May 4, 2025
Chicago White Sox infielder
Josh Rojas (toe) was activated off the 10-day injured list prior to Sunday's contest against the Houston Astros. Rojas is slated to cover the hot corner and bat in the eight-hole. This will be Rojas' season debut. The 30-year-old has been sidelined with a fracture since March. Last season, Rojas had a full-time role in the Seattle offense, appearing in 143 games. During this stint, Rojas held a .225/.304/.336 slash line with 19 doubles, eight home runs, and swiping 10 bags. Under the hood, Rojas generated a weak .293 xwOBA and a .223 xBA, which were both well below the average marks. Fantasy managers should expect Rojas to have close to an everyday role in the Chicago offense. However, given his low offensive upside, he should only be targeted in deeper AL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
May 4, 2025
Houston Astros designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (hand) is "feeling better" but will remain sidelined on Sunday. Manager Joe Espada noted that Alvarez will likely not need imaging on his hand. This is a positive sign as it appears Alvarez is dealing with a minor injury. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to their next game on Monday evening against the Milwaukee Brewers. This afternoon,
Yainer Diaz will shift to the DH spot, which opens a spot for
Victor Caratini to be behind the dish. Before his injury, Alvarez was having a slow start to the campaign, holding a modest .210/.306/.340 slash line with three home runs and one stolen base. However, under the hood, the slugger has generated an elite .495 xSLG and a .364 xwOBA, which are both well above the average marks. The Astros are worth targeting in DFS this afternoon, facing Chicago right-hander
Bryse Wilson.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
May 4, 2025
The Miami Marlins have placed infielder
Otto Lopez (ankle) on the 10-day injured list prior to Sunday's game against the Athletics. In a corresponding move, the Marlins activated catcher
Nick Fortes (oblique) from the 10-day injured list. Lopez was diagnosed with a Grade 2 ankle sprain after exiting Friday's contest early. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Lopez to spend longer than the minimum time on the injured list. This afternoon, the Marlins will give
Javier Sanoja the nod at the keystone, and he will bat ninth. Before the injury, Lopez had posted a modest .229/.294/.330 slash line with two home runs and three stolen bases. Sanoja should see a majority of the opportunities at the keystone while Lopez is sidelined, with
Ronny Simon mixing in.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Miami Marlins
May
4,
2025
New
York
Mets
third
baseman
Mark
Vientos
is
not
in
the
starting
lineup
for
Game
1
of
a
doubleheader
on
Sunday
at
Busch
Stadium
against
the
hosting
St.
Louis
Cardinals.
Luisangelread more...
May 4, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (back) has been scratched from Sunday's starting lineup against the visiting Cleveland Guardians due to lower-back tightness, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson.
Nathan Lukes will now patrol center field in the series finale at Rogers Centre against Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee. Varsho has only played in five games in 2025 after getting a late start to the season due to offseason right-shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old has gone 3-for-14 with two home runs, three RBI, a steal and three runs scored. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. Toronto has an off day on Monday before beginning a series in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, so hopefully Varsho will be feeling better by then. He's a Gold Glover and the Jays' starting center fielder when he's healthy. Lukes will be a poor DFS choice in the eight-hole.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
May 4, 2025
Cleveland Guardians third baseman
Jose Ramirez (ankle) is back at third base and in the three-hole for Cleveland in Sunday's series finale on the road in Toronto against the Blue Jays and right-hander
Bowden Francis. Ramirez is back in there following a one-game absence on Saturday after he sprained his ankle landing on a base in Friday's game at Rogers Centre. Fantasy managers will want to get the six-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger back in their lineups in all formats on Sunday. The 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitter has been good but not great so far in 2025, slashing .274/.323/.451 with a .774 OPS, five long balls, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored and eight stolen bases in his first 113 at-bats. J-Ram has only faced Francis two times in his career and has one hit and one RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
4,
2025
Boston
Red
Sox
shortstop
Trevor
Story
will
take
a
seat
on
the
bench
for
Sunday's
series
finale
at
Fenway
Park
against
the
visiting
Minnesota
Twins.
With
Story
sitting,
David
Hamilton
will
read more...
May
4,
2025
The
Tampa
Bay
Rays
are
giving
a
handful
of
their
regular
starters
a
rest
in
Sunday's
series
finale
against
the
division-rival
New
York
Yankees
in
the
Bronx,
as
third
baseman
Junior
Caminero,
utility
man
read more...
