Updating Every MLB Team's Most Crucial Injury

Major league teams need to deal with a number of injuries over the course of every season, and some of them have already lost key players at this early juncture.

Other teams have players that are coming back from offseason surgeries that they are counting on to have big seasons.

Every franchise hopes that its players can stay healthy, but injuries always happen and can really hurt a team's outlook.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton

While trying to break up a double play in a game against the San Francisco Giants in the opening week of the MLB season, Justin Upton jammed his left thumb.

This injury kept him out of the Arizona Diamondbacks' lineup for their April 9 game against the San Diego Padres, but that is all the time he is expected to miss.

Atlanta Braves: Tim Hudson

After undergoing back surgery this winter, Tim Hudson is trying to work his way back into the Atlanta Braves' rotation.

The latest stop on Hudson's trip back to the majors was Class A Rome. Hudson threw three innings in his first start with the team, and he is scheduled to throw 65 pitches or four innings in his next start.

Baltimore Orioles: Brian Roberts

The Baltimore Orioles spent almost all of the 2011 season without Brian Roberts, and it looks like they could deal with the same problem this season.

Roberts has slowly been trying to get back to playing games, and Roch Kubatko of MASN has reported that Roberts is now in the batting cages every day.

Boston Red Sox: Daisuke Matsuzaka

The Boston Red Sox are hoping that they can get Daisuke Matsuzaka at some point in the middle of this season as he tries to return from Tommy John surgery.

Matsuzaka is still in extended spring training, but he has looked pretty good so far. He hit 94 mph on the radar gun during his last outing.

Chicago Cubs: Bryan LaHair

The Chicago Cubs thought that Bryan LaHair would be their starting first baseman on Opening Day this year, but he instead started the year on the bench because of a bad back.

LaHair has been able to start since then, and it does not seem as if his back will be a major issue at this point.

Chicago White Sox: None

As of now, the Chicago White Sox have been lucky not to have any of their key players get injured.

Cincinnati Reds: Brandon Phillips

Brandon Phillips signed a big extension with the Cincinnati Reds, but he has yet to play after signing his new deal.

He is nursing a cramp in his left hamstring, but the injury is not serious. Phillips is only expected to miss three or four games so that he can rest.

Cleveland Indians: Grady Sizemore

When the Cleveland Indians made the decision to re-sign Grady Sizemore this winter, they were hoping that he could finally stay healthy. That is not the case as he is recovering from back surgery.

The team placed Sizemore on the 60-day DL, and it is hoping it will be able to get him back in June.

Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon

The Colorado Rockies have a number of outfielders that they can use this year, and they have an additional one that is on the disabled list.

Charlie Blackmon is dealing with turf toe and will be playing in extended spring training games this week.

Detroit Tigers: Doug Fister

Doug Fister was supposed to play an important role for the Detroit Tigers as their No. 2 starter behind Justin Verlander. Now, he is just concerned with getting healthy.

Fister has a left costochondral strain, and according to ESPN medical expert Stephania Bell, this injury should keep him out for around 35 days.

Houston Astros: Jed Lowrie

A sprained thumb sent Jed Lowrie to the disabled list earlier in the year, but he is not expected to stay there for long.

Lowrie has already begun making rehab starts, and he is supposed to return to the Houston Astros on Friday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

Kansas City Royals: Lorenzo Cain

Lorenzo Cain has showed early on this year that he could be a useful player for the Kansas City Royals.

However, the team may not have Cain in its lineup for some time. He left the game on April 10 with a strained groin.

Los Angeles Angels: Jerome Williams

It appears as if Jerome Williams will take the fifth spot in the Los Angeles Angels' rotation this season.

Williams is working his way back from a strained hamstring and has made two rehab starts at High-A. He has thrown 11 innings and given up four runs. He should start for the Angels once the No. 5 start comes up in their rotation.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Ted Lilly

If the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to compete in the National League West this season, they are going to need a good year out of Ted Lilly.

He started the season on the disabled list, but he should be back soon. Lilly threw 83 pitches in his last rehab start and is expected to return to the majors on April 14.

Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton

The Miami Marlins have a lot to worry about following manager Ozzie Guillen's comments this past week, and they are also without Giancarlo Stanton.

