MLB Injury Report Archives

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Shane Bieber to debut for Blue Jays on Friday after long injury rehab

The Toronto Blue Jays are set to welcome a major addition to their pitching staff. Manager John Schneider confirmed that Shane Bieber will make his debut for the club on Friday against Miami, as first reported by Mitch Bannon of The Athletic.

Shane Bieber starts Friday for #BlueJays

— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) August 18, 2025

Bieber, currently on the 60-day injured list, will need to be added to the active roster before that start. Toronto already has a vacancy on its 40-man roster, meaning only an active roster move will be required.

A high-stakes acquisition

The Blue Jays acquired Bieber at the trade deadline despite the right-hander not yet completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2024. The move was a gamble, but the organization hopes the former Cy Young winner can anchor a playoff rotation otherwise lacking a clear ace.

Toronto’s staff features proven veterans like Kevin Gausman, José Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Eric Lauer. While the group is solid, Scherzer is pitching at 41-years-old with a lingering thumb issue, and Lauer, despite posting a 2.76 ERA this year, has limited big-league experience the past two seasons. Adding a healthy version of Bieber could change the dynamic entirely.

Bieber’s career arc

Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020, when he dominated hitters with a 1.63 ERA and a staggering 41.1% strikeout rate during the shortened season. Though his production dipped in subsequent years, he remained a frontline starter.

In 2022, he logged 200 innings with a 2.88 ERA but saw his strikeout rate decline to 25%. By 2023, signs of elbow trouble surfaced, and his ERA climbed to 3.80 before Tommy John surgery shut him down early in 2024.

Now, after months of rehab, Bieber has shown promising signs in the minors. Across 29 innings, he posted a 1.86 ERA with a 34.6% strikeout rate, though his most recent Triple-A outings were less dominant, with his strikeout rate dipping to 24.6%. His fastball velocity has averaged 92.8 mph — a slight tick above recent years but below his 2020 peak of 94.1 mph.

What to expect in Toronto

The Blue Jays aren’t asking Bieber to be perfect right away. With a postseason berth all but secured, the focus is on having him healthy and sharp for October. Schneider has not committed to a six-man rotation, leaving open the possibility that someone shifts to long relief.

The upcoming weeks will be vital for Bieber as he regains form while also weighing his contractual future. At season’s end, he must decide between exercising a $16 million player option for 2026 or opting for a $4 million buyout and testing free agency. His performance down the stretch could make that decision much clearer.

For now, all eyes will be on Friday night in Miami, when Bieber finally makes his long-awaited debut in a Blue Jays uniform.

Astros shut down Josh Hader with shoulder capsule sprain

The Houston Astros confirmed a major late-inning setback on Friday. In a recent MLB Trade Rumors article, Steve Adams reported that the club said Josh Hader has a left shoulder capsule sprain and will not throw for approximately three weeks.

The update follows his recent move to the 15-day injured list and aligns with manager Joe Espada’s guidance that the absence would exceed the minimum.

Performance context underscores the blow. The left-handed closer has been one of the league’s most elite closers this season, carrying a 6-2 record, 2.05 ERA, 76 strikeouts and 28 saves in 48 appearances—tied for third in MLB. Those numbers frame how much swing-and-miss and run prevention Houston is losing during the southpaw closer’s three-week shutdown.

The club has carefully managed usage since Hader’s season-high 36-pitch outing earlier this month. He skipped a subsequent appearance, underwent testing, and now lands on a defined rest period to calm the capsule sprain before any ramp-up begins. In the interim, Houston is expected to spread save chances, with Bryan Abreu profiling as a leading ninth-inning option depending on matchups. That committee approach will likely define the club’s Astros closer injury update until Hader is cleared to resume throwing.

Big-picture stakes are real. Houston sits at 68-53, 1.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. Over the past 30 games, the club is 13-17 while Seattle has surged to 19-11, momentum that could squeeze the race if Houston’s bullpen wobbles without its closer. The standings math makes stabilizing late innings a priority while the AL West standings between the Astros and the Mariners storyline tightens.

