May 8, 2025
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Kris Bubic had seemingly no problems on the mound during Thursday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits, and striking out seven batters in the win. Somehow, Bubic has thrown three scoreless outings over his last four starts. It's worth noting he has been given some favorable matchups versus the Colorado Rockies and now the White Sox. However, the left-hander has been impressive all season with a 1.69 ERA across eight starts to begin the season. He'll look to keep the good times rolling against the Houston Astros during his next start.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Kansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. was hitting the ball all over the place during Thursday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Witt extended his five-game hitting streak in this game and gave fantasy managers a big performance as well. Witt went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and two stolen bases in the blowout win over Chicago. He continues to put up MVP numbers as he's slashing .325/.392/.530 with five homers, 23 RBI, and 13 steals this season. This game marked Witt's third multi-hit performance over the last five games.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 8, 2025
Boston Red Sox designated hitter
Rafael Devers reportedly has no interest in moving over to first base. Devers appears to be frustrated with the front office after they already forced him off third base during spring training. Devers was turned into a full-time DH with the Red Sox moving
Alex Bregman over to third base. Now,
Triston Casas (knee) goes down and the Red Sox are in need of someone to play first base. Devers seems like the obvious choice, but the left-handed slugger seems uninterested in changing positions again.
Abraham Toro and
Romy Gonzalez have been splitting up reps at first base in the absence of Casas. That will likely remain the case going forward unless the team can convince Devers to move to the cold corner.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jen McCaffrey
May 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays infielder
Andres Gimenez (quad) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Gimenez made an early exit on Wednesday due to right quad tightness. The assumption is he underwent an MRI and the organization is still waiting for the results. That being said, Gimenez will sit out at least one more game, so fantasy managers should check back on his status ahead of Friday's contest. In his absence,
Ernie Clement will cover second base and bat eighth versus right-hander
Jose Soriano on Thursday. Fantasy managers should consider Gimenez as day-to-day until further notice.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 8, 2025
Los Angeles Angels infielder
Luis Rengifo is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. This appears to be a routine rest day for Rengifo who has been struggling at the plate latey. Rengifo has registered only one hit over his last five games, so hopefully a night off will help him get back on track. He has been a regular in the Halos lineup this season, but is really only worth rostering in deep leagues or AL-only formats.
Yoan Moncada will cover third base and bat sixth versus right-hander
Chris Bassitt on Thursday. Moncada has three hits over his last two hits, so the Angels will ride the hot hand.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 8, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher
Gabriel Moreno (side) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Moreno hasn't started in each of the last two games due to soreness in his left side. The good news is that Moreno was able to come off the bench as a pinch-hitter during Wednesday's game. He'll get back in the lineup on Thursday as Moreno starts behind the plate and bats sixth versus right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Moreno hasn't been hitting like himself lately, but maybe a little bit of time off will help him get his bat back on track.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 8, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Alex Cobb (hip) completed a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. It's been a long road to recovery for the oft-injured Cobb, who dealt with inflammation in his right hip back in spring training. The 37-year-old veteran began the 2025 season on the injured list as a result and has yet to even begin a minor-league rehab assignment, which means we probably won't see him back in the big leagues until at least June. There remains no timetable for return, and fantasy managers in mixed leagues can leave him to the waiver wire for the time being. There shouldn't be much expectation for Cobb when he's healthy enough to pitch again in the big leagues, as he was limited to three starts in 2024 due to hip, finger and shoulder injuries. It remains to be seen if he'll even have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's past his current hip ailment.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
May 8, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
John Brebbia (triceps) started his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday and went two-thirds of an inning while allowing an earned run on one hit while walking one and striking out none. Brebbia landed on the 15-day injured list in the middle of April due to a right-triceps strain but is working his way back and should be able to rejoin Detroit's major-league bullpen by the end of May. The 34-year-old veteran was eligible to return from the IL on May 4. Before injuring his arm, Brebbia had been looking sharp in his first year with Detroit in nine relief innings, allowing only an unearned run on three hits while walking five and striking out nine. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore him in all leagues, though.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
May 8, 2025
