May 9, 2025
Minnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis is absent from the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Target Field against the visiting San Francisco Giants.
Brooks Lee will man third base and bat cleanup against Giants right-hander
Jordan Hicks. Lewis has gone 0-for-9 with a strikeout in his first three games of the 2025 season after being activated from the injured list on Tuesday due to a hamstring strain he suffered in spring training. The 25-year-old former first overall pick in 2017 has quickly developed an injury-prone label but has high-end power from the right side, making him valuable in all fantasy leagues. Lewis should be back for Game 2 of the series against San Fran on Saturday. Lee's .253/.309/.387 slash line doesn't say much, and he's gone 7-for-30 (.233) with three doubles and two RBI in seven games in May. He has never faced Hicks early in his MLB career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
9,
2025
Kansas
City
Royals
outfielder
Drew
Waters
will
take
a
seat
for
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
visiting
Boston
Red
Sox
at
Kauffman
Stadium.
Waters
has
been
a
regular
all
across
KC's
outfield
this
year
but
read more...
May
9,
2025
New
York
Mets
third
baseman
Mark
Vientos
is
out
of
the
team's
starting
lineup
for
Friday's
series
opener
at
Citi
Field
against
the
visiting
Chicago
Cubs.
Brett
Baty
will
draw
into
read more...
May 9, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder
Enmanuel Valdez will start on the bench for Friday's series opener against the visiting Atlanta Braves at PNC Park.
Matt Gorski will make the start at first base and will hit sixth against Braves right-hander
Bryce Elder. Valdez will take a seat a day after the Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton after he had started the team's last 18 games at first base against right-handers. Valdez, 26, has done very little for those in NL-only leagues, hitting .209 (19-for-91) with two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored for the Pirates. He's off to a 4-for-25 start in the month of May with an RBI and four strikeouts in 26 plate appearances. Gorski will be playing in just his ninth major-league game. Through his first eight contests, he's gone 4-for-19 with a homer, triple, RBI and a run scored. Gorski has yet to face Elder as a big-leaguer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Aaron Civale (hamstring) started his minor-league rehab assignment off the right way on Thursday with Triple-A Nashville, tossing four shutout innings with one hit allowed, one walk and three strikeouts in a no-decisions. Civale will need another rehab start on the farm after throwing 50 pitches in the efficient outing on Thursday, but after that, he's expected to rejoin Milwaukee's starting rotation. The 29-year-old is recovering from a left-hamstring strain that landed him on the injured list in late March after he had made just one start for the Brew Crew. He gave up five earned runs on four hits (three home runs) in just three innings in his season debut at the New York Yankees on March 30. Civale has limited upside in fantasy because of his below-average strikeout rate, but he could serve as rotation depth in deeper leagues when he returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
May 9, 2025
Washington Nationals infielder
Jose Tena will retreat to the bench for Friday's series opener against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Veteran
Amed Rosario is making the start at the hot corner and is batting sixth against Cardinals right-hander
Erick Fedde. Tena has been playing regularly at third against right-handed pitchers for the Nationals, but he's gone just 1-for-20 with a double, one walk and eight strikeouts in his last seven games. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting Dominican has yet to homer and is slashing an uninspiring .220/.246/.305 with seven RBI and five runs scored in his 59 at-bats in 2025. Rosario has been better but still doesn't offer DFS managers much upside offensively. The 29-year-old has hit .279 (19-for-68) with two homers and nine RBI. He's also hit .188 with a .376 OPS in 16 career at-bats against Fedde.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
Miami Marlins left-hander
Ryan Weathers (forearm) looked good in his third minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, throwing five shutout innings with two hits allowed, no walks and three strikeouts to pick up the win. The 25-year-old southpaw averaged 97.8 mph with his fastball and could potentially be activated from the injured list and make his 2025 season debut for the Marlins next Tuesday in a tough matchup against the Chicago Cubs. The former first-rounder of the San Diego Padres in 2018 has made three rehab starts (two with Jacksonville) and has only allowed two earned runs on four hits while walking four and striking out 13 in 10 2/3 innings pitched. Weathers only got up to 57 pitches in his efficient outing on Thursday, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him make one more start in the minors. He deserves to be picked up off the waiver wire now in fantasy leagues if he's available.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
May 9, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado (back) is starting at third base and is hitting cleanup for the Cards in Friday's series opener against the hosting Washington Nationals and left-hander
Mitchell Parker. Arenado was scratched from the series finale on Wednesday but has returned after a scheduled off day on Thursday due to travel. The 34-year-old veteran hasn't been special at all at the plate so far in 2025, hitting .256 (33-for-129) with three home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored and one stolen base. He enters Friday's contest with a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 6-for-15 with an RBI and three runs scored. Arenado will be looking for his first career hit against Parker, as he's hitless in just three at-bats against him. Although he doesn't have a homer against a lefty this year, Arenado has gone 10-for-30 against southpaws.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Ivan Herrera (knee) was officially activated off the 10-day injured list prior to their contest on Friday against the Washington Nationals. Herrera has been on the injured list since early April with a knee bruise. This evening, Herrera will bat sixth and serve as the designated hitter. While he has been sidelined, the Cardinals have given most of the catching duties to