For Hader, the focus is symptom resolution and a clean throwing progression. For the Astros, it’s protecting leads with layered leverage plans and crisp defense. If the three-week pause quiets the shoulder and he returns on schedule, Houston’s relief hierarchy can reset in time for the stretch run—made stronger if this temporary blueprint holds. That’s the pathway back from a shoulder capsule sprain for the 31-year-old closer with the division in play.

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Mookie Betts Day-to-Day with Stubbed Toe Injury

By: OutOfSightSports

5/31/25

Mookie Betts Isn't Done Being Baseball's Best Player | FiveThirtyEight

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts is currently listed as day-to-day after suffering a stubbed toe on his left foot during an off-the-field incident at home.

Betts was absent from the Dodgers’ lineup on Friday night for the opener of a highly anticipated weekend series against the New York Yankees. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN that Betts was scheduled to undergo X-rays at Dodger Stadium before the game. “It’s day-to-day right now,” Roberts said. “So, that’s where we’re at.” (credit: Alden Gonzalez, ESPN)

The injury occurred when Betts stubbed his toe at home on Wednesday night. Roberts mentioned that while Betts might be available to pinch-hit, simply putting on a shoe remains difficult for him.

In Betts’ absence, Miguel Rojas filled in at shortstop. Betts, an eight-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion, has played 53 games this season, posting a .254 batting average, eight home runs, 31 RBIs, and 42 runs scored.

Despite ongoing injuries to key players, including Betts, the Dodgers maintain a 34-22 record and lead the National League West, aided by strong performances from Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

The Dodgers-Yankees matchup, their first since the 2024 World Series in which the Dodgers triumphed, is one of the most anticipated series of the 2025 MLB season, with both teams currently leading their divisions.

Dodgers’ Kirby Yates Likely Headed to Injured List with Hamstring Strain

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kirby Yates is expected to undergo an MRI on Sunday after exiting Saturday’s game against the Angels with an apparent hamstring injury, manager Dave Roberts announced. The initial diagnosis is a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which could sideline the veteran pitcher for at least two weeks.

Yates, 38, left the mound after just 0.1 innings in Saturday’s matchup, having allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk over 23 pitches. Witnesses noted Yates grabbing at his hamstring before departing, signaling potential trouble for the Dodgers’ bullpen, which is already navigating a season marked by injuries to key starters like Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.

“I don’t see how it’s not an IL,” Roberts told Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett after the game, referring to the injured list. Under MLB rules, pitchers must spend a minimum of 15 days on the injured list, aligning with the expected recovery timeline for a mild hamstring strain. Medical experts note that Grade 1 strains, the least severe classification, typically heal within one to two weeks, though more severe cases can take months.

The Dodgers, who signed Yates to bolster their bullpen in January, now face another challenge in managing their pitching depth. The team has already dealt with significant injuries this season, including recovery timelines for stars like Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to return to pitching in May following elbow and shoulder surgeries.

Yates’ MRI results, expected Sunday, will provide clarity on the injury’s severity and his potential return date. For now, the Dodgers will likely adjust their bullpen strategy as they continue their series against the Angels.

This Major Hurdle Stands Between Spencer Strider and His Braves Comeback

This Major Hurdle Stands Between Spencer Strider and His Braves Comeback

Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider is tantalizingly close to a much-needed return to the mound—but before he can officially rejoin the team, he must clear one last crucial test. Strider is scheduled to throw a 70-75 pitch simulated game on Wednesday, a key evaluation step that will determine whether he’s finally ready to make his first real start since suffering a hamstring injury in April.

After battling back from elbow surgery in 2024, Strider’s return this season was highly anticipated. But frustration quickly followed as he pulled his hamstring during his very first outing in over a year on April 16th. For Strider and Braves fans alike, the injury was a gut punch—especially after the grueling rehab he endured to return from his non-Tommy John elbow procedure last spring.

Spencer Strider, an Atlanta Braves pitcher, stands on the mound holding a baseball and looking down, surrounded by fans in a blurred stadium background.

The former 20-game winner now stands on the brink of rejoining a team that desperately needs his firepower. Atlanta, hovering around .500, has been severely undermined by the absence of both Strider and superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., who are also working their way back through a rehab assignment this week. The duo’s absence has left a noticeable void, both in the lineup and on the mound.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, if Strider’s simulated outing goes smoothly, he could take the hill as early as next week in a key divisional matchup against the Washington Nationals. The Braves, who have struggled to find rotation consistency in his absence, would welcome even a solid, if not dominant, version of Strider back into the fold.

