Hurt file, May 21-26

NOTE: This column focuses on injury analysis, so we don't cover the progress of every injured player. We try to highlight the key fantasy contributors, unusual injuries, or situations where the official projected return is variable or not given. Players whose progress is proceeding as expected are very well covered by fantasy news sources; we'll tend to leave those players alone unless we have something we want to add to the news coverage. This column is updated on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Mondays.

Credit for the Worry-O-Meter goes to Dr. Jim Ferretti (X: @TFSDoc):

     1 – “No problemo”
     2 – “I’ll be back”
     3 – “I (might) be back”
     4 – “I (probably won’t) be back”
     5 – “Hasta la vista, baby”
 

May 26, 2025

Michael King (RHP, SD) – R shoulder inflammation (5/24/25)
Obviously, “inflammation” isn’t terribly descriptive. There are many possible causes, from relatively benign to season ending. The most likely is an impingement or something like tendonitis. We’ll start with that and wait to see if more information comes out.
2025 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: Late June/early July looks like the best case
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Nick Kurtz (1B, ATH) – Hip flexor strain (5/24/25)
He’s day-to-day for now, but there’s a good chance he winds up on the IL. Hip flexor strains aren’t all that common, but they’re similar in severity to a quad or calf strain. We’re going to project an IL stay, and we’d sit him this week in any event.
2025 Impact: Unknown severity; Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Mid-/late June (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 2

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Miguel Amaya (C, CHI) – L oblique strain (5/24/25)
It’s an oblique, which is a little worse for catchers simply because they throw so often. We may see him return on the high end of the projection.
2025 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Mid-/late June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Alex Bregman (3B, BOS) – R quad strain (5/23/25) UPDATE
Well, this is about the worst case. His “tightness” has turned into a “significant” strain. This sounds like a Grade 2 strain, and that will cost him some time. We’re not ready to set the projection at two months, which is how long he was out in 2021 with a similar injury, but a June return seems unlikely.
2025 Impact: Unknown severity; Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Early/mid-July (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Brandon Nimmo (OF, NYM) – Crick in his neck (5/24/25)
Okay, this is both more and less than a “crick.” He has a bulging disk in his neck, which he’s had for six years at this point, and it causes occasional issues. There’s a good chance a few days off and some treatment can get him back in the lineup without an IL trip.
2025 Impact: It’s something that can flare up at any time
Est. Return: 4-6 days, hopefully
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Ramón Laureano (OF, BAL) – L ankle sprain (5/20/25)
They gave him a few days, but he wasn’t recovering quickly enough. This could be a minimum IL stay, with few after-effects.
2025 Impact: Likely minimal
Est. Return: Early June
Worry-O-Meter: 2
 

May 24, 2025

Willson Contreras (C, STL) – Back spasms (5/23/25)
Back spasms are caused by pain and the most common source of pain is a muscle strain. There are many other possibilities, of course, but Occam’s Razor and all. It all depends on the severity, so it’s a wait and see for now.
2025 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: 3-5 days, if it’s minor
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Alex Bregman (3B, BOS) – R quad strain (5/23/25)
It was “tightness” in his quad, but that’s almost always a strain. As with Contreras, the severity is what matters. He should miss a few days, at least, but if he plays Saturday, realize that he’s still an injury risk. 
2025 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: 2-5 days, hopefully
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Rhett Lowder (RHP, CIN) – Oblique strain (5/22/25)
This is being reported as “significant.” As he was working his way back form an elbow injury, and this will not only delay, but it may set him back a bit. Hope you weren’t counting on him.
2025 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Post All-Star break, most likely
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Jacob Young (OF, WAS) – Right shoulder sprain (5/20/25)
For the seven of you who have him rostered: This is an AC joint sprain, which is where the bone at the end of the collarbone attaches to a protrusion from the shoulder blade. Typical recovery is 4-6 weeks.
2025 Impact: Time missed
Est. Return: Late June/early July
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Ronel Blanco (RHP, HOU) – R elbow, bad news (5/21/25)
He has inflammation in his elbow, and he’s already off for a second opinion. That’s never a good sign. We’ll project something not too serious, like tendonitis, but it could be much worse, of course.
2025 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: Late June/early July, best case
Worry-O-Meter: 4

Chase Dollander (RHP, COL) – R forearm tightness (5/18/25)
Yes, we even cover Rockies’ pitchers! This could be tendonitis or even a tendon tear, but in all likelihood it’s a muscle strain. We don’t know the severity, but a minor strain is likely a month or so in recovery.
2025 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: Mid-/late June (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Dylan Crews (OF, WAS) – L oblique strain (5/20/25)
There’s no indication of the severity here, but he’s going to miss a few weeks regardless. We'll go with a Grade 1 strain and adjust as needed when more news is released.
2025 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Mid-/late June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Jared Jones (RHP, PIT) – R elbow surgery (5/22/25)
The good news, such as it is, is that he did not need a reconstruction (aka Tommy John surgery). It was a “repair,” which likely involved an InternalBrace. The timeline is 10-12 months, which could have him back by Opening Day if it goes perfectly.
2025 Impact: Out
Est. Return: May 2026
Worry-O-Meter: 5
 

May 21, 2025

Porter Hodge (RHP, CHI) – L oblique strain (5/17/25)
Obliques tend to be a little harder to come back from for pitchers, as the pitching motion puts a good amount of stress on them. It’s unlikely that he’s back in the minimum.
2025 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Mid-/late June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Justin Verlander (RHP, SF) – R pectoral, “slight issue” (5/18/25)
Sounds like a pec strain to us. The “slight” modifier makes it sound minor, but it was enough to knock his velocity down by 2-3 MPH in his last start. They’re saying he’ll make his next start, but you may want to avoid that one if you can. An IL trip is still probably a 50/50 shot.
2025 Impact: Possibility of reduced production; Could hit the IL
Est. Return: 5 days, maybe
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Reese Olson (RHP, DET) – R hand, inflammation (5/19/25)
His ring finger is inflamed. The likely possibilities are tendonitis or a muscle strain, neither of which is super serious. Since it’s his pitching hand it will need to be close to 100% healed before he can come back, which probably adds a few days to his absence.
2025 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Early/mid-June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Colin Holderman (RHP, PIT) – R thumb inflammation (5/19/25
This is similar to Olson, but it's the thumb. It may take a bit longer to heal, and there's a possibility of ligament damage, but the two injuries are similar.
2025 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Early/mid-June
Worry-O-Meter: 2
 

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