If you've been paying attention to this list all season long, you'll notice it's down to 32 names instead of the usual 40. Yes, much has happened (some good, some bad) to bring it down to size. We've seen the successful returns of Jacob deGrom and Mitch Haniger from their long-term injuries, with Dustin May soon to follow. We've also seen Walker Buehler's, Fernando Tatis' and Chris Sale's seasons abruptly ended, the latter two having nothing to do with what landed them on the IL.
Their circumstances may be unusual, but the general trend of fewer worthwhile IL stashes the later we get in the season isn't. With about seven weeks to go, we've reached the point where *every* injury has the potential to be a season-ender, and for maybe one-third of the names here, it's at best a coin flip's chance whether we see them again.
But if you have open IL spots, you might as well use them, right? These rankings offer some idea how best to do so. I of course had to weigh how likely a player is to return against how useful he'll be when he does, and in these situations, I generally prioritize the more impactful over the more probable. A fringy player I'm liable to drop rather than move to my bench once he's off the IL, so stashing him isn't as worthwhile even if he's likelier to return. The depth of your league may change that thinking, though, so tailor accordingly.
| 1 | 
Max Fried
Atlanta Braves SP
|
| concussion - expected back this week | |
| 2 | 
Mike Trout
Los Angeles Angels CF
|
| rib cage inflammation - no longer in pain, aiming to return Friday | |
| 3 | 
Bryce Harper
Philadelphia Phillies DH
|
| fractured thumb - continues taking batting practice, set to begin rehab assignment Tuesday | |
| 4 | 
Clayton Kershaw
Los Angeles Dodgers SP
|
| back discomfort - feeling better after epidural, has resumed throwing | |
| 5 | 
Dustin May
Los Angeles Dodgers SP
|
| Tommy John surgery - completed dominant rehab assignment; set to return Saturday | |
| 6 | 
Trevor Story
Boston Red Sox 2B
|
| fractured wrist - no rehab assignment yet, but traveling with team makes activation possible | |
| 7 | 
Ozzie Albies
Atlanta Braves 2B
|
| fractured foot - taking part in baseball activities, could begin rehab assignment soon | |
| 8 | 
Wander Franco
Tampa Bay Rays SS
|
| broken hamate bone - nearing rehab assignment, could return this weekend | |
| 9 | 
Giancarlo Stanton
New York Yankees DH
|
| Achilles tendinitis - going through pregame routines as rehab assignment nears | |
| 10 | 
Jazz Chisholm
Miami Marlins 2B
|
| stress fracture in back - about halfway through expected six-week absence; shutdown possible | |
| 11 | 
Kris Bryant
Colorado Rockies LF
|
| plantar fasciitis - in a walking boot after first trying to play through injury; no timetable | |
| 12 | 
Tim Anderson
Chicago White Sox SS
|
| torn ligament in hand - out until mid-to-late September | |
| 13 | 
Carlos Carrasco
New York Mets SP
|
| strained oblique - expected to miss 3-4 weeks, leaving him with maybe 3-4 starts down the stretch | |
| 14 | 
Jon Gray
Texas Rangers SP
|
| strained oblique - likely out another 2-4 weeks; may not have time to stretch out again | |
| 15 | 
Clay Holmes
New York Yankees RP
|
| back spasms - expected to miss minimum 15 days, but no guarantee he's the closer when he returns | |
| 16 | 
Tanner Houck
Boston Red Sox RP
|
| back inflammation - determined to be a disc issue, will be evaluated after a week of treatment | |
| 17 | 
Hunter Greene
Cincinnati Reds SP
|
| strained shoulder - back to playing catch after tests ruled out need for surgery | |
| 18 | 
Luis Severino
New York Yankees SP
|
| strained lat - has begun throwing bullpen sessions, but can't return before Sept. 13 | |
| 19 | 
Jack Flaherty
St. Louis Cardinals SP
|
| strained shoulder - on rehab assignment, but must prove effectiveness as well as health | |
| 20 | 
Mike Soroka
Atlanta Braves SP
|
| torn Achilles - dominant first rehab start Tuesday makes it all the more plausible he rejoins the rotation | |
| 21 | 
Ke'Bryan Hayes
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B
|
| back spasms - waited three games before going on IL, which hopefully indicates short absence | |
| 22 | 
Juan Yepez
St. Louis Cardinals LF
|
| strained forearm - on rehab assignment, should return this week | |
| 23 | 
Harrison Bader
New York Yankees CF
|
| plantar fasciitis - was still in walking boot when dealt to Yankees; aiming for September concern | |
| 24 | 
Tyler Glasnow
Tampa Bay Rays SP
|
| Tommy John surgery - peaking at 99 mph and executing breaking balls already; return not ruled out | |
| 25 | 
Shane Baz
Tampa Bay Rays SP
|
| sprained elbow - received PRP injection but can't return until Sept. 9; shutdown possible | |
| 26 | 
Luis Garcia
Washington Nationals SS
|
| strained groin - lengthy stay not expected; will shift to second base when he returns | |
| 27 | 
Matt Carpenter
New York Yankees DH
|
| fractured foot - won't need surgery but still may not make it back | |
| 28 | 
Jorge Soler
Miami Marlins LF
|
| back spasms - no updates since he first hit the IL in late July | |
| 29 | 
James Paxton
Boston Red Sox SP
|
| Tommy John surgery - initial mid-August timetable no longer realistic but has been throwing sim games | |
| 30 | 
Trevor Rogers
Miami Marlins SP
|
| back spasms - two rehab starts already; return may be imminent | |
| 31 | 
MacKenzie Gore
Washington Nationals SP
|
| elbow inflammation - set to begin throwing, but no timetable for return yet | |
| 32 | 
Kyle Hendricks
Chicago Cubs SP
|
| strained shoulder - recently resumed throwing; no rehab date set | |
