George Kirby To Make Another Rehab Start On Friday
George Kirby (shoulder) said he will make another minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Friday at Triple-A Albuquerque, which will potentially put him in line to make his 2025 debut with the Mariners next Thursday in Houston against the division-rival Astros. In his second rehab start with Tacoma on Saturday, Kirby gave up three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five in three innings. The 27-year-old looked sharp, though, with his fastball topping out at 97.6 mph while he mixed in his splitter and knuckle curve. He threw 36 of his 54 pitches for strikes. Kirby was initially shut down on March 7 with right-shoulder inflammation in spring training, which led to his first career stint on the IL to begin the season. While Kirby's strikeout rate leaves something to be desired, he's one of the best at limiting walks in the big leagues and should be stashed in all fantasy formats.Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Seattle Mariners right-hander Brandon Woodruff Won't Make Season Debut This Weekend
Brandon Woodruff (ankle, shoulder) will not come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2025 season debut this weekend against the Minnesota Twins and will instead get treatment for his ankle tendinitis for the next week and make another minor-league rehab start. The Brewers aren't going to take any chances with a pitcher that missed all of 2024 due to right-shoulder surgery that he had in September of 2023. Woodruff only went 2 1/3 innings in his sixth minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Nashville on Sunday and will be given one more rehab start before Milwaukee re-evaluates the 32-year-old veteran's ankle. Woodruff operated as a fantasy ace before his shoulder surgery in 2023, but fantasy managers will want to temper expectations for him upon his return as he's eased back into the big-league rotation.Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports that Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Moises Ballesteros With A Pair Of Multi-Hit Games Over The Weekend
Moises Ballesteros went 2-for-4 on Sunday for Triple-A Iowa, giving him back-to-back multi-hit efforts as he continues to maintain a superb .368/.420/.522 slash line at the highest level of the minors. There still isn't a path to at-bats in the majors for the 5-foot-8 backstop, but his bat keeps pushing for a big league debut, which is currently estimated to happen sometime in June. When that happens, if the left-handed slugger can find regular ABs then he could prove to be a viable fantasy asset, not only because of his offensive prowess, but because he would be doing so in a potent Cubs offense. He could become one of the top prospect stashes the closer it gets to June, especially in NL-only and two-catcher leagues, so make sure to stay on top of any updates in that regard. Source: MiLB.com
Chicago Cubs catching prospect Jose Quintana Being Pushed Back To Friday Or Saturday
Jose Quintana (shoulder) has been dealing with left-shoulder soreness after his last time out last Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays and will get some extra days of rest this week before his next appearance, according to Bally Sports Wisconsin's Sophia Minnaert. Quintana said he was feeling better on Monday and plans to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday to get ready to start on either Friday or Saturday versus the Minnesota Twins. The 36-year-old veteran southpaw went 5 1/3 innings against Tampa, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three for a no-decision. The Twins have been a favorable matchup for pitchers in 2025, but Quintana, who doesn't miss many bats, will be an even riskier fantasy streamer if he starts this weekend. He's gone 4-1 with a nice 2.65 ERA in six starts, but only with 24 K's in 34 innings.Source: Bally Sports Wisconsin - Sophia Minnaert
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander George Lombard Jr. Biggest Riser In Latest Prospect Re-Rank
George Lombard Jr. was the biggest riser in MLB.com's latest refresh of its top prospects list, jumping 49 spots from No. 93 to No. 44 after a fantastic start to the High-A season. The 2023 first-round draft pick hit .329, but perhaps more impressive was his outstanding eye that produced a 20.7 percent walk rate and .495 on-base percentage. Chipping in 11 steals was the icing on the cake. This was all done in 24 games as a 19-year-old, so there should be plenty more growth to come. The 6-foot-2 slugger isn't expected to get to the majors until 2027, but a fast riser like Lombard Jr. is just the type of player dynasty managers should be keeping an eye on as they could get there -- and produce -- sooner than expected.Source: MLB.com
New York Yankees shortstop prospect Mike Trout Does Running On Zero-Gravity Treadmill
Mike Trout (knee) did some running on an Alter-G, zero-gravity treadmill on Monday at Petco Park before the team's series opener against the San Diego Padres. If everything goes well, manager Ron Washington said the team will determine Trout's next steps. There is no timetable for the 33-year-old's return from the 10-day injured list due to a bone bruise in his surgically-repaired left knee, but it's a good sign that he is running and also doing some other baseball activities. We should know more soon on perhaps how far away the 11-time All-Star and three-time MVP is to potentially going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Barring a setback, Trout could certainly be back before the end of May. The former first-rounder was hitting just .179 (19-for-106) before his injury, but with nine home runs in 29 games. Trout is now very fragile, but he should still be rostered in all fantasy formats.Source: Erica Weston
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Luke Jackson Leaves After Being Hit In Arm By Comebacker
Texas Rangers right-handed reliever Luke Jackson (arm) was hit by a comebacker on his right arm on Monday in his outing against the visiting Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Field and immediately exited the game with trainerread more...
