May 9, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder
Enmanuel Valdez will start on the bench for Friday's series opener against the visiting Atlanta Braves at PNC Park.
Matt Gorski will make the start at first base and will hit sixth against Braves right-hander
Bryce Elder. Valdez will take a seat a day after the Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton after he had started the team's last 18 games at first base against right-handers. Valdez, 26, has done very little for those in NL-only leagues, hitting .209 (19-for-91) with two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored for the Pirates. He's off to a 4-for-25 start in the month of May with an RBI and four strikeouts in 26 plate appearances. Gorski will be playing in just his ninth major-league game. Through his first eight contests, he's gone 4-for-19 with a homer, triple, RBI and a run scored. Gorski has yet to face Elder as a big-leaguer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Aaron Civale (hamstring) started his minor-league rehab assignment off the right way on Thursday with Triple-A Nashville, tossing four shutout innings with one hit allowed, one walk and three strikeouts in a no-decisions. Civale will need another rehab start on the farm after throwing 50 pitches in the efficient outing on Thursday, but after that, he's expected to rejoin Milwaukee's starting rotation. The 29-year-old is recovering from a left-hamstring strain that landed him on the injured list in late March after he had made just one start for the Brew Crew. He gave up five earned runs on four hits (three home runs) in just three innings in his season debut at the New York Yankees on March 30. Civale has limited upside in fantasy because of his below-average strikeout rate, but he could serve as rotation depth in deeper leagues when he returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
May 9, 2025
Washington Nationals infielder
Jose Tena will retreat to the bench for Friday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Veteran
Amed Rosario is making the start at the hot corner and is batting sixth against Cardinals right-hander
Erick Fedde. Tena has been playing regularly at third against right-handed pitchers for the Nationals, but he's gone just 1-for-20 with a double, one walk and eight strikeouts in his last seven games. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting Dominican has yet to homer and is slashing an uninspiring .220/.246/.305 with seven RBI and five runs scored in his 59 at-bats in 2025. Rosario has been better but still doesn't offer DFS managers much upside offensively. The 29-year-old has hit .279 (19-for-68) with two homers and nine RBI. He's also hit .188 with a .376 OPS in 16 career at-bats against Fedde.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
Miami Marlins left-hander
Ryan Weathers (forearm) looked good in his third minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, throwing five shutout innings with two hits allowed, no walks and three strikeouts to pick up the win. The 25-year-old southpaw averaged 97.8 mph with his fastball and could potentially be activated from the injured list and make his 2025 season debut for the Marlins next Tuesday in a tough matchup against the Chicago Cubs. The former first-rounder of the San Diego Padres in 2018 has made three rehab starts (two with Jacksonville) and has only allowed two earned runs on four hits while walking four and striking out 13 in 10 2/3 innings pitched. Weathers only got up to 57 pitches in his efficient outing on Thursday, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him make one more start in the minors. He deserves to be picked up off the waiver wire now in fantasy leagues if he's available.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
May 9, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado (back) is starting at third base and is hitting cleanup for the Cards in Friday's series opener against the hosting Washington Nationals and left-hander
Mitchell Parker. Arenado was scratched from the series finale on Wednesday but has returned after a scheduled off day on Thursday due to travel. The 34-year-old veteran hasn't been special at all at the plate so far in 2025, hitting .256 (33-for-129) with three home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored and one stolen base. He enters Friday's contest with a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 6-for-15 with an RBI and three runs scored. Arenado will be looking for his first career hit against Parker, as he's hitless in just three at-bats against him. Although he doesn't have a homer against a lefty this year, Arenado has gone 10-for-30 against southpaws.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Ivan Herrera (knee) was officially activated off the 10-day injured list prior to their contest on Friday against the Washington Nationals. Herrera has been on the injured list since early April with a knee bruise. This evening, Herrera will bat sixth and serve as the designated hitter. While he has been sidelined, the Cardinals have given most of the catching duties to
Pedro Pages and
Yohel Pozo. Herrera was enjoying an impressive start to the campaign as he posted a .381/.458/.1.048 slash line with four long balls across his first seven contests. Last summer, the 24-year-old appeared in a career-high 72 games and held a solid .301/.372/.428 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect the 24-year-old to operate as the clear No. 1 backstop for the foreseeable future. Given his offensive upside, he is worth a look in one-catcher leagues and a must-start option in two-catcher formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Cardinals
May 9, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher
Alex Cobb (hip) looked uncomfortable when covering first base on a groundball, according to Chris McCosky. Cobb is working his way back from hip surgery and appeared to be in pain during his most recent bullpen session. McCosky noted that the 37-year-old looked fine on the mound but not so much when moving to first base. The veteran has been sidelined since February. He is currently on the 15-day injured list, but given his slow progress, the Tigers will likely opt to shift him to the 60-day injured list. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status as he slowly continues to increase his workload. Last summer, Cobb was limited by injuries as well, tossing just 16 1/3 innings of work. When he does return, he could hold value in deeper 15+ team formats as a back-end option in the starting rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris McCosky
May 9, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays have sent relief pitcher
