Shohei Ohtani, Carlos Correa and more: Injuries

Carlos Correa is out. Max Fried is back. Shohei Ohtani is someplace in-between. And questions linger over the postseason availability of a number of other MLB difference-makers as October approaches.

Here is a look at the injury standing and hopeful returns of impression gamers on playoff qualifiers and contenders:

American League East

Tampa Bay Rays: Acquired from Baltimore at the commerce deadline, swingman Tyler Wells posted a 1.50 earned-run-average before proper forearm tightness sidelined him. He is back solely pitching from the bullpen, and may very well be a key piece for the Rays in their shocking surge to the division title.
Hopeful return: Slick-fielding shortstop Taylor Walls is recovering from a proper hip flexor pressure and indicators level to him returning by October.

New York Yankees: The return of workers ace Fried is large for a group that has clinched a wild-card berth and stays a long step behind the Rays for a division title and first-round bye. The left-hander out of Studio City Harvard-Westlake High gave up one run while strolling none over seven innings in his longest start in nearly 5 months. Fried has had two arduous IL stints dealing with a bone bruise on his left elbow.
Hopeful returns: Giancarlo Stanton or Trent Grisham returning in October would give the Yankees lineup extra pop. Three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge has been back for a week since lacking more than three months with a fractured rib.

Boston Red Sox: A proper quadriceps pressure has stored All-Star middle fielder Ceddanne Rafaela sidelined for two weeks. However, Rafaela told NESN that he expects to be activated this weekend, a substantial addition to a group that doubtless will play the Yankees in wild-card collection.
Hopeful return: A 12 months in the past, Garrett Crochet was 18-5 and led the AL with 205 1/3 innings pitched. This 12 months, left shoulder inflammation and a lat pressure have stored him sidelined since April. However, he has ramped up bullpen periods and is concentrating on a postseason return as a reliever.

American League Central

Chicago White Sox: The most improved group in baseball is desperately making an attempt to maintain off the Guardians and win a division title after ending last two years in a row. Chicago has loved good health and added journeyman outfielder Tommy Pham from the Phillies on Aug. 31. Pham was activated from the IL on Wednesday and might present beneficial postseason expertise to complement his younger new teammates — he has hit .315 in 37 profession playoff video games.
Hopeful return: Drew Thorpe was reinstated from the 60-day IL on Wednesday and is an intriguing option. The right-hander from Cal Poly SLO was a key piece in the 2024 commerce that despatched Dylan Cease to the Padres but has spent practically two full seasons on the shelf. Now healthy, his inclusion on the playoff roster could be a gamble that his elite stuff can masks his inexperience.

Cleveland Guardians: Jo Adell didn’t come off the IL, but the addition of the previous confounding Angels prospect in an August wage dump has bolstered the Guardians’ outfield — long a drawback space. Adell has pushed in 28 runs in 38 video games with Cleveland and joins glittering rookie Chase DeLauter and regular veteran Steven Kwan in a productive outfield.
Hopeful return: Reliever Shawn Armstrong, who signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract last offseason, has been sidelined since July 24 with a calf pressure. Barring a setback in his remaining minor league rehab look, he may very well be activated in time for the playoffs.

American League West

Houston Astros: Correa, whose second act with Houston has been a flop because of accidents, was working on an accelerated comeback from May ankle surgical procedure. A few days in the past group officers expressed optimism, but Tuesday they determined to shelve their shortstop when the ankle turned infected after a workout. Houston is clinging to a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the AL West.
Hopeful return: Nothing of observe.

Texas Rangers: Still in rivalry despite spending a lot of the season under .500, the Rangers welcomed back pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and third baseman Josh Jung from the injured record over the weekend. A calf pressure had stored Jung sidelined since July 21 and Eovaldi had been out since Aug. 7 with elbow inflammation. Eovaldi, who has began in all but 20 of his 339 MLB appearances, will pitch out of the bullpen.
Hopeful return: Nothing of observe

National League East

Atlanta Braves: Reynaldo López inflated hopes of a late-career surge when he posted a 1.99 ERA over 25 begins in his first season with Atlanta. But accidents — including proper shoulder inflammation this season — have severely restricted his contribution. López was positioned on the IL again Tuesday.
Hopeful return: Bryce Elder had an arthroscopic process to clean up bone fragments in his proper knee on Sept. 8. The hope is that the right-handed starter can get better shortly enough to be counted upon in the postseason.

Philadelphia Phillies: Although an MRI discovered no structural injury to the throwing shoulder of stalwart starter Jesús Luzardo, the left-hander stays a query for the playoffs. He was positioned on the 15-day IL retroactive to Sept. 12, and it’s uncertain he might pitch again in the common season. Luzardo has a 2.87 ERA across 29 begins this season.
Hopeful return: Tanner Banks, a major contributor to the Philadelphia bullpen in 2025, was reinstated from the 60-day IL over the weekend. Although he wasn’t efficient earlier this season, Banks is welcomed back because Phillies relievers have been poor against left-handed hitters.

National League Central

Milwaukee Brewers: Huntington Beach Marina High product Jake Bauers has suffered from shin splints nearly all season, and the pain has stored him from enjoying the outfield currently. He can play first base, but that takes slugger Andrew Vaughn out of the lineup. Bauers, with 26 home runs and 83 RBIs, has been a key bat for Milwaukee. He has been notably powerful against the Dodgers, batting .348 with a .483 on-base share.
Hopeful return: Brandon Woodruff, one of the best starters in baseball when healthy, is rehabbing from shoulder inflammation that sidelined him in July. The Brewers are practically assured a first-round bye, giving Woodruff an additional week to construct stamina.

Chicago Cubs: Shortstop and group chief Dansby Swanson will likely be welcomed back after lacking a month with a left indirect injury. He is anticipated to rejoin the Cubs during their weekend collection against the Cincinnati Reds.
Hopeful return: Left-handed starter Justin Steele is progressing through bullpen periods and is sort of prepared to take the mound after lacking the complete season with a left elbow flexor pressure. Steele, whose file was 16-5 in 2023, doubtless would pitch from the bullpen in the postseason.

National League West

Dodgers: The loss of middle fielder Andy Pages is important. He can bat close to the top or backside of the order, shows energy and pace, and had improved his endurance at the plate enough to earn a career-high 45 walks in 128 video games.
Hopeful return: Getting Ohtani healthy enough to produce at the plate is a precedence, and his absence from the mound shouldn’t be felt if Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tarik Skubal and Tyler Glasnow pitch to their capabilities. Meanwhile, Edwin Diaz may not even make the playoff roster.

San Diego Padres: While recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure, starter Joe Musgrove made it a purpose to be prepared for the postseason. Recovery difficulties between begins have made his standing uncertain, however. Nick Pivetta, on the other hand, has pitched nicely in two begins since coming off the IL and seems prepared.
Hopeful return: Ramón Laurenano, a 2025 commerce deadline acquisition with a potent bat, last performed May 30 because of hip inflammation. However, he told reporters that the probabilities of him enjoying in the postseason are “less than 5%.”

Arizona Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen was activated from the 60-day IL and Michael Soroka from the 15-day IL, giving the D-Backs two starters in their push to win a wild-card berth. Gallen, a confirmed starter who has been horrendous in 2026, has been out since the All-Star break with elbow inflammation. Soroka was out only two weeks with the same ailment.
Hopeful return: Third baseman Nolan Arenado suffered an injury to his left thumb Tuesday, the same injury he sustained in late August. It’s uncertain the injury would sideline the 14-year veteran with video games this week being so important, yet the Diamondbacks have to hope the injury doesn’t impression his productiveness.