RADIO
Luis Castillo Operating as Bulk Reliever on Tuesday, Should Managers Cut Ties?
Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo is slated to work as a piggyback reliever behind Mariners starter Bryce Miller on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, per Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. While Castillo has been one of the more dependable starting pitchers in baseball for nearly a decade, this move to the bullpen is a result of his brutal start to 2026. Across 44 innings (nine starts) so far this year, Castillo has recorded a 1-4 record with a 6.34 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts. Miller opened 2026 on the injured list due to an oblique injury, but the combination of his return and Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock's breakout may make it difficult for Castillo to rejoin the rotation. Even if the veteran gets another chance, his career-worst 13.4% K-BB rate could be an indicator that his time as a fantasy-relevant starting pitcher has come to a close.
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Steven Matz to Rejoin Rays Rotation on Wednesday Against Orioles
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Steven Matz (elbow) came through his bullpen session on Sunday well and will come off the 15-day injured list to rejoin the starting rotation for a matchup on Wednesday against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Matz has been out with left-elbow inflammation. Even though the matchup against the O's is a good one -- they currently rank 28th in baseball with a .699 team OPS -- Matz won't be a recommended fantasy streamer this week since he didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment and will most likely be limited from a pitch-count perspective in his first game back from the IL. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.86 ERA (4.81 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 28:13 K:BB in 37 1/3 innings across his first seven starts for Tampa this year in his return to a starting role. Matz has exceeded expectations so far, but he lacks high-end strikeout stuff, and his underlying metrics predict regression. It's likely why he's only rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Kyle Teel Expected to Miss 3-6 Weeks With Sprained LCL
Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring, knee) has been diagnosed with a sprained LCL in his right knee that is expected to keep him out for three to six weeks, per James Fegan of SoxMachine.com. Teel suffered the injury during a rehab game with Triple-A Charlotte while working his way back from a hamstring injury. The 24-year-old has yet to appear in an MLB game in 2026 and could now remain sidelined through June. Teel played well for the White Sox after making his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 38 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 297 plate appearances. If he can get back to full health at some point in 2026, Teel profiles as a high-upside catcher option for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire. In his absence, Drew Romo and Edgar Quero project to split catching duties for the White Sox.
Source: SoxMachine - James Fegan
Source: SoxMachine - James Fegan
Tyler Glasnow Dealing with Renewed Back Discomfort, Yet to Throw Off a Mound
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (back) has yet to progress to throwing off a mound because of renewed discomfort in his back, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Glasnow is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list on May 22, but the team has already announced that he will not be ready at that point. The 32-year-old was off to a strong start to the 2026 season before getting injured, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.72 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts across 39 2/3 innings (seven starts). However, injuries have been a major issue throughout Glasnow's career, as he's never made more than 22 starts in a season since breaking into the big leagues in 2016. If Glasnow's back troubles prevent him from throwing off a mound for much longer, he may require a rehab stint in the minors before he returns to the Dodgers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Blake Snell Set for "Nano-Scope" Procedure on Elbow
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (elbow) will undergo a "nano-scope" procedure to remove loose bodies in his left elbow on Tuesday, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Gonzalez notes that it's the same procedure that was recently performed on Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal (elbow), and that the Dodgers are hoping for a relatively short return timeline for Snell. It's been a nightmare season to this point for Snell, who opened the year on the injured list due to a shoulder issue. The 33-year-old made just one start for the Dodgers before experiencing pain in his elbow that led to his current IL stint. Snell remains a high-upside fantasy starter when healthy, but the veteran left-hander has now made just 32 starts since the beginning of the 2024 season. He could be worth stashing in deeper formats or leagues with an IL spot. However, Snell's profile is riddled with injury risk at this point in his career.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dodgers Planning for Shohei Ohtani to Hit and Pitch on Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he is planning for starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani to both hit and pitch during his start against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Ohtani has dominated on the mound so far this season, posting a 3-2 record with a 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 44 innings (seven starts). However, the 31-year-old hasn't quite performed to his usual elite standard at the plate, as he entered play on Monday hitting .258/.385/.454 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 30 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 201 plate appearances. The Dodgers have given Ohtani days off at the plate when he's been on the mound, but it appears as though the team will have him do both against San Diego.
