May 8, 2025
The Minnesota Twins announced on Thursday that right-hander
Joe Ryan (illness) will make his next start on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants at Target Field in Minnesota. Right-hander
Chris Paddack will get the ball for the series opener on Friday night. Ryan was originally scheduled to start Thursday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, but he was scratched due to an illness. The 28-year-old is obviously feeling better now and he'll take his next turn through the rotation this weekend. Although the matchup against the Giants isn't as good as the one against the struggling Orioles would have been, Ryan is still deserving of being in starting fantasy lineups on Saturday. In his seven starts so far in 2025, Ryan has an ERA under 3.00, a 0.90 WHIP, 47 strikeouts and only five walks in 40 innings pitched. He's allowed just one earned run with 19 K's in his last 13 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
May 8, 2025
Cincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (calf) remains out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale on the road against the Atlanta Braves.
Rece Hinds is starting in right field and will bat in the nine-hole versus Braves right-hander
Spencer Schwellenbach. Fraley entered Tuesday's game off the bench for the Reds before injuring his left calf. The 29-year-old will miss his second straight game, and it's uncertain if he'll be feeling good enough to return for Friday's series opener in Houston against the Astros. Fraley typically finds himself on the bench against left-handed pitchers and is hitting just .205 (16-for-78) with three home runs, nine RBI, 12 runs and three stolen bases for Cincy. Hinds will be making his second straight start after getting called up from the minors this week. He went 0-for-3 in his first big-league game of the season on Wednesday with two strikeouts. He has never faced Schwellenbach.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto (foot) is back behind the dish to catch left-hander
Jesus Luzardo and is hitting seventh on Thursday against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander
Ryan Pepiot. Realmuto will surprisingly be back in the lineup a day after fouling a ball off his left foot and suffering a bruise in Wednesday's contest against Tampa. The 34-year-old veteran is looking for his first hit of the series against the Rays in the finale on Thursday. Realmuto hasn't done much for fantasy managers in general so far in 2025, slashing .235/.307/.374 with a below-average .681 OPS, three home runs, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored and four stolen bases in 31 games played. So far in five games in May, Realmuto has gone 4-for-18 with a homer, double, four RBI and three runs scored. He has never faced Pepiot in his big-league career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Chicago White Sox outfielder
Mike Tauchman (hamstring) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday. Tauchman has been held out of action since early April with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Given the time he missed, Tauchman may need a somewhat lengthy rehab assignment. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he increases his workload. Before his injury, the 34-year-old tallied four hits and held a 2:2 K:BB over his first three games of the campaign. When he is cleared to return, fantasy managers should expect Tauchman to be the everyday left fielder on the Southside. Last summer, Tauchman spent his season with the Cubs and held a .248/.357/.366 slash line with 12 doubles and seven long balls. Given his everyday role, he will have value in deeper AL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Scott Merkin
May
8,
2025
The
Chicago
Cubs
are
expected
to
promote
top
pitching
prospect
Cade
Horton
to
the
MLB
roster
for
their
weekend
series
against
the
New
York
Mets.
The
23-year-old
is
considered
the
No.
49-ranked
prospect
in
the
sport
read more...
May 8, 2025
Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder
Tyler Freeman (oblique) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque this weekend. Freeman has been on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain since mid-April. However, it appears the 25-year-old is nearing a return to action. Freeman appeared in just seven games before suffering the injury. During this brief stint, Freeman held a .091/.313/.091 line with just one hit and a 3:2 K:BB. He swiped one bag. Under the hood, he generated a modest .169 xBA with a .292 xwOBA, which are both well below the average marks. Last season in Cleveland, Freeman held a .209/.305/.321 line with seven home runs and swiped 11 bags. He should have close to an everyday role despite his limited offensive upside, given his defensive versatility.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Lyons
May 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Max Scherzer (thumb) completed a bullpen session on Wednesday. This was a significant step for the right-hander as he has been sidelined since his first start with a right thumb injury. He was initially placed on the 15-day IL but was recently shifted to the 60-day IL earlier in May. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, but it is an excellent sign to see him facing live hitters. Currently, the 40-year-old would be eligible to return from the IL in late May. However, given the time he has missed, Fantasy managers should not expect Scherzer to return until June, as he would likely need a lengthy rehab assignment. Last summer, Scherzer was also limited by numerous injuries, but was productive when on the bump, logging a 3.95 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. Given his unclear timetable, he should only be stashed in deeper 12+ team formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andres Soto
May
8,
2025
The
Pittsburgh
Pirates
have
fired
manager
Derek
Shelton.
The
Pirates
have
had
a
disappointing
start
to
the
season,
holding
a
12-26
record,
which
puts
them
at
the
bottom
of
the
NL
Central.
He
is
being
replaced
by
read more...
