The MLB injured list: Everybody’s doing it
By Bill Felber
The raw numbers
The raw numbers lend credence to the conclusion that at least some portion of the increase in injuries is an after-effect of the Covid layoff.
Across the sport, 241 players were on the injured list as of May 28. On the comparable date two seasons ago, 192 players were sidelined. That’s a difference of 49 injured list players, or 25.5 percent.
In late May of 2019, only four MLB teams — the Yankees, Nationals, Pirates, and Padres – had as many as 10 players on the injured list. Pittsburgh led the way with 13.
As of this recent May 28, a full 10 teams – the Mets, Cubs, Pirates, Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Blue Jays, Mariners, Rangers, and Astros – rostered double-digit players on the injured list. The Mets’ extraordinary 17 injured players included regulars Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, J.D. Davis and Brandon Nimmo, plus normal rotation starters Noah Syndergaard, Taijuan Walker, and Carlos Carrasco, plus potential closer Dellin Betances.
Even the Red Sox, numerically MLB’s least injury-stricken team, had reason to bemoan their fate. Boston carried only two injured list players, but one of them was ace left-handed pitcher Chris Sale. Recovering from Tommy John surgery, Sale has not pitched since the 2019 post-season.
The only other teams with fewer than a half dozen players on the injured list were the Nationals, Rockies, Orioles, White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Royals, and Athletics.