May 9, 2025
Cincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder (forearm) is set to move his rehab assignment to High-A Dayton. Lowder is slated to start on Sunday. Lowder recently began his rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League and is now set to face tougher competition. During his lone start in the ACL, Lowder allowed two runs across three innings. He struck out five batters. The 23-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list due to a forearm strain. Last season, Lowder made his MLB debut and was quite productive, logging a strong 1.17 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP across 30 1/3 innings of work. During this stint, he struck out 22 batters and generated an elite 3.3% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should expect the former seventh overall pick to compete for a spot in the rotation when he is activated off the injured list.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels are promoting outfield prospect
Matthew Lugo to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Angels have placed outfielder
Gustavo Campero (ankle) on the 10-day injured list. Lugo was in contention to make the Opening Day roster but fell just short in the competition. However, the former second-round pick has earned an early promotion. Through the first 35 games of the Triple-A regular season, Lugo held a modest .212/.292/.364 slash line with nine doubles and four home runs. Last summer, Lugo was very productive across stints at Double-A and Triple-A. Across 79 cumulative games, the 24-year-old posted an impressive .287/.376/.578 slash line 21 doubles, 17 long balls, and 16 stolen bases. For the time being, fantasy managers should expect Lugo to have a depth role in the outfield, which should only make him worth rostering in AL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Angels
May 9, 2025
Chicago White Sox infield prospect
Chase Meidroth was a late scratch on Friday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status, as the team did not provide a reason for why he was removed from the starting nine. The prospect has already had an early-season stint on the injured list due to a thumb injury. Through his first 17 games in the MLB, the former fourth-round pick has held a .245/.355/.264 slash line with three stolen bases. He has tallied just one extra-base hit (a double). He has shown a strong eye at the plate, holding a 9:9 K:BB. If Meidroth were to miss another period of time, fantasy managers should expect
Jacob Amaya to see most of the opportunities at shortstop. This evening, Amaya is covering shortstop and batting in the nine-hole.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
May 9, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter
Anthony Santander is out of the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
George Springer is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup, while
Jonatan Clase is starting in left field and is batting ninth against Mariners right-hander
Luis Castillo. Santander does have five home runs early on in his first season with the Blue Jays, but he's hitting under .200 with 36 strikeouts in 160 plate appearances after he was a first-time All-Star in 2024 in his final season with the Baltimore Orioles. The good news is Santander has swung the bat better so far in seven games in May, going 8-for-29 with a homer, double, four RBI, three runs scored, three walks and five strikeouts. Springer has hit .167 with a .417 OPS and one RBI in 12 career at-bats against Castillo, while Clase has never faced him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday that they placed second baseman
Andres Gimenez (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 8) with a right-quadriceps strain. In corresponding moves, the team selected infielder
Michael Stefanic's contract from the minors and designated right-hander
Dillon Tate for assignment. It's been a rough start to Gimenez's first season in Toronto, as he's now headed to the IL after hitting .195 (25-for-128) with three homers, 10 RBI, 17 runs scored and nine steals in his first 36 games. The 26-year-old was injured on Wednesday and will be eligible to return on May 18.
Ernie Clement is starting at second and batting sixth against Seattle Mariners right-hander
Luis Castillo on Friday. Clement should see most of the playing time at the keystone while Gimenez is on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
May 9, 2025
Colorado Rockies infielder
Thairo Estrada (wrist) did some fielding drills at Coors Field on Wednesday and then ran the bases and did fielding drills on Thursday. Estrada resumed swinging a bat last weekend as he gets closer to making his Rockies debut while recovering from a fractured right wrist that he suffered in late March. The 29-year-old was put on the 60-day injured list on March 27 and still does not have a firm timetable for a return. He will eventually go on a minor-league rehab assignment and could be looking at a return to the big leagues in June. When he's healthy, he won't be a big fantasy producer, but he's expected to play regularly at second base for the Rockies. Estrada had back-to-back 14-homer seasons in 2022-23 with the San Francisco Giants but fell out of the rotation quickly last year after hitting .217/.247/.343 with nine homers and 47 RBI in 96 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
Colorado Rockies infielder
Aaron Schunk (groin) took infield and batting practice on Wednesday and was able to do fielding and baserunning drills on Thursday. Schunk landed on the injured list on April 26 with a left-groin strain, and there's no current timetable for his return to the big leagues. The 27-year-old will most likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before the Rockies activate him from the IL, so he might not be able to return for another couple of weeks. When he's ready, Schunk will be a reserve infield option for the Rockies. He went 5-for-20 with a double and a run scored in just seven games before going on the shelf, and he slashed a weak .234/.265/.330 with a .595 OPS, two home runs, seven RBI and 14 runs scored in 2024 in 39 games in his rookie season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
Colorado Rockies designated hitter
Kris Bryant (back) had a successful ablation surgery on his back on Friday and will rest for the next 72 hours. The Rockies expect him to be back in Denver next Saturday, and he will begin activities to build up strength in his back on Sunday. The 33-year-old oft-injured outfielder is hoping to return this season, but he's going to at least be recovering for the next several weeks before he can even think about resuming baseball activities. The four-time All-star and former MVP had gone 6-for-39 (.154) with no home runs and 13 strikeouts in 11 games before landing on the injured list in the middle of April with his back injury. Based on Bryant's last few years in Colorado, we're not banking on him returning before the All-Star break in mid-July or returning to be much of a fantasy asset in mixed leagues in the second half.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Patrick Lyons