Pedro Pages and
Yohel Pozo. Herrera was enjoying an impressive start to the campaign as he posted a .381/.458/.1.048 slash line with four long balls across his first seven contests. Last summer, the 24-year-old appeared in a career-high 72 games and held a solid .301/.372/.428 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect the 24-year-old to operate as the clear No. 1 backstop for the foreseeable future. Given his offensive upside, he is worth a look in one-catcher leagues and a must-start option in two-catcher formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Cardinals
May 9, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher
Alex Cobb (hip) looked uncomfortable when covering first base on a groundball, according to Chris McCosky. Cobb is working his way back from hip surgery and appeared to be in pain during his most recent bullpen session. McCosky noted that the 37-year-old looked fine on the mound but not so much when moving to first base. The veteran has been sidelined since February. He is currently on the 15-day injured list, but given his slow progress, the Tigers will likely opt to shift him to the 60-day injured list. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status as he slowly continues to increase his workload. Last summer, Cobb was limited by injuries as well, tossing just 16 1/3 innings of work. When he does return, he could hold value in deeper 15+ team formats as a back-end option in the starting rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris McCosky
May 9, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays have sent relief pitcher
Erik Swanson (forearm) to the Florida Complex League to begin his rehab assignment. The 31-year-old has been dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome in his right forearm. Swanson was initially expected to begin his rehab assignment in April but faced numerous setbacks. However, it appears the high-leverage reliever has progressed and will begin his rehab assignment. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on his status as he could be in contention to return to the majors before the end of the month. While Swanson struggled during the 2024 season, he was a valuable setup man in the Toronto bullpen in 2022 and 2023. During these two seasons, Swanson tallied a combined 43 holds with an impressive 2.39 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays are promoting right-handed pitcher
Connor Seabold from Triple-A Durham. In a corresponding move, the Rays are sending right-handed pitcher
Mason Englert to Triple-A. Seabold has not returned to the MLB since his 2023 stint with the Colorado Rockies. Earlier this season, Seabold has logged 27 2/3 innings of work with the Durham Bulls and held a 4.55 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. Across this stint, Seabold has struck out 26 batters and served up just seven walks. During the 2024 season, the 29-year-old spent time in the KBO, where he posted a 3.43 ERA across 160 innings of work. Fantasy managers should expect the right-hander to operate as a bulk option in the Tampa Bay bullpen. Given his expected role, he should not be targeted in any fantasy formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
May 9, 2025
The Seattle Mariners have placed right-handed pitcher
Trent Thornton (illness) on the 15-day injured list with appendicitis. In a corresponding move, the Mariners promoted right-handed pitcher
Troy Taylor from Triple-A Tacoma. Through his first 15 1/3 innings of work this season, Thornton has held a 5.87 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. Across this stint, Thornton has struck out 11 batters and served up four walks. He has allowed five long balls. Under the hood, Thornton generated a 6.71 xERA and a .313 xBA, which are both in the fifth percentile among qualified pitchers. Fantasy managers should expect Taylor to have a role as a low-leverage option in the bullpen. Through the opening month of the season, Taylor has tossed three innings of work in the majors but has allowed four runs.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners
May 9, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays transferred infielder
Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Friday, which pushes his potential return to late May at the earliest. The Rays also called up right-hander
Connor Seabold from the minors and optioned right-hander
Mason Englert to Triple-A Durham. Kim has yet to make his debut with the Rays while recovering from offseason surgery on his shoulder. The 29-year-old middle infielder increased his baseball activities late last month and could be ready for a minor-league rehab assignment soon. If he's able to avoid any setbacks with his shoulder once he begins playing in games, he could be on track to make his season debut in Tampa in late May or early June. When fully healthy, Kim will mainly offer modest speed for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues as the Rays' primary shortstop.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
May 9, 2025
The San Diego Padres announced on Friday that they reinstated infielder
Jake Cronenworth (rib) from the 10-day injured list and optioned outfielder
Oscar Gonzalez to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. Fantasy managers will want to check back later, but Cronenworth should be back at second base for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Colorado Rockies and right-hander
Antonio Senzatela at Coors Field. Cronenworth's return will push veteran
Jose Iglesias back to a bench role. The 31-year-old Cronenworth will return after missing a month due to a non-displaced rib fracture that he suffered while being hit by a pitch. He went 3-for-7 with a home run during three minor-league rehab games and should return to being SD's everyday second baseman. Crone was hitting .257 (9-for-35) in the early going with two homers, five RBI and seven runs scored before going on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
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