This week’s injury roundup begins with Jackson Chourio making his season debut for the Brewers. The Tigers’ pitching staff takes a major blow as reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal faces an extended absence. Early-round draft troubles persist with Ronald Acuña Jr. landing on the IL due to a hamstring strain. Let’s dive into the latest injury updates from around the league.
Tarik Skubal (elbow)
Skubal initially seemed fine after his last start, despite briefly checking in with a trainer during the seventh inning. But the two-time AL Cy Young winner wasn’t okay after all. He was scratched from Monday’s start as a precaution, and within ten minutes, reports emerged that he requires surgery to remove loose fragments from his left elbow. Both Hunter Greene and Spencer Schwellenbach had the same procedure before the season and aren’t expected back until after the All-Star break. Edwin Díaz also faces a three-month recovery. In an ideal scenario, Skubal might return for the final six weeks of the season—something he could be motivated to do as a pending free agent. But in leagues without IL spots, he’s likely droppable.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (hamstring)
Skubal wasn’t the only first-round pick to hit the IL this week. Acuña grabbed at his hamstring while running out a ground ball in the second inning on Saturday and was placed on the 10-day IL Sunday. Imaging revealed a Grade 1 left hamstring strain—far better news than expected. Recovery timelines vary for Grade 1 strains, but a return before the minimum stay seems unlikely. Still, he could be back by June. For context, Jeremy Peña has been out since April 11 with the same injury.
Ryan Helsley (elbow)
Another week, another closer sidelined. Helsley was put on the 15-day IL on April 29 with right elbow inflammation. The 31-year-old was among the most dominant closers in the first month, posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts over 10⅔ innings, converting all seven save chances. An MRI showed no structural damage, and he’ll be reevaluated later this week to map out a throwing plan. Without setbacks, he could return before the month ends. Still, elbow inflammation raises his risk for re-injury. Rico Garcia may take over closing duties in his absence.
Joe Ryan (elbow)
Ryan threw just nine pitches on Sunday against the Blue Jays before exiting with right elbow soreness. There’s no word yet on the severity, but the Twins are expected to provide an update Tuesday. Encouragingly, Ryan traveled with the team ahead of their series opener against the Nationals.
Garrett Crochet (shoulder)
Crochet landed on the 15-day IL last week with left shoulder inflammation—a surprise after one of his best outings, when he struck out seven over six scoreless innings against the Orioles. No structural damage was found via MRI, and he played catch on Sunday. The Red Sox will likely be extra cautious with their ace.
Christian Yelich (groin)
The Brewers are getting key reinforcements back, activating both Chourio and Vaughn on Monday. Chourio made his season debut after recovering from a broken hand suffered during the World Baseball Classic, immediately going 4-for-4 with two doubles—all four hits came on batted balls over 102 mph. Vaughn had been out since late March with a hamate bone fracture. While Chourio was universally stashed, Vaughn is worth a look in deeper leagues after hitting .309 with nine homers in 64 games for the Brewers last season. Meanwhile, Yelich is nearing a return from a groin injury that has kept him out since April 14. He took batting practice Monday and still aims to return in mid-to-late May. The Brewers have posted an 88 wRC+ since Yelich went down.
Yainer Diaz (oblique)
Diaz was scratched from Monday’s lineup with what was called an abdominal issue. After the game, manager Joe Espada said he’ll go on the 10-day IL with an oblique problem. The Astros called up César Salazar in response. Christian Vázquez will step in as the primary catcher. The 27-year-old Diaz hasn’t been impressive so far, hitting .248/.264/.356 with two homers and 14 RBI over 106 plate appearances.
Josh Hader (shoulder)
After several live batting practice sessions, Hader is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday. The 32-year-old lefty is on the 60-day IL and can be activated May 24. He’ll have plenty of time to build up before activation, assuming no setbacks.
Brandon Woodruff (shoulder)
Woodruff exited his start against the Diamondbacks last Thursday in the second inning—a red flag when his fastball topped out at just 86.9 mph. Unsurprisingly, he landed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. Woodruff downplayed the issue, calling it a dead arm. He’ll start his throwing program this week, suggesting a short IL stay. His injury opened the door for Logan Henderson, who struck out eight over six innings in his first start Sunday. The talented 24-year-old righty should be added in all formats.
Roman Anthony (wrist)
Anthony’s status bears watching this week. He was removed from Monday’s game against the Tigers in the first inning after an awkward swing caused right wrist discomfort. X-rays were negative for fractures, but he’ll return to Boston for further evaluation, meaning he’ll likely miss at least a few games.
Cal Raleigh (side)
Raleigh is another player to monitor Tuesday. He missed his third straight game Monday due to right side tightness that arose during Friday’s contest against the Royals. The 29-year-old slugger says he’s feeling better, but the Mariners should provide an update after an MRI. An IL stint remains possible.
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