May 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Trey Yesavage tossed five innings of three-run ball (one earned) on Wednesday to pick up his second-straight victory. Yesavage allowed just two hits and no walks. He struck out seven. Through his first taste of professional baseball, last year's 20th overall pick has flashed elite strikeout upside. Through his first 28 1/3 innings of work in Low-A, Yesavage has struck out 43 batters and served up just eight walks. During this stretch, he has held a 2.22 ERA with a stellar 0.81 WHIP. He has allowed just one long ball. Fantasy managers should expect the East Carolina product to be in contention to move up to High-A in the coming weeks, given his elite production at Low-A. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor his progression as he appears to be developing into one of the top arms in the lower levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 8, 2025
Detroit Tigers catcher
Dillon Dingler will take a seat for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader at Coors Field versus the hosting Colorado Rockies.
Tomas Nido will do the catching for right-hander
Casey Mize and will hit eighth against Rockies left-hander
Kyle Freeland. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect Dingler to return to the starting lineup for Game 2 of the twin bill. The 26-year-old backstop has swung the bat well for the upstart Tigers so far this year, slashing .292/.313/.479 with a .792 OPS, four home runs, 15 RBI and 10 runs scored in 96 at-bats. Although the 31-year-old Nido has hit .360 (9-for-25) for Detroit, he'll be a low-upside DFS play in the eight-hole, even at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Nido is still searching for his first homer of the year and is hitless in four career at-bats against Freeland.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Zyhir Hope went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run during Wednesday's contest against High-A Dayton. This outing snapped a 15-game power drought for the 20-year-old outfielder. Hope spent his 2024 campaign at Low-A and posted a strong .287/.415/.490 slash line and was rewarded with a promotion to High-A to begin the 2025 season. Through his first 29 games with High-A Great Lakes, Hope has held a .282/.368/.518 slash line with nine doubles, five home runs, and four stolen bases. He has held a 31:15 K:BB. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring Hope's production at High-A as he continues to climb prospect boards. He currently sits as the No. 6-ranked in the Dodger system and the No. 72-ranked in the sport on MLB Pipeline.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 8, 2025
Baltimore Orioles right-hander
Zach Eflin (lat) will "more than likely" return from the 15-day injured list this weekend to face the Los Angeles Angels in the series finale on Sunday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles announced on Wednesday that Eflin would be returning from the IL this weekend after throwing a successful bullpen session, but now we know the exact date. Although the matchup will be an excellent one for the 31-year-old veteran -- the Angels rank 25th in MLB with a .665 team OPS -- but Eflin could be limited pitch-count wise in his first start back after throwing only 58 pitches in his only minor-league rehab start. Still, Eflin is tempting for fantasy lineups after posting a 3.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with eight strikeouts in 18 innings over his first three starts this year before injuring his lat.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
May 8, 2025
Cleveland Guardians infield prospect
Angel Genao (shoulder) is set to begin participating in simulated games early next week. Genao has been on the 7-day injured list through the early part of the MiLB regular season. However, it appears the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Cleveland system is nearing a return to game action. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his progression as he should be in the mix to return to Double-A in the coming weeks. Last summer, Genao spent his time at Low-A and High-A. Across 44 games at Low-A, Genao held a .341/.383/.553 slash line with 14 doubles and six home runs. He was then given the call to High-A, where the No. 59-ranked prospect in the sport held a strong .322/.377/.463 line. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his progression as he could be in the mix to reach Triple-A by the second half of the campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Cleveland Guardians
May 8, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Ivan Herrera (knee) is expected to come off the 10-day injured list before Friday's series opener against the Washington Nationals, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold. The Cardinals have already sent
Luken Baker to Triple-A Memphis to free up a roster spot for Herrera's impending return. The 24-year-old backstop has gone 9-for-23 with a home run and a double in six minor-league rehab games for Memphis and appears ready to go. The Cardinals could ease him in at first with more starts as the designated hitter following a month-long absence due to a bone bruise in his left knee, but when he returns, Herrera will be a lineup regular for the Cardinals. Before his injury, he was the team's starting catcher and had gone 8-for-21 with four homers, 11 RBI and six runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
May 8, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Riley Greene is resting for Game 1 of a doubleheader at Coors Field on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies.
Zach McKinstry will join the lineup in left field and will bat in the three-hole against Rockies left-hander
Kyle Freeland. Fantasy managers should expect Greene to return in the second game of the twin bill. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting-outfielder has been swinging a hot bat recently for Detroit, going 13-for-32 (.406) with four home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored in eight games since April 28 to raise his season slash line to .266/.315/.475 in 139 at-bats. McKinstry is in a lefty-lefty matchup, which usually isn't a good thing, but he's had reverse splits so far in 2025 and has gone 12-for-33 (.364) with three RBI against southpaws this year. Treat him as a DFS sleeper at Coors Field in a prime lineup spot on Thursday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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