As injuries continue to impact contenders across Major League Baseball, several stars are dealing with setbacks that could affect division races, fantasy baseball lineups and return timelines entering the week of June 15th.

Friday, June 19th

Bobby Witt Jr. - Knee

Witt avoided a serious knee injury after leaving Thursday's game and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee. The Royals held him out of Friday's lineup against the Cardinals, but manager Matt Quatraro said the team feels "fortunate" that the injury is only a mild sprain. The Royals hope Witt can return on Sunday with the rare Saturday off.

Francisco Lindor - Calf

Lindor is nearing his return from the strained left calf that has sidelined him since April 22. The Mets shortstop is scheduled to begin a Minor League rehab assignment Friday with Double-A Binghamton and could also see action with either Binghamton or Triple-A Syracuse later in the weekend.

Justin Verlander - Hamstring

Verlander has suffered a new setback in his recovery, as the Tigers announced he has a left hamstring strain that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least several more weeks. The 43-year-old right-hander had already been on the injured list since April with left hip inflammation and was scheduled to return to the rotation Sunday before the hamstring injury emerged.

Shane Bieber - Elbow

Bieber is nearing his long-awaited return after missing the entire season to date with elbow inflammation. The former Cy Young winner was placed on the injured list in March and later transferred to the 60-day IL, but he rejoined the Blue Jays on Friday and could be activated within the next few days.

Thursday, June 18th

Mike Trout - Hamstring

Trout has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain after suffering the injury. Trout said he does not yet have a timeline for his return but is hopeful the stint on the injured list will be a short one. The severity of the strain will ultimately determine how quickly he can get back into the lineup.

Bobby Witt Jr. - Knee

Witt exited Thursday night's game against the Cardinals with right knee discomfort after making a sliding play in the field. The Royals removed their star shortstop as a precaution, and the exact severity of the injury remains unclear pending further evaluation.

Shohei Ohtani - Blister

Ohtani is dealing with residual soreness in his left knee and a blister on his right middle finger. Ohtani has allowed multiple earned runs in back-to-back starts for the first time this season, but said he is not overly concerned and noted that players rarely feel 100% during the season.

Julio Rodriguez - Hamstring

Rodríguez exited Wednesday’s loss to the Orioles with a hamstring spasm. Rodríguez was seen speaking with a team athletic trainer before leaving the dugout, and manager Dan Wilson confirmed the issue after the game. Rodriguez did not play in Thursday's game.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. - Groin

Chisholm was forced to leave Thursday's game after a foul ball bounced off the ground and struck him directly in the groin area. The Yankees infielder immediately went down in significant pain and remained on the field for several minutes before walking off under his own power, albeit with a noticeable limp. The club did not provide an update following the game

Max Scherzer - Back Spasms

Scherzer has been placed on the 10-day injured list with back spasms. The move came hours before Scherzer was scheduled to start for the Blue Jays against the Red Sox.

Wednesday, June 17th

Justin Verlander - Hip

Verlander is set to return to the Tigers' rotation on Sunday against the White Sox after spending nearly two months on the injured list with left hip inflammation. The 43-year-old veteran was sidelined in April when the hip issue became significant enough to require a shutdown, but he has progressed through his rehab without any reported setbacks.

Seth Lugo - Concussion

Lugo appears on track to return to the Royals' rotation Friday after spending time on the concussion injured list following a frightening incident in which he was struck in the head by a 106.6 mph line drive against the Rangers. The veteran right-hander progressed to a bullpen session Tuesday without any reported issues

Angel Martínez - Foot

Martínez has been placed on the 10-day injured list after additional testing revealed a non-displaced fracture in his left foot. The Guardians initially hoped the injury was less severe, but persistent discomfort led to further imaging that uncovered the fracture.

Tuesday, June 16th

Shohei Ohtani - Knee

Ohtani is expected to make his scheduled start against the Rays on Wednesday, an encouraging sign after dealing with left knee inflammation last week. The Dodgers star was removed from a game in Pittsburgh because of the knee issue and sat out the following game against the White Sox as a precaution. However, he returned to the lineup on Saturday and has shown enough progress for Los Angeles to keep him on his regular pitching schedule.

Daniel Palencia - Elbow

Palencia was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday because of right elbow inflammation. The Cubs will now shut down their closer and allow the inflammation to calm before determining the next step in his throwing progression.

Cal Raleigh - Oblique

Raleigh returned to the Mariners' lineup on Tuesday after missing nearly a month with a right oblique strain that landed him on the injured list on May 14. Raleigh contributed 1 hit and 2 RBI's during his return.

Elly De La Cruz - Hamstring

De La Cruz is making encouraging progress in his recovery from the right hamstring strain that has sidelined him since June 1. The Reds shortstop advanced his rehab Monday by running the bases and taking infield grounders before the game against the Mets, marking an important step in his return-to-play progression. He is scheduled to run the bases again Tuesday, and if he responds well without any setbacks, Cincinnati could send him on a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend.

Grayson Rodriguez - Lower Back

Rodriguez has been placed on the 15-day injured list after leaving Sunday's start with low back tightness following just 2⅓ innings. The right-hander experienced the discomfort during the outing and was unable to continue, prompting Baltimore to shut him down rather than risk aggravating the issue.

Monday, June 15th

Corey Seager - Concussion

Seager has officially been placed on the seven-day concussion injured list after suffering a concussion during a home plate collision with Royals catcher Carter Jensen on Thursday. The Rangers shortstop initially remained in the game and even homered later that night, but symptoms developed afterward and caused him to miss three consecutive games. Manager Skip Schumaker previously described the injury as a "mild" concussion.

Vinnie Pasquantino - Hamate Fracture

Pasquantino underwent surgery Sunday to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right hand after suffering the injury during Saturday night's game against the Astros. The Royals first baseman exited after feeling the injury while making contact with a pitch in the fifth inning, and subsequent testing confirmed the fracture. Hamate surgeries are common among hitters and typically require a recovery period of four to six weeks before a player can return to game action. Kansas City expects Pasquantino could miss up to six weeks, a significant loss for the middle of its lineup given his importance as a run producer and everyday presence at first base.

Spencer Strider - Elbow Inflammation

Strider has been shut down for at least four weeks after being diagnosed with inflammation in his right elbow, a significant development given his extensive elbow history. The Braves right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and later had his UCL repaired with an internal brace in April 2024. After experiencing a notable drop in velocity during his start against the Mets, Strider underwent an MRI that revealed inflammation and was subsequently placed on the injured list. Following a consultation with Dr. Keith Meister, Atlanta's plan is for Strider to rest completely for four weeks before undergoing a follow-up MRI. If that imaging comes back clean, he will be cleared to resume a throwing program.

Josh Naylor - Shin

Naylor avoided a significant injury scare after fouling a ball directly off his right shin during Sunday's loss to the Nationals. He was forced to leave the game shortly afterward, but postgame X-rays came back negative, ruling out a fracture. Naylor described himself as "doing all right" after the game.

Kodai Senga - Back

Senga is set to return to the Mets' rotation Tuesday against the Reds after completing his rehab from lumbar spine inflammation, which landed him on the injured list in late April. His comeback was briefly delayed when he experienced ulnar nerve irritation in his right arm during a minor league rehab assignment, but the issue was described as minor and did not prevent his return. After successfully completing a bullpen session Sunday, Senga has been cleared to take Scott's spot in the rotation and rejoin the Mets' pitching staff.