May 22, 2025
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect
Lazaro Montes went 2-for-5 with three RBI on Wednesday for High-A Everett, socking his ninth home run of the year and homering in back-to-back games for the second time this season. The 20-year-old is now slashing .276/.398/.572 for the year with nine home runs and a superb 16.5 percent walk rate. The 6-foot-5 slugger has big-time power, sending his last two home runs over the batter's eye in center field, and is coming off a 21-home run campaign in 2024 that has vaulted him to No. 35 on MLB.com's top 100 prospects list. Look for him to continue to rise up the prospect ranks and push for a promotion to Double-A in the near future. The Mariners' second-ranked prospect could make it to the big leagues by the end of next year and has the home run potential that should make him a prospect to target in dynasty leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 22, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Brandon Woodruff (ankle, shoulder) looked good in his latest minor-league rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Nashville, as he threw four scoreless innings while allowing three hits against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Woodruff walked two and struck out two. The 32-year-old missed all of last season after having right-shoulder surgery in 2023 and was nearing a return to Milwaukee's starting rotation before injuring his right ankle on May 11. Woodruff is expected to need just one more rehab start before being activated for his 2025 debut. In seven rehab starts, he has posted a 2.43 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and nine walks at Nashville and High-A Wisconsin. Woodruff was a fantasy ace before his shoulder injury, and although it may take him some time to work back into that form, he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
May 22, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto will be rested in Thursday's series finale at Coors Field against the hosting Colorado Rockies.
Rafael Marchan will do the catching for left-hander
Ranger Suarez and will hit ninth against Rockies right-hander
German Marquez. Realmuto is starting to heat up after a slow start to the 2025 season. The veteran backstop had three hits, including his fifth home run of the season, in Wednesday's victory in Denver, and he's hitting .246 (14-for-57) with three homers, four RBI, 11 RBI and eight runs scored in 15 games so far in May. Fantasy managers are hoping it will continue. The 26-year-old Marchan should be avoided in DFS lineups as a deep sleeper at the catching position. He has never faced Marquez in his career and has just four hits in 28 at-bats on the season with six walks and six strikeouts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 22, 2025
The Arizona Republic's Jose M. Romero writes that Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed reliever
Justin Martinez (shoulder) could come off the injured list as soon as Friday's series opener in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Manager Torey Lovullo said as much after Wednesday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Martinez hit 100 mph or more five times during his 13-pitch minor-league rehab appearance with Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, which is a great sign that he's past his right-shoulder inflammation. Before landing on the IL, his velocity had dropped into the mid-90s. Martinez has been on the IL since May 1 and is eligible to be activated at any time. With lefty
A.J. Puk (elbow) still on the shelf, Martinez will be in line for primary closing duties in Arizona when he returns, so he should be rostered in all fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Jose M. Romero
May 22, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Aaron Nola (ankle) said he sprained his right ankle doing agility work on May 8 but pitched through the injury twice before landing on the 15-day injured list on May 16. He played long toss on Wednesday at Coors Field, and the Phillies are hoping that Nola will throw off a mound during their upcoming series against the Athletics, which starts in Sacramento on Friday. It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old veteran requires a minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the IL, but if he does, we won't see Nola back in Philly's starting rotation until early June. The typically stable Nola has been a liability so far in 2025 for his fantasy managers, going 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 16 walks in 49 2/3 innings over his nine starts. He's already allowed 11 homers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 22, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Weston Wilson (head) left the team's win on Wednesday at Coors Field over the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning due to a migraine headache, according to MLB.com. Before leaving the game, Wilson went 0-for-1 with a walk before being replaced in left field by
Brandon Marsh. Wilson has gone 4-for-17 (.235) with a homer and three RBI in his limited playing time in only 10 games for the Phillies in the short side of a platoon against left-handed pitching so far this year. The 30-year-old veteran's .762 OPS is above-average, but he's just not seeing enough playing to warrant attention in mixed fantasy leagues. Wilson is probably day-to-day after his migraine, but don't expect him to be in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale at Coors Field against a right-handed pitcher.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
22,
2025
Colorado
Rockies
second
baseman
Adael
Amador,
first
baseman
Michael
Toglia
and
outfielder
Mickey
Moniak
are
all
on
the
bench
for
Thursday's
series
finale
at
Coors
Field
read more...