May 9, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) will make one more minor-league start with Triple-A Nashville on Sunday. Barring a setback, Woodruff will be activated from the injured list to make his 2025 debut during the team's series at home against the Minnesota Twins that starts next Friday, May 16, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The 32-year-old veteran has looked good in five rehab starts, posting a 2.70 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with seven walks and 22 strikeouts with High-A Wisconsin (two starts) and Nashville (three starts). He is making his way back from right-shoulder in September of 2023. Woodruff was a fantasy ace before his injury and should be stashed in all fantasy formats, but you might want to temper your expectations initially as Milwaukee looks to ease him back into their starting rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
May 9, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced that they optioned infield prospect
Coby Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday's game to make room for the return of outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (neck) from the 10-day injured list. Although Mayo played in just four games in his second stint in the big leagues after a disappointing debut performance in 2024, he had just one hit in 12 at-bats with a walk and six strikeouts, and he also didn't endear himself to the coaching staff with his play on defense. In his first 21 big-league games, the team's No. 2-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, has gone 5-for-53 (.094) with no homers or RBI, five walks and 28 strikeouts. Mayo will head back to Norfolk for the time being but should rejoin Baltimore sooner than later as he looks to finally break through at the major-league level this year. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues are getting frustrated.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
May 9, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Cam Smith is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Cincinnati Reds at Daikin Park.
Zach Dezenzo will man right field and will hit seventh against Reds right-hander
Nick Martinez. This will be the second straight game and the fourth out of the last six contests that Smith has started on the bench for Houston. After dominating in spring training, the 22-year-old former 14th overall pick last year by the Chicago Cubs out of Florida State is hitting just .212 (18-for-85) with three homers, 10 RBI, nine runs and a steal in his first 26 MLB regular-season games. He's struck out 29 times and walked only nine times. If Smith's struggles continue, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the Astros send him back to the farm to make some adjustments. Dezenzo has a hit and two RBI in three career at-bats against Martinez.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have placed right-handed pitcher
Caleb Thielbar (paternity) on the paternity list. In a corresponding move, the Cubs have recalled
Tom Cosgrove from Triple-A Iowa. Thielbar has been deployed as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen through the opening month of the campaign. Across his first 13 2/3 innings of work, Thielbar has held a 3.29 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP. Across this stint, he has struck out 14 batters and served up seven walks. Thielbar has typically been deployed in the seventh inning and has tallied three holds and one save. He has also blown two save opportunities. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Ryan Pressly to continue to operate as the go-to option in the ninth inning, with
Porter Hodge being the setup man. When Thielbar does return, he will only hold value in NL-only formats that reward holds.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Maddie Lee
May 9, 2025
Boston Red Sox first infielder
Romy Gonzalez (back) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the hosting Kansas City Royals and right-hander
Michael Lorenzen at Kauffman Stadium.
Abraham Toro will make another start at the cold corner and will bat seventh. Gonzalez has missed a few games now due to a minor back injury, but he's expected to avoid a trip to the injured list and return at some point this weekend against the Royals. The 28-year-old has yet to go deep in 52 at-bats this year, but he's hitting over .300 and has plenty of appeal in AL-only leagues now that we know
Triston Casas (knee) is done for the rest of the season. Toro makes for an unattractive DFS sleeper while hitting .111 (1-for-9) early on in his tenure with Boston. He's also gone hitless in three career at-bats against Lorenzen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have activated outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (neck) from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's contest against the Los Angeles Angels. In a corresponding move, the Orioles have optioned third baseman
Coby Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk. O'Neill is also in the starting nine this evening. He will bat sixth and cover right field. Before his injury, O'Neill held a modest .215/.284/.385 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and two home runs across his first 19 games of the campaign. He has tallied 10 RBI and scored eight runs. Under the hood, O'Neill has generated an impressive 17.4% barrel rate but has held a high 28.4% strikeout rate, which lowers his value in points leagues. This evening, he has a favorable matchup against Angels right-hander
Kyle Hendricks, who enters this game with a 5.28 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
May 9, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto and outfielder
Brandon Marsh will both start on the bench for Friday's series opener versus the hosting Cleveland Guardians.
Rafael Marchan is doing the catching and batting ninth, while
Johan Rojas will start in center field and bat eighth against Guardians right-hander
Gavin Williams. Realmuto fouled a ball off his foot on Wednesday but returned to the lineup on Thursday, so there shouldn't be any concerns about his health. The 34-year-old has yet to really get going offensively and has gone 5-for-21 with a homer and four RBI in six games in May. Given his slow start to the year -- .170 (9-for-53) with a homer and seven RBI and a trip to the injured list -- Marsh isn't even guaranteed regular playing time against righties. Neither Marchan nor Rojas are very attractive DFS sleepers
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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