May 5, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (groin) has not undergone any imaging, but the team may opt to give him an extra day or two to rest. Peralta exited Sunday's contest early due to groin soreness. However, given this report, it seems the right-hander avoided a significant injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week in case he faces a setback. On Sunday, Peralta logged six shutout innings against the Cubs. He allowed just four hits, one walk, and struck out seven batters. Through 45 1/3 innings of work this season, the 28-year-old has posted an impressive 2.18 ERA with a strong 1.04 WHIP. If Peralta were to need an additional period to rest,
Quinn Priester could be given a start, as he was deployed in a long relief role over the weekend.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Curt Hogg
May 5, 2025
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider (hamstring) progressed to throwing long toss over the weekend, which is another key step towards his return from the 15-day injured list. However, The Athletic's David O'Brien reports there's still no timetable for his return. Strider, who got a late start to the 2025 campaign after having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last April, made it through one start before going back on the IL with a right-hamstring strain. It's been that kind of a season so far for the Braves. Since the 26-year-old has yet to throw off a mound, fantasy managers should probably expect his return to be a couple of weeks off. Strider will almost certainly need a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to Atlanta's starting rotation. Keep the former All-Star stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
May 5, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is expected to begin a rehab assignment this month. Justin Toscano of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that Acuna does not need to visit his doctor again and that a rehab assignment date is "up to the team." This is a significant step in his recovery process as the superstar could be set to return to game action in the coming weeks. Has been sidelined since last May after suffering a torn ACL. In 2023, Acuna enjoyed an incredible campaign as he hit 41 home runs, swiped 73 bags, and held a .337/.413/.596 slash line en route to winning the NL MVP. Before his injury last season, Acuna held a .250/.351/.365 line and added four home runs with 16 stolen bases. When he does return, he will carry high-end OF1 upside, given his ability to contribute to all five categories.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Justin Toscano
May 5, 2025
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that outfielder
Austin Hays (hamstring) is doing really well in his rehab from a strained left hamstring and could return from the injured list on Friday. As long as Hays doesn't suffer a setback in the next few days, he could skip a minor-league rehab assignment and rejoin the club for their series opener on Friday in Houston against the Astros. Injuries have been the story of the 29-year-old's season so far in 2025, but when he's been on the field, he's been fantasy worthy in all formats, slashing .365/.431/.712 with five long balls, 13 RBI, 15 runs scored and a stolen base in just 13 games played. When Hays is back, expect him to continue playing regularly for Cincy in left field. Until then, rookie
Tyler Callihan and
Blake Dunn should continue to split playing time for the Reds in left field.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
May 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander
Roki Sasaki will make his next start on Friday on five days of rest against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers are in a stretch of 10 games in 10 days, so Sasaki will be forced to make his first start of the year on five days of rest. In his first seven MLB starts on six days of rest between each outing, the 23-year-old Japanese hurler has gone 1-1 with a respectable 3.86 ERA (5.38 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and 20 walks in 30 1/3 innings pitched. He has reached five innings in each of his last four starts, but fantasy managers should be warned that Sasaki has been fortunate to have an ERA under 4.00 given his lack of command in the early going. The Dodgers will continue to monitor Sasaki's workload as the season progresses, limiting his fantasy upside in his rookie campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
May 5, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Merrill Kelly (hamstring) is listed as the team's probably pitcher for Wednesday's contest against the visiting New York Mets. Kelly was forced to leave his last start early on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies due to more cramping in his right hamstring, but he's recovered nicely since and will be able to take his next turn in Arizona's starting rotation. However, in a tough matchup against the Mets, fantasy managers should be thinking twice about using Kelly after he's dealt with cramping in two of his last three appearances. Overall, the 36-year-old veteran has pitched well for Arizona and fantasy managers, though, going 3-1 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 27 punchouts and 12 walks in 37 2/3 innings over his seven starts. Kelly still managed to go five innings against the Phillies last week and allowed just one earned run for a no-decision.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 5, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Monday that they transferred right-handers
Max Scherzer (thumb) and
Erik Swanson (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL. The team also optioned left-hander
Josh Walker to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the roster for right-handers
Spencer Turnbull and
Jose Urena, who were signed over the weekend. A right-thumb injury has limited Scherzer to just one start in his first season with Toronto in 2025. While the 40-year-old eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner has been trending in the right direction of late while throwing off a mound, he won't be eligible to return from the IL until May 29. The future Hall of Famer will require a minor-league rehab assignment and most likely won't be back in Toronto's rotation until June, assuming he doesn't have another setback with his thumb.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
May 5, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that outfielder
Daulton Varsho (back) potentially could have pushed through his lower-back tightness to play in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Guardians, but the team didn't want to risk it so soon after he returned from offseason shoulder surgery. The Blue Jays are hoping that Varsho will return for Tuesday's series opener versus the Los Angeles Angels. The 28-year-old made his return from the injured list due to his surgically repaired shoulder last week and has only played in five games, so the Blue Jays weren't going to push him. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if he's back in there. Varsho has three hits in his first 17 plate appearances, but it's a good sign that two of those hits went for home runs. When healthy, he's Toronto's everyday center fielder.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
May
5,
2025
New
York
Yankees
right-hander
Clarke
Schmidt
(side)
will
make
the
start
on
Tuesday
against
the
visiting
San
Diego
Padres
in
the
Bronx.
