May 6, 2025
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
AJ Smith-Shawver looked sharp in Monday's 4-0 win over the Reds. Smith-Shawver took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and finished the outing with eight innings pitched, one hit allowed, four walks allowed, and five strikeouts. The 22-year-old's first two starts of the season left something to be desired, but he has pitched better since and is now 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, a 9.00 K/9 rate, and a 4.33 BB/9 rate in five starts and 27 IP. Walks have still been an issue, but Smith-Shawver has shown that he is worth consideration in favorable matchups. His next scheduled start will be a great matchup at the Pirates.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 6, 2025
Chicago Cubs catcher
Carson Kelly continued his torrid start to the season in Monday's 9-2 win over the Giants. Kelly went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout. The 30-year-old jumped on a sixth-inning
Hayden Birdsong hanging breaking pitch, sending it into the left-field seats. Kelly has been producing at a career-best rate so far, slashing .361/.500/.820 with eight HR and 23 RBI in 80 plate appearances. Kelly has split playing time with
Miguel Amaya, who has produced decent offensive numbers. He also has not seen time as a designated hitter. However, he has started to earn a larger share of playing time behind the plate due to his hot bat.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 6, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman had a historic night in Monday's 7-4 win over the Marlins. Freeman went 2-for-5 with a single and a two-run home run. The 35-year-old launched a third-inning
Sandy Alcantara middle-middle fastball over the center-field wall for the 350th HR of his career. The milestone came amidst a great start to the season for the veteran, who is now slashing .337/.414/.663 with seven HR and 23 RBI in 99 plate appearances. He has yet to steal a base, but fantasy managers would probably be ok with trading some of his stolen bases for extra power production. He will look to keep things going for the remainder of the series against a weak Marlins pitching staff.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 6, 2025
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Cole Ragans (groin) looked perfectly healthy in Monday's 3-0 win over the White Sox. Ragans was pushed back from his normal rotation due to a groin strain, but he tossed five excellent innings, allowing three hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts. The 27-year-old's ERA has been a little higher than fantasy managers would expect, but he is now 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and an impressive 14.38 K/9 rate in seven starts and 35 2/3 IP. He will face a tough matchup in his next scheduled start, which will be at home against the Red Sox. Even with the slightly inflated ERA, Ragans' strikeout potential makes him a start in all leagues.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 5, 2025
Boston Red Sox outfield prospect
Roman Anthony went 3-for-5 with three singles, an RBI, and a stolen base for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, pushing his batting average back up to .305 to go along with a .933 OPS, a .418 wOBA, and a .151 wRC+. Just when it looks like Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu looks like he's going cold, he hammers out a three-hit day, which is what he did yet again on Sunday after a 1-for-15 stretch at the plate, staving off Anthony for a bit longer. MLB's No. 1 prospect is still expected to debut within the next few weeks, and he remains a high-priority stash in most leagues as he has the potential to be a four-category contributor who should be able to sprinkle in some stolen bases as well.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 5, 2025
Washington Nationals third base prospect
Brady House has been hitting well for Triple-A Rochester so far this year, slashing .293/.353/.488 with seven doubles, a triple, and five home runs over 32 games (136 PA). The former first-round draft pick is making a push for a big league debut. With
Paul DeJong not expected to return from the IL until around the All-Star break,
Jose Tena and
Amed Rosario have been manning the hot corner for the Nats, but Rosario can be used all over the field and Tena is batting just .231 with zero home runs while currently mired in an 0-for-13 slump over his last four games. House could make it to the majors by the end of the month, and although the 29.4 percent strikeout rate should give fantasy managers pause, he could provide some power for managers in deep leagues desperate for home runs and RBI.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May
5,
2025
Milwaukee
Brewers
pitching
prospect
Jacob
Misiorowski
allowed
just
one
earned
run
in
his
latest
start
on
Saturday
for
Triple-A
Nashville
despite
allowing
five
hits
and
four
walks
over
six
innings
of
work.
The
righty
struck
out
read more...
