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
May 8, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder
Chandler Simpson will start Thursday's series finale against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on the bench.
Kameron Misner is starting in center field for the Rays and is hitting eighth against Phillies left-hander
Jesus Luzardo. The left-handed-hitting Simpson will get the day off against a tough southpaw. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 has gone 16-for-60 (.267) with a double, five RBI, six stolen bases and nine runs scored for the Rays in his first 16 major-league games. As long as he remains in the big leagues with Tampa, he'll provide plenty of speed for fantasy managers in deeper formats. Misner, who debuted in the majors last year in just eight games, is batting .271 (26-for-96) with three homers and 11 RBI in 31 games in 2025. He has yet to face Luzardo in his career and should be faded in DFS.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions and recently traveled to the team's spring training complex in Arizona, where he's expected to face live hitters for the first time on Thursday. Darvish is working his way back from right-elbow inflammation that has kept him out all season so far, but barring a setback as he builds up his arm, he could return to the Padres' starting rotation at some point this month. Since the 38-year-old Japanese veteran hasn't started a minor-league rehab assignment, his return probably won't come until late May, at the earliest. The five-time All-Star is no longer in his prime and also dealt with injuries that limited him to 16 starts in 2024, but when healthy, he still has fantasy value. Darvish went 7-3 for the Friars last year with a solid 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, but also with a career-low 23.6% strikeout rate and a 6.6% walk rate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Freddy Peralta (groin) threw on flat ground on Wednesday and said that he expects to make his next start, potentially on one extra day of rest. The Brewers mentioned the possibility of Peralta needing an extra day of rest earlier this week. Barring a change of plans, the 28-year-old will most likely make his next outing in Tampa against the Rays this Sunday. Peralta left his last start early on Sunday against the Chicago Cubs due to soreness in his groin, but the team never sent him for testing, signaling that the injury wasn't very serious at all. As long as the Dominican pitcher is cleared to start this weekend, fantasy managers should return him to their starting lineups in all formats. Peralta has been great so far in 2025, going 4-2 with a sharp 2.18 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 48 and walking 15 in 45 1/3 innings over his eight starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
8,
2025
Houston
Astros
general
manager
Dana
Brown
said
that
designated
hitter
Yordan
Alvarez
(hand)
is
feeling
a
lot
better
while
dealing
with
a
muscle
strain
in
his
right
hand
that
he's
experienced
before.
The
Astros
don't
think
read more...
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
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