How 8 teams can overcome early injury challenges

Every team knows injuries are unavoidable at any point in a 162-game MLB season. But which clubs have been bitten the most by the injury bug in 2024?

Based on the quantity and quality of players on the injured list at the beginning of the season, as well as the expected severity of those injuries, here are the teams fighting the toughest challenges in the early going -- and how they might overcome the injuries that have plagued them.

1. Rays (9 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: For starters, the Rays have an entire starting rotation’s worth of players on the shelf. Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs and Shane McClanahan all have different timelines after Tommy John surgery, Drew Rasmussen will be out for most of the season after a hybrid internal brace procedure in July, and Taj Bradley started the year on the injured list with a right pectoral strain. Throw in a right oblique strain for Josh Lowe, a fractured ring finger for Jonathan Aranda and a broken right hand for Jonny DeLuca, and the Rays have already suffered enough injuries for a whole season.

How they can overcome it: If there’s anything the Rays do well, it’s overcoming injuries. Tampa Bay has stockpiled enough pitching depth to survive its maladies, even after trading Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers in December. Returnees Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale and Zack Littell will anchor the rotation, trade acquisition Ryan Pepiot is expected to contribute, and waiver claim Tyler Alexander was given a shot to start the year. Trade acquisition Richie Palacios and Rays No. 3 prospect Curtis Mead will help fill vacancies in the field.

2. Marlins (7 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: Like their Sunshine State rivals, the Marlins also have a wealth of starting pitching unavailable to start 2024. 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara is out for the season after Tommy John surgery, but Eury Pérez (right elbow inflammation), Braxton Garrett (left shoulder soreness) and Edward Cabrera (right shoulder impingement) have all begun the season on the IL, too. With relievers JT Chargois and Josh Simpson injured as well, the Marlins’ pitching depth has taken a hit.

How they can overcome it: Fortunately, Miami simply has enough talented pitchers to throw at the issue -- something few teams can say. Joining Opening Day starter Jesús Luzardo in the rotation will be left-hander Trevor Rogers and team No. 3 prospect Max Meyer, who were both hampered by injuries in 2023. Lefty Ryan Weathers, acquired at the 2023 Trade Deadline from the Padres for Garrett Cooper, will start, too. And former first-round Draft pick A.J. Puk moved from the closer role into the rotation to begin the year, making for a rotation featuring four southpaws. Miami has as good a chance as any club to weather the early storm of pitching injuries, but it won’t be easy.

3. Reds (7 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: A wealth of young position players propelled the Reds to an 82-80 season in 2023. That depth has already been challenged as the 2024 campaign begins. Infielder Matt McLain will miss serious time after undergoing shoulder surgery, and outfielder TJ Friedl fractured his wrist in Spring Training. With infielder Noelvi Marte, the club’s No. 1 prospect, suspended for 80 games, an overcrowded Reds infield suddenly looks vulnerable. It’s not just the lineup: Five Reds pitchers began the year on the IL, including starters Nick Lodolo (left calf tenosynovitis) and Brandon Williamson (left shoulder strain).

How they can overcome it: The Reds are probably better equipped than any other team to withstand injuries to their lineup. Their offseason signing of Jeimer Candelario and recent trade for Santiago Espinal have been crucial, considering Marte’s suspension and the injury to McLain. Versatile players like Spencer Steer can move around the diamond and fill in wherever needed, and the Reds still possess outfield depth in Jake Fraley, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild and more.

4. Yankees (9 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: That begins with the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner. Gerrit Cole is on the 60-day IL with right elbow inflammation, and it’s hard to say when Cole will return or how his arm might hold up when he eventually does. It’s not just Cole, either: Outfielder Jasson Domínguez is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, as are pitchers JT Brubaker, Scott Effross and Lou Trivino. Third baseman DJ LeMahieu (right foot fracture) began the year on the IL, as did backup shortstop Oswald Peraza (right shoulder strain).

How they can overcome it: With LeMahieu out to start the season, the Yankees made a move to replace him, acquiring infielder Jon Berti from the Marlins in a three-team deal March 27. Berti, a .294 hitter in 2023 with an MLB-high 41 steals the prior season, can help out at third base, shortstop and in the outfield. There’s certainly no replacing Cole, but free-agent signing Marcus Stroman and promising right-hander Luis Gil will be helpful additions to the rotation.