May 22, 2025
Toronto Blue Jay outfielder/designated hitter
Anthony Santander (hip) is absent from the lineup for Thursday's series finale against the visiting San Diego Padres at Rogers Centre as Toronto goes for the three-game sweep. Santander was pulled early from Wednesday's 14-0 blowout win over SD after aggravating a left-hip injury, so it's not a huge surprise the 30-year-old isn't playing a day later in a matinee game. It's unclear if the injury is serious enough to land him on the injured list, but perhaps Toronto will view it as a chance to get the struggling slugger an extended mental break after a tough start to his first year in Canada. Santander is hitting just .188/.266/.327 with six homers, 18 RBI and 13 runs scored. Outfielder
Daulton Varsho is the DH and is in the three-hole, while
Myles Straw patrols center field and hits eighth on Thursday against Padres right-hander
Stephen Kolek.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 22, 2025
Texas Rangers catcher
Jonah Heim (hand) is back in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale in the Bronx against the hosting New York Yankees and left-hander
Carlos Rodon, serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth. Heim was pulled early from Wednesday's 4-3 loss at Yankee Stadium with a compressed nerve in his right hand, but he's obviously feeling good enough to hit a day later. Imaging on the 29-year-old backstop's hand came back negative, but he's not ready to play defense quite yet. Heim has actually had reverse splits so far in 2025, batting .316 (12-for-38) with two of his six home runs in 42 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, although he won't have an easy matchup on Thursday against Rodon. Heim is hitless in just one career at-bat against Rodon.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 22, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner went 2-for-5 out of the leadoff spot in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Rockies. He hit his third homer of the season in the second inning as the first half of back-to-back blasts since
Bryce Harper followed with a long ball of his own. Turner also singled, stole a base, and scored in the first inning. He has multiple hits in each of the Phillies' three games in Colorado and is 29-for-85 (.341) over his last 19 games with two home runs and five stolen bases. While his power production has been lower this season, his stolen bases and batting average have trended up enough to still make him a top shortstop play. Hitting atop a productive lineup makes him a strong starting option whenever the Phillies are in action, especially as they finish their series at Coors Field on Thursday and then head to Sutter Health Park for the weekend.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
May 22, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's win over Arizona, providing the Dodgers with all their offense for the entire game. Hernandez finished the game 1-for-3 with his home run and a strikeout, and the rest of the batting order went just 4-for-26. His three-run blast came off
Corbin Burnes and gives Hernandez 10 homers in his 36 games this season. He's hitting .307, which would be a new career-high, with a .292 ISO and .395 wOBA. Since returning from the IL, Hernandez is 1-for-8 with two runs scored and four RBI, but he made that one hit count on Wednesday, delivering the difference-maker as the Dodgers took their second straight win headed into Thursday's scheduled off-day.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
May 22, 2025
Los Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto continued his impressive delayed start to the season on Wednesday by going 2-for-5 out of the leadoff spot for the Halos with a home run, a stolen base, two runs scored, and two RBI. In just 30 games, Neto is already up to eight homers and eight stolen bases while hitting .283 and scoring 25 runs for the Angels. Over his last nine games, he is hitting a robust .316 (12-for-38) with four homers, three walks, a stolen base, and a 51.9% hard-hit rate, per Statcast. Neto's blend of power and speed in a premium lineup spot should make him a top-10 shortstop the rest of the season.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
May
22,
2025
Athletics
outfielder
Lawrence
Butler
teamed
up
with
Nick
Kurtz
to
provide
all
the
Athletics'
offense
on
Wednesday
night,
but
unfortunately,
their
power
display
wasn't
enough
to
overcome
the
Angels.
Butler
hit
read more...
May 22, 2025
New York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor helped the Mets avoid a sweep at Fenway Park on Wednesday night by going 2-for-5 out of the leadoff spot with a home run for an insurance run in the ninth inning. He doubled to lead off the game against
Garrett Crochet and stole third base before being stranded. He added another theft in the seventh inning after reaching on a fielder's choice. On the season, Lindor has 10 homers and nine stolen bases and is hitting .283 with a .361 wOBA. He has been a solid contributor at the top of the Mets' lineup and will remain a great option at shortstop in all formats with a very high ceiling on a nightly basis since he can have a big night with power, speed, or a combination of the two.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
May 22, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho went 1-for-5 in Wednesday night's 14-0 rout of the Padres, but he made that one hit count for his fantasy managers. He crushed a grand slam in the eighth inning off relief pitcher
Alek Jacob for his seventh homer of the year. The four RBI bring his total to 17 in just 16 games, and his homer boosts his ISO to .400 and his wOBA to .349. Varsho's batting average is still low at just .217, but his power has been excellent since his return from the injured list. Varsho now has four homers and two doubles in his last seven games while going 7-for-29 (.241). If you are looking for power in the outfield and can sacrifice some batting average, Varsho is starting to emerge as a mixed-league option.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
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