May 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles outfielder
Ramon Laureano is on the bench for the team's game on Sunday against the visiting Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards. Catcher
Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third, while
Ryan O'Hearn is in right field and hitting cleanup for the O's against Royals right-hander
Michael Lorenzen. Laureano will take a seat after starting each of the team's last six games. The 30-year-old veteran Dominican probably is going to need to pick things up at the plate to stay in the lineup consistently, as he enters Sunday's action hitting just .189/.241/.415 with a .656 OPS, three home runs, six RBI, four runs scored and one stolen base in 53 at-bats. When
Colton Cowser (thumb) and
Tyler O'Neill (neck) return from the injured list, Laureano will be relegated to a bench role in Baltimore.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles prospect
Coby Mayo is starting at third base and is batting seventh for Sunday's series finale against the visiting Kansas City Royals and right-hander
Michael Lorenzen. Mayo, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday and came off the bench in the 4-0 loss to go 0-for-2 with a strikeout. The 23-year-old should see regular playing time at the hot corner for Baltimore with both
Jordan Westburg (hamstring) and
Ramon Urias (hamstring) on the injured list, making him attractive in deep-mixed fantasy leagues for the short-term. In his MLB debut in 2024, Mayo was overmatched, going 4-for-41 with 22 strikeouts. He had an impressive .869 OPS with Norfolk before his promotion, though, so those that have him in dynasty/keeper leagues will be hoping he'll fare better this time around.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 4, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn will take a seat for the team's first game of a doubleheader on Sunday against the visiting New York Mets at Busch Stadium.
Jose Barrero will start at the 6 and hit ninth for the Cards against rookie right-hander
Blade Tidwell, who will be making his major-league debut. Winn has been red-hot at the plate since returning from the injured list and has been hitting near the top of the batting order as a result. The 23-year-old has gone 12-for-36 (.333) with two homers, four doubles, five RBI, two stolen bases and eight runs scored in his last 10 games since April 22. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their lineups for Game 2 of the doubleheader later on Sunday. Barrero should be avoided in DFS in the nine-hole for St. Louis. He has just three at-bats with St. Louis this year and is hitless.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 4, 2025
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Shane Bieber (elbow) threw live batting practice on Friday. According to manager
Stephen Vogt, the session went "well," but he still has a "ways to go." Bieber is working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Bieber underwent the surgery after logging just 12 innings during the start of the 2024 season. During those 12 innings, Bieber looked sharp as he struck out 20 batters, did not allow a run, and held a 0.92 WHIP. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, but the 29-year-old will likely not be in the mix to return to the majors until the second half of the campaign. However, seeing that he is already throwing live batting practice, the right-hander could be in line to make his first rehab appearance in June. When he does return, he should hold solid value in standard formats, as he posted a 3.80 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP across 128 innings in 2023.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 4, 2025
New York Mets catcher
Francisco Alvarez will take a seat in the first game of their doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Alvarez was given the start on Friday and went 3-for-5 at the plate. The young backstop missed nearly the first month of the season, recovering from a bone fracture in his left hand. Through his first six games of the season, Alvarez has posted a .269/.321/.423 slash line with one double and one home run. He has brought in six RBI and held a 9:2 K:BB. Fantasy managers should expect the 23-year-old to return to the starting nine for Game 2 this evening. In that match, he is set to face St. Louis right-hander
Andre Pallante. In Game 1,
Luis Torrens will be behind the dish and bat in the six-hole. He is worth a look in DFS facing
Erick Fedde, who carries a 4.68 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 4, 2025
New York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe (shoulder) is not in Sunday's lineup when the Yankees face the Tampa Bay Rays. Volpe suffered a shoulder injury during Saturday's contest but remained in the game. However, after the contest, the shortstop underwent X-rays, which came back negative. Still, the Yankees will opt to give him the day to rest. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status leading up to their next game on Monday against the San Diego Padres. Instead,
Oswald Peraza will be covering shortstop on Sunday and bat in the nine-hole. Volpe has held a solid .233/.326/.442 with 10 doubles, five home runs, and four stolen bases. Peraza is best to fade in DFS this afternoon as he enters this contest holding a modest .206 AVG.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jim Bowden
May 4, 2025
Athletics catcher
Shea Langeliers is not in Sunday's lineup when the Athletics play the rubber match of a three-game set against the Miami Marlins. Instead, the Athletics will give catching duties to
Jhonny Pereda, who will bat in the nine-hole. Langeliers has gone 0-for-9 at the plate during the first two games of the series. Fantasy managers should expect him to return to the starting nine on Monday when they begin a series against the Seattle Mariners. Through the first 29 games of the campaign, Langeliers has held a .223/.285/.420 slash line with six home runs. He has drawn walks at a solid 8.1 percent rate and has only struck out at an impressive 15.4 percent rate. Pereda is worth a look as a value option in DFS this afternoon, facing
Edward Cabrera, who enters this game holding a high 7.23 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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