April 30, 2025
Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever
Victor Vodnik (shoulder) resumed playing catch on Saturday and said the inflammation in his right shoulder has calmed. Vodnik was placed on the injured list on April 20 with right-shoulder inflammation but is making progress and is expected to return to the major-league bullpen on May 5. Between now and then, the 25-year-old should be expected to go on a short minor-league rehab assignment to get back up to speed. The former 14th-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2018 appeared in nine games out of the bullpen for Colorado before his injury and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking six and striking out eight in eight innings. Vodnik also recorded a save and also picked up nine saves in 15 chances a year ago. Given his lack of strikeout stuff and his inability to miss bats in 2024, Vodnik isn't a great option for fantasy managers speculating on saves.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Colorado Rockies infielder
Thairo Estrada (wrist) is doing fielding drills and light swinging of the bat, according to manager Bud Black. Estrada remains on the 60-day injured list (retroactive to March 24) after fracturing his right wrist in spring training, and there is no specific timetable for his return. At the very least, Estrada will remain on the shelf until late May, and it might not be until June when we see him make his 2025 debut. The 29-year-old Venezuelan infielder will eventually need to go on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the Rockies' big-league roster. When healthy, he's expected to be Colorado's primary second baseman despite hitting .217/.247/.343 with nine homers and 47 RBI in 96 games for the Giants in 2024 before being cut. Estrada had 28 homers, 44 steals and 111 RBI in 2022-23 in San Fran and has enough contact skills to be a waiver-wire sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues when he's back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Chicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros is scorching-hot at the plate, blasting two home runs in a 2-for-5 day at the plate on Wednesday for Triple-A Iowa while recording three RBI and two runs scored in the process. The home runs extended his current hit streak to 16 games, with 10 of those going down as multi-hit performances, and the 21-year-old is hitting a sweltering .402 for the year along with an otherworldly 1.078 OPS. Ballesteros was seemingly white-hot all of last season as well, but he never got the call, and there isn't much more he can prove at the plate, so it looks like he's out to force his way onto the major-league roster. If you've been stashing him, continue to do so, because the call could come any time now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 30, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Manuel Margot (knee), who has been on the 10-day injured list since April 8 with a patellar tendon strain in his left knee, started his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday night, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. If Margot doesn't have a setback with his knee, it's possible that he'll come off the injured list to rejoin the big-league squad by the weekend series in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. The 30-year-old Dominican outfielder was signed by Detroit after the start of the 2025 regular season due to several injuries to an already thin outfield group. The 10-year MLB veteran got off to a nice start in his six games played before the injury, going 6-for-19 with three RBI and a run scored. Margot is nearing a return, but he will most likely serve in a reserve role for the Tigers when he's ready, leaving him very little fantasy value in AL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
April 30, 2025
Washington Nationals infielder
Paul DeJong (nose) had sinus, orbital plate and nose surgery on Monday after getting hit by a pitch in the face against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 15 and breaking his nose. It will be at least two months, if not longer, before DeJong will be able to play again. "I will start using the C-flap helmets now to give me protection," DeJong said. The 31-year-old veteran plans to rejoin his teammates in D.C. when they begin their next homestand on May 5, but he won't be playing anytime soon. DeJong's goal is to simply be playing again before the All-Star break in mid-July. He was playing regularly at third base for the Nats before his injury, but he went just 11-for-54 (.204) with no homers, two RBI, two steals, three runs, two walks and 24 K's in 16 games, so he won't be guaranteed a starting role when he returns by any means.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
April 30, 2025
Baltimore Orioles corner infield prospect
Coby Mayo has begun to catch fire at Triple-A Norfolk, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, two home runs, three RBI, and two runs scored on Wednesday. It was the 23-year-old's fourth multi-hit game in his last six, going 9-for-23 (.391) over that stretch and pushing his slash line up to .268/.368/.567 for the year, with six home runs and a 16:26 BB:K in 26 games (117 PA). Baltimore's second-ranked prospect continues to be the odd-man out for playing time, as the O's recalled 28-year-old corner infielder
Emmanuel Rivera from Norfolk on Tuesday after
Jordan Westburg hit the IL. Despite a 47.8 percent strikeout rate in his 46-plate appearance debut last season, the 6-foot-4 slugger should get another chance in Baltimore this season, or elsewhere if they have no intentions of using him in the majors, but whenever he's recalled, power needy managers in deep leagues should consider rostering MLB's 13th-ranked prospect.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 30, 2025
MLB.com's AJ Cassavell writes that the San Diego Padres are hopeful that right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow), who has been out since mid-March with right-elbow inflammation, will rejoin the starting rotation at some point in May. Darvish threw another bullpen session last Friday and was able to mix in a heavier dose of breaking balls. His ramp-up has been slow because of the fact that he hadn't fully built up his arm in spring training when he was sidelined. The Japanese veteran is at least several weeks off but could move to facing live hitters in the near future. Darvish is expected to need around three or four bullpen sessions before he's cleared to face live hitters. The 38-year-old was avoided by many fantasy managers in spring drafts to his injury, and rightfully so, but he'll be a waiver-wire pickup as he gets closer to a 2025 debut. The four-time All-Star had a 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in his 16 starts in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
