May 7, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that he fully expects catcher
William Contreras (finger) to return to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander
Zack Littell. A recent X-ray revealed that Contreras has been playing through an old fracture in the middle finger of his left hand. The 27-year-old All-Star backstop took the day off in Wednesday's loss to the Houston Astros, but he plans to play through the injury and will be active again on Friday after a travel day on Thursday. It's good news for fantasy managers that the Venezuelan catcher won't miss extended time with the injury, but it also means that Contreras might not be ready to return to his All-Star form from a year ago at the plate. Through 35 contests in 2025, he's hitting a disappointing .242 (30-for-124) with three homers, 19 RBI and four steals in 148 trips to the plate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
May 7, 2025
The Texas Rangers have placed outfielder
Kevin Pillar (back) on the 10-day injured list due to lower back inflammation. The 36-year-old has not appeared in a game since May 3. Through the early part of the campaign, the 36-year-old has appeared in 18 contests and posted a .237/.237/.289 slash line. Pillar has hit two extra-base hits (both doubles), tallied one RBI, and swiped three bags. Pillar has typically been deployed on the short side of a platoon in center field. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Evan Carter,
Josh Smith, and
Dustin Harris to share time in center field. Given his lack of consistent playing time and minimal offensive upside, Pillar should not be stashed in any standard format while he is on the injured list.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
May 7, 2025
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that corner infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) could start ramping up his baseball activities next week. Encarnacion-Strand is "continuing to take steps" and has been moving around and working out. The 25-year-old took swings off a tee in late April and is now on the verge of ramping up his rehab as he recovers from lower-back inflammation that landed him on the 10-day injured list. He was given an epidural injection along the way to help treat the inflammation in his back. With both
Jeimer Candelario (back) and
Noelvi Marte (oblique) facing extended absences, it's possible that CES is the first of Cincy's injured infielders to return, potentially in late May. Encarnacion was hitting just .158/.183/.298 with two homers and five RBI in his first 57 at-bats, but he should play regularly whenever he's able to return at either first, third or designated hitter.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
May 7, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed relief pitcher
Evan Phillips (forearm) on the 15-day injured list with right forearm discomfort. Phillips opened the campaign on the injured list due to a shoulder strain but will be sidelined for another period. Phillips has logged just five 2/3 innings of work this season. He did not allow a run and struck out six batters with a solid 1.06 WHIP. He has tallied two holds being deployed as a high-leverage relief option. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but given this injury, Phillips could be sidelined for an extended period. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Tanner Scott,
Kirby Yates, and
Alex Vesia to see most of the high-leverage opportunities in the Dodger bullpen. However, Scott remains the top option for saves.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: David Vassegh
May 7, 2025
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that corner infielder
Jeimer Candelario (back) received an epidural injection in his ailing back but has yet to turn the corner in his recovery. Candelario last played on April 27 and is currently on the 10-day injured list with a lumbar spine strain. There is no timetable for the 31-year-old veteran, so fantasy managers should be surprised if he rejoins the team before June. In addition to Candelario,
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) and
Noelvi Marte (oblique) are on the IL, so for the time being,
Santiago Espinal will be Cincy's starter at third base. Candelario's bad back likely explains why he was hitting just .113/.198/.213 with two home runs, 10 RBI and three runs scored in his first 80 at-bats of the 2025 season. Whenever he returns, the switch-hitter should be a lineup regular between third, first and designated hitter.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
May
7,
2025
Cincinnati
Reds
manager
Terry
Francona
said
that
infielder
Noelvi
Marte
(oblique)
has
a
Grade
2
left-oblique
strain
and
will
be
out
for
a
while.
Marte
was
placed
on
the
10-day
injured
list
on
Wednesday
after
being
read more...
May 7, 2025
Cincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (calf) is being held out of the starting nine on Wednesday due to calf tenderness. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that outfielder is set to undergo an MRI later today. Fantasy managers should monitor his status as he could be placed on the injured list if this injury is serious. As a result,
Rece Hinds is getting the starting nod in right field and will bat in the nine-hole. Hinds was recalled from Triple-A earlier on Wednesday in a transaction that sent
Noelvi Marte (oblique) to the IL. Through his first 28 games of the season, Fraley has posted a modest .205/.319/.359 slash line with three doubles and three home runs. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Blake Dunn and Hinds to see most of the starts in right field.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Gordon Wittenmyer
May 7, 2025
The Chicago White Sox have placed outfielder
Andrew Benintendi (calf) on the 10-day injured list prior to their contest on Wednesday evening against the Kansas City Royals. Benintendi suffered this injury during their contest against the Astros on Sunday. In a corresponding move, the White Sox promoted infielder
Nick Maton from Triple-A Charlotte. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Benintendi's status over the next week, in case he has a lengthy stint on the injured list. Through his first 24 games of the regular season, the 30-year-old posted a .224/.298/.400 slash line with five home runs. Under the hood, he has generated a modest .323 xwOBA. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Brooks Baldwin to see most of the opportunities in left field.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
May
7,
2025
Tampa
Bay
Rays
first
baseman
Yandy
Diaz
(hip)
is
serving
as
the
designated
hitter
and
batting
leadoff
for
the
Rays
on
Wednesday
against
the
visiting
Philadelphia
Phillies
and
left-hander
Cristopher
Sanchez.
read more...