Schmidt
didn't
make
his
last
scheduled
start
on
Saturday
against
the
Tampa
Bay
read more...
May 5, 2025
MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports that Milwaukee Brewers second baseman
Brice Turang is absent from the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Houston Astros at American Family Field. It is just another rest day for Turang after he recently dealt with an illness. Rookie
Caleb Durbin will start at the keystone and will hit seventh on Monday against Astros right-hander
Ronel Blanco. Turang missed a game last week due to illness but had played in the last four contests. Expect the 25-year-old to be back in action for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday. The former first-rounder has slashed a solid .315/.372/.400 with a .772 OPS, three homers, 16 RBI, 28 runs and eight steals in his first 130 at-bats. Durbin will lack much DFS upside on Monday. The 25-year-old has gone 12-for-50 (.240) with a homer and 10 RBI in his first 16 major-league games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
May
5,
2025
Milwaukee
Brewers
outfielder
Sal
Frelick
(knee)
is
not
in
the
starting
lineup
for
Monday's
series
opener
against
the
visiting
Houston
Astros,
but
manager
Pat
Murphy
said
Frelick's
MRI
results
were
encouraging.
"It
should
settle
down
in
read more...
May 5, 2025
The Minnesota Twins announced on Monday that they optioned infielder
Edouard Julien to Triple-A St. Paul. Julien is the odd-man out with the Twins activating both
Royce Lewis (hamstring) and
Willi Castro (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Monday. The 26-year-old Canadian will surely be back up with the Twins at some point this season for infield depth, but he might not get another shot at a starting role after going just 18-for-91 (.198) with two home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored in 29 games played. In 232 games played since debuting in the big leagues in 2023, Julien has hit a mediocre .230/.336/.388 with a .725 OPS, 26 home runs, 66 RBI and nine stolen bases. He has been unable to repeat his rookie-year performance, when he clubbed 16 long balls in just 109 games. Expect Castro to see most of the playing time at the keystone going forward in Minnesota.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
May 5, 2025
The Minnesota Twins announced on Monday that they have reinstated utility man
Willi Castro (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder
Edouard Julien to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. Castro didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment and should be back in the team's starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican switch-hitter suffered a mild oblique strain in the middle of April. With Julien headed down to the farm, fantasy managers should expect Castro to play mostly every day at the keystone will also bouncing around wherever needed on the diamond. He'll return to a .227/.292/.364 slash line with a .655 OPS, one home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base. Castro doesn't stand out for power or speed and will be a modest counting-stats contributor, but he's incredibly useful for his positional versatility.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
May
5,
2025
The
Texas
Rangers
are
likely
going
to
recall
outfielder
Evan
Carter
before
Tuesday's
series
opener
in
Boston
against
the
Red
Sox,
according
to
general
manager
Chris
Young.
It
remains
to
be
seen
if
Carter
will
read more...
May
5,
2025
San
Diego
Padres
outfielder
Jackson
Merrill
(hamstring)
has
been
traveling
on
Monday
and
is
believed
to
have
arrived
in
New
York
only
a
short
while
ago,
according
to
The
San
Diego
Union-Tribune's
Kevin
Acee.
The
plan
read more...
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