April 30, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Brandon Marsh (hamstring) will resume his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber. Marsh will play again on Friday and could rejoin the Phillies' big-league roster after that. A strained right hamstring landed Marsh on the 10-day injured list, and the 27-year-old experienced cramping in the same hamstring while playing for Lehigh Valley last Sunday. He's feeling good enough to play in games again, though, and he could rejoin the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park this weekend for their series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. It's been a tough year so far for Marsh, who in addition to his hamstring injury has gone 4-for-42 (.095) with a homer and five RBI. Before landing on the IL, he had gone hitless in his last 31 at-bats. It remains to be seen how much he'll play when he returns to Philly.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
April 30, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Ivan Herrera (knee) traveled to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday and was scheduled to go through a pre-game workout with the Redbirds, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Herrera will then serve as the designated hitter for five innings with Memphis on Thursday and catch on Friday. He went through running drills on Tuesday in St. Louis before being cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment. It's unclear how many games the 24-year-old backstop will play on the farm, but if he avoids setbacks, it's entirely possible that he'll come off the injured list to rejoin the Cardinals sometime next week. Herrera is recovering from a bone bruise in his left knee. When he's back in St. Louis, Herrera will serve as the team's starting catcher after opening the year red-hot with a .381/.458/.1.048 slash line with four homers in his first 21 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
April 30, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder
Tommy Edman (ankle), who did not start in Wednesday's series finale win over the visiting Miami Marlins, said he tweaked his right ankle on Tuesday night and still felt some discomfort on Wednesday. The Dodgers have a scheduled day off on Thursday before beginning a series in Atlanta against the Braves on Friday, so fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if Edman is feeling good enough to play. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day until further notice. The veteran switch-hitter isn't tearing the cover off the baseball through the first month of the 2025 season -- he's hitting .252 (28-for-111) -- but he's managed to be productive for his fantasy managers with 24 RBI, 19 runs scored, two stolen bases and eight home runs in 30 games played.
UPDATE: Manager Dave Roberts expects Edman back in the lineup in one of the first two games in the series against Atlanta.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Sonja Chen
April 30, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez (back) is scheduled to make his season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. This is good news for the Phillies as Suarez has been sidelined since spring training due to a back issue. He has been pitching well during his rehab outings, so the team feels Suarez is ready to return. It won't be an ideal matchup for Suarez against a tough D-Backs lineup. Despite that, Suarez is worth rostering in most standard 12-team formats right now. The assumption is that
Taijuan Walker moves into the bullpen which is something he did during part of the season last year.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Todd Zolecki
April 30, 2025
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Noah Cameron made his MLB debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. The 25-year-old earned the call-up after posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 27/8 K/BB ratio across 22 1/3 innings in Triple-A. Cameron looked impressive on Wednesday as he tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Rays. He allowed only one hit in this outing, but he also walked five batters. The rookie southpaw clearly had some command issues, but that shouldn't take away from his solid outing. He figures to have some streaming appeal for a favorable matchup against the Chicago White Sox, assuming Cameron stays in the rotation.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
April 30, 2025
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher
Emmanuel Clase got the call to hold a three-run lead in the ninth inning during Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. It didn't go perfect for Clase who allowed two singles and threw a wild pitch to shrink it to a two-run game. Luckily, Clase already had two outs under his belt, so he struck out
Kody Clemens to escape the danger and earn his fifth save of the season. It hasn't been pretty for Clase this season, but fantasy managers should stick with him.
Cade Smith figures to take away some save chances, but Clase should remain heavily in the mix as well.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
April 30, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Tony Gonsolin made his season debut against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. The right-hander made his first start since 2023 after recovering from Tommy John surgery and a back issue this spring. He didn't seem to miss a beat as Gonsolin made easy work of the Marlins lineup. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out nine batters in the win. Gonsolin only threw 77 pitches in this one as the Dodgers likely wanted to limit him during his first game back. Fantasy managers who are seeking help in the pitching department should take a look at Gonsolin. He's currently scheduled for a rematch against the Marlins in his next outing.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
April 30, 2025
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers put together an incredible game at the plate during Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Stowers kicked off the scoring for his team with a two-run home run off right-hander
Tony Gonsolin in the fourth inning. He would later blast another long ball off
Yoendrys Gomez in the ninth inning. Stowers finished his day 4-for-4 with two homers, a double, and four RBI in the loss to the Dodgers. Now, Stowers is slashing .323/.396/.510 with four homers, 19 RBI, and two steals this season. He has been hot at the plate lately and is worthy of adding in deep leagues and NL-only formats at the minimum.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
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