May 5, 2025
Cincinnati Reds outfielder
Rece Hinds homered for the seventh time this season in a 3-for-6 day at the plate for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday. The former second-round draft pick has his season-long slash line up to .274/.338/.521 with 31 RBI, 25 runs scored, and 12 steals through 32 games (134 PA), and could be knocking on the door to the majors again, especially with the Reds' recent call-up
Tyler Callihan suffering a broken forearm on Monday against the Braves. Fantasy managers might remember the right-handed hitter's power binge when he was called up in 2024, collecting five home runs in his first six major league games, although it came with a 31.4 percent strikeout rate overall and no home runs over his final 16 games for Cincinnati. Power-needy managers in deep leagues will want to keep a close eye on this one, especially due to the 6-foot-3 slugger's potential to add some stolen bases along with the power.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 5, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies infield prospect
Otto Kemp homered in Game 1 of Triple-A Lehigh Valley's doubleheader on Sunday, his 10th of the season, which grabbed a share of the minor league home run lead. The 25-year-old has been on a tear the last week and a half, going 20-for-42 (.476) with seven doubles, four home runs, 18 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases -- all in just nine games. For the season, the Phillies' 24th-ranked prospect is hitting .344 with an incredible 1.136 OPS, .489 wOBA, and a 196 wRC+ over 32 games (150 PA). With a pair of 20-steal seasons under his belt in the minors, there is some intriguing speed to go along with the power, and with a good shot to debut in the majors this season, fantasy managers in deep leagues should keep an eye out for a promotion, as he also offers dual eligibility at both 2B and 3B on Yahoo!.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 5, 2025
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Zebby Matthews showed off his swing-and-miss stuff during a start against the Columbus Clippers on Sunday. Matthews went four innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five batters in a no-decision. The right-hander has struggled during his last two starts, but the five punchouts is nice to see. Despite his recent struggles, Matthews still holds a 2.30 ERA with 34 strikeouts with Triple-A St. Paul this season. There is still a good chance that we see Matthews on the big league mound at some point this season. However, he'll likely need to clean it up a bit before the Twins decide to bring him into their rotation.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 5, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher
Justin Martinez (shoulder) was recently placed on the 15-day injured list. The right-hander is dealing with right shoulder inflammation, but hopefully he won't be sidelined for too long. He underwent additional imaging that didn't show any significant damage. That being said, Martinez is reportedly going to begin a throwing program this week. It's unclear if Martinez will need to go on a rehab assignment before returning. He isn't eligible to return until the middle of May, so it wouldn't be shocking to see Martinez throw a few minor league games. In the meantime, the D-Backs are likely going to use a committee approach at the closer which involves
Ryan Thompson,
Shelby Miller,
Jalen Beeks, and
Kevin Ginkel.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Alex Weiner
May 5, 2025
Cincinnati Reds infielder
Tyler Callihan (forearm) was forced to exit early during Monday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Callihan suffered a broken left forearm when he collided into the wall while trying to make a catch in the third inning. This is terrible news as Callihan is going to miss significant time from this injury. He got called up to the big leagues last week and was only playing in his fourth big league game before suffering this injury. The organization should give a timetable at a later time, but fantasy managers in redraft formats should probably go ahead and look for another option. Callihan isn't going to be in the lineup anytime soon, which is a shame considering he's a promising young player that could be a legitimate contributor on this roster.
UPDATE: Callihan is expected to need surgery on his broken forearm.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Charlie Goldsmith
May 5, 2025
Athletics third baseman
Gio Urshela is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Seattle Mariners. This appears to be a regular rest day for Urshela who has been hot at the plate recently. Over the last 10 games, Urshela has a batting average over .300 with 11 hits and four runs knocked in. He got off to a slow start, but Urshela is finally getting the bat going at the plate. In his absence,
Miguel Andujar will get the start at the hot corner and bat cleanup versus right-hander
Bryce Miller. Andujar doesn't see enough playing time to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) left Monday's series opener against the hosting Miami Marlins early due to left-hamstring tightness, according to the team. Before leaving the game early, Hernandez was 2-for-2 with an RBI for the Blue.
Andy Pages shifted from center field to right field, while
Chris Taylor entered the game to play center field for L.A. Losing Hernandez for any amount of time would be a big blow for fantasy managers. The 32-year-old Dominican veteran came into Monday's action hitting an impressive .305/.323/.586 with a .909 OPS, nine home runs, nine doubles, a league-leading 33 RBI, four stolen bases and 21 runs scored in 32 games. Check back for an update on Hernandez's condition later Monday or Tuesday morning. If he's forced to miss time, Taylor figures to be the biggest beneficiary of playing time in the Dodgers' outfield.
UPDATE: Hernandez will get an MRI exam on Tuesday. "A little concerning," manager Dave Roberts said.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
May 5, 2025
Monday's contest between the Washington Nationals and Cleveland Guardians in D.C. at Nationals Park has been postponed due to inclement weather, according to MASN's Bobby Blanco. The game will be made up as part of a traditional doubleheader on Tuesday, starting at 3:35 pm ET, with the second game starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Right-hander
Jake Irvin was scheduled to toe the rubber for Washington on Monday, with Guardians right-hander
Luis L. Ortiz opposing him. Both pitchers will most likely be moved to one of the games of the doubleheader on Tuesday. Fantasy managers will want to get any other players from either team out of their starting lineups for Monday's slate of action.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Bobby Blanco
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