Here is the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Monday, April 1, 2024. Inside, you’ll see news on Walker Buehler’s rehab debut, Eloy Jimenez’s latest injury, and Kenley Jansen’s inability to get into a game. All that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report for Monday, April 1, 2024
Eloy Jiménez – UT Chicago White Sox
Pedro Grifol said the Sox will know more about how long Eloy Jiménez might be sidelined with the adductor strain tomorrow. He said Sox will be prepared in case Eloy has to go on the IL and a roster move is necessary, but he doesn’t know now if one will be.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) March 31, 2024
Jiménez injured himself while running out a ground ball that he hit. He wound up gingerly hobbling to first base and missed the rest of the game. He has a long history of injuries, so this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. All that being said, we should know more today about his availability going forward. Hopefully, he won’t miss much time.
Toronto Blue Jays – Team Update
Erik Swanson threw a side session today and "felt really good," said Schneider. He'll likely do another before facing hitters.
Jordan Romano continues to play catch while Danny Jansen hit off a tee again. Nothing new on Joey Votto.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) March 30, 2024
There is a lot to get to here. Swanson throwing a side session here is good news, though there wasn’t an indication of how many pitches he threw or the velocity readings. Regardless, he is progressing upward. Romano playing catch is great to see as well. His time on the Injured List is projected to be minimal, though he will need to begin ramping up soon. Jansen hitting off a tee is promising as he recovers from a fracture in his wrist. As for Votto, there hasn’t been much of an update at all.
Bo Bichette – SS Toronto Blue Jays
#BlueJays announce that Bo Bichette was scratched from today's game with neck spasms.
— Kaitlyn McGrath (@kaitlyncmcgrath) March 31, 2024
The team didn’t offer much in the way of news after the game, so chances are that he is the truest sense of a DTD player. Until we hear otherwise, he should be ready to play within the next day or so.
Justin Steele – SP Chicago Cubs
Counsell says it's a Grade 1 left hamstring strain for Justin Steele and he expects him to miss all of April. Trainers want him to be walking without a limp before they put a plan in place. But Counsell says he feels this is good news and exprfts him back some time in May.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) March 30, 2024
Steele exited his last game early with a hamstring strain. Luckily for him, it was of the mildest of grades, meaning he didn’t suffer anything too serious. Still, he will miss a significant chunk of time here with an expected return of May being in the cards. Assuming no delays or setbacks, a four-week minimum absence is something that the Cubs will need to fill. They hope that their farm system can shoulder the load.
Kenley Jansen – RP Boston Red Sox
"I don't think it's smart to go out there and pitch today and then I would be down for two weeks. So, I just took a day."
Kenley Jansen on his unavailability in the loss vs Seattle | #RedSox pic.twitter.com/IJylqfaIjG
— NESN (@NESN) March 31, 2024
This was an interesting interview, to say the least. Jansen is frustrated with himself and the situation. He said that he wanted to go out there, but his body wouldn’t allow it. He believed that missing a day or two now would help preserve his body and prevent a trip to the Injured List. Whether or not he’s ready to go out there next time there’s a save situation is tough to predict. Until he heads to the Injured List, which he might, he needs to be started. That being said, the team needs to make a decision about him and commit either way.
Nick Lodolo – SP Cincinnati Reds
Reds’ Lodolo officially starts rehab assignment today at Louisville. Plan calls for one more AAA start, then rejoin Reds rotation 4/10.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubMLB) March 31, 2024
This was originally part of the plan for Lodolo and the Reds, and it seems to be falling into place. Continue to have April 10 circled on your calendar.
Mitch Garver – C/UT Seattle Mariners
Mitch Garver said that the back spasms he's recently experienced shouldn't be a lingering or long-term issue and that he should return to the Mariners' lineup soon.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) March 30, 2024
Garver has missed all weekend with back spasms. The good news is that he doesn’t foresee this lingering to the point where he needs a trip to the Injured List.
Walker Buehler – SP Los Angeles Dodgers
Walker Buehler today in a rehab start for Triple-A OKC:
3.1 IP
3 H
4 R (3 ER)
2 BB
2 K
30 CSW%
54 PHis fastball topped out at 95.7 mph and he threw six different pitches (4S, Cutter, Sinker, Knuckle Curve, Changeup, Slider) pic.twitter.com/Kd0EJQKl3g
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) March 31, 2024
This was a very promising start for Buehler, who looked right at home on the mound. He threw everything that he had, he threw with velocity and he got hitters to chase pitches. This first start was about him getting out there and performing. There should be nothing to worry about concerning stats. Be happy and know that he’s closer to returning than he was before this start.
Kyle Bradish – SP Baltimore Orioles
Kyle Bradish threw a 35-pitch bullpen session yesterday. All of his pitches. Arm feels good. Still taking it day by day. No timeline for return #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 30, 2024
Nothing substantial here, other than the fact that Bradish threw all of his pitches. It’s promising that he feels good, though a day or two afterward will be a better indicator of how his health going forward.
Alek Thomas – OF Arizona Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo gives an update on outfielder Alek Thomas, who was pulled from the Rockies game on Sunday with hamstring tightness. pic.twitter.com/5ekp0O2mUN
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 31, 2024
The team will know more when imaging is done later today. Stay tuned.
Lars Nootbaar – OF St. Louis Cardinals
#STLCards LF Lars Nootbaar took 4 ABs and got in 5 innings of work today in a simulated game in Fla., manager Oli Marmol said.
The likely next step, Marmol said, is Nootbaar playing at Triple-A MEM on Tues & Wed. He’s eligible to come off the IL Thur, but that’s not a certainty.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 30, 2024
Nootbaar is slowly progressing here with incremental steps in the right direction. With the plan being that he is to play on Tuesday and Wednesday, the team should have a better feel for whether or not he’ll return on Thursday when he’s first eligible to do so. Chances are that they slowly prepare his debut, but nothing is set in stone.
Edward Cabrera – SP Miami Marlins
Final line for Edward Cabrera in his Triple-A rehab start:
3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 K (43 pitches/20 strikes)
Fastball velo was all the way back, sitting 97-98 mph throughout. pic.twitter.com/JWQtV77AKd
— Fish On First (PIT profile pic for the day 🤢) (@FishOnFirst) March 31, 2024
This was a very promising start for Edard Cabrera, who physically felt good throughout and was able to get his fastball velocity up. The problem here was the command, as he did walk four batters. While he feels great physically, one has to wonder if they’ll keep him on the rehab start even when healthy to try and limit the walks. This was an off-season goal of the Marlins with him.