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Jeremy Peña (hamstring)
Pena was removed from Saturday’s game against the Mariners with what was described as tightness in his right posterior knee. After he was held for evaluation Sunday, the team placed him on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. There is no timetable for his return, but at best, he could return before the end of the month. It’s been a rough start for the 28-year-old shortstop. He missed a couple of weeks this spring recovering from a broken ring finger. Although he began the season on the active roster, he did not play consecutive games until April 3 and 4. With Peña out, Isaac Paredes comes in at third base, with Carlos Correa sliding to shortstop.
Brent Rooker (oblique)
You knew it wasn’t going to be good when Rooker left in the middle of an at-bat in the first inning against the Yankees on Thursday. The 31-year-old slugger was clearly uncomfortable on his side after a swing. The team called it “right flank discomfort” before a proper diagnosis of a right oblique strain landed Rooker on the 10-day injured list. The severity of the injury has not been reported, but it would be a shock to see him back before the end of the month. Zack Gelof was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to take his place on the active roster, but it is Carlos Cortes who should benefit from playing time in Rooker’s absence. Cortes has some upside in batting average and sneaky pop, which can carry over in deeper leagues against right-handed pitching, especially when the A’s are at home.
Nick Pivetta (elbow)
Pivetta left Sunday’s start against the Rockies after three scoreless innings due to tightness in his right elbow. Anything related to the elbow has the potential for an extended absence, but more news on the 33-year-old’s status will come Tuesday. Pivetta was recovering well from his six-run outing in his first start, allowing two runs in his next 13 innings. We’ll keep an eye out for an update on Tuesday.
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Adley Rutschman (ankle)
Ryan Mountcastle (toe)
Rutschman was scratched from Saturday’s lineup against the Giants with ankle soreness and placed on the 10-day disabled list with ankle inflammation. An MRI revealed no structural damage, so there’s a strong chance we’ll see Rutschman return when he’s first eligible or soon after. Samuel Basallo steps in as the primary backup, opening up more designated hitter duties for Dylan Beavers, who has started each of the last two games at designated hitter. Rutschman’s absence could have opened up some playing time for Mountcastle, but he suffered a broken left toe on Saturday and will miss extended time on the 60-day injured list. The team acquired Christian Encarnación-Strand on Monday from the Reds. He will likely join the Orioles in the next few days. The 26-year-old showed plenty of power potential in 2023, hitting 13 home runs in just 63 games, but has struggled to find playing time the past two seasons. He is an advantageous, low-cost acquisition for the Orioles.
Christian Yelich (hamstring)
Yelich exited in the fifth inning Sunday against the Nationals with tightness in his left hamstring. Manager Pat Murphy said after the game that there was likely to be more bad news about the 34-year-old veteran. It’s another big blow for a Brewers lineup that is already missing Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn, both sidelined with a broken hand. The latest images of Chourio showed signs of healing, but he has not been cleared to hit. A stint on Yelich’s disabled list would likely bring Jeferson Quero back from Triple-A Nashville, although he offers very little fantasy appeal.
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George Springer (toe)
Springer suffered a broken big toe on his left foot after fouling a ball on his foot Saturday against the Twins. Manager John Schneider said Sunday that Springer could miss minimal time while he recovers. So let’s hope it returns before the end of the month. Meanwhile, the team recalled Eloy Jiménez from Triple-A Buffalo to take Springer’s place on the active roster. Jiménez started at designated hitter and batted seventh against Minnesota on Sunday. The 29-year-old slugger comes with some pedigree as a former top prospect, but has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, now seven years removed from his 31-homer rookie campaign.
Spencer Strider (oblique)
Strider, recovering from an oblique strain, pitched three innings against live hitters during a batting practice session Saturday and reportedly hit 95 mph on the radar. The next step would be a rehab assignment starting this week. Strider will need to fully improve before joining the Braves, likely in early May. The speed would be in line with what he had last season, but still well below the 97 mph he averaged in his prime. Even though prospects Didier Fuentes and JR Ritchie pitch well in Triple-A, the team doesn’t seem in a rush to move them up, instead opting for a four-man rotation for at least the next week.
