Injury Territory

We start with an emergency! Tarik Skubal heads for elbow surgery and if this sounds familiar, it should. We've seen this before and recently. We break down the implications for Skubal, the Tigers, and baseball. Then we get to what would have been the normal show! Is the Dodgers' Roki Sasaki the next dominant Japanese ace or is there something in the pitch mix that points in a different direction? On this episode of Injury Territory, Edward Egros breaks down Sasaki’s arsenal in detail, using pitch data, usage patterns, and underlying metrics to answer the question teams are quietly asking: can he hold up as a frontline starter, or does the profile hint at a future in shorter stints? The math is done for you, but the implications go well beyond one pitcher. Then Will Carroll zooms out to the bigger picture across MLB, tracking the mounting injury toll through the first month of the season. From Ronald Acuna to Cal Raleigh to Ryan Helsley and more, we look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how it’s shaping roster decisions and performance early in the year. The episode also dives into total days lost, emerging trends, and what the data says about workload, risk, and durability in today’s game. If you’re tracking MLB injuries, pitcher development, or the future of international stars like Roki Sasaki, this is your edge. Subscribe for weekly injury analysis, deep dives, and the kind of insight that connects performance, health, and results. If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Plans start at $15/month at MintMobile.com/Territory See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The season’s barely underway and already the alarms are going off in Boston Red Sox land, so this emergency episode of Injury Territory steps in as something closer to a bullpen session than a fire drill. Will Carroll takes a measured look at Garrett Crochet and the shoulder issue that has fans hovering over the edge, digging into Crochet’s injury history, workload patterns, and why this latest development might not carry the long-term weight people fear for the Red Sox ace. From there, the lens widens the way it always does this time of year, when April optimism starts to run headfirst into the realities of tissue and torque. (11:30) Manny Machado and Mookie Betts headline a growing list of early-season concerns, with updates on players heading out on rehab assignments, others breaking down sooner than expected, and the constant churn that defines the first month of the MLB season. It’s not just a rundown of who’s hurt, but why it’s happening, how teams manage it, and what it actually means going forward. This is an Injury Territory emergency podcast built for fans trying to separate signal from noise, panic from pattern. If you’re tracking MLB injuries, Red Sox news, Garrett Crochet updates, or just trying to understand how injuries shape the season before it really gets going, this is where you start. To explore coverage, visit aspcapetinsurance.com/FOUL. The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A franchise in transition, a record price on the table, and a fan base trying to read the tea leaves. The San Diego Padres are reportedly headed toward a $3.9 billion sale to José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones—a deal that could reset not just the market, but the identity of the club.   I’m joined by Craig Elsten to break down what it all means—from ownership philosophy to roster construction to what Padres fans should actually expect next. It’s less about the number and more about the direction on this slightly less-injury focused Injury Territory. (Oh yeah - updates on Sonny Gray, Juan Soto, and Blue Jays pitching!) My article on the Padres sale: https://undertheknife.substack.com/p/utk-special-42126 Padres Hot Tub:  Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/FOUL #squarepodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s show starts where it always seems to lately—with Gerrit Cole and the slow, deliberate march back. Rehab updates are easy to skim past this time of year, but this one matters. The timeline, the pitch build, the expectations—it all feeds into what the Yankees are really getting, and when. From there, we shift to Philadelphia, where things got complicated in a hurry. Jhoan Duran hits the board with a muscle issue that doesn’t sound like much until you consider how hard he throws, and what that does to the margins. Then there’s J.T. Realmuto, the quiet backbone of the Phillies, dealing with the kind of wear-and-tear that tends to show up all at once for catchers. Context matters here, and we dig into what these injuries mean beyond just days missed. Edward takes us deeper, zooming out to look at roster fragility—specifically how even big payroll teams can crack under pressure. The New York Mets are in the middle of a 10-game slide as we record, and it’s not just bad luck. It’s structural, and it’s familiar. We also check in on Tatsuya Imai and Jackson Holliday, including a great clip from Cardinals Territory with Matt Holliday breaking down what’s going on with his son—one of those moments where experience cuts through the noise. Wrap it up with a TV recommendation, a pour of something worth your shelf space, and you’ve got a full episode of Injury Territory. Subscribe, rate, and stay ahead of the injury curve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Injury Territory, we start in Houston (0:45), where the Astros suddenly find themselves staring at a pitching crisis. Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, and Tatsuya Imai all go down in the span of a week—three arms, three timelines, and a rotation that now has to figure out what’s real and what’s just survival. Add in Jeremy Pena’s hamstring strain, and it’s not just the staff - it’s the structure of the roster taking a hit. From there, Edward digs into the Parker Meadows collision injury (13:38) and asks a question that’s been sitting there for a while: can Statcast actually help us understand these plays better? Not just what happened, but how and why—angles, speed, reaction, and whether there’s something predictive hiding in the data. Then we shift gears. Matt Olson’s consecutive games streak (28:07) isn’t just a trivia note—it’s a stress test. What does durability actually look like in 2026? What’s the real value of showing up every day, and where’s the line between resilience and risk? It’s a week that moves from acute to cumulative, from a rotation breaking down all at once to the quieter questions about how injuries happen and how players hold up over time. Go to https://HelloFresh.com/FT10FM now to Get 10 Free meals + Free Nutribullet® Ultra Plus+ 2-in-1 Compact Kitchen System (a $189.99 value) on your 3rd box. