FunnellVision - Will They Make Opening Day?
Saturday, March 14, 2026
As we move through Spring Training games, more and more players are becoming injured. Some are minor aches and pains, while others are increasingly serious by the minute. Here are some hitters who have middling injuries. Written beside them is their status and what I think is the likelihood of them missing Opening Day. The higher the number, the higher the chances I see of them being ready for Opening Day.
Gabriel Moreno
This one came up yesterday, though his injury has been ongoing for days. This doesn’t necessarily seem like a major injury, but we’re less than two weeks away from the season, and he does have a sneaky-long injury history.
Opening Day: 7/10
Lawrence Butler
The team estimates that Butler has seen 30 live at-bats and is hopeful that he’s done enough to get himself ready for in-game action. This one is concerning, in that he had the operation last October, and he still required offseason injections to help ease the tendinitis. He’s yet to appear in the team’s actual Spring Training games, and that means more than these simulated at-bats.
Opening Day: 2/10
Brooks Baldwin
Baldwin will take it day by day to see if the inflammation in his elbow subsides. We should know more by the end of this week if rest is enough for him, or if the team needs an alternative method to help alleviate the pain. As it stands, the team isn’t overly worried, and neither am I; however, that can change if the concept of rest is not enough for him. A decision regarding Opening Day has not yet been made.
Opening Day: 6/10
Jeremy Pena
Pena will be re-evaluated this week. If that evaluation goes smoothly, then he should be ready for Opening Day. However, if there is a setback or it’s revealed that he cannot grip a bat, then chances are he will miss some time and possibly head to the Injured List. It’s the Astros. Any other team, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt, but here, you just never know.
Opening Day: 6/10
Josh Lowe
Lowe was deemed to be a late-round sleeper for some, given that he’s had success in the past. However, oblique injuries have dampened his career arc, and this year looks to start no differently from the rest. The good news here is that he was able to get some at-bats under his belt and do most baseball activities. It’s also good news that this isn’t the same oblique area. The team believes that he will be ready for Opening Day, and I think the glass is half full here. I’m just unsure of what liquid is being poured into this glass.
Opening Day: 7/10
Brandon Lowe
I wish I had more news from the Pirates regarding this injury, but unfortunately, this is all there is. This was the initial news about Lowe’s status the day it happened. All we can go on is experience with health, and Lowe has been someone who struggles to stay on the field and is a slow healer. For that reason, I will say that he likely won’t be ready for Opening Day, but we could get news any day now.
Opening Day: 4/10