May 7, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander
Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) will start playing catch on Friday. Glasnow is not with the club on their current road trip, so he will play catch back in L.A. on Friday as he begins a throwing program. The hard-throwing 31-year-old left his start prematurely on April 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates with right-shoulder inflammation and landed on the 15-day injured list as a result. There's no specific timeline for when Glasnow might rejoin the Dodgers' starting rotation, but he'll likely need at least a short minor-league rehab assignment. In a best-case scenario, it will be a couple of more weeks before we see him again in the big leagues. Even though Glasnow is sporting a disappointing 4.50 ERA in his five starts in 2025, he has fanned 23 in 18 innings pitched and should remain rostered in all fantasy formats while he's on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
May 7, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander
Blake Snell (shoulder) will start playing catch on Friday. Snell is on the team's current road trip in Miami and will also be in Arizona when they face the division-rival Diamondbacks this weekend. The 32-year-old southpaw made it only two starts in his Dodgers tenure before dealing with left-shoulder issues and being placed on the 15-day injured list. He had a setback with his balky shoulder in late April and had his throwing program shut down, but Snell is going to resume throwing this weekend after recently receiving a cortisone injection in his arm. In a best-case scenario, Snell might be able to return to L.A.'s starting rotation in late May after going on a minor-league rehab assignment. He allowed two unearned runs in his first two starts, but he walked nine and struck out four in nine innings. Snell needs to remain stashed in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
May 7, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander
Clayton Kershaw (knee, toe) will make his next minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and it could be his last one. Kershaw is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on May 18, exactly a week after his rehab start on Sunday. In his fourth rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, the 37-year-old veteran southpaw looked dominant, going six hitless innings while walking one and striking out four. The future Hall of Famer threw five innings on 66 pitches in his previous rehab start with OKC. Although Kershaw is nearing his return to the big leagues, the Dodgers aren't rushing him back after he had offseason surgeries on his left knee and left toe. Still, the Dodgers could use the rotation help with both
Blake Snell (shoulder) and
Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) currently on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
May 7, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sounded much more optimistic about outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez (groin) on Wednesday. Roberts said he's hopeful that Hernandez will return from the 10-day injured list in two weeks. Hernandez was put on the IL on Tuesday after he was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left-adductor strain of his groin. It's good news that the 32-year-old veteran's injury was deemed mild, but we'll have a better idea of when he might rejoin the Dodgers once he resumes baseball activities. Barring a setback, fantasy managers should have Hernandez back before the end of May. The two-time All-Star has been money for fantasy managers in the potent Dodgers lineup, as he entered Wednesday's action tied with
Pete Alonso and
Aaron Judge with the most RBI in the league at 34. He's also hitting .315 (41-for-130) with nine home runs, 21 runs and four steals. Keep Hernandez stashed everywhere.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Sonja Chen
May 7, 2025
Washington Nationals left-hander
MacKenzie Gore (ankle) will make his next start this Sunday on the road in St. Louis against the Cardinals, according to MASN's Mark Zuckerman. Gore was a little sore following his last start against the Cincinnati Reds after tweaking his ankle, but he's been cleared to make his next start to close out the weekend series against the Cardinals. The 26-year-old southpaw made it through five innings last Saturday against Cincy, allowing an earned run on four hits while walking a season-high four and striking out nine. Overall, the former first-rounder by the San Diego Padres in 2017 has been strong for the Nats in 2025 through his first eight starts, posting a 3.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 68 punchouts in his 46 innings of work. The Cardinals currently hold the 11th-best OPS (.732) in the league, but Gore should be started in fantasy lineups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
May 7, 2025
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee (legs) will make his next start this Saturday at Progressive Field against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Bibee will not miss a turn through Cleveland's starting rotation after dealing with cramps in both of his legs in his last start on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 26-year-old allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out three in five innings for a win on Sunday and is now 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA (6.11 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP while walking 16 and striking out 28 in 38 innings over his first seven starts. Bibee's 6.11 FIP speaks to how fortunate he's been while currently posting a career-low 17.6% strikeout rate and a career-high 10.1% walk rate. He still has plenty of time to turn it around, but he should be considered a shaky fantasy play this weekend against the Phils, who rank 11th in OPS (.735).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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