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 Spencer Strider To Throw Simulated Game On Wednesday
Spencer Strider (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a 70-75-pitch simulated game on Wednesday. The right-hander will be re-evaluated after that and Atlanta will determine whether or not Strider is ready to return to the big-league rotation. If not, Strider will likely make one or two rehab starts before returning to the big-league mound. There is a chance that Strider is able to take the ball for Atlanta for their weekend series, but he'll likely have heavy restrictions. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Wednesday for another update on his status. After returning from an internal-brace procedure last April, the 26-year-old made just one start in April before going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. He should not be on any waiver wires.Source: Mark Bowman
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jordan Lawlar Officially Called Up
Jordan Lawlar has been officially called up from Triple-A Reno on Monday. Lawlar won't be in Monday's lineup, but figures to get significant playing time on the D-Backs roster. The 22-year-old struggled during a 14-game sample size spot with the D-Backs in 2023. Lawlar spent all of the 2024 season in the minors, but missed significant time due to injury. Now, Lawlar has earned his way back on the D-Backs roster after slashing .336/.413/.579 with six homers and 13 steals in the minors. Sadly, there isn't an obvious everyday spot for Lawlar right now. Despite that, Lawlar should still see a fair amount of playing time while rotating positions in the infield. Lawlar is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats.Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Beginning Rehab Assignment On Tuesday
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The superstar outfielder is expected to require a few weeks of rehab games before returning to the big league roster. Acuna is working his way back from tearing his ACL in his left knee in May of last year. The expectation is that Acuna will slowly ramp his way up the minor league system before finally making his season debut with Atlanta. The Braves haven't given a timetable on Acuna's return to the Braves, so fantasy managers will need to check back for another update. The assumption is that Acuna is going to be out until at least the end of May.Source: Mark Bowman
Atlanta Braves outfielder Lane Thomas, David Fry To Play In Rehab Games This Week
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that outfielder Lane Thomas (wrist) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week with Triple-A Columbus. Outfielder/catcher David Fry (elbow)read more...
Ben Lively Leaves Start Early With Forearm Inflammation
Ben Lively (forearm) left his start early on Monday after tossing a couple of warmup pitches in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers with right-forearm inflammation, according to MLB.com's Tim Stebbins. Before departing, Lively had thrown three shutout innings with one hit allowed, two walks and a strikeout. We'll have an update on the severity of the 33-year-old's injury once the Guardians get test results back on Lively's arm, but fantasy managers should at least expect him to miss his next scheduled start and possibly land on the 15-day injured list. Coming into his start on Monday, Lively had gone 2-2 with a 3.46 ERA (4.58 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and 13 walks in 41 2/3 innings over his first eight starts. His fantasy value is limited, though, as more of a pitch-to-contact hurler.Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tom Murphy To Be Re-Evaluated In Six Weeks
San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy (back) will be re-evaluated in six weeks, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic. Murphy is on the 60-day injured list and has yet to make his debut withread more...
