Spencer Strider Tops 5 Injured Standouts Whose Returns Might Change Fantasy Lineups

At this stage of the season, teams rely on certain players when looking to stabilize both performance and structure. Injuries remove talent and disrupt roles, workloads, and consistency.

Reliable workload and smart at-bats drive scoring over time in Fantasy Baseball Points Leagues, making the player’s impact even more pronounced. The following five players are working their way back, and once they return, they might change team outlooks and fantasy lineups.

How Spencer Strider’s Return Can Restore Atlanta’s Strikeout Edge

Spencer Strider (left oblique strain) recorded seven strikeouts and gave up two earned runs on four hits and two walks across five innings in a rehab start at Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. It was the third start of his rehab assignment, and he delivered a strong outing to convince the Braves that he’s ready to make his season debut.

Strider threw 82 pitches (50 strikes) on Sunday, inducing 16 whiffs and reaching 96.9 miles per hour with his fastball. If all goes well in his next bullpen session, Strider can start against the Rockies this weekend.

How Sonny Gray’s Return Will Bring Back Rotation Stability

Sonny Gray is nursing a right hamstring strain. He played catch Friday to slowly ramp things back up after landing on the shelf earlier last week.

Gray, who is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 13:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) in 23 innings over five starts this season, can return from the 15-day injured list on May 6.

How Eugenio Suarez’s Absence Cuts Into Cincinnati’s Power

The Reds placed Eugenio Suarez on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of a mild left oblique strain. Suarez is expected to miss at least 10 days, though his absence could extend longer.

The veteran third baseman spent most of his time this season at DH, and was hitting .231 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 25 games.

How Kyle Freeland’s Return Will Reclaim Colorado’s Top Arm

Kyle Freeland landed on the 15-day injured list on April 15 due to left shoulder inflammation. It seems he won’t require a minor league rehab assignment before coming back. The Colorado ace threw a 41-pitch, two-inning simulated game recently and if all goes well he could come back against the Reds this week.

Freeland has a 2.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) in 15.2 innings over three starts.

How Tatsuya Imai’s Return Will Add Depth to Houston’s Rotation

Tatsuya Imai will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi tomorrow. He landed on the injured list due to right arm fatigue on April 13. The Astros have built up his workload since then, including a 45-pitch bullpen session on Friday.

Imai will now join Corpus Christi and likely rejoin the Astros in the first half of May. He was 1-0 with a 7.27 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 13:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) in 8.2 innings over three starts this season.