MLB Injury Report — September 8, 2026
A handful of injury situations are worth watching across today’s MLB board, with several teams dealing with changes that could directly affect lineups, rotations and betting markets. The Yankees get their biggest bat back, Arizona is close to getting multiple starters back into its rotation, while Boston, Los Angeles and Toronto still have important pieces sidelined.
NEW YORK YANKEES — JUDGE RETURNS, GRISHAM HITS THE IL
WHAT WAS REPORTED
Aaron Judge has been activated after missing more than three months with a stress fracture in his right rib. He is expected back in the Yankees lineup tonight against Colorado.
The good news comes with another injury in the outfield. Trent Grisham has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, an injury that could keep him out for the remainder of the regular season.
BETTING IMPACT
Judge returning is obviously the bigger development. Putting his power back in the middle of the lineup changes the ceiling of the Yankees offense immediately and matters for New York team totals, opposing pitching matchups and player props.
Grisham’s absence hurts the lineup and outfield depth, but it doesn’t come close to offsetting the offensive upgrade of getting Judge back.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — ROTATION GETTING HEALTHIER
WHAT WAS REPORTED
Corbin Burnes is expected to return today against Kansas City after working his way back from Tommy John surgery and a teres major strain.
Zac Gallen is also getting close. He threw four innings and 60 pitches in a simulated game and reported feeling good afterward, with Arizona planning to activate him during the Kansas City series.
Ryne Nelson has begun a rehab assignment, while Michael Soroka has also progressed to simulated-game work.
BETTING IMPACT
Arizona’s rotation has been held together without several important arms, so this is one of the more meaningful pitching developments to monitor.
Burnes returning today immediately matters to the Diamondbacks-Royals matchup, but bettors should be careful assuming he is ready for a normal workload in his first Major League start back. Gallen’s expected return would provide another significant upgrade to the rotation later in the series.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS — OHTANI BACK HITTING, PITCHING RETURN UNLIKELY
WHAT WAS REPORTED
Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup after dealing with soreness in his left knee and right biceps along with neck discomfort.
The bigger development is on the pitching side. Ohtani has indicated that he most likely will not pitch again this season.
Catcher Dalton Rushing has also returned to the injured list because of continued right elbow trouble after recently coming back from a partial UCL tear.
BETTING IMPACT
Getting Ohtani’s bat back removes the biggest immediate concern for the Dodgers offense.
The pitching situation is different. If Ohtani is finished on the mound for the season, Los Angeles loses an important rotation option heading into the stretch run. That matters much more to future pitching projections than to the Dodgers lineup on a nightly basis.
BOSTON RED SOX — RAFAELA OUT, CROCHET STILL WORKING BACK
WHAT WAS REPORTED
Ceddanne Rafaela has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right quadriceps strain.
Garrett Crochet has resumed mound work while recovering from left shoulder inflammation, but he remains out of the rotation.
Tanner Houck is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment today as he continues working back from a torn right UCL and flexor-pronator strain.
BETTING IMPACT
Rafaela’s absence takes an everyday player and premium defender out of Boston’s lineup, but Crochet remains the more important betting injury.
Until Crochet is back and stretched out, Boston’s starting-pitching projections remain weaker than they would be with its top arm available.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS — ROTATION STILL DEALING WITH MAJOR QUESTIONS
WHAT WAS REPORTED
Jameson Taillon returned from the injured list last week but lasted only two innings before leaving with right elbow discomfort. Toronto placed him right back on the injured list.
Shane Bieber is still recovering from right teres major inflammation and is expected to resume mound work this week.
Trey Yesavage continues progressing from left meniscus surgery and could advance to facing hitters this week.
BETTING IMPACT
Toronto still doesn’t have stability in the rotation.
Taillon going immediately back on the IL after attempting to return is the biggest setback. Bieber and Yesavage are progressing, but neither should be treated as an immediate solution until they get through the next stages of their recoveries.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS — CAGLIANONE DEALING WITH ELBOW STRAIN
WHAT WAS REPORTED
Jac Caglianone has a Grade 1 flexor strain in his left elbow. Kansas City has shut him down from throwing for several days after he left Saturday’s game.
BETTING IMPACT
The injury is more important because of Caglianone’s two-way value and long-term role than because of an immediate massive adjustment to Kansas City’s side or total.
For now, this is a situation to monitor rather than one that should materially move a Royals number by itself.
CHICAGO CUBS — HAPP KNEE WORTH MONITORING
WHAT WAS REPORTED
Ian Happ was a late scratch Sunday because of discomfort in his left knee and was scheduled for additional evaluation.
BETTING IMPACT
This becomes more important if Happ remains unavailable. He is a regular piece near the top of Chicago’s lineup, so another absence would affect lineup depth and some individual matchup and prop projections.
BOTTOM LINE
The biggest development today is Aaron Judge returning to the Yankees lineup after missing the entire summer.
Arizona’s rotation is the other situation worth watching closely, with Corbin Burnes returning today and Zac Gallen potentially right behind him.
Boston and Toronto remain the two teams with the most meaningful pitching uncertainty, while the Dodgers appear to have Ohtani’s bat back but should not expect him to contribute again as a starting pitcher this season.