MLB stars nearing returns from injury who could shake up the 2026 playoff race

The 2026 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean contenders are done getting reinforcements. 

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game of baseball, and we’ve seen quite a few notable ones this season. That being said, there are quite a few big-name stars who are inching closer and closer to returning to their clubs, and that’s especially notable considering we’re right in the thick of playoff races. 

Injured MLB stars who could return for the 2026 playoff push

With SeatGeek serving as the Official Ticket Marketplace of MLB, we’ve been following all of the top injuries throughout this season. We’re going to see some big names return over the next few weeks, and these returns could have major impacts on the playoff race and the upcoming postseason. 

Yankees OF Aaron Judge

We’ll start with the biggest name on the list. A dive in the outfield back in April went wrong for Judge, resulting in a broken rib. He played through the pain until late May, and he’s been out of action since. The Yankees are firmly established as a playoff team in a weak American League, but the team’s ceiling is severely capped so long as Judge remains sidelined.

The good news here is Judge is expected back sometime in the regular season. He’s started to lift weights while hitting off a tee and off underhanded tosses, and the three-time MVP is also throwing up to 100 feet. Next up is live batting practice, and if all goes well, he has indicated he would prefer to return to the Yankees rather than go on a Minor League rehab assignment.

While we all want Judge back as soon as possible, the Yankees can take their time given the state of the AL Wild Card race. Assuring Judge is healthy as can be and is comfortable at the plate is a clear priority for the team, as it should be. 

Yankees SP Max Fried 

Judge isn’t the only Yankees star on the shelf. After being such a workhorse for New York last year, Fried has battled a few injuries this year and is currently sidelined with another elbow bruise. The veteran lefty appears to be in good shape, though, as he threw to live hitters earlier this week and could actually return as soon as this Saturday, according to manager Aaron Boone. The Yankees play the Red Sox in a doubleheader on Saturday. 

Whether Fried returns this weekend or not, it’s clear he’s close to coming back to the big league club. His return gives the Yankees one of the best rotation trios not just in the American League, but all of baseball, as he’d pitch alongside former Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole and 2026 Cy Young frontrunner Cam Schlittler. 

Twins SP Joe Ryan

The Twins desperately need Ryan back on the hill, as their pitching staff, which was already substandard with him healthy, has been one of the worst in baseball since his last start on Aug. 4. The veteran right-hander is dealing with a glute strain, but he did throw one inning of live batting practice. He’s eligible to return off the IL, but it doesn’t appear that will happen this week or even next week. 

Should Ryan need a rehab assignment – which certainly appears to be the case – it looks like he’d have enough time to return for two to three starts, potentially four depending on the timing. The Twins could certainly use the boost as they’re fighting in a crowded AL Wild Card race. 

Mariners IF Brendan Donovan

Donovan had maybe the flukiest and strangest injury of all the names we’re talking about in this space as the veteran infielder is on the seven-day concussion list after he was hit in the head in the batting cage. He’s eligible to return this weekend in Toronto, but he was still showing signs of a concussion as of Tuesday, so that doesn’t appear to be in the cards. A return later next week would seem more likely assuming his concussion symptoms go away. 

Donovan has had a strange first year in Seattle as he’s played just 39 games due to various injuries, and this is his third stint on the injured list. He played in 14 games in August after missing nearly three months, and Donovan hit .283 over that span. The Mariners have picked up recent series wins over the Cubs and Phillies and appear to be trending in the right direction as they remain in contention in both the AL Wild Card and the AL West. 

Diamondbacks IF Ketel Marte

The Diamondbacks and their star infielder have had a strained relationship in recent years, and even when the team has appeared competitive, Marte’s name has been thrown around in trade rumors. 

Last year, Marte landed on the restricted list last year after his home in Arizona was broken into before the All-Star Break, but he played in the All-Star Game and then flew back home to his native Dominican Republic and missed a handful of games. It was a move that upset many of his teammates and resulted in Marte having to apologize. 

Things got strange yet again two weeks ago when Marte no-showed a game in Boston in what was initially called a personal matter as he was placed on the restricted list. Marte was later placed on the injured list with a knee injury, and while he’s been rehabbing and should return once he’s eligible on Aug. 31 or soon after, he was spotted at a casino during a Diamondbacks game in a move that, while not illegal or a violation of team rules, rubbed many media members and fans the wrong way. The Diamondbacks are in a tight battle for the final NL Wild Card spot, and Marte’s bat and glove are going to play big parts in whether or not Arizona makes it back to the postseason.

Diamondbacks SP Corbin Burnes

The Diamondbacks stunned many two offseasons ago when they inked Burnes, a former Cy Young winner, to a massive free-agent deal, but his first year in the desert was cut short as he needed Tommy John surgery. The initial timeline pegged his return for July or early August of this year, but Burnes suffered a lat strain during his rehab work that pushed that timeline back.

Will Burnes return this season? He’s certainly making the push. He threw 20 pitches off the mound over the weekend, and he could head out on a rehab assignment soon. Hopefully we see Burnes back on an MLB mound soon, and if we do, it may only be for one to three starts while his pitch count is closely watched.

Red Sox SP Garrett Crochet

The Red Sox have had one of baseball’s best pitching staffs this year, and that’s especially noteworthy as Crochet, who finished second in AL Cy Young voting last year, has missed nearly all of 2026 with a shoulder injury and later suffered a low-grade lat strain during his rehab. The star lefty is in the midst of a throwing program and is increasing his intensity, but don’t count on a return to the mound in the way you may think.

Crochet is an ace-level starter, but it appears time has run out on him being a starting pitcher again this year. Instead, if he gets back on the hill for Boston, it will be as a reliever. That’s nothing new for Crochet, who kicked off his career as a leverage arm for the White Sox. That could be an intriguing development to monitor for the Red Sox, who are one of baseball’s best teams right now. 

Padres SPs Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta

The Padres have been beat up in the rotation this year to the point that they added not one, but two notable starters at the deadline in Robbie Ray and Casey Mize to pitch behind Michael King. But the team is hoping to get two more notable names back in the mix in Musgrove and Pivetta, who started Opening Day for San Diego this year. 

Both right-handers are in the midst of rehab assignments right now, and it looks like Musgrove is a hair ahead of Pivetta. Musgrove is set to pitch his fourth rehab start on Thursday, and MLB.com reports he could return to the rotation after that if all goes well. He hasn’t pitched since October 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. As for Pivetta, he’s been out since April due to a flexor strain and later inflammation in his elbow. He had a setback earlier this month that cost him a few weeks of rehab work, but he made a rehab start on Tuesday and threw 47 pitches. Pivetta should need at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Padres’ rotation. 

Dodgers RPs Edwin Diaz, Blake Treinen and Justin Wrobleski

If there’s one area of concern for the Dodgers, it’s the bullpen. Diaz was signed to a monster free-agent deal, but he’s back on the injured list with neck inflammation. He should return in the first two weeks of September, but according to manager Dave Roberts, he will not be the team’s closer upon his return. Treinen should return in the next week or so as well, as he’s in the middle of a rehab assignment. He’s been out since June 20. 

The most interesting wrinkle here is with Wrobleski. The young lefty made the All-Star team amid a breakout 2026 campaign, but left forearm inflammation landed him on the IL two weeks ago. He faced hitters this week and could start a rehab assignment soon, but Wrobleski will be a multi-inning reliever rather than a starting pitcher when he returns, Roberts said.