May 19, 2025
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that corner infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) is doing really well, and his next step in the rehab process will be playing games in Arizona. Encarnacion-Strand is likely to start out in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before eventually moving to higher levels of the minors. The 25-year-old needed multiple rounds of epidural injections for his back inflammation, but he has been doing baseball activities and improving since then. The Reds haven't given a specific timetable for CES to return from his injury, but barring a setback during his rehab assignment, he could be ready to return from the injured list near the end of this month. He was hitting just .158 (9-for-57) with two home runs and five RBI at the time of his injury, though, so it's unclear what kind of role he'll have in the big leagues when he's fully healthy again.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
May
19,
2025
Cincinnati
Reds
third
baseman
Noelvi
Marte's
(oblique)
follow-up
MRI
exam
has
been
moved
up
to
May
27
from
June
4
because
the
team's
medical
staff
has
been
pleased
with
his
progress
from
a
left-oblique
strain.
The
read more...
May
19,
2025
Philadelphia
Phillies
pitching
prospect
Andrew
Painter
pitched
well
in
his
second
start
at
Triple-A
Lehigh
Valley
this
past
Thursday,
allowing
two
earned
runs
on
five
hits
and
two
walks
while
striking
out
three
over
five
innings
read more...
May 19, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder (elbow) allowed four runs on four hits while walking one in one-third of an inning in his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. He was pulled after reaching just 29 pitches, but he threw three more innings in the bullpen. Lowder is scheduled to throw around 75 pitches in his next rehab game with High-A Dayton. It hasn't been the best rehab assignment for the 23-year-old so far, as he's allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits (two homers) while walking two and hitting a batter. However, he has struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings. Lowder was the seventh overall pick in 2023 and has plenty of upside as a future high-end rotation arm for Cincy, especially after posting a 1.17 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 30 2/3 innings in his first six major-league starts a year ago.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 19, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect
J.J. Wetherholt went 1-for-4 on Sunday at Double-A Springfield, smacking a home run in his second straight game and third of the year. He also swiped his fourth bag of the season. Wetherholt had been raking through mid-April before missing a week and a half with an illness, and was cold upon his return, going 3-for-25 (.120) over eight games. However, the 22-year-old's bat has begun to heat up again, going 10-for-29 (.345) over the last seven contests. Despite the aforementioned cold spell, the Cardinals' top-ranked prospect is slashing .296/.383/.449 with a .380 wOBA and 128 wRC+ through 27 games. He also owns an impressive 12:13 BB:K. With a little more seasoning at Double-A, the 2024 first-round draft pick should see some time at Triple-A later this year and could be looking at a major league debut in 2026, so dynasty managers will want to pay close attention to how he fares at the next level.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 19, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds are expecting right-hander
Hunter Greene (groin) to return from the injured list this weekend to face the division-rival Chicago Cubs. "When we play the Cubs, Hunter Greene will be ready to slot in there," manager Terry Francona said. It's unclear exactly what day Greene will take the ball again, but the Reds open their three-game series against Chicago on Friday, May 23. The hard-throwing 25-year-old will skip a minor-league rehab assignment after looking really good during a bullpen session on Sunday. Greene landed on the IL after suffering a Grade 1 right-groin strain on May 7. While he was a must-start in fantasy before his injury, Greene will be a little more risky against a strong Cubs lineup in a hitter-friendly ballpark when he returns this weekend. He could also be on a pitch limit given the fact he won't be going on a rehab assignment.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM
May 19, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Josue De Paula hit his seventh home run of the season on Sunday for High-A Great Lakes. Perhaps even more noteworthy were the three walks he collected in the contest, giving the 6-foot-3 slugger six walks in the last three games. Despite going 2-for-14 (.143) over his last five games, the 19-year-old boasted a .400 OBP, which helped him utilize his speed, as three stolen bases were recorded during that stretch as well. The Dodgers' second-ranked prospect is currently boasting a .285/.417/.511 slash line with 10 stolen bases to go along with 16 extra-base hits and a phenomenal 30:28 BB:K through 38 games. A bump to Double-A is on the horizon as there isn't much more to prove at this level, and depending on how long
Dalton Rushing's stint in the majors ends up being, De Paula could be the Dodgers' top-ranked prospect before the season is out.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 19, 2025
Washington Nationals third base prospect
Brady House continued his push for a promotion to the majors, recording a two-homer game over the weekend and is now slashing .282/.344/.497 with eight home runs through 42 games at Triple-A Rochester. The former first-round draft pick has shown improved strikeout (26.1 percent) and walk rates (8.3 percent) compared to the 54 games he played at that level last season. The Nationals are using a combination of
Jose Tena and
Amed Rosario at third base at the moment. However, Rosario is more of a utility player, and Tena has yet to hit a home run through 95 plate appearances in 2025, so the Nats may soon be inclined to give their top offensive prospect a shot at the hot corner. With plus power, the 21-year-old is a stash candidate in deeper leagues. Look for him to be up by mid-June, if not before then.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 19, 2025
New York Mets outfield prospect
