May 8, 2025
San Francisco Giants closer
Ryan Walker slammed the door on the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, picking up his seventh save in a 3-1 win. Walker pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing just a single. He now has a 6.08 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 13 ⅓ IP. The 29-year-old has gotten back on track for the most part after a few ugly outings, although his appearance on Tuesday was one to be forgotten as well. Still, the Giants seem to trust him, and there haven't been any signs of him being removed from the closer's role. More performances like this one would help his case and surely give his fantasy owners a sigh of relief.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried continued his dominant start to the season on Wednesday, tossing seven one-run innings in a tough luck no-decision against the San Diego Padres. The Yankees did end up winning the game 4-3, but it took extra innings. Fried was electric in this one, allowing just five hits while striking out eight and walking none. He has been nothing short of brilliant in his first season in New York, going 6-0 with a 1.05 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts in 51 ⅔ IP so far. The lefty has also rattled off seven straight starts where he has allowed two runs or less, and six straight quality starts. Fried has become a top-tier pitcher in fantasy and is an absolute must-start every time he is out there. His next start is likely to come on the road on Monday in a tough matchup against the Seattle Mariners.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez got back on track Wednesday, holding the Milwaukee Brewers to one run over seven innings of work and picking up his second win in a 9-1 victory. Valdez scattered three hits and two walks while striking out seven in this one. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for Valdez and his fantasy managers this season, as he has followed up dominant starts with mediocre or even downright terrible ones multiple times. He now sits at 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts over 48 IP. Hopefully, this performance is the first of many in a row. With his high upside, Valdez is still a must-start pitcher in all formats, regardless of his potential for a blow-up. His next outing should come next Tuesday at home against the Kansas City Royals, a team he just went eight strong innings against a few weeks ago.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Sonny Gray was at his best on Wednesday, hurling seven sparkling frames in a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Gray didn't allow a run in this one, and limited the Pirates to just two hits and a walk while punching out eight. Although the 35-year-old veteran has had a few bumps in the road, it has mostly been a solid season for him. Gray now owns a 4-1 record with a 3.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts over 46 ⅓ IP. The righty should remain a mainstay in fantasy lineups as long as he is healthy, but the occasional rough start should be expected. His next matchup is scheduled for next Tuesday in Philadelphia, and he should be started regardless of the tough opponent.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Colorado Rockies third baseman
Ryan McMahon had a massive day at the dish on Wednesday, going 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, and a walk. McMahon crushed a two-run shot in the first inning and also came around to score in the third. The 30-year-old veteran was off to an extremely slow start this year, but appears to be coming around in May, where he is 8-for-17 with two homers and five RBI. Even with that, he is still hitting just .193 with 13 runs scored, four homers, nine RBI, and a stolen base this season. McMahon is only a deep league option at this point, although he has some utility as a streamer when the Rockies play all home games in a given week.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Colorado Rockies third base/outfield prospect
Charlie Condon (wrist) began a rehab assignment on Monday, May 5, with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate. The third-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft had been out of action with a fracture in his left wrist, with Monday being his first game of the season. The 22-year-old came out of the gates swinging, going 2-for-2 with a walk, a double, two RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base, but has gone 0-for-6 in the two games since with four strikeouts. Surely some rust needs knocked off, but once ready, the 6-foot-6 slugger will likely be assigned to High-A Spokane, which is where he finished last season. With a strong showing this year, there's a chance he could make the big leagues at some point next season, and dynasty managers should be keeping tabs as he brings prodigious power potential.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 8, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays announced that second baseman
Andres Gimenez (quadriceps) was pulled from Wednesday night's game early in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels with right-quadriceps tightness. Before hitting the showers early, Gimenez went 1-for-3 at the plate with a single and a run scored.