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Joe Boyle (elbow)
Ryan Pepiot (hip)
Boyle was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 10, with a right elbow strain. He won’t be able to pitch for the next week. While manager Kevin Cash reported Saturday that the MRI came back negative, emphasizing that they caught the injury early, elbow problems are always concerning. He had pitched well in his first two starts before allowing five runs in a loss to the Cubs last Wednesday, but his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy with Ryan Pepiot recovering from right hip inflammation. Pepiot threw a bullpen session on Sunday and could soon be headed for a rehab assignment. A couple of rehab starts could put him in line to return at the end of the month.
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MLB Power Rankings: Yankees fall after tough week, Padres on a roll
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This week, the Yankees and Brewers are headed in the wrong direction while the Padres, Pirates and A’s continue to rise.
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Tatsuya Imai (arm)
Imai was unable to get out of the first inning as he walked four and allowed three runs against the Mariners in Seattle on Friday. He returned to Houston to be evaluated for a tired arm and ultimately landed on the 15-day disabled list with fatigue in his right arm. It’s a curious diagnosis, just a couple of weeks into the season. The Astros are quickly running out of healthy pitchers after losing Hunter Brown (shoulder) and Cristian Javier (shoulder) to the injured list. There is no timetable for Imai’s return. You have to imagine Spencer Arrighetti gets the call soon. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.26 ERA with a 20/6 K/BB ratio in 14 1/3 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. It should be added and hidden in every fantasy league.
Gabriel Moreno (back)
Moreno left Friday’s game against the Phillies with stiffness in his left lower back. He missed the next three contests, and manager Torey Lovullo stated that he was likely to end up on the disabled list. Adrián Del Castillo has started two of the three games with Moreno out. Del Castillo has some power, but only warrants consideration in deep two-catcher formats if he ends up spending more time behind the plate. Moreno’s status on Tuesday will be worth watching.
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Royce Lewis (knee)
Lewis apparently injured his right knee during his final at-bat against the Tigers on Thursday. The team placed him on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right knee. There is no timetable for return. The 26-year-old third baseman is no stranger to the disabled list. Hamstring injuries limited him to 106 games last season, and he totaled just 82 in 2024. Tristan Gray and Ryan Kreidler have platooned at the hot corner, with Gray in the lineup against right-handed pitchers. Although none seem to offer much fantasy juice.
Wyatt Langford (quad)
Langford has been out of the lineup for the past few days since leaving Friday’s game against the Dodgers with right quadriceps tightness. He told reporters he was dealing with a minor strain, but continued to train before games with the expectation of avoiding the disabled list and returning to the Rangers’ lineup during their four-game series in Sacramento against the A’s.
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Jackson Holliday (hand)
Holliday has been on a rehab assignment as he recovers from a hamate fracture. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz told reporters that Holliday will not be activated this week. The 22-year-old second baseman has 46 plate appearances in Triple-A, hitting .167/.239/.214 with one steal. He’ll have another week to get going in the minors before a possible return next week. Jeremiah Jackson has filled second base very well, hitting .318/.326/.545 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 46 plate appearances. He’s worth watching even when Holliday returns, as he’s capable of playing third base and the outfield.
Zack Wheeler (shoulder)
Wheeler will take the mound for Double-A Reading on Tuesday for his fourth rehab start as he returns from thoracic outlet surgery. He is expected to throw between 80 and 85 pitches. He is then scheduled for what should be a final rehab outing on Sunday at Reading, which will put him in line to return to the Phillies’ rotation next week, lining up for a start against the Braves in Atlanta. The 35-year-old right-hander has struggled to maintain speed in his first few outings, something that will warrant a follow-up in these final rehab appearances.