5. Astros (9 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: Nine players on the IL -- all of them pitchers? Houston, we have a problem. In the rotation, not only is Justin Verlander’s 2024 debut delayed because of a shoulder injury, but José Urquidy is down with a right forearm strain. That’s not to mention rehabbing starters Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia. Relievers Kendall Graveman (60-day IL) and Bennett Sousa are among the notable names starting 2024 on the shelf.

How they can overcome it: If some of the Astros’ arms can bounce back, Houston can weather the storm. Cristian Javier (4.56 ERA in 2023) and Hunter Brown (5.09) will be counted on to anchor the rotation behind left-hander Framber Valdez. And fifth starter Ronel Blanco tossed a no-hitter in just his eighth career start. As far as the bullpen goes, signing reliable closer Josh Hader to a five-year deal will certainly go a long way. With one of the best rotations and relief corps in MLB, the Astros should be just fine until some of their injured stars return.

6. Cardinals (6 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: How important are outfielders, after all? The Cardinals have unfortunately had to find out this spring, finding themselves with three starting-caliber outfielders to begin 2024. Tommy Edman is still recovering from wrist surgery, Lars Nootbaar is dealing with fractured ribs, and Dylan Carlson injured his shoulder in an outfield collision late in Spring Training. With free-agent adds Sonny Gray -- who was set to be St. Louis’ Opening Day starter -- and Keynan Middleton on the IL, the Cards have certainly been tested by injuries in the early going.

How they can overcome it: A speedy reinforcement from the Minor Leagues might just help. Victor Scott II, MLB Pipeline’s No. 96 overall prospect, was called up to serve as the Cardinals’ Opening Day center fielder in Los Angeles after the injury to Carlson. While Gray’s ailment was a tough blow, St. Louis did sign free-agent pitchers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson this offseason. The duo should be able to handle plenty of innings until Gray returns, which shouldn’t be long.

7. Twins (8 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: Minnesota’s bullpen is hardly at full strength as the 2024 season gets underway. Flamethrowing closer Jhoan Duran (right oblique strain) is the biggest loss, but Josh Staumont, Caleb Thielbar, Zack Weiss and Josh Winder are on the IL, too. Both Major League pitchers the Twins acquired from the Mariners for Jorge Polanco -- reliever Justin Topa and starter Anthony DeSclafani -- are on the shelf, with DeSclafani out for the year after undergoing flexor tendon surgery. On the hitting side of things, 2023 postseason star Royce Lewis exited on Opening Day with a “severe” quad strain that is expected to sideline him for two months or more.

How they can overcome it: There’s not a whole lot the Twins can do on the pitching side of things until Duran, Thielbar and Co. return. Brock Stewart has been a key addition to the back end of Minnesota’s bullpen, and he and Griffin Jax are handling the highest-leverage opportunities early in the season. The Twins will have to rely on Pablo López, Joe Ryan and the rest of their starters to handle more innings until some of their bullpen pieces return. Between Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro, Minnesota should have third base covered with Lewis out, although they won’t be able to replace his power bat in the lineup.

8. Dodgers (7 players on IL)
Biggest injury challenge: Only one of their starting pitching injuries is anything new, but the Dodgers’ rotation isn’t exactly healthy. Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin are on the 60-day injured list recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Clayton Kershaw won’t pitch until later in the year after a shoulder procedure. With Emmet Sheehan (right forearm inflammation) moved to the 60-day IL on Sunday, Los Angeles has certainly been healthier on the mound.

How they can overcome it: It’s pretty safe to say the Dodgers’ rotation will be just fine. Los Angeles made two huge pitching splashes in the offseason, acquiring Tyler Glasnow in a trade with the Rays and signing Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal. L.A. also signed lefty James Paxton to a one-year deal and will be looking for young right-handers Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone to deliver strong seasons. Additionally, Walker Buehler is nearing a return from a Tommy John procedure in August 2022. The Dodgers might be behind the eight-ball in terms of pitching health early in 2024, but they seem prepared to handle that.