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. Must order the 3rd box by May 31st, 2026. ⸻ Topics covered:Houston Astros pitching injuriesCristian Javier injury updateHunter Brown injuryTatsuya Imai injuryJeremy Peña hamstring strainParker Meadows collision injuryStatcast injury analysisMatt Olson consecutive games streakMLB injury reportfantasy baseball injury update ⸻ Subscribe to Injury Territory for weekly injury analysis, rehab timelines, and what actually matters going forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Injury Territory, we start with a cluster: Parker Meadows' collsion (0:58), Cristian Javier's shoulder, and  Zach Eflin, Robert Stephenson (12:58), Cole Ragans, and Royce Lewis—six different situations, but not six separate stories. Some are acute, some are lingering, and a couple are the kind that don’t resolve cleanly even when the reports sound optimistic. This is where the board fills up and you start looking for overlap: workload, mechanics, recurrence, and how teams are messaging it. Then we slow it down with Zack Wheeler. (19:53) The velocity dip is real, but the question isn’t just the number—it’s what’s underneath it. How much of velo loss actually matters, when does it stabilize, and when does it hint at something more structural? This is where data and feel don’t always agree, and why comps matter more than panic. We close with three that each carry their own weight. Juan Soto—not just whether he’s in the lineup, but how he moves when he is. (29:22) Jacob deGrom, where every update lives in the space between upside and history. And Anthony Volpe, a reminder that not every injury is loud, but plenty are consequential. This isn’t a spike week. It’s a stacking week. The kind where nothing feels catastrophic on its own, but taken together, it starts to shape what the next month looks like. Use our code TERRITORY10 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Will Carroll sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas of Andrews Sports Medicine. One of the pioneers of UCL repair and the use of InternalBrace, Dugas tells us the genesis, who the first patient was, and when it's appropriate. We discuss the issues of the youth game, pitch design, and then Dugas explains why he went from the operating room to a distillery - both are award winning! It's a unique conversation you'll only hear on Injury Territory. In other news, injuries to Juan Soto (calf), Cade Horton (forearm), Trey Yesavage (shoulder), and more are discussed, because injuries never sleep. https://www.andrewssportsmedicine.com/providers/jeffrey-r-dugas-mdhttps://www.dreadriver.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Injury Territory, a routine play turns into something much more serious as Cody Ponce suffers a knee injury that raises bigger questions about how and when pitchers get hurt. It’s the kind of moment that looks random until you start pulling at the thread. From there, we zoom out to Toronto, where the Blue Jays are already trying to piece together a pitching plan under less-than-ideal conditions. With injuries mounting and timelines tightening, the challenge isn’t just getting arms back - it’s figuring out how to use them without making things worse. There are ways to bridge that gap, but they require creativity and discipline, two things that get tested early. We also sit down with Dr. Tyler White to talk about blood flow restriction training, one of the more intriguing tools showing up in recovery and performance. It sounds unconventional, but the science is catching up, and teams are paying attention. If you’re watching the game through the lens of health, workload, and what actually holds up over a season, this is one you’ll want to stay with. https://www.invictusperformancetherapy.com/ Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code FOUL at BlueChew.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's almost Opening Day and with games about to start, some players won't be there. Spencer Strider and Trey Yesavage are sidelined, Zach Wheeler and Gerrit Cole aren't quite back, and we discuss. We take a look at whether the pitch clock hurts pitchers - you'll be surprised at the answer - and at the predictability of teams heading into 2026. Enjoy 50% off for life plus Free Shipping AND 3 Free Gifts at https://mengotomars.com Get 10 free meals and a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at https://HelloFresh.com/FT10FM. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as a discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Carroll and Edward Egros take a look at a spate of Red Sox injuries, how the Jays will adjust to rotation issues, and how the WBC pitching rules held back a great tournament.  Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code FOUL at BlueChew.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Carroll walks everyone through injury situations involving Hunter Greene (Reds), Francisco Lindor (Mets), Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole (Yankees), Kyle Teel (White Sox), and watch all the way through for one more important injury discussion! Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount Start your FOX One 7-day free trial today at https://FOXOne.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Carroll takes a look at the upcoming WBC and how injuries are already affecting the USA rotation, updates for Giancarlo Stanton (Yankees) and Zack Wheeler (Phillies), plus an interview with one of the most innovative surgeons around, Dr. Chad Lavender from Marshall.  Start your 7-day free trial today at FOXOne.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Carroll checks in on Twins starter Pablo Lopez and Braves hurler Hurston Waldrep's early elbow issues, while the Rockies might be without Kris Bryant for much of the season ... again. We also discuss Mike Trout, Zac Veen, and Ben Joyce are other injuries we discuss inside Injury Territory today. Subscribe to Injury Territory! This is a show that explores what actually happened, why it matters, and what comes next. No panic or hot takes - just context about injuries. Part of the Foul Territory Network Our listeners get 15% off plus free shipping when they buy two or more pairs of prescription glasses at WarbyParker.com/FOUL — using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #adSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.