Diamondbacks Reinstate Kendall Graveman From 15-Day Injured List
Kendall Graveman (back) from the 15-day injured list and designated left-hander Jose Castillo for assignment in a corresponding move. Graveman returns to the Diamondbacks big-league roster after making his third minor-league rehab appearance for the Triple-A Reno Aces on Friday, May 9, in an inning of work. The 34-year-old veteran will be making his 2025 debut when he gets into a game after recovering from a right lumbar strain that landed him on the IL to begin the season. The Diamondbacks are still currently without relievers Justin Martinez (shoulder) and A.J. Puk (elbow), but fantasy managers shouldn't expect Graveman to see any save chances upon his return after missing all of 2024 due to right-shoulder surgery. Expect him to be eased into a middle-relief role in the desert.Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Monday that they reinstated right-handed reliever A.J. Puk To Resume Throwing Soon
A.J. Puk (elbow) is expected to pick up a baseball later this week or early next week and resume throwing. Puk complained of left-elbow stiffness after his outing on April 17 and underwent an MRI exam before being placed on the injured list on April 19 with left-elbow inflammation. The 30-year-old southpaw was later shifted to the 60-day IL on May 1, which means he cannot return to the major-league roster as a late-inning bullpen piece until early June. In the meantime, the D-backs could get righty reliever Justin Martinez (shoulder) back from his IL stint later this week. Whenever Puk is able to return to the Snakes, the D-backs figure to continue mixing and matching with him and Martinez in save situations. Puk had a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, four saves and 12 K's in eight innings pitched before his injury.Source: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said on Monday that left-handed reliever Justin Martinez To Face Live Hitters On Wednesday
Justin Martinez (shoulder) will face live hitters on Wednesday and throw somewhere around 15 to 18 pitches, according to manager Torey Lovullo. It comes after Martinez said his first bullpen session on Sunday went "real well." Barring a setback once he starts facing live hitters this week, the 23-year-old is expected to return when he's eligible to come off the 15-day injured list on Friday, May 16, which means he likely won't be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The D-backs put Martinez on the shelf in the beginning of May due to right-shoulder inflammation. With lefty A.J. Puk (elbow) quite a ways behind Martinez in his recovery from an elbow injury, Martinez should assume primary closing duties in the desert when he returns to Arizona's bullpen. Before his injury, he had three saves and 11 K's in 10 innings of work.Source: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed reliever Giancarlo Stanton Could Take Live At-Bats This Week
Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) could head to Tampa this week to take live at-bats, although nothing has been finalized yet, according to manager Aaron Boone. Stanton has been out all season to this point while dealing with tennis elbow in both of his arms. There's still no timetable for the 35-year-old slugger's return, but it's a good sign that he's close to facing live pitching. He's also been taking batting practice since late last month, so barring a setback, he should play in 2025. Fantasy managers that have been stashing him in an IL spot are hoping that Stanton will make his season debut in pinstripes before the All-Star break in mid-July. When healthy, Stanton still has high-end power, but it comes with lots of injury risk, power outages and a low batting average. When/if he returns, it will be bad news for Ben Rice, who has been serving as the primary DH.Source: NJ Advance Media - Brendan Kuty
New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter DJ LeMahieu To Be Activated On Tuesday, Start On Wednesday
The New York Yankees plan to activate infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and start him on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, according to manager Aaron Boone. A left-calf strain landedread more...
Ezequiel Tovar Begins Rehab Assignment
Ezequiel Tovar (hip) started a minor league rehab assignment over the weekend. He made starts at shortstop on both Saturday and Sunday, so he continues to progress towards a return. The organization is hopeful that Tovar can return soon, but he'll need to be re-evaluated in a few days. Tovar has been sidelined since April 19 due to a left hip contusion, but is slowly making his way back. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Tovar as he should be back in the Rockies lineup within the next week. That will likely mean that Adael Amador gets sent back to the minors, but we'll wait and see what happens.Source: mlb.com
Colorado Rockies shortstop Tyler Holton Named Tuesday's Starter
Tyler Holton will be the opener for Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers have elected to go with a bullpen game in the vacant spot left by Casey Mize (hamstring) who recently went to the injured list. Holton figures to work an inning or two before handing off the ball to Keider Montero who will work the bulk of the innings. Holton hasn't really done enough to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats. However, fantasy managers that do have him rostered should make sure to get him active on Tuesday.Source: Cody Stavenhagen
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Luis Rengifo Remains Out On Monday
Luis Rengifo is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the San Diego Padres. Rengifo will miss his second game in a row as the switch-hitter is in the middle of a rough slump at the plate. He has managed only two hits over his last seven games, so he'll take another night off on Monday. In his absence, Tim Anderson will cover second base and bat ninth versus right-hander Michael King. Anderson hasn't been great with the bat, but he does have four hits over his last five games. It's still not enough to warrant rostering Anderson in fantasy formats.Source: mlb.com
Los Angeles Angels infielder