Fantasy Baseball Injury Rankings: Top 38 IL stashes suggest Nick Lodolo, Oneil Cruz could be worth the wait

As the season begins winding down, some long-absent players are nearing a return

We're inside seven weeks to go in the regular season, which means that every injury going forward has the potential to be a season-ender.

It should make you think even harder about how to use your IL slots. Realistically, who still has a chance to make an impact, and who's just taking up space? We already know Shane McClanahan fits into the latter category after the Rays moved him to the 60-day IL for a forearm issue that at this point remains without an official diagnosis. You can go ahead and drop him because there aren't 60 days left in the season. But other players who have long been on the 60-day IL aren't necessarily lost causes. We've recently seen long-term stashes like Trevor Story and Chris Sale come back and pay immediate dividends.

In particular, I could see pitchers like Nick Lodolo, Kyle Wright, John Means and Walker Buehler justifying the small investment you could make in them now. Likewise, Oneil Cruz, out since early April with a fractured fibula, could still make a major contribution at a position of need during the time of year when it's most beneficial.

How stashable are they relative to some of the shorter-term injury absences? That's what this rank list is designed to let you know.

Too valuable to drop, period

1	Bo Bichette Toronto Blue Jays SS
patellar tendinitis - playing DH on rehab assignment, will play field as early as Thursday
2	Ozzie Albies Atlanta Braves 2B
strained hamstring - originally called a cramp, so Braves may be using an abundance of caution
3	Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels CF
fractured hamate bone - has been hitting off machine, chance of returning in August
4	Nathan Eovaldi Texas Rangers SP
strained forearm - throwing bullpen sessions, shouldn't need lengthy rehab stint
5	Joe Ryan Minnesota Twins SP
strained groin - injury contributed to struggles by impacting delivery, rehab assignment coming soon
6	Jonathan India Cincinnati Reds 2B
plantar fasciitis - still early into a two-week shutdown, early September a reasonable goal
7	Hunter Greene Cincinnati Reds SP
hip discomfort - struck out nine over 5 2/3 in latest rehab start, expected back Sunday
8	Josh Jung Texas Rangers 3B
thumb surgery - return an uncertainty, but upside makes him worth waiting around for
9	Joe Musgrove San Diego Padres SP
shoulder inflammation - still a couple weeks away from throwing, may get 2-3 September starts
10	Josh Naylor Cleveland Guardians 1B
strained oblique - still 2-4 weeks to go, could return in early September

Also really difficult to drop

11	Jake Fraley Cincinnati Reds RF
stress fracture in toe - lengthy absence not expected
12	Carlos Rodon New York Yankees SP
strained hamstring - low-grade injury, may miss only one more turn through rotation
13	Ryan Helsley St. Louis Cardinals RP
forearm tightness - MRI shows healing but rehab assignment on pause for now
14	Nick Lodolo Cincinnati Reds SP
stress reaction in tibia - began rehab assignment Friday, likely needs 2-3 more starts there
15	Marcus Stroman Chicago Cubs SP
rib cage fracture - damage is to cartilage area, no timetable for return
16	Byron Buxton Minnesota Twins DH
hamstring tightness - nearing end of two-week shutdown, should return before September
17	Starling Marte New York Mets RF
strained groin - there's talk of him nearing a rehab assignment or possibly not returning at all
18	Logan O'Hoppe Los Angeles Angels C
torn labrum in shoulder - on rehab assignment but may need a couple weeks after lengthy layoff

Still a priority on some level

19	Oneil Cruz Pittsburgh Pirates SS
fractured fibula - cleared to resume running but clock is ticking, could need lengthy rehab assignment
20	Kyle Wright Atlanta Braves SP
strained shoulder - throwing live batting practice, which puts him on track for September return
21	John Means Baltimore Orioles SP
Tommy John surgery - lasted two innings in first rehab start, could return before end of August
22	Walker Buehler Los Angeles Dodgers SP
Tommy John surgery - just began facing live hitters, needs to build up to four innings before returning
23	Shane Bieber Cleveland Guardians SP
elbow inflammation - cleared for throwing program, good chance of returning sometime in September
24	Anthony Rizzo New York Yankees 1B
concussion - set to undergo further testing, will proceed cautiously after playing with issue for months
25	Kris Bryant Colorado Rockies RF
fractured finger - needs a couple more weeks in splint, putting him out potentially another month
26	Bryan Woo Seattle Mariners SP
forearm inflammation - already throwing after a week off, not expected to miss much longer
27	Jarred Kelenic Seattle Mariners LF
fractured foot - early September possible, but there have been no updates since July

Stashing is purely a luxury

28	Mason Miller Oakland Athletics SP
sprained elbow - set to begin rehab assignment, but Athletics figure to play it cautiously
29	Triston McKenzie Cleveland Guardians SP
sprained elbow - hasn't progressed beyond playing catch, may not make it back in time
30	Nestor Cortes New York Yankees SP
strained rotator cuff - returned from same injury to make only one start, won't throw for a month
31	Alex Kirilloff Minnesota Twins 1B
strained shoulder - swinging bat, could go on rehab assignment next week
32	Jose Abreu Houston Astros 1B
back inflammation - received two cortisone shots Friday, may not need long to recover
33	Hunter Harvey Washington Nationals RP
strained elbow - could return this week but likely has been usurped as closer by Kyle Finnegan
34	Tanner Houck Boston Red Sox SP
facial fracture - currently building up in minors, should rejoin rotation after one more start
35	Mitch Haniger San Francisco Giants LF
fractured forearm - could begin rehab assignment in a week but unclear where he fits anymore
36	Rowdy Tellez Milwaukee Brewers 1B
lacerated finger - on rehab assignment but may not be such a priority for the Brewers anymore
37	Trevor Rogers Miami Marlins SP
strained lat - injury is to non-throwing shoulder, but lack of updates is ominous sign
38	Steven Matz St. Louis Cardinals SP
strained lat - just landed on the IL, which doesn't leave him much time to recover