet.

Kyle Stowers – 1B Miami Marlins

Kyle Stowers exited with left hamstring tightness. #Marlins

— Christina De Nicola (@CDeNicola13) September 4, 2026

This has the chance to be something bigger than it is. Stowers left early on Thursday night after getting hit by a pitch on the inside of his left ankle. It appeared that the exit from the game was because of pain where the ball hit, but apparently it was due to left hamstring tightness that developed while he tried to avoid the pitch. Let’s hope that this isn’t anywhere close to being a significant injury, as this is the third time he has injured his hamstrings this year, and the second time on his left side. There wasn’t much else to report after the game, so stay tuned.

Ryan O’Hearn – OF Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates 1B/RF Ryan O'Hearn, out since Aug. 1 (left quad muscle strain), is targeting the Chicago Cubs series next weekend to return.
"Still a ways to go but I’m trending in the right direction," O'Hearn told TribLive. "Hopefully sooner rather than later I’ll be back in there.”

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) September 3, 2026

If O’Hearn is able to return next weekend, it would be two different examples of him returning on the shorter end of a timeline for an injury in 2026. That’s also something to consider in the future when considering injuries and a return-to-play timeline.

Konnor Griffin – SS Pittsburgh Pirates

Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin pronounces himself ready to return to the Pirates on Friday, when he’s eligible to come off the 60-day IL after missing nearly two months with a torn sagittal band on the ring finger of his left hand. pic.twitter.com/3xyDxK7YWd

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) September 3, 2026

If Griffin has his way, he will be in the lineup today. We’ll see if the Pirates feel the same. Either way, his return is close. Be prepared.