May 22, 2025
The Kansas City Royals announced on Thursday that they expect left-handed reliever
Sam Long's (elbow) minor-league rehab assignment to be moved from the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Omaha on Friday. Long made his first rehab appearance in the ACL on Tuesday and gave up one run on two hits while walking none and striking out one, and the 29-year-old southpaw will now get some work in with the Storm Chasers before eventually being activated from the 15-day injured list. He initially went on the IL on April 13 with inflammation in his left elbow. The former 18th-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 out of Sacramento State doesn't have any real fantasy value as a low-leverage relief arm for the Royals when he's healthy. Long had allowed 12 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (two homers) while walking five and fanning six in seven relief innings this year before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
May 22, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds announced that infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday at the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Encarnacion-Strand is finally ready to resume playing in games after originally being placed on the injured list on April 17 with inflammation in his lower back. It's unclear exactly how long the 25-year-old will play in rehab games in the minor leagues, but barring a flare-up with his back, it's possible that he could be back on the Reds' active big-league roster by next weekend. CES was Cincy's primary first baseman early in the season before his injury, but he hit just .158 (9-for-57) with two homers, five RBI and four runs scored before getting hurt. Since he's been out,
Spencer Steer has held down the fort at the hot corner, so it's unclear how much playing time will be available to Encarnacion-Strand when he's ready to return.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
May 22, 2025
Chicago Cubs first base prospect
Jonathon Long went 3-for-5 on Thursday for Triple-A Iowa, belting his fifth home run of the year in the contest. The former ninth-round draft pick is enjoying a strong start to the season, slashing .363/.425/.538 through 43 games. The Cubs' 13th-ranked prospect is coming off a .283/.391/.461 campaign in 2024 that included 17 home runs and a 14.1 percent walk rate. The strikeouts have ticked up and the walks have ticked down in his first run through Triple-A pitching, but not too far from average rates. With continued success, the 23-year-old could earn a promotion to the big league club by midseason, and with eligibility at both 1B and 3B on Yahoo!, he could be an intriguing waiver wire option for those looking to get a piece of the Cubs' offense.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 22, 2025
Colorado Rockies interim head coach Warren Schaeffer said that first baseman
Michael Toglia was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day for the series finale on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies as the team works with him to hone his swing and approach. There's no denying that the 6-foot-5, 226-pound left-handed hitter has plenty of power to spare, but he's struck out a league-leading 71 times in his 184 plate appearances so far in his fourth year in the big leagues in 2025. The 26-year-old first baseman has also missed three of the last six games while he works through his struggles at the plate. Toglia is barely hitting over .200 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 14 runs scored and two steals in 47 games for the last-place Rockies. He's gone 11-for-61 (.180) with three homers, six RBI, 10 walks and 30 strikeouts in 18 games in May.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Denver Post - Patrick Saunders
May 22, 2025
The Athletic's Dan Hayes writes that it's safe to say that Minnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa (concussion) is expected to return for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Kansas City Royals. Correa was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list after suffering a concussion during a scary collision with teammate
Byron Buxton last week. The 30-year-old veteran has progressed through the league's concussion protocol apparently, though, and should be ready to return to action this weekend at Target Field. Young infielder
Brooks Lee has been filling in at shortstop but will revert to more of a utility infield role with Correa returning soon. Correa has done little for fantasy managers so far this year, but he has hit .293 (12-for-41) with a homer, five RBI and four runs scored in 11 games in May. Hopefully, he can continue to build on that once he's back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
May
22,
2025
The
Cleveland
Guardians
announced
on
Thursday
that
they
activated
outfielder
Lane
Thomas
(wrist)
from
the
10-day
injured
list
and
placed
outfielder
Will
Brennan
(forearm)
on
the
10-day
IL
in
a
corresponding
read more...