Tyler Fitzgerald, Casey Schmitt Could Start Rehab Assignments On Tuesday
Tyler Fitzgerald (rib) and Casey Schmitt (oblique) could start their minor-league rehab assignments on Tuesday. Fitzgerald is rehabbing from a fractured left rib that he suffered in the middle of April, while Schmitt is more than three weeks removed from a Grade 2 oblique strain. Depending on how both players fare while on their rehab assignments, they could rejoin the big-league roster by this weekend or early next week. Of the two, Fitzgerald is the more attractive fantasy asset as a regular at second base for the Giants when he's healthy. The 27-year-old surprised with intriguing power and speed in 96 games in 2024 and was hitting a solid .284/.341/.432 with two long balls, seven RBI, 14 runs scored and five steals in 25 games before his injury. Fantasy managers looking for middle-infield help in deep-mixed leagues might want to snag Fitzgerald now if he's available.Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
The San Francisco Giants say that infielders Willy Adames Drops To Six-Hole On Monday
Willy Adames has been dropped to the sixth spot in the batting order for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly at Oracle Park. Adames has hit slightly better in the month of May to the tune of a .244/.311/.439 slash line with two home runs, two doubles, four RBI and seven runs scored in 10 games, but overall the 29-year-old has been a disappointment both offensively and defensively in his first 41 games for the Gigantes. He comes into Monday's contest batting .217 (35-for-161) with four long balls, 19 RBI, 23 runs and two stolen bases in his 182 plate appearances. The good news is he has hit .368 with a 1.084 OPS, two home runs and three RBI in 19 career at-bats against Kelly, so Adames could end up being a nice DFS sleeper on Monday night.Source: MLB.com
San Francisco Giants shortstop Jackson Merrill Returns To Padres Lineup
Jackson Merrill (illness) is back in center field and is batting in the cleanup spot for Monday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi at Petco Park. Merrill was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Colorado Rockies in Denver because he was feeling under the weather, but he's good to go now and should be returned to all starting lineups in redraft leagues despite a lefty-lefty matchup against a pitcher he's never faced. The 22-year-old former 27th overall pick has been outstanding in his 56 at-bats for the Friars this year, going 25-for-56 (.446) with four home runs, 16 RBI, 12 runs and a stolen base. Since returning from an injured-list stint due to a hamstring injury, Merrill has a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 11-for-19 with a homer, two doubles, six RBI and five runs scored.Source: MLB.com
San Diego Padres outfielder Yordan Alvarez Hits In The Cages On Monday
Yordan Alvarez (hand), who is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, hit in the cages before Monday's series opener at Daikin Park against the Kansas City Royals, according to manager Joe Espada. Alvarez is on the IL with a muscle strain in his right hand, and while it's not considered overly serious, fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting him to be back in the lineup for Game 2 of the series against KC. However, the 27-year-old left-handed slugger could be back from the IL for the start of the team's road trip in Texas against the Rangers on Thursday. The three-time Cuban slugger hasn't looked like himself at the plate so far in 2025, perhaps because of his hand injury, slashing a weak .210/.306/.340 with an uncharacteristically low .646 OPS, three home runs, 18 RBI and seven runs in his 100 at-bats. Hopefully, Alvarez will be more productive when he returns.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Houston Astros designated hitter Jose Altuve Returns To Lineup On Monday
Jose Altuve (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener at home against the visiting Kansas City Royals and right-hander Michael Wacha, playing second base and batting second. Zach Dezenzo is in left field and hitting eighth. Altuve will return to the field after leaving Saturday's game early against the Cincinnati Reds due to tightness in his hamstring and the sitting out Sunday's series finale. Fantasy managers will want to plug the nine-time Venezuelan All-Star back into their starting lineups despite the fact that he's only hitting a mediocre .259 (38-for-147) with four home runs, 14 RBI, 18 runs and three steals on the year. He's also hitting .200 (6-for-30) with two doubles and three runs in eight games so far in May. In a limited sample size of six career at-bats against Wacha, Altuve is hitting .167 with an RBI.Source: MLB.com
Houston Astros outfielder Cody Bradford To Throw A Bullpen On Thursday
Cody Bradford (elbow) will throw a bullpen session on Thursday, according to the Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. Bradford has been throwing just fastballs and changeups on flat ground as he ramps back up and said that he's been feeling good. The 27-year-old southpaw has yet to make his 2025 debut due to a sprained UCL in his left elbow that he suffered in spring training. He's making progress but still has a ways to go and will eventually need to go on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, which means fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back in Texas' starting rotation until sometime in June in a best-case scenario. Bradford was solid in 14 outings (13 starts) in 2024 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, but he missed 16 weeks with a stress fracture in his rib cage. When he gets closer to a return, he'll be a strong waiver-wire consideration in deep-mixed fantasy leagues.Source: Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Texas Rangers left-hander