Stanton was scratched on April 9 because of a sore knee and did not travel with the team to Philadelphia. He is expected to be day-to-day.

Milwaukee Brewers: Brandon Kintzler

Brandon Kintzler is currently the only player the Milwaukee Brewers have on their disabled list.

He was suffering from discomfort in his right elbow and has been rehabbing in extended spring training.

Minnesota Twins: Liam Hendriks

Liam Hendriks was able to make the Minnesota Twins' starting rotation this year, but he missed his first start of the year because he got food poisoning.

He has been released from the hospital, but it is not yet clear when Hendriks will be able to make his first start of the season.

New York Mets: David Wright

After getting off to a hot start, the New York Mets got some bad news about David Wright.

The team found out that their star third baseman broke his pinky finger on his right hand. New York wants him to take time off and have the injury heal rather than have him try to tough it out and play through the pain.

New York Yankees: Michael Pineda

Michael Pineda was supposed to step in and become a big part of the New York Yankees' rotation this year after they traded Jesus Montero for him.

Instead, Pineda has not yet made a start for the Yankees, as he is dealing with rotator cuff tendinitis. He is supposed to begin long-tossing this week.

Oakland Athletics: Brett Anderson

Oakland Athletics starter Brett Anderson is hoping to return from Tommy John surgery later in this season.

April 10 was a big day for Anderson, as it was the first time that he threw all of his pitches. He is also expected to appear in a simulated game in a week or two, according to Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group.

Philadelphia Phillies: Chase Utley and Ryan Howard

The Philadelphia Phillies are already dealing with two major injuries this year, as they are without both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

Utley is going to be rehabbing in Arizona, and Howard is supposed to be visiting with Dr. Mark Myerson, according to Ed Barkowitz of the Philadelphia Daily News. The return dates for both players are uncertain.

Pittsburgh Pirates: A.J. Burnett

The Pittsburgh Pirates saw something in A.J. Burnett, which is why they acquired him from the New York Yankees this offseason. Burnett then fractured his face in the spring.

Burnett has already made one rehab start for the Bradenton Marauders, where he threw 4.2 innings, striking out five and allowing one run.

San Diego Padres: Carlos Quentin

The biggest acquisition of the offseason for the San Diego Padres was bringing in Carlos Quentin, but he has not yet played a game for the team.

Quentin has been working hard to rehab from knee surgery and began to hit off a tee last weekend.

San Francisco Giants: Ryan Vogelsong

2011 was a breakout year for Ryan Vogelsong, and the San Francisco Giants are hoping that he can replicate his success in 2012.

Vogelsong has completed his last minor league rehab start, going six innings in Triple-A. His next start will be in the major leagues.

Seattle Mariners: Franklin Gutierrez

Franklin Gutierrez has been able to make an impact both on the field and at the plate for the Seattle Mariners, but he has not yet played this year.

He is recovering from a partially torn right pectoral muscle and has begun to take batting practice.

St. Louis Cardinals: Chris Carpenter

Things are not good for the ace of defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Chris Carpenter has nerve inflammation in his throwing shoulder, and it is not known how long he will be out. He is scheduled to undergo more testing this week.

Tampa Bay Rays: B.J. Upton

The Tampa Bay Rays are going to have a tough time competing in the American League East if they are without B.J. Upton for an extended period of time.

Upton is on the disabled list with a sore back, but he has begun playing rehab games for the Rays' High-A team. He went 0-for-2 in his first start.

Texas Rangers: Yoshinori Tateyama

One of the pieces of the Texas Rangers' bullpen this season is Yoshinori Tateyama, who has been dealing with a lower back strain.

Tateyama is beginning his rehab stint at Triple-A Round Rock, and he could be in the majors by the end of the weekend.

Toronto Blue Jays: Dustin McGowan

There are three Toronto Blue Jays starting pitchers on the team's disabled list at the beginning of the season.

Dustin McGowan has found himself on the DL yet again, this time with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. It is unknown when McGowan will get on the mound again.

Washington Nationals: Mike Morse

One of the teams that people thought could be a surprise this year is the Washington Nationals. To do this, the Nationals need to stay healthy, which is an issue for them at the moment.

Mike Morse is recovering from a strain of his right lat, but he suffered a setback and as of now is out indefinitely, according to Dan Kolko of MASN.