Fantasy Baseball Injury Rankings: Top 40 IL stashes with Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, Hunter Brown all going down

You're obviously devoting IL space to a stud who gets hurt, but you may need to clear a spot for him

Scott White

Apr 7, 2026

6:39 pm ET

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4 min read

Things had been quiet on the injury front since the opening day reveal of Jackson Chourio's fractured hand.

A little too quiet.

Just when you thought you had your preferred IL stashes stowed away for the long haul, in came a deluge of new talent over the weekend. The biggest names to go down were Juan Soto (strained calf), Mookie Betts (strained oblique) and Hunter Brown (strained shoulder), who I've listed in reverse order of how much time they're expected to miss. Other knocks included Cade Horton (torn UCL), Matthew Boyd (strained biceps) and Alejandro Kirk (fractured thumb).

The former three are obviously must-stash, and the latter three come pretty close (except for Horton, who's out for the season). But again, you've likely already devoted IL space to other players. How do you make room?

That's why these rankings exist: to help you prioritize. They're not one-size-fits-all, because no rank list can be, but they can at least serve as a check for your assumptions. To be transparent about my own biases, I tend to prioritize the better player over the shorter timeline, not wanting to devote valuable IL space to a player who I'm liable to cut as soon as he's active.

Too valuable to drop, period

Juan Soto

New York Mets LF

strained calf - looked like he might avoid an IL stint at first but expected to miss 2-3 weeks2

Jackson Chourio

Milwaukee Brewers CF

fractured hand - IL stint was an opening day surprise, but his 2-to-4-week timetable is within our sights now3

Mookie Betts

Los Angeles Dodgers RF

strained oblique - normal timetable is 4-6 weeks, but both Betts and manager Dave Roberts are optimistic he can beat it4

Seiya Suzuki

Chicago Cubs RF

sprained knee - on rehab assignment, could return as early as this weekend5

Josh Hader

Houston Astros RP

biceps tendinitis - has been throwing bullpens and should face hitters soon, could be back before end of April6

Nick Lodolo

Cincinnati Reds SP

blister on index finger - left rehab start April 2, trying new treatments to make it back sooner7

Trey Yesavage

Toronto Blue Jays SP

shoulder impingement - will make second rehab start Thursday, may need a couple more before returning8

Kyle Stowers

Miami Marlins RF

strained hamstring - only Grade 1 strain, so he's likely to return before the end of April9

Ryan Pepiot

Tampa Bay Rays RP

hip inflammation - threw a bullpen session Friday, could be activated for current series against Cubs10

Zack Wheeler

Philadelphia Phillies SP

thoracic outlet syndrome - one good rehab start and one bad, with two to go; velocity down 3 mph, though11

Spencer Strider

Atlanta Braves SP

strained oblique - throwing bullpen sessions and may be just a couple weeks away, but velocity issues persist12

Gerrit Cole

New York Yankees SP

Tommy John surgery - simulating innings in batting practice; mid-May remains a realistic goal13

Carlos Rodon

New York Yankees SP

elbow surgery - has continued to throw even while dealing with hamstring soreness; rehab assignment forthcoming14

Blake Snell

Los Angeles Dodgers SP

shoulder fatigue - expected to begin throwing to hitters this week, but still likely out until late May

Also really difficult to drop

Hunter Brown

Houston Astros SP

strained shoulder - Grade 2 strain; officially won't throw for a few weeks, but absence likely to measure in months16

Matthew Boyd

Chicago Cubs SP

strained biceps - was having trouble bouncing back between starts, likely looking at a short stay17

Kyle Teel

Chicago White Sox C

strained hamstring - should begin hitting off a tee this week with an eye on returning within a couple weeks18

Jackson Holliday

Baltimore Orioles SS

broken hamate bone - about a week into rehab assignment, so return should be soon19

Jordan Westburg

Baltimore Orioles 2B

sprained UCL - will begin throwing progression this week, which will offer a better idea if he can return this year20

Merrill Kelly

Arizona Diamondbacks SP

intercostal nerve irritation - went five innings in first rehab start Friday, scheduled for another

Still a priority on some level

Grayson Rodriguez

Los Angeles Angels SP

shoulder inflammation - playing catch but no bullpen sessions yet; April return seems like a long shot22

Justin Steele

Chicago Cubs SP

UCL revision surgery - throwing live bating practice, could be ready before the end of May23

Addison Barger

Toronto Blue Jays SS

sprained ankle - is said to be trending in right direction; could be a minimal stay24

Alejandro Kirk

Toronto Blue Jays C

fractured thumb - underwent surgery to have screw inserted, expected to miss six weeks25

Shane Bieber

Toronto Blue Jays SP

forearm fatigue - throwing bullpen sessions, but absence could e