With less than three weeks to go until Opening Day, the starting pitching position is already littered with landmines for Fantasy Baseball players to avoid. The two latest hits came Friday, when George Kirby (shoulder) and Gerrit Cole (elbow) were diagnosed with injuries that will keep them out for the start of the season – if not longer.

The Seattle Mariners led Major League Baseball in starting pitchers' ERA last season (3.38), but the staff suffered a blow on Friday with news that George Kirby has been shut down with shoulder inflammation and will likely begin the 2025 season on the injured list.

George Kirby and Grayson Rodriguez picked up injury tags, giving early drafters shivers of buyer's remorse. Kirby was the 9th-ranked starting pitcher in the early draft season, while Rodriguez drew a backend SP3 tag in 12-teamers.