Which MLB Stars Are Injured To Start The 2026 Season?

The start of the MLB season always brings excitement, but this year several notable stars are set to begin the season on the sidelines. From key pitchers still working back from surgery to everyday players managing lingering injuries, these absences could have an early impact on team outlooks across Major League Baseball.

Seiya Suzuki - Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are optimistic that Suzuki will not be out long, but his right knee injury will keep him out of the Opening Day lineup. Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Suzuki will not be ready for Thursday’s opener against the Nationals, though the team has not yet made a final decision on whether he will begin the season on the injured list.

Blake Snell - Los Angeles Dodgers

Blake Snell was shut down early in camp with a shoulder injury, but he has been progressing well and threw a bullpen session on Thursday. Snell said his goal is to return to the Dodgers before the end of April.

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Gerrit Cole - New York Yankees

Cole will not be on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he is expected back in late May or early June. Cole recently made his spring training debut on March 18, throwing a scoreless inning.

Spencer Strider - Atlanta Braves

Strider will begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with an oblique strain. He had been scheduled to start Monday’s spring training finale against Pittsburgh before being scratched, and while the Braves have not given a firm return timeline, manager Walt Weiss said the hope is that Strider can be back within a few weeks.

Joe Musgrove - San Diego Padres

Musgrove will begin the 2026 season on the injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery in October 2024, ruling him out for Opening Day against the Tigers on March 26. Musgrove hit a setback in his recovery and has not pitched in a game since March 4.

Kyle Stowers - Tampa Bay Rays

Stowers will begin the season on the injured list after imaging revealed a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. The team will re-evaluate him in three to four weeks.

Zack Wheeler - Philadelphia Phillies

Wheeler is set to pitch in a minor league game on March 23, marking his first game action since Aug. 15, 2025, after his season ended early due to thoracic outlet syndrome. Wheeler also underwent surgery in August to remove a blood clot in his throwing shoulder and has been working through a 6-to-8 month recovery timeline.

Merrill Kelly - Arizona Diamondbacks

Kelly will begin the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list because of a lingering back issue caused by intercostal nerve irritation, ruling him out for Opening Day.

Hunter Greene - Cincinnati Reds

Greene is expected to be out 14 to 16 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery last week to remove bone chips from his right elbow, putting his return timeline into July. He will spend the next six weeks recovering before beginning a throwing program.

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader will begin the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list with a biceps injury, ruling him out for Opening Day. While he has resumed throwing, the Astros are taking a cautious approach in hopes of having him fully healthy for later high-leverage situations.

Jeremy Peña - Houston Astros

Peña has resumed swinging a bat as he works back from a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger, and the Astros are still deciding whether he will travel with the team to Houston ahead of Opening Day. Peña still has a chance to be cleared for Thursday’s opener against the Angels, but he will likely need to face live pitching early this week to avoid beginning the season on the injured list.

Anthony Volpe - New York Yankees

Volpe will miss Opening Day against the Giants on March 25 as he continues to recover from offseason surgery to repair a partially torn left labrum. He is expected to return by mid-May and is set to begin a rehab assignment in early April.

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