Source: ESPN - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN - Alden Gonzalez
Orioles Reinstate Jackson Holliday From Injured List on Monday
The Baltimore Orioles announced that they reinstated infielder Jackson Holliday (hand) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and optioned catcher Maverick Handley to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Holliday is back with Baltimore, but he wasn't included in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Tampa against the division-rival Rays. The 22-year-old will be Baltimore's starting second baseman now that he's back from a broken hamate bone in his right hand that required surgery back in spring training, and he should make his 2026 season debut in Game 2 of the series at Tropicana Field against the Rays on Tuesday. Although fantasy managers might be skeptical of Holliday after he hit just .176/.291/.284 with a .574 OPS in 22 minor-league rehab games, he deserves to be rostered in more than the 41% of Yahoo leagues that he currently is. Holliday was the former first overall pick in 2022 and made strides in his first full big-league season in 2025 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and a .242/.314/.375 slash line in 149 total games.
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Source: Baltimore Orioles
MacKenzie Gore Leaves Monday's Start With Lat Tightness
Texas Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore (lat) left his start on Monday early against the Colorado Rockies with left-lat tightness, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Before leaving due to injury, Gore only went one inning, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Denver. Until we know more about the lefty's condition, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. The 27-year-old former third overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2017 has struggled so far in his first year in Texas, as he entered his start on Monday against Colorado with a 3-3 record, 4.50 ERA (3.95 FIP), and 1.25 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and 22 starts in 48 innings over his nine starts. It has especially been disappointing after he was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his final campaign with the Washington Nationals, despite going 5-15. He struck out a career-high 185 hitters in 159 2/3 innings across his 30 starts. Gore is rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues and needs to be held until we know more about the severity of his injury.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
J.P. Crawford Back in Monday's Lineup Against White Sox
Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (triceps) is back in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Chicago White Sox, batting leadoff against left-hander Noah Schultz, according to MLB.com. Crawford was hit by a pitch in his right triceps muscle on Sunday against the San Diego Padres and was pulled early as a precaution, but he's back in there a day later and is ready to roll. The 31-year-old former 16th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2013 isn't much to look at in fantasy from an offensive perspective, and he's only rostered in 13% of Yahoo leagues. To start his 10th year in the big leagues in 2025, Crawford has hit just .216 (30-for-139), although he does have six home runs, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored, and a stolen base in 40 games across 171 plate appearances. Crawford's career high in home runs is 19 back in 2023, and he has never stolen double-digit bases in his nine-plus seasons.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ceddanne Rafaela Dealing With Hamstring Tightness
Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) is dealing with some hamstring tightness, which is why he was not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals, interim manager Chad Tracy told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. With Rafaela sitting out, Jarren Duran made the start in center field, with Masataka Yoshida manning left field for the BoSox. It's not a major injury for Rafaela, thankfully, and Tracy expects him to return to the lineup for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday. The 25-year-old has been one of the team's best hitters so far in 2026, batting .284 (42-for-148) with four home runs, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 44 games across 164 plate appearances. He's been even better in May, going 17-for-53 (.321) with a .390 on-base percentage, .528 slugging percentage, and .918 OPS. Rafaela is tied with the Rangers' Evan Carter for most defensive runs saved among American League center fielders, and he ranks in the 99th percentile in outs above average (six).
