No MLB team can claim to be operating at maximum capacity two months into the 2024 season. All 30 teams have at least one Major League player on the injured list, and injuries affect every club. While some players will be out for the remainder of the season and others should return any day, it is never ideal to be without important players for an extended period of time.
Keeping that in mind, here is the one player that every team is hoping to return from injury—as well as an estimated return date for that player.
With a strained muscle in his pitching arm, Green has been out for about six weeks, but he should soon be off the injured list. The right-hander, who could rejoin the Blue Jays as early as Tuesday, made his third rehab appearance on Saturday with Triple-A Buffalo. When he does return, Toronto, which is ranked 28th in MLB with a 4.95 bullpen ERA, should quickly use him in a high-leverage relief role.
John Means (left forearm strain) and Dean Kremer (right triceps strain) have joined right-hander Wells on the injured list in recent days. Wells is not the only Orioles starter on the disabled list. However, Wells, who made 20 starts last season and had a 3.64 ERA and sub-1 WHIP, can help Baltimore when he returns. That may not happen for some time as Wells has only recently begun playing catch at the Orioles’ Florida complex. However, the O’s will be happy to have the righty back as soon as he returns to full health.
In 2023, Springs had a blazing start to the season, pitching 13 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts before tearing his UCL against the Red Sox in his third start of the year. A lat strain that Springs sustained during Saturday’s rehab outing may postpone his return, but he could return to the Majors as late as June. For a team that recently lost Zach Eflin to the IL due to lower back inflammation, that would be a huge addition.
Casas, who hurt himself on a swing in April, is recovering. Prior to Friday’s game at Fenway Park, he took grounders for the first time. Casas is not eligible to return from the 60-day IL until June 21, but if his rehabilitation goes well, he might be prepared to return by then. Casas continued where he left off following a second-half tear in 2023, hitting six home runs with an.857 OPS in 22 games prior to his injury.
Despite not having started a rehab assignment yet, Cole recently stated that he “wouldn’t rule out” rejoining the Yankees’ rotation in June. He began throwing from a mound on May 4 and on Saturday in Tampa, Florida, he practiced live batting with 20 pitches. Despite missing the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner the entire season, New York leads the AL East, and Cole’s return should strengthen an already potent rotation.
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