Erik Swanson (forearm) to the Florida Complex League to begin his rehab assignment. The 31-year-old has been dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome in his right forearm. Swanson was initially expected to begin his rehab assignment in April but faced numerous setbacks. However, it appears the high-leverage reliever has progressed and will begin his rehab assignment. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on his status as he could be in contention to return to the majors before the end of the month. While Swanson struggled during the 2024 season, he was a valuable setup man in the Toronto bullpen in 2022 and 2023. During these two seasons, Swanson tallied a combined 43 holds with an impressive 2.39 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays are promoting right-handed pitcher
Connor Seabold from Triple-A Durham. In a corresponding move, the Rays are sending right-handed pitcher
Mason Englert to Triple-A. Seabold has not returned to the MLB since his 2023 stint with the Colorado Rockies. Earlier this season, Seabold has logged 27 2/3 innings of work with the Durham Bulls and held a 4.55 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. Across this stint, Seabold has struck out 26 batters and served up just seven walks. During the 2024 season, the 29-year-old spent time in the KBO, where he posted a 3.43 ERA across 160 innings of work. Fantasy managers should expect the right-hander to operate as a bulk option in the Tampa Bay bullpen. Given his expected role, he should not be targeted in any fantasy formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
May 9, 2025
The Seattle Mariners have placed right-handed pitcher
Trent Thornton (illness) on the 15-day injured list with appendicitis. In a corresponding move, the Mariners promoted right-handed pitcher
Troy Taylor from Triple-A Tacoma. Through his first 15 1/3 innings of work this season, Thornton has held a 5.87 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. Across this stint, Thornton has struck out 11 batters and served up four walks. He has allowed five long balls. Under the hood, Thornton generated a 6.71 xERA and a .313 xBA, which are both in the fifth percentile among qualified pitchers. Fantasy managers should expect Taylor to have a role as a low-leverage option in the bullpen. Through the opening month of the season, Taylor has tossed three innings of work in the majors but has allowed four runs.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners
May 9, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays transferred infielder
Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Friday, which pushes his potential return to late May at the earliest. The Rays also called up right-hander
Connor Seabold from the minors and optioned right-hander
Mason Englert to Triple-A Durham. Kim has yet to make his debut with the Rays while recovering from offseason surgery on his shoulder. The 29-year-old middle infielder increased his baseball activities late last month and could be ready for a minor-league rehab assignment soon. If he's able to avoid any setbacks with his shoulder once he begins playing in games, he could be on track to make his season debut in Tampa in late May or early June. When fully healthy, Kim will mainly offer modest speed for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues as the Rays' primary shortstop.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
May 9, 2025
The San Diego Padres announced on Friday that they reinstated infielder
Jake Cronenworth (rib) from the 10-day injured list and optioned outfielder
Oscar Gonzalez to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. Fantasy managers will want to check back later, but Cronenworth should be back at second base for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Colorado Rockies and right-hander
Antonio Senzatela at Coors Field. Cronenworth's return will push veteran
Jose Iglesias back to a bench role. The 31-year-old Cronenworth will return after missing a month due to a non-displaced rib fracture that he suffered while being hit by a pitch. He went 3-for-7 with a home run during three minor-league rehab games and should return to being SD's everyday second baseman. Crone was hitting .257 (9-for-35) in the early going with two homers, five RBI and seven runs scored before going on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
May 9, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Emmet Sheehan (elbow) faced live hitters in a simulated game on Thursday, according to manager Dave Roberts. The skipper doesn't know when Sheehan will be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment, but also said "he's getting close." Sheehan threw roughly 40 pitches on Thursday and will be built up as a starter given all the team's injuries to their starters in the early portion of the season. The 25-year-old is working his way back after having a hybrid Tommy John surgery and internal-brace procedure on May 15 of last year. He has been throwing off a mound since late March, but there's still no timetable for his return. In a best-case scenario, Sheehan will be available to the Dodgers in the second half of this year, but he won't be guaranteed a rotation spot. In his first 13 big-league outings (11 starts) in 2023, he had a 4.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 64:26 K:BB in 60 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Sonja Chen
May 9, 2025
Instead of rolling with a bullpen game in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander
Tony Gonsolin will make his next start on four days of rest. Gonsolin was originally scheduled to take his next turn in the starting rotation on Tuesday against the Athletics, so this move represents a downgrade for fantasy streaming purposes. Not only will the 30-year-old veteran be pitching on short rest, but he'll be facing a Diamondbacks team that has the fourth-best OPS (.762) at their home ballpark. After a late start to the 2025 season due to injury, Gonsolin has been solid in two starts against the lowly Miami Marlins, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits (two homers) while walking only two and striking out 17 in 11 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
May 9, 2025
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they designated veteran outfielder
Eddie Rosario for assignment to make room for infielder
Luke Williams on the 40-man roster after they selected his contract from Triple-A Gwinnett. Rosario began the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers but only played two games with them before signing a one-year deal with Atlanta last month. The 33-year-old left-handed hitter played just three games for the Braves. He went 1-for-8 with a run scored and two strikeouts in his five games with the Dodgers and Braves. It remains to be seen if he'll latch on with another team this season, but if he does, don't expect him to be anything more than a left-handed bat off the bench at the major-league level. Rosario slashed .175/.215/.316 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI and nine steals in 91 games last year with the Braves and Washington Nationals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
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