It’s Week 18 of the 2023 fantasy baseball season and the latest MLB injury report includes plenty of impactful names for the current MLB playoff picture, the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, and weekly fantasy baseball rankings. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 2-game lead in the National League West division but are dealing with a few injured big bats, including Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. The Texas Rangers just traded for Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, which will help bolster their rotation and keep the Rangers at or near the top of the American League West while Nathan Eovaldi recovers from a strained forearm. The Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with Jordan Romano being unavailable to make saves and new trade acquisition Jordan Hicks might end up getting the save opportunities now. Check out Fantasy Alarm’s MLB closer grid here to see who our analysts think will be the primary fill-in closer for Toronto and other teams with the MLB trade rumors swirling and fantasy baseball injuries mounting. If your own fantasy baseball lineup is suffering from MLB injuries, take a look at Dan Malin’s latest piece to find the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups. With the 2023 MLB trade deadline coming up on Tuesday, stay up to date regarding who has been dealt by looking at our MLB Trade Deadline Tracker. While figuring out who to start in your fantasy baseball lineups for this week, here are the latest MLB injury updates to know.

 

2023 Fantasy Baseball MLB Injury Report Week 18

MLB Injury Updates Hitters 

Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays (Knee)

Bichette has been experiencing pain in his knee and Toronto put him on the injured list. While he's been out, Santiago Espinal and the newly acquired Paul DeJong have been filling in for him at shortstop. 

Max Muncy, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers (Wrist)

Muncy got beaned by a pitch in the Dodgers' last game and, after leaving the contest, Chris Taylor took his spot at third base. It wouldn't be surprising to see Muncy sit out for a game to let the pain subside but tests done on his wrist didn't reveal major damage.

J.D. Martinez, UTL, Los Angeles Dodgers (Hamstring)

Martinez has missed the Dodgers' last three games because of hamstring soreness. However, reports are out that we should see him back in the mix over the next few days in LA's series versus the Padres.

Brandon Drury, 2B, Los Angeles Angels (Shoulder)

Drury has missed over a month of action with an injured shoulder and he’s beginning rehab. Hopefully, after a short stint in rehab games, he can return to the team in the next week or two. 

Ha-Seong Kim, 2B, San Diego Padres (Shoulder)

UPDATE: Kim has returned to the Padres lineup.

Kim hurt his shoulder in the Padres' last game and had to leave the contest. The Padres play on Monday and we’ll have to see if the injury is minor and if Kim can play through the pain. After Kim was taken out of the game, Matthew Batten filled in at second base.

Starling Marte, OF, New York Mets (Head)

We haven't seen Marte play since the middle of July because of the bad headaches he continued to suffer from. However, new reports indicate that his head is pain-free and we should see him play this weekend against Baltimore. 

Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets (Quad)

Nimmo has sat out the Mets' previous three games because of a sore quad but they haven't put him on the injured list yet. We're uncertain whether or not we'll see him back on the field against the Orioles.

Justin Turner, 3B, Boston Red Sox (Heel)

Turner has been nursing a sore heel and he's sat out the last two games for Boston. The Red Sox have a weekend series against Toronto and hopefully, the pain goes away before they have to take further action by putting him on the injured list. 

Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins (Hamstring)

Buxton has pain in his hamstring and has missed the Twins' last two games. While he's been out, Edouard Julien and Jorge Polanco have filled in at DH. 

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, New York Yankees (Head)

Rizzo is dealing with lingering concussion issues and the Yankees put him on the injured list. Jake Bauers has filled in for Rizzo at first base over the last few days.

Nolan Gorman, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals (Foot)

Just as Gorman was getting over his back issues, now he's dealing with pain in his foot – which forced him to miss the Cardinals' last game. Jose Fermin filled in for him at second base.

Brendan Donovan, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals (Elbow)

Donovan's season is over after having surgery on his badly strained elbow earlier this week. He had served as the Cardinals designated hitter for most of July.

 

Josh Naylor, 1B, Cleveland Guardians (Side)

Naylor has missed the Guardians' last couple of games with side pain and while he's been out, David Fry has played first base.

Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays (Knee)

Raley is currently day-to-day with a minor knee injury but it isn't looking like he'll have to be placed on the injured list. The Rays were off on Thursday and we'll have to see if he's ready to roll for their weekend series against the Tigers.

Mike Yastrzemski, OF, San Francisco Giants (Hamstring)

Yastrzemski was in Sunday’s game for a brief time before he had to be taken out because of a sore hamstring and he was placed on the injured list the next day.

Taylor Ward, OF, Los Angeles Angels (Face)

Ward was hit by a pitch in the face over the weekend and now we don’t know if we’ll see him back on the field again this season. He’s on the 60-day injured list and he has a very damaged face that involves a few fractures. Fantasy baseball players can drop Ward.

Jonah Heim, C, Texas Rangers (Wrist)

Heim is dealing with a strained wrist and he was put on the injured list a couple of days ago. He’ll miss at least another week of baseball action. While Heim is sidelined, Mitch Garver or Sam Huff will fill in for him.