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on Thursday that he thinks outfielder/designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) could begin his throwing program this weekend. Yoshida was recently shut down from throwing earlier this week after receiving a cortisone shot in his surgically-repaired right shoulder, but he could start throwing again this weekend. Hitting hasn't been an issue for Yoshida, but the 31-year-old will not be cleared to make his 2025 major-league debut until he's able to throw without pain. The Japanese left-handed hitter might not be an option to rejoin the Red Sox's roster until June, as he'll likely need a minor-league rehab assignment first. He has hit for a strong .285 average in his first two seasons in the big leagues, but Yoshida has hit only 25 total home runs and may not be destined for everyday playing time whenever he comes off the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
May 8, 2025
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on Thursday that right-hander
Kutter Crawford (knee) will throw a live batting practice session on Friday. Crawford reported to extended spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., at the end of April as he continues to build up his arm following a knee injury that he suffered in spring training. The 29-year-old appears to be on the verge of starting a minor-league rehab assignment finally, but even so, he probably won't be an option for Boston's starting rotation until either late May or early July, barring a setback. In a career-high 33 starts for the BoSox in 2024 in his fourth year in the majors, Crawford went 9-16 with a 4.36 ERA (4.65 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 175 strikeouts and 51 walks over 183 2/3 innings pitched. He also gave up a league-high 34 home runs. Whenever he makes his 2025 debut, Crawford will be a deep-league fantasy streamer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
May 8, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Walker Buehler (shoulder) played catch at Fenway Park before the team's win over the visiting Texas Rangers on Thursday, according to manager Alex Cora. The Red Sox placed Buehler on the 15-day injured list last Friday with minor bursitis in his right shoulder. Because the 30-year-old has yet to resume throwing off a mound, it might be unlikely that he'll be activated from the IL when he's first eligible on May 14. Buehler allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits (three home runs) in 9 1/3 innings in his first two starts of the year against the Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals, but he was better in his next four starts (seven earned runs, 22 K's, eight walks) before landing on the IL. Overall, he's gone 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings over his six starts. Buehler should be back in Boston's rotation sooner than later.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
May 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Nick Sandlin (lat) has started a throwing program and is throwing up to 60 feet as of Tuesday. Sandlin was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 20 with a right-lat strain, but he has resumed throwing and could rejoin Toronto's major-league bullpen by the middle of May. The 28-year-old received a platelet-rich plasma injection after landing on the IL. Before his injury, he appeared in 10 games out of the team's bullpen and allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits while walking four and striking out 10 in eight innings. He also picked up his second career save. In four seasons prior with the Cleveland Guardians, Sandlin had a decent 3.27 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, one save, 223 strikeouts and 92 walks in 209 outings (one start) over 195 1/3 frames. Sandlin is not on the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Ryan Burr (shoulder) saw an inning of work in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday and had two strikeouts without allowing a hit. Burr was moved to the 60-day injured list at the end of April due to right-shoulder inflammation that has kept him out all season so far. However, he's now pitching in minor league games as he builds up his arm and could be an option for the Blue Jays' big-league bullpen by June. The 30-year-old former fifth-rounder by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 out of Arizona State had a 4.13 ERA (3.07 FIP) and a 1.25 WHIP with a career-high 47 strikeouts and 12 walks in 34 outings (four starts) over 32 2/3 innings in his first year with Toronto in 2024. Burr has a 4.10 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in his five big-league seasons and won't be on the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
A second opinion on Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever
Erik Swanson's forearm showed no structural damage, and he was scheduled to throw a bullpen session in Florida on Tuesday. Swanson is hoping that he will throw in some minor-league rehab games by the end of the week at the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The 31-year-old veteran was moved to the 60-day injured list earlier this week after having a setback with his right forearm last week. He's dealing with a median-nerve entrapment but could return to Toronto's bullpen later this month as long as he doesn't suffer another setback on his rehab assignment. Swanson has yet to pitch in 2025 because of his injury, but once he's ready, he'll be looking to rebound from a rough 2024 campaign that saw him post a 5.03 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 37 K's and 14 walks in 39 1/3 relief innings in his second year in Toronto.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-hander
Hunter Greene (groin) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right-groin strain and won't go on the injured list, at least right now, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer. It's good news for now, but it doesn't mean Greene won't eventually land on the IL, depending on how he recovers. The hard-throwing 25-year-old only lasted three innings in his start on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves due to his groin strain. At the very least, he will most likely be skipped in Cincinnati's starting rotation the next time through. The former second overall pick in 2017 has been a must-start in fantasy in 2025 through his first eight starts over 45 2/3 innings, as he's sporting a 4-2 record, 2.36 ERA (3.07 FIP), a league-best 0.81 WHIP and a league-leading 7.63 strikeouts/walk mark.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
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