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Dylan Crews on Verge of Returning to Nats, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
The Washington Nationals are expected to recall outfielder Dylan Crews from Triple-A Rochester as early as Tuesday, a source familiar with the decision told Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. Crews was demoted to Rochester at the end of spring training, but he is on the verge of returning to the big leagues after hitting .258 (40-for-155) with five home runs, 10 doubles, a triple, 20 RBI, seven stolen bases, and 30 runs scored in 41 games across 177 plate appearances for Rochester this year. In 14 games in May, though, he has hit .291/.339/.527 with two homers and seven doubles. The plan was already in place before outfielder Jacob Young (rib cage) was forced from Monday's game early after being hit by a pitch in the left rib cage. Young could be forced to the 10-day injured list to account for the corresponding roster move for Crew's promotion. The 24-year-old former second overall pick in 2023 out of LSU has been a disappointment in his 116 games in the majors so far, slashing .211/.282/.352 with a .634 OPS, 13 homers, 35 RBI, 29 steals, 35 walks, and 102 strikeouts in 454 plate appearances. But his draft pedigree alone makes Crews an interesting waiver-wire pickup, and he's currently rostered in only 32% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
Braves Reinstate Ronald Acuna Jr. From Injured List on Monday
The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they reinstated outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and placed infielder Kyle Farmer (forearm) on the 10-day IL (retroactive to May 16) with a strained right forearm in a corresponding move. After speculation that the Braves might wait until Friday's series opener against the Washington Nationals to reinstate Acuna, he was activated on Monday, although he was not included in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Miami. The 28-year-old is available off the bench and should make his return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, perhaps as the designated hitter. Fantasy managers have to be excited that the former MVP and five-category contributor is back with the big-league club since straining his hamstring earlier this month. The five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner hasn't played up to his standards through 127 at-bats in 2026, but he's a must-start in traditional fantasy lineups whenever he's in the lineup. He returns from the IL sporting a .252/.362/.378 slash line with a .740 OPS, only two homers, nine RBI, seven steals, and 17 runs scored.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Robby Snelling to Visit With Specialist on Thursday
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling (elbow) is scheduled to visit with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Thursday, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Snelling made his major-league debut on May 8 in a loss against the Washington Nationals and was then placed on the 15-day injured list last Wednesday with a UCL sprain in his left elbow. The 22-year-old is out indefinitely and could need season-ending surgery on his elbow, depending on what Meister finds during his examination on Thursday. If Snelling gets good news and doesn't need to go under the knife, he still probably won't be an option to rejoin Miami's starting rotation until around the All-Star break in mid-July or later. After Snelling's injury, the Fish called up fellow lefty starter Braxton Garrett to join the rotation, but he disappointed in his 2026 debut and allowed five earned runs on five walks and three strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins on May 14 in just 1 1/3 innings pitched. Snelling is currently rostered in less than 10% of Yahoo leagues after his injury.
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Astros Put Jose Altuve on Injured List With Oblique Strain
The Houston Astros placed second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a left-oblique strain, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring, neck) was reinstated from the 10-day IL. Altuve suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain while swinging on Saturday against the division-rival Texas Rangers and could miss anywhere from four to six weeks, so fantasy managers definitely shouldn't expect a quick recovery for the veteran second baseman. Braden Shewmake made the start at the keystone for the Astros in Monday's series opener in Minnesota against the Twins, but Brice Matthews could also see more playing time at second until Altuve is fully healed. Despite a mediocre start to his 2026 season, Altuve should be held in all fantasy baseball formats. The former MVP, nine-time All-Star, and seven-time Silver Slugger winner heads to the IL with a .245/.326/.380 slash line, .706 OPS, only four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a steal in his 163 at-bats.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Jack Wenninger a Top Arm to Stash in Fantasy Baseball?
New York Mets starting pitching prospect Jack Wenninger is off to a fantastic start to the season in Triple-A. With eight outings in the books, Wenninger has made his mark as one of the most intriguing pitching prospects to stash in fantasy baseball, especially since he's getting very close to his MLB debut. Through eight starts (35.2 innings), he has a 1.51 ERA with 9.84 K/9 and 0.25 HR/9. His sinker is averaging 94 mph, and he's getting 44.4% whiff on his changeup. On the other hand, he has a 5.55 BB/9 rate, and his xFIP has jumped to 4.72, suggesting he's been walking too many batters and perhaps getting a bit lucky on the mound. That's something to keep in mind, especially as the Mets consider calling him up to face big-league hitting. At the same time, though, the results speak for themselves, and we've been very encouraged by Wenninger's performance through the first month and a half this year. He remains a top stash among pitchers in fantasy baseball.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