May 22, 2025
According to MLB.com' transactions, the Colorado Rockies sent second baseman
Thairo Estrada (wrist) out on his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday. It will be Estrada's first game action all year as he continues his recovery from a right-wrist fracture. Because of how long the 29-year-old infielder has been out of action, fantasy managers eyeing Estrada should expect him to be on a lengthy rehab assignment. Eventually, though, Estrada figures to get a look as Colorado's starting second baseman whenever he comes off the 60-day injured. Hitter-friendly Coors Field alone will make Estrada rosterable in at least NL-only leagues when he returns. The Venezuelan product had back-to-back 14-homer seasons and 20-steal campaigns with the San Francisco Giants in 2022 and 2023 before tanking in 96 games a year ago and being cut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 22, 2025
Colorado Rockies pitcher
Chase Dollander was placed on the 15-day IL with forearm tightness on Thursday, retroactive to May 19. The 23-year-old made his latest start for the team on Sunday, May 18, allowing just one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over 4 2/3 IP, but no issues with his arm were reported at that time. Hopefully this is just a minor issue that will require a minimal IL stint, however, with the Rockies currently being the worst team in baseball, there's no reason to rush back the team's top prospect to risk further injury. Although the righty's 6.28 ERA and 1.42 WHIP don't show it, the youngster pitched better as of late, and his 4.66 xFIP suggests things weren't as bad as they appeared on paper. Assuming this is not a long-term issue, Dollander has a bright future in both real-life and fantasy baseball.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Rockies Club Information
May 22, 2025
Texas Rangers right-handed pitching prospect
Kumar Rocker (shoulder) is scheduled to start his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Friday, according to The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant. Rocker is nearing a return to the big-league level after he was placed on the 15-day injured list in late April with a right-shoulder impingement. The 25-year-old was able to throw a successful live batting practice session earlier this week. Rocker is expected to need at least several appearances on his rehab assignment, and it's possible they speed up his return to the big leagues by moving him into a relief role. That would obviously be bad news for fantasy managers hoping for him to return some value in single-year formats in 2025. The former third overall pick in 2022 had a rough 8.10 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB in five starts in Texas before getting hurt.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
May 22, 2025
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said on Thursday that shortstop
Corey Seager (hamstring) isn't scheduled to return from the 10-day injured list for another seven to 10 days. This is already Seager's second stint on the IL this year due to a right-hamstring issue, and it's his third hamstring injury since 2023, so the Rangers are seeking preventative steps so that it doesn't become an issue again in 2025. Although the 31-year-old veteran's return isn't imminent, he has been running and is doing "very well" in his rehab. Seager's hamstring issues this year have been frustrating for his fantasy managers, but when he's been on the field, he's been great, hitting .300 (30-for-100) with six long balls, 12 RBI and 15 runs scored. Continue to stash the two-time World Series MVP in all formats. Until he returns,
Josh Smith and
Ezequiel Duran will continue to split playing time at the 6.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
May 22, 2025
The Boston Red Sox announced that their divisional clash on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park has been postponed due to significant rainfall expected to continue through the evening in the area. The contest has been rescheduled as the first game of a split doubleheader on Friday, starting at 1:35 pm ET. The Red Sox were scheduled to throw right-hander
Lucas Giolito in the opener of the four-game series against Baltimore, with the Orioles countering with left-hander
Cade Povich. Most likely, both Giolito and Povich will now start one of the contests on Friday in Beantown. Fantasy managers will want to remove any other position players from the two teams that they may have had in their initial starting lineups for Thursday's limited slate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
May 22, 2025
Athletics outfielder
Lawrence Butler is retreating to the bench for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels in Sacramento.
Brent Rooker is in right field and batting third,
Miguel Andujar is the designated hitter and batting cleanup, and infielder Max Scheumann moves up into the leadoff spot against Angels left-hander
Tyler Anderson. It's a good time for Butler to take his first day off since May 11, as he's gone 8-for-36 (.222) with a homer, five doubles, seven RBI, two steals, four runs, three walks and eight strikeouts in his last nine games. The 24-year-old has hit .194 (14-for-72) in 17 games so far in May with four walks and 21 strikeouts. Although Schuemann has gone hitless in four career at-bats against Anderson, he'll have added sleeper appeal out of the leadoff spot in DFS. He has just one homer but is batting .289 (13-for-45) on the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 22, 2025
Boston Red Sox infield prospect
Franklin Arias enjoyed a 4-for-7 day at the plate in High-A Greenville's doubleheader on Wednesday, which included a double and three RBI. The right-handed hitter played 19 games this season at Single-A, and his .346/.407/.397 slash line earned him a promotion to High-A. Rather than finding himself overmatched, the 19-year-old has posted a .320/.378/.467 slash line through 18 games at that level, hitting his first two home runs of 2025 there and seeing a reduced strikeout rate from 14.0 percent to 9.8 percent. Boston's third-ranked prospect gets rave reviews for his glove work, and with speed that helped him to 35 steals in 2024, the 5-foot-11 Venezuelan is a well-rounded prospect. However, Arias is still a couple of years away from the majors, so interested fantasy managers need only to monitor his progression for now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 22, 2025
Athletics rookie shortstop
Jacob Wilson (forearm) is back at the 6 and is hitting second for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and left-hander
Tyler Anderson as they look to avoid a four-game sweep in Sacramento. Wilson was pulled from Tuesday's loss against the Angels after being hit by a pitch on his left forearm. The impressive 23-year-old was held out on Wednesday, but he has now returned and should be put back in starting fantasy lineups. The former sixth overall pick in 2023 out of Grand Canyon University has not looked like a rookie in 2025, slashing .341/.381/.478 with an .859 OPS, five home runs, 26 RBI, 26 runs scored and four stolen bases in his first 47 games this year. Wilson's .341 average ranks third in all of baseball, and he's hitting .367 (11-for-30) against southpaws in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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
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