MLB Injury Report: Skubal to Return Much Sooner?

Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Friday, May 8, 2026. In today’s edition, the Tigers get good news on Tarik Skubal (all things considered), the Red Sox place Roman Anthony on the Injured List despite a somewhat positive outlook, and the Royals get concerning news on two pitchers, despite optimism about one. You can read about all of this and so much more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.

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MLB Injury Report

Roman Anthony – OF Boston Red Sox

The injury had not gotten worse, but it also hadn’t gotten much better, hence the decision to place him on the Injured List. Both he and the team believe that a return when first eligible is quite possible. Manager Chad Tracy also explained that the biggest reason he missed time like this was that they were playing shorthanded without him and needed the roster spot. It remains to be seen if all of the positivity will come true. In the meantime, Masataka Yoshida will benefit from increased playing time.

Tarik Skubal – SP Detroit Tigers

Tarik Skubal elbow surgery was such a success he could start working out within days, and two months is even seen as a conservative estimate for the 2-time Cy Young winner to return. 4 to 6 weeks possible. One relatively small loose body was removed.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 7, 2026

What a whirlwind the last few days have been with this ongoing saga. First, Skubal missed a start that he was supposed to make after feeling discomfort in his elbow. Then it was determined that he would have to have surgery, followed by the announcement that it would be because of loose bodies removals. After the procedure, we got word about what exactly it was, which was accompanied by this discourse of minor time missed.

It’s hard to make sense of any of this, given the high stakes involved here with baseball’s highest-drafted pitcher. While he had just one small loose body removed, it’s still a major operation, in that it happened in-season. The word “possible” here shows optimism, and from experience, this feels like a very hopeful statement. Given that loose body surgery typically takes two or three months for recovery, and that he is a free agent after this year, I don’t see them rushing things here.

Kansas City Royals – Team Update

Cole Ragans has valgus extension overload in his elbow. Next steps are TBD based on how he feels next few days.

Carlos Estévez has a right rotator cuff strain. Shut down for the next three weeks before being reevaluated. #Royals

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) May 7, 2026

Bad news on both accounts, but for different reasons. First, Carlos Estevez, now diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain, will be out of action for quite some time. This helps explain his loss of velocity, which hampered him all spring. Even with the rest because of his foot injury, he wasn’t able to get enough rest for any healing. It has yet to be announced whether this is a major or minor strain, which could affect the amount of time he misses. Either way, he likely won’t be back until July.

As for Cole Ragans, I will admit, I had to do some research on what valgus extension actually was, because I’d never heard of it before now. From what I can decipher, it is the condition that results from overuse of the elbow, and the result of the unnatural motion of throwing a pitch. The acceleration and cocking of the elbow have a lot to do with it as well, though I’m unsure if it’s a Ragans problem because of how he throws or because of the wear and tear on his body. That being said, it’s worrisome that the team has yet to place him on the Injured List and is waiting to see how he feels in the coming days. That seems like a dangerous game to play.

Mookie Betts – SS Los Angeles Dodgers

Pardon me for being so negative here today, but this feels very rushed. While Betts has been gone for just over one month, he did have a setback where he felt renewed soreness in his side after having worked too hard too soon. Now here he is, a few weeks later, ready to go on a rehab assignment. Obliques typically take six weeks from when a player gets injured to being ready for a return. He’s been gone for four weeks with a setback, and the worry here is that he will reinjure himself and make the minor graded injury a much more serious one. Stay tuned, and keep an eye on how he played this weekend.

Bryce Miller – SP Seattle Mariners

Miller has looked the part throughout his rehab assignment, as he has given up just three earned runs in four different appearances, all while striking out fourteen batters. Keep in mind, he did not have surgery last offseason for bone spurs in his elbow, and then started the spring with an oblique injury. Did he suffer that injury to his side because he was altering his throwing to compensate for his arm? Perhaps, or maybe it’s the conspiracy theorist in me making unnecessary noise. Either way, fantasy managers would be wise to treat this with a short leash.

Brendan Donovan – 2B Seattle Mariners

Be prepared!