Jonathan India, 2B, Cincinnati Reds (Foot)

The reporting on India is very interesting and raises red flags because if he’s really suffering from plantar fasciitis, he’ll be out for longer than 10 days and India owners should be prepared to be without him for a few weeks. It tends to take a bit longer to heal up from plantar fasciitis. Matt McLain has started at second base in place of India.

Alex Kirilloff, 1B, Minnesota Twins (Shoulder)

Kirilloff has a strained shoulder and he was put on the injured list over the weekend. Donovan Solano filled in for Kirilloff on Sunday at first base. 

Nick Pratto, 1B, Kansas City Royals (Groin)

Pratto injured his groin and he was put on the injured list a couple of days ago. The Royals have used multiple players to fill his spot at first base over the last few games.

Evan Longoria, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks (Back)

Longoria was put on the injured list over the weekend with a strained back. He’ll now miss the next few weeks of action. He’s appeared in just 55 games this season.

 

MLB Injury Updates Pitchers 

Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Texas Rangers (Forearm)

Eovaldi was put on the injured list over the weekend with a strained forearm as it has been almost two weeks since we’ve seen him pitch. He should be back in action within the next couple of weeks. 

Jordan Romano, RP, Toronto Blue Jays (Back)

Romano won’t be closing games for the Blue Jays after he was put on the injured list over the weekend with a sore back. Toronto just traded for Jordan Hicks and he could end up getting save opportunities with Romano hurt. Yimi Garcia has three saves this season and he can help the Blue Jays in save situations as well.

Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays (Forearm)

McClanahan was put on the injured list and he'll miss the next few weeks of action due to pain in his forearm. The Rays, who have lost multiple pitchers to injury this year, want to be very cautious. McClanahan also missed time in late June/early July.

Max Fried, SP, Atlanta Braves (Forearm)

UPDATE: We haven't seen Fried pitch in nearly three months, but he's ready to return to the mound and is slated to start against the Cubs on Friday. 

Our own Jim Bowden tweeted out over the weekend that Braves management has confirmed that Fried is on his way back to the majors and could be back in the Braves rotation in less than a week. Fried hasn’t pitched in nearly three months after injuring his forearm. He’s made just five starts this season.

Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins (Groin)

Groin strains can be tricky when it comes to determining a timetable to return. Ryan was put on the injured list on Thursday and we won't see him pitch for at least the next couple of weeks. 

Joe Musgrove, SP, San Diego Padres (Shoulder)

Musgrove missed his last start because his shoulder was sore but the Padres haven't shelved him just yet. We'll have to see if he's healthy enough to make his next start when his turn pops up again in the Padres rotation. 

Marcus Stroman, SP, Chicago Cubs (Hip)

Stroman's hip was swelling up and the Cubs placed him on the injured list. He'll now miss his next couple of starts.

 

Nestor Cortes, SP, New York Yankees (Shoulder)

Cortes hasn't taken the hill since the end of May as he was suffering from a badly strained shoulder. The pain has subsided, though, and he should be back on the mound this weekend for the Yankees. 

Brandon Woodruff, SP, Milwaukee Brewers (Shoulder)

Woodruff has started in just two games this season before he was put on the injured list with a strained shoulder. He should be back in the Brewers rotation this weekend according to new reports.

Griffin Canning, SP, Los Angeles Angels (Calf)

Canning has been dealing with pain in his calf and the Angels decided to put him on the injured list earlier this week to let him heal up. 

Ben Lively, SP, Cincinnati Reds (Chest)

Lively will miss the next few weeks because of a strain he's suffering in his chest. The Reds have put him on the injured list. 

Jose Urquidy, SP, Houston Astros (Shoulder)

Urquidy has started just six games this season, but he's just about ready to return to the mound from his shoulder injury. We could see him take the hill in the next few days for Houston. We haven't seen him pitch since late April.

Liam Hendriks, RP, Chicago White Sox (Elbow)

We have to give Hendriks a lot of props because he spent the early part of 2023 battling cancer and it was great to see him pitch this season. After appearing in just five games with the White Sox, though, Hendriks' season is over after having Tommy John surgery on his elbow. 

Julio Teheran, SP, Milwaukee Brewers (Hip)

Teheran will miss the next couple of weeks with an injured hip. He’s made 11 starts this season and Teheran has struggled for the most part in his last 5 starts. 

Max Fried, SP, Atlanta Braves (Forearm)

Our own Jim Bowden tweeted out over the weekend that Braves management has confirmed that Fried is on his way back to the majors and could be back in the Braves rotation in less than a week. Fried hasn’t pitched in nearly three months after injuring his forearm. He’s made just five starts this season.

Anthony DeSclafani, SP, San Francisco Giants (Elbow)

DeSclafani has a strained elbow and he was put on the injured list and he’ll be sidelined for at least the next two weeks. He’s sporting a 4.88 earned run average in 2023.

Tommy Henry, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Elbow)

Henry has been experiencing swelling in his elbow and Arizona put him on the injured list. Initial tests showed no major damage, but it will take a few weeks for the swelling to go down. 

 

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