His career stats paint the picture of a truly elite arm: a 1.07 WHIP and 500 strikeouts in just 334 innings. In 2023, his last full season, Strider led Major League Baseball with 281 strikeouts and 20 wins. Simply put, when he’s on the mound, he changes the entire dynamic of Atlanta’s pitching staff.

The Braves will be cautious not to rush him. Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky for pitchers who rely on power and mechanics like Strider. Yet there’s cautious optimism that this final simulated outing could be the turning point. If Strider emerges healthy and in rhythm, his return could not only jumpstart Atlanta’s season—but reignite their postseason hopes.

All eyes now turn to Wednesday. For Atlanta, it could mark the beginning of a long-overdue resurgence. For Spencer Strider, it’s one final hurdle before redemption.

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Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider Near Return: Braves’ Stars Begin Rehab with Eyes on a 2025 Comeback Surge

By: OutOfSightSports

Atlanta Braves fans, take a deep breath—your stars are coming back.

The Braves announced today that outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. will begin a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League tomorrow, a major milestone as he works back from a torn left ACL. In equally encouraging news, ace right-hander Spencer Strider will throw a simulated game on Wednesday. He is recovering from UCL surgery performed last April.

After a year marred by injuries to two of their most important players, Atlanta may finally be getting its heartbeat back—and just in time to reassert its dominance in the National League.

Acuña’s Return: A Shot of Adrenaline for the Offense

Let’s not downplay this—Ronald Acuña Jr. is the engine of the Braves’ offense. Before his ACL injury in May of last year, he was producing at an MVP-caliber level. Losing him was like pulling the battery out of a Ferrari. The team kept moving, but nowhere near the same speed or style.

He’ll begin his rehab in the outfield at the Complex League level, and if all goes well, he’ll graduate to Triple-A Gwinnett in the coming days. The Braves are taking a cautious but deliberate approach—Acuña is the kind of talent you don’t rush, but you also can’t keep off the field for long.

With his elite combination of speed, power, and charisma, Acuña isn’t just a player. He’s a walking highlight reel, a clubhouse leader, and the player who can change a game with one swing or one sprint.

Strider’s Simulated Game Signals a Rotation Revival

The Braves’ rotation took a huge hit when Spencer Strider went down in April 2024 with a torn UCL. The flamethrowing righty, known for his wipeout slider and high-octane fastball, was on track to be one of the league’s premier strikeout artists.

Now, after months of rehab, Strider is set to throw a simulated game on Wednesday, tossing 70-75 pitches. That workload suggests he’s close—very close—to rejoining the big league club. The decision after that session will be whether he heads out on a brief rehab assignment or skips it entirely and rejoins the rotation.

Either way, his return will be monumental. The Braves’ pitching staff has held its own, but no one replaces a front-line starter like Strider. With him back on the bump, Atlanta’s rotation depth and strikeout potential jumps to elite tier again.

Braves’ Season Outlook: Help is on the Horizon

With both Acuña and Strider nearing return, the Braves’ postseason hopes get a much-needed boost. Last year’s Wild Card finish and quick playoff exit were tough pills to swallow for a team that had World Series aspirations. But missing two cornerstone players for nearly the entire season? That’s not a stumble—it’s a flat tire.

Their 2025 campaign has been a waiting game so far. But reinforcements are coming, and they’re not just any reinforcements—they’re game-changers.

Acuña brings dynamic power and speed at the top of the lineup. Strider brings elite strikeout stuff and a swagger that defines the Braves’ pitching identity. Together, they could shift the entire complexion of the National League playoff picture.

The Braves Are Poised to Strike

With Ronald Acuña Jr. taking his first steps toward game action and Spencer Strider nearly ready to reclaim his spot on the mound, the Braves are quietly loading up for a summer surge. The pieces are coming back together. The power is returning. And the rest of the league should take notice.

Because once these two return to full strength, Atlanta won’t just be competitive—they’ll be downright dangerous.

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