Here is the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Monday, April 8, 2024. In today’s edition, there is news on Shane Bieber’s season-ending surgery, Spencer Strider’s season-pausing concerns, and Trevor Story’s potentially long absence. All that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report for Monday, April 8, 2024
Shane Bieber – SP Cleveland Guardians
Shane Bieber needs elbow surgery.
He had pain after his Opening Day start that continued through his outing in Seattle. Imaging revealed an injury to the same ligament that gave him trouble last year. Surgery was determined to be the best path forward this time.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) April 6, 2024
This announcement came seemingly out of nowhere. Bieber will undergo Tommy John Surgery and miss the rest of this season plus some or all of next season. This came after last season’s forearm soreness, causing him to miss extended time then. He worked in the offseason on increasing his velocity, but it seemingly backfired on him in the end. It’s frustrating on many levels, in that he will finish the season with 20 strikeouts over twelve innings pitched while surrendering no hits. He will also enter free agency as an injured pitcher, likely costing him money in the long run. It’s an unfortunate development for everyone involved.
Spencer Strider – SP Atlanta Braves
The #Braves today recalled RHP Allan Winans to Atlanta and placed RHP Spencer Strider on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow UCL sprain.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 7, 2024
This happened because of renewed soreness in Strider’s elbow following a bad outing last week. He will head to Dallas this week for a follow-up to his MRI where the next steps will be determined. There is a legitimate chance that he will undergo Tommy John Surgery again, which would be an absolutely brutal development. While we won’t know more until the elbow gets further evaluated, the outcome has an ominous feeling attached to it. Stay tuned.
Sean Murphy – C Atlanta Braves
Brian Snitker said Sean Murphy (left oblique strain) hasn't swung yet. Until he feels better and doesn't feel anything, he can't ramp up baseball activities.
"It's a tough injury," Snitker said. "Even as slight as that one was, it's still a big injury."
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) April 5, 2024
Murphy has been out of action since March 30 and has yet to swing a bat. Chances are that he will not be activated when first eligible on Tuesday. Oblique injuries are tricky in that they can sometimes take a while to heal.
Trevor Story – SS Boston Red Sox
Updating the Trevor Story injury news… He spoke, and while he said there's a chance he returns this year, it was also clear from how he spoke that there's a real chance he doesn't. https://t.co/A6O7UrM1iG via @BostonGlobe pic.twitter.com/ITFrRYGDH4
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) April 7, 2024
Story injured himself while diving for a ball last week. He immediately winced in pain with what turned out to be a dislocated shoulder and has been placed on the Injured List as a result. With the possibility of surgery, there is a world where he doesn’t play again this season. If that is the case, he will have accumulated just 141 games played over three years in Boston. For someone who stayed relatively healthy over six seasons in Colorado, his three years in Boston still don’t add up to one potentially full season.
Luis Robert – OF Chicago White Sox
This would be a devastating development for an already anemic offense. Robert missed 98 days in 2021 with a similar injury, so this is somewhat unsurprising. He has a history of not only suffering multiple injuries but also not healing as quickly as other players. There is a significant chance that he will miss the rest of the first half and that he will return after the All-Star Break.
Sonny Gray – SP St. Louis Cardinals
RHP Sonny Gray will pitch for the #STLCards on Tuesday at Busch Stadium vs. the #Phillies, manager Oli Marmol said. He’ll be on a 65-pitch limit.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 7, 2024
Be prepared.
CJ Abrams – SS Washington Nationals
Abrams missed two games, but as it says here, he is getting treatment done on his injured left pinky finger. Manager Martinez later said that he fully expects Abrams back in the lineup tomorrow when they’re at San Francisco. Stay tuned, but it doesn’t seem like much of an issue long term.
Willson Contreras – C St. Louis Cardinals
Willson Contreras (sore left hand) is out of the lineup again, but figures to return early this week. Here is what the #STLCards miss without him:
Dating to last season, Contreras ranks 4th among all active players in consecutive games on base. He’s been on base in 17 straight.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 7, 2024
The Cardinals begin a series with the Phillies next, and it’s looking like he will be rejoining the lineup then.
Justin Verlander – SP Houston Astros
Justin Verlander's first rehab start done in Sugar Land. Taken out in middle of fourth inning having thrown 65 pitches, 46 for strikes. 3 innings, 7 hits, 6 earned runs, 6 Ks, 1 BB (still has a runner on second that belongs to him). Fastball topped out at 95.5 mph, averaged 93.7.
— Matt Young (@Chron_MattYoung) April 7, 2024
Verlander himself said that he felt a little erratic at times. He quelled any panic in that by acknowledging that more time on the mound could help eliminate it. Further, it was noted that he threw nine changeups in the first three innings of work here. That’s important because he did that only twice in all of his starts last season. Perhaps he’s working on something new or maybe he’s trying to improve it for the season. Either way, it was an interesting tidbit in a disappointing rehab start.
Walker Buehler – SP Los Angeles Dodgers
Walker Buehler is returning to form🎯
The @Dodgers righty tallies 6 strikeouts over 4.2 scoreless IP in a rehab outing for @okc_baseball. pic.twitter.com/IREUhate2q
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 7, 2024
This start was an improvement over his last outing, as here he didn’t surrender a run. Of note, he averaged 93.8 mph on his fastball and topped it out at 95 mph. There should be word on when his next start will be, but chances are it’s closer to next weekend. There has been some speculation that he could be ready to join the Dodgers after his next rehab outing, which would be sooner than most expected.
Jhoan Duran – RP Minnesota Twins
Jhoan Duran says he no longer has pain in his oblique and said it's been "a lot of days" since he's felt it.
He threw from 105 feet today but isn't sure yet what his timeline will look like.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) April 6, 2024
Some good news here, as Duran seems to be recovering quite well as of late. It’s encouraging that his oblique no longer hurts and that he has been pain-free for a while. He still has a ways to go before he’s able to return, and a rehab assignment seems all but necessary here. That being said, it’s looking like better days ahead for one of the game’s best closers.
J.D. Martinez – UT New York Mets
JD Martinez will not join the Mets in Atlanta. He will be down today and tomorrow and then continue his ramp up on Tuesday with St. Lucie. pic.twitter.com/zxeg7s1xtb
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) April 7, 2024
Now that Martinez is getting himself into game-type situations, he is feeling general body soreness. There should be more updates available in a few days once he begins to ramp things up, as noted above.
Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees
Gerrit Cole will resume playing catch tomorrow or Tuesday, Aaron Boone said.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) April 7, 2024
Cole will begin what is expected to be a very long process of ramping his body back up to game speed. This would conclude his shutdown period and move him along to the next phase. He is still not expected to return for quite a while.
Geraldo Perdomo – SS Arizona Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has a torn meniscus in his knee and needs surgery. He is likely out at least a month. Blaze Alexander figures to get much of the playing time, though the club also is expected to select the contract of Kevin Newman from Triple-A Reno.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 7, 2024
Perdomo has been out of action for the better part of a week now and will miss at least the next month. Alexander offers some upside in mixed leagues but is a must-add player in deep and mono-leagues.