Carson Benge got off to a slow start at High-A Brooklyn this year, going 11-for-51 (.216) with three extra-base hits (all doubles) over his first 14 games. Since then, however, the 2024 first-round draft pick has gone 27-for-72 (.375) with 11 extra-base hits (five doubles, two triples, four home runs), a 12:15 BB:K, and has recorded all six of his stolen bases in the last 18 games. Currently riding a nine-game hit streak, the Mets' third-ranked prospect moved from No. 98 overall up to No. 89 on MLB.com's latest refresh of their top 100 prospects list and figures to see a promotion to Double-A before long. The left-handed slugger is a couple of years away from the big leagues, but could be a name for dynasty managers to monitor if he continues to hit well and climb up the prospect ranks.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 19, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) has been traveling with the big-league team after starting to play catch again in early April. Musgrove is playing catch three times a week and is scheduled to progress from 75 feet to 90 feet this week, according to MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran is recovering from Tommy John surgery to fix a torn right UCL. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 20 and will miss the entire 2025 season for the Padres and fantasy managers. Before injuring his elbow last year, Musgrove was no longer a reliable fantasy starter and posted a 6.37 ERA in his first eight starts. He looked better in two starts after returning, but that was the extent of his season before having to undergo TJ surgery. With better health, Musgrove could bounce back in 2026, but it's no sure thing at his age.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 19, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Matt Waldron (oblique) made a minor-league rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on May 15 and could move to Double-A San Antonio for his next rehab start. Waldron suffered a left-oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen before a spring training game and was moved to the 60-day injured list (retroactive to March 24) on March 27. MLB.com is estimating that he could make his 2025 season debut in the big leagues by June or July. In 1 2/3 innings in the ACL last Thursday, the 28-year-old knuckleballer gave up an earned run on two hits while walking one and striking out three. He threw 38 pitches in the outing and will likely need at least a few more starts before being under consideration for starting-rotation role at the big-league level. Fantasy managers in 12-team mixed leagues can continue to ignore Waldron.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 19, 2025
Texas Rangers right-handed pitching prospect
Kumar Rocker (shoulder) could start a minor-league rehab assignment later this week if he bounces back well from the two-inning live batting practice session he had on Sunday, according to The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Rocker looked "good" on Sunday, but the 25-year-old will have a lengthy rehab assignment because of the fact that he was shut down for three weeks while recovering from a right-shoulder impingement. Rocker is a must-stash in dynasty/keeper leagues, but there's a chance that he won't be placed right back into a starting role at the big-league level when he completes his rehab assignment. The former third overall pick had a rough 8.10 ERA and 1.75 WHIP with five walks and 16 strikeouts in 20 innings over his first five starts of the year with Texas before getting hurt.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
May 19, 2025
Detroit Tigers left-hander
Sean Guenther will serve as the team's opener ahead of right-hander
Keider Montero for Monday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, according to the Detroit News' Chris McCosky. This will be the first career MLB start for Guenther, who should be avoided as a fantasy streamer. The 29-year-old southpaw currently has a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with six strikeouts and three walks in six relief outings for Detroit over eight innings pitched. He has not gone beyond two inning pitched in any of his six relief appearances for the Tigers this year, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to go very deep at all against St. Louis in this one. This will be Montero's second straight outing in a bulk-relief role. He gave up three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings in the same role last week against the Boston Red Sox.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit News - Chris McCosky
May 19, 2025
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Lane Thomas (wrist) had a good day at the plate in his latest minor-league rehab game on Sunday with Triple-A Columbus, going 3-for-4 with a home run, double, stolen base, three runs scored, a walk and a strikeout as the leadoff hitter. In his five rehab games with Columbus, Thomas has gone 5-for-17 with a homer. The 29-year-old should be ready to rejoin the big-league club at some point this week, possibly as early as Monday's series opener in Minnesota against the division-rival Twins. Thomas was serving as the regular center fielder for Cleveland to begin the 2025 season before landing on the injured list with a wrist injury, although he had gotten off to a cold start offensively. He had seven hits in 45 at-bats without a home run while striking out 15 times in 48 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
May 19, 2025
Washington Nationals left-hander
Mitchell Parker (knee) has been cleared to make his next start on Tuesday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Parker was forced to leave his last start early against the Braves last Wednesday after he was hit by a comebacker in his left knee in the fifth inning. However, the 25-year-old southpaw threw his normal between-starts bullpen session on Friday and has been cleared to make his next start this week. Before he left last Wednesday's contest, Parker had allowed four earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out a season-high-tying six batters in 4 2/3 innings. He shouldn't have any restrictions in his rematch against the Braves on Tuesday, but he'll be a shaky fantasy streamer after having allowed at least four earned runs in each of his last four outings, dating back to April 27.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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