Fantasy Baseball Injury Rankings: Top 45 IL stashes with Luis Robert, Nick Pivetta going down

Because not every injury is a season-ender

Lately, the injuries dominating the headlines have been of the season-ending variety. That's certainly the case for Eury Perez and Shane Bieber, who are both set to undergo Tommy John surgery, and it may also be the case for Spencer Strider, who has a UCL tear of his own.

But it's still true that most players who get hurt will eventually come back, and most leagues offer specially designated roster spots to stash them in the meantime. You know the ones I'm talking about. They start with an "I" and end with an "L," and if you're lucky, they're not totally full yet.

How best to fill them? Well, that's what these rankings are for. Like every form of ranking, these aren't one-size-fits-all. In deeper leagues, for instance, you may not be able sell out for the upside of a Jacob deGrom at the expense of a serviceable player like DJ LeMahieu. But weighing projected timeline against eventual impact, here's how things shake out for me.

Note that I purposely excluded Sonny Gray (hamstring) from this list since he's expected to be activated on the day it's published.

Too valuable to drop, period

1	Royce Lewis Minnesota Twins 3B
strained quadriceps - will rest for all of April, then hopefully begin ramp-up
2	Justin Steele Chicago Cubs SP
strained hamstring - no timetable offered, but May return seems likely
3	Framber Valdez Houston Astros SP
elbow inflammation - awaiting examination, could be more than just inflammation
4	Luis Robert Chicago White Sox CF
strained hip flexor - expected to miss 6-8 weeks
5	Walker Buehler Los Angeles Dodgers SP
Tommy John surgery - strong in latest rehab start, likely one or two more
6	Gerrit Cole New York Yankees SP
pinched nerve in elbow - has begun playing catch, hopes to be back before June
7	Justin Verlander Houston Astros SP
shoulder inflammation - shaky in first rehab start, scheduled for at least one more
8	Joshua Lowe Tampa Bay Rays RF
strained oblique - Kevin Cash says he's "still quite a ways a way"
9	Kodai Senga New York Mets SP
shoulder capsule - has been throwing for weeks, could be back in mid-May
10	Max Scherzer Texas Rangers SP
back surgery - has been throwing off mound for a couple weeks, late May possible
11	Jordan Romano Toronto Blue Jays RP
elbow inflammation - throwing live batting practice, perhaps a week or two away
12	Jhoan Duran Minnesota Twins RP
strained oblique - says he's no longer in pain, so we should have a timetable soon
13	Paul Sewald Arizona Diamondbacks RP
strained oblique - playing catch, but April return may be pushing it for Grade 2 strain

Also really difficult to drop

14	Sean Murphy Atlanta Braves C
strained oblique - only a Grade 1 strain but hasn't begun swinging a bat yet
15	Nick Pivetta Boston Red Sox SP
strained elbow flexor - not expected to miss more than a couple weeks
16	TJ Friedl Cincinnati Reds CF
fractured wrist - now two weeks into a six-week timetable
17	Josh Jung Texas Rangers 3B
fractured wrist - recently moved to 60-day IL, putting him out until almost June
18	Spencer Strider Atlanta Braves SP
sprained UCL - still meeting with doctors, but season-ending surgery seems likely
19	Nick Lodolo Cincinnati Reds SP
calf inflammation - scheduled to make season debut Saturday
20	Gavin Williams Cleveland Guardians SP
elbow inflammation - no word on rehab assignment yet, which is a bit concerning
21	Kyle Bradish Baltimore Orioles SP
sprained UCL - throwing bullpens; Orioles seem hopeful he can make it back (and soon)
22	Eloy Jimenez Chicago White Sox DH
strained adductor - was considered day to day at first, likely won't be sidelined long
23	Devin Williams Milwaukee Brewers RP
fractures in back - nearly a month into what was a three-month timetable
24	Tommy Edman St. Louis Cardinals 2B
wrist surgery - finally cleared for baseball activities, but facing lengthy ramp-up
25	Lars Nootbaar St. Louis Cardinals CF
rib fractures - working on timing on rehab assignment but should be back soon
26	Eduardo Rodriguez Arizona Diamondbacks SP
strained lat - likely to miss all of April, at least
27	Bryan Woo Seattle Mariners SP
elbow inflammation - is throwing again, but no talk of rehab assignment yet
28	Braxton Garrett Miami Marlins SP
shoulder soreness - gearing up for what could be final rehab start Friday
29	Shane Baz Tampa Bay Rays SP
Tommy John surgery - slowed by oblique injury, likely to return at some point in June

Still a priority on some level

30	Nate Lowe Texas Rangers 1B
strained oblique - has resumed batting practice and could begin rehab assignment soon
31	Vaughn Grissom Boston Red Sox SS
strained hamstring - expected to begin rehab assignment in the coming days
32	Matt McLain Cincinnati Reds SS
shoulder surgery - if he plays this year, it likely won't be until August
33	Jacob deGrom Texas Rangers SP
Tommy John surgery - throwing from flat ground; won't return until late in the year
34	Jeffrey Springs Tampa Bay Rays SP
Tommy John surgery - throwing off a mound, making a July return possible

Stashing is purely a luxury

35	Edward Cabrera Miami Marlins SP
shoulder impingement - set for what could be final rehab start Wednesday
36	DJ LeMahieu New York Yankees 3B
fractured foot - doing some baseball activities but likely still weeks away
37	Jonathan Aranda Tampa Bay Rays 1B
fractured finger - surgery was needed, likely keeping him out until May
38	Garrett Mitchell Milwaukee Brewers CF
fractured finger - expected to miss all of April, at least
39	Emmet Sheehan Los Angeles Dodgers SP
forearm inflammation - throwing to hitters, but Dodgers figure to take their time
40	Jasson Dominguez New York Yankees CF
Tommy John surgery - throwing from 120 feet, could return around All-Star break
41	Robert Stephenson Los Angeles Angels RP
shoulder inflammation - throwing bullpen sessions, but closer role currently occupied
42	Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers SP
shoulder surgery - could return at some point in the second half
43	Dustin May Los Angeles Dodgers SP
flexor tendon surgery - could return at some point in the second half
44	Robbie Ray San Francisco Giants SP
Tommy John surgery - throwing bullpen sessions, midseason return possible
45	Luis Garcia Houston Astros SP
Tommy John surgery - throwing off a mound again, midseason return possible
46	John Means Baltimore Orioles SP
strained forearm - roughed up in first rehab start, better in second, still building up