Ernie Clement shifted from third base to second base, with
Addison Barger entering the contest to play the hot corner for Toronto. The Blue Jays said that the 26-year-old Gimenez's exit was precautionary, so we're going to consider him day-to-day for now. It remains to be seen if he'll be back for Thursday's series finale against the Halos. If he's forced to miss extended time, Clement would likely play regularly at the keystone. Gimenez has gotten off to a slot start in his first year in Toronto, as he came into Wednesday's action hitting just .192 (24-for-125) with three homers, 10 RBI and nine steals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
May 8, 2025
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider (hamstring) threw a bullpen session before Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. This was Strider's first bullpen session since a strained right hamstring landed him on the 15-day injured list late last month after making his first start of the 2025 season. The 26-year-old didn't make his season debut until April 16 against the Toronto Blue Jays after finishing up his rehab for an internal-brace procedure he had on his right elbow last April. Hopefully, he'll be ready to return to Atlanta's starting rotation after one or two minor-league rehab starts. Barring a setback, there's no reason why Strider should be back by at least late May. If he can return to his pre-injury form, Strider has the potential to be a fantasy ace after striking out a league-high 281 hitters in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
May 8, 2025
San Francisco Giants pitching prospect
Carson Whisenhunt pitched well for Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, allowing two earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out seven over seven innings pitched. That makes back-to-back seven-inning, seven-strikeout starts for the 6-foot-3 hurler. The performance lowered his ERA to 4.14 on the season to go along with a 1.22 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 37 IP. The Giants' second-ranked prospect will likely make a push for a midseason call-up, although he is not a priority stash candidate at the moment. The 24-year-old owns a 30.2 percent strikeout rate during his career in the minors with solid command, so he has the potential to be a viable streaming or DFS option in the right matchups whenever he arrives.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May
8,
2025
Boston
Red
Sox
infielder
Romy
Gonzalez
(back)
is
fine
after
being
involved
in
a
collision
in
Wednesday's
win
over
the
visiting
Texas
Rangers
at
Fenway
Park,
according
to
manager
Alex
Cora,
but
he
was
pulled
after
read more...
May 8, 2025
The Minnesota Twins have scratched right-hander
Joe Ryan (illness) from his scheduled start on Thursday in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles due to an illness, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. Right-hander
Bailey Ober will make the start in Ryan's place. It's unclear if Ryan will have his turn in Minnesota's rotation skipped entirely, or if he'll make a start at some point during the team's three-game home weekend series against the San Francisco Giants. After a six-run outing on April 20 against the Atlanta Braves, Ryan has been excellent his last two times out against the Angels and Red Sox, allowing just an earned run with two walks and 19 strikeouts in 13 innings. Ryan should be fine to take the ball this weekend against the Giants, but it represents a downgrade in matchup instead of facing the offensively-challenged Orioles.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
May 7, 2025
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill went 2-for-4 with a home run, a run, and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Yankees. He's picked up right where he left off after missing a month with a hamstring strain, producing two multi-hit games in his first two games back. He's batting .400 over 12 games this season with four home runs and one stolen base. The 22-year-old will look to build on his elite 2024 rookie season and figures to be a top-15 outfielder for fantasy for years to come.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 7, 2025
Cincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl hit two solo home runs and walked once in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Braves. This was his first time homering since April 5th, bringing his total to three on the year. He's now slashing .273/.338/.392 and has eight stolen bases as the regular leadoff hitter for the Reds. He is still available on the waiver wire in too many fantasy leagues for a leadoff hitter who plays half of his games in one of the most hitter-friendly venues in the league. He has the potential to steal over 30 bases with enough pop to not hurt you in any other categories.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 7, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers catching prospect
Dalton Rushing went 2-for-3 with a walk and a home run for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, collecting two RBI and scoring once in the process. The Dodgers' top prospect has now hit safely in eight of his last nine games, and is slashing .323/.435/.527 thanks in part to four home runs and a strong 15.3 percent walk rate. The 24-year-old continues to make his push for a big league debut, and although he is a catcher by trade, the team has had him play first base and some outfield so far this season in an effort to create multiple paths to playing time. Look for a call-up in June sometime, and those in NL-only and two-catcher leagues should consider stashing MLB's 26th-ranked prospect for his potential power production in a potent L.A. lineup, who carries eligibility at C and OF on Yahoo!.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 7, 2025
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Michael Wacha pitched seven shutout innings and earned his second win of the season in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the White Sox. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out five. The 33-year-old veteran has been solid as of late, as this was his sixth straight start of at least five innings while allowing three runs or less. He won't blow away hitters with his stuff, but he has gotten the job done to the tune of a 2.98 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 34 strikeouts in 45 ⅓ innings so far in 2025. He'll look to keep the momentum going in his next start, set to be against the Astros in Houston.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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