May 7, 2025
New York Yankees right-handed reliever
Jake Cousins (forearm) threw roughly 15 pitches in a live batting practice session at Yankee Stadium before the team's blowout win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Cousins said that he is eyeing a big-league return in early to mid June. He was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on March 27 due to a right-forearm strain, and he's eligible to return as early as May 26. The 30-year-old hurler will soon go on a minor-league rehab assignment after maybe a few more live BP sessions. When he's healthy enough to return to New York's big-league bullpen, Cousins will be an option in late-inning, high-leverage situations after posting a career-best 2.37 ERA (4.06 FIP), a 1.05 WHIP, his first career save, a career-high 53 strikeouts and 20 walks in 38 innings over 37 appearances out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
7,
2025
The
New
York
Yankees
are
not
ruling
out
designated
hitter
Giancarlo
Stanton
(elbows)
being
ready
to
return
when
he's
eligible
to
come
off
the
60-day
injured
list
in
late
May,
according
to
manager
Aaron
Boone.
The
skipper
read more...
May 7, 2025
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that he is hopeful that outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (neck) will rejoin the team this weekend in Anaheim for a series against the Los Angeles Angels and make his return from the 10-day injured list. In his first minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, O'Neill went 1-for-3 at the plate as the designated hitter. The 29-year-old oft-injured outfielder has been away from the Orioles since late April due to neck soreness, but he may only need one or two more rehab games in the minors before returning to big-league action for Baltimore. Even though the Canadian native was hitting just .215 (14-for-65) with two homers, 10 RBI and eight runs scored before his injury, he should return to being a lineup regular for the O's when he's activated.
Ramon Laureano will likely be the biggest loser in terms of playing time when O'Neill is back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
May 7, 2025
Baltimore Orioles right-hander
Zach Eflin (lat) passed his final test with a successful bullpen session on Wednesday and will come off the 15-day injured list to start against the Los Angeles Angels this weekend, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's unclear which game Eflin will start in Anaheim in a three-game series that starts in Southern California on Friday, but for fantasy purposes, the 31-year-old veteran will be an immediate streaming option in single-year and DFS formats. Before suffering a strained right lat early in the year, Eflin had posted a decent 3.00 ERA (3.97 FIP) and 0.83 WHIP with eight strikeouts and only one walk in three starts over 18 innings pitched versus the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Diamondbacks. He'll be facing an Angels offense this weekend that ranks 26th in baseball with a weak .657 team OPS.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
May 7, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander
Nestor Cortes (elbow) resumed playing catch on Sunday. Cortes, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 21, received a platelet-rich plasma injection for a left-elbow flexor strain after his April 3 start. It's good to hear that Cortes has resumed throwing after his early-season injury, but he still has a ways to go and isn't expected to be an option for Milwaukee's starting rotation until around the All-Star break in mid-July. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw from Cuba was hit around pretty hard in his first start of the year against his old team, the New York Yankees, allowing eight earned runs on five home runs in just two innings. However, he bounced back to toss six shutout innings for his first win on April 3 against the Cincinnati Reds before landing on the shelf. Cortes should be an option again for those in deeper fantasy leagues in the second half of the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 7, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Aaron Civale (hamstring) threw live batting practice last Saturday and will start his minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday with Triple-A Nashville, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Civale made only one start for the Brewers before straining his left hamstring and landing on the 15-day injured list. The 29-year-old had a setback with his injured hamstring in early April, which is why he still hasn't returned to Milwaukee's starting rotation. Because of his long layoff, he's most likely going to need at least several rehab starts in the minors before the Brew Crew feels comfortable activating him from the IL. But barring a setback, he could be back in the big leagues by mid- May. In his first start of the year on March 30 against the New York Yankees, Civale gave up five earned runs on four hits (three homers) while walking one and striking out two in only three innings for a loss.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
May 7, 2025
New York Yankees relief pitcher
Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow) is set to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A. Loaisiga has been on the 15-day injured list after undergoing an internal brace procedure in 2024. Loaisiga began his rehab assignment with Low-A and has logged three innings of work. Across this stint, the right-hander has allowed two hits and one run. Max Goodman of the NJ Advance Media reported that Loaisiga will likely remain at Triple-A through next weekend. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress as he appears to be in contention to return to the majors before the end of the month. The 30-year-old has dealt with numerous injuries over the past few seasons but has been an effective high-leverage option when on the bump. During the 2021 season, Loaisiga posted a strong 2.17 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP across 70 2/3 innings. When cleared to return, he should have a high-leverage role in the Yankee bullpen.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Max Goodman
May 7, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that he fully expects outfielder
Sal Frelick (knee) to return to the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays. Frelick ended up being held out of the entire series this week against the Houston Astros while dealing with inflammation in his left knee, but after another scheduled day off on Thursday for travel, the 25-year-old is expected to be good to go on Friday in Tampa. The former first-rounder (15th overall) in 2021 out of Boston College makes plenty of contact at the plate and is hitting a nice .297 (35-for-118), but he has a low fantasy floor and ceiling because of his lack of power and speed. Despite his strong average so far in 2025, Frelick has only produced one home run, nine RBI, 16 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 35 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
May 7, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher
Richard Fitts (pectoral) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday. Fitts has been on the 15-day injured list since mid-April with a pectoral strain. This will be Fitts' second bullpen session since hitting the injured list. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status after the session, as he could be cleared to make a rehab assignment in the coming weeks. Before his injury, Fitts had logged 17 innings to the tune of a 3.18 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP. He has struck out 13 batters and served up walks at a solid 7.1 percent rate. When Fitts is cleared to return, he may have trouble remaining in the rotation with
Lucas Giolito back from injury. While he remains sidelined,
Hunter Dobbins should remain in the rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Gabrielle Star
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...
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