May 18, 2025
Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams went 3-for-5 with two home runs, one double, two RBI, and three runs scored in Sunday's 10-4 win over the Orioles. He now has four home runs in his last six games and is slashing .312/.368/.574 with eight home runs, 18 RBI, 24 runs, and nine stolen bases in 35 games on the season. He's on pace to blow by the 20 home runs and 31 stolen bases he totaled in 2024, and looks like a true five-category standout for fantasy.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 18, 2025
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Bryan Woo picked up his fifth win of the season in a 6-1 win over the Padres. He allowed one run on five hits while striking out five over seven innings. Woo has been one of the most consistent pitchers in all of baseball this season, with all nine of his starts being six innings or more. He's a quality start machine, with seven so far on the year. He'll carry a 2.65 ERA and a 55:8 K:BB into his next start, set to be in Houston against the Astros.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 18, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly earned the win in a 1-0 win over the Rockies on Sunday, striking out 11 over seven scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and walked three. Kelly has been very solid this season, as he hasn't given up more than three runs in a start since he gave up nine in his first start of the year on April 3. His ERA is now down to an excellent 3.26 with 52 strikeouts and 15 walks in 58 innings. The spike in strikeouts in this start is likely due to Colorado's poor offense more than anything else, but Kelly will look to carry this momentum into his next start, which lines up against the Cardinals.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 18, 2025
Paul Skenes was dealt a tough-luck loss on Sunday in a 1-0 loss to the Phillies. He pitched an eight-inning complete game, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out nine. This was his third straight quality start and his seventh straight of allowing three runs or less. The phenom now holds a 2.44 ERA on the year with 62 strikeouts and 16 walks in 62 ⅔ innings. He'll look to maintain his dominance in his next start, which is currently lined up to be against the Brewers.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 18, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Mick Abel looked great in his major league debut, pitching six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against the Pirates. One of the most encouraging signs of his outing was the fact that he walked no batters, as his control issues is what sent the youngster spiraling down top prospect rankings. He walked 65 batters in 113 innings in 2024, but has been having a rebound 2025 where he's posted a 2.53 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 13 walks through eight starts in Triple-A. This was only supposed to be a spot start, with
Taijuan Walker expected to take
Aaron Nola's spot in the rotation. This start may have changed Philadelphia's plans, and Abel is worth an add in fantasy if he does stay in the rotation.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 18, 2025
Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder
Willi Castro (knee) remained out of the starting lineup on Sunday during their contest against the Milwaukee Brewers. The utility man fouled a ball off his knee during Friday's contest. He was held out of action on Saturday as well. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status leading up to their next contest on Monday evening against the Cleveland Guardians. Castro has posted a modest .235/.306/.367 slash line through his first 28 games of the campaign. Castro has gone deep twice and swiped two bags. While he does not carry high offensive upside, the 28-year-old does have value in daily lineup leagues given his multi-positional eligibility on most platforms. If he were to remain out,
Kody Clemens should continue to see starting opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
May 18, 2025
The Boston Red Sox have shut down right-handed pitcher
Tanner Houck (elbow) from throwing. Houck was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor pronator strain earlier this week. However, it appears the 28-year-old is expected to remain on the injured list longer than the 15-day period. Through the early part of the campaign, Houck has struggled, posting an 8.04 ERA with a 1.69 WHIP across 43 2/3 innings of work. Under the hood, Houck has generated a high 5.84 xERA and a .301 xBA, which have placed him in the ninth and seventh percentiles, respectively. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he slowly increases his workload. While he remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Hunter Dobbins to remain in the starting rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
May 18, 2025
The Philadelphia Phillies have activated right-handed pitcher
Jose Ruiz (neck) from the 15-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Phillies placed left-handed pitcher
Jose Alvarado on the restricted list. Alvarado was hit with an 80-game suspension earlier on Sunday for taking performance-enhancing drugs. Ruiz has been held out of action throughout May. Through his first 11 1/3 innings of work, Ruiz posted a 4.76 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP. He struck out 11 batters but served up six free passes. Under the hood, the right-handed relief pitcher has generated whiffs at a strong 29.9% rate and allowed hard hits at a strong 34.4% rate. Fantasy managers should expect Ruiz to return to a middle-relief role in the Philadelphia bullpen.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
May 18, 2025
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Luis Matos (shoulder) is back in action on Sunday when the Giants face the Athletics. Matos was initially scratched from Friday's lineup due to shoulder discomfort. Matos was also held out of action on Saturday. However, the 23-year-old was able to appear in the final game of their series against the Athletics. This afternoon, the young outfielder is slated to cover right field and bat in the six-hole. Through his first 20 games of the campaign, Matos has gotten off to a slow start, holding a .167/.219/.350 line. He has gone deep three times and swiped one bag. Under the hood, he has generated a low .289 xwOBA. This afternoon, Matos is worth considering in DFS as a value play facing Athletics southpaw
Jeffrey Springs, who has posted a modest 4.27 ERA this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser
May 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated infielder/outfielder
Tommy Edman (ankle) off the 10-day injured list. In addition, Edman is slated to cover center field and will bat in the six-hole during their series finale against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon. Edman has been held out of action since the end of April due to an ankle injury. During the opening month of the campaign, Edman was enjoying an impressive start to the campaign, posting a .252/.294/.523 slash line with eight home runs and two stolen bases. Under the hood, Edman generated an impressive .399 xwOBA and a .312 xBA, which are both well above the average marks. Given his placement in a potent lineup and five-category upside, he should be started in all standard formats going forward.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Erica Weston
May 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated infielder/outfielder
Chris Taylor for assignment. Taylor has been with the Dodgers since the 2016 campaign. Through the opening part of the 2025 campaign, Taylor has gotten off to a slow start, holding a .200 AVG across 28 games. Taylor tallied just two doubles, with no home runs. He struck out at a high 37.1% rate and did not draw a walk. Last season, Taylor struggled at the plate too, posting a modest .202/.298/.300 slash line with just seven doubles and four round-trippers across 87 contests. Taylor enjoyed his best season during the 2017 campaign, tallying 34 doubles, 21 home runs, and swiping 17 bags. Given his ability to play multiple positions, the 34-year-old could draw interest on waivers. However, given his slow start, he should remain on waivers in all formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
May 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder
Chandler Simpson (hand) is dealing with a sore right hand. Ryan Bass of the FanDuel Sports Network reported that the young outfielder has his right hand wrapped. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to their next contest on Monday evening against the Houston Astros. Simpson suffered this injury during Saturday's contest when sliding into home plate. Through his first 25 games at the MLB level, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system has posted an impressive .301/.327/.344 slash line. Simpson has flashed his elite speed as he has swiped 11 bags. While he remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Kameron Misner and
Jose Caballero to see most of the opportunities in center field.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Bass
May 18, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have designated starting pitcher
Kyle Gibson for assignment. Gibson has had a rough start to the campaign. Through his first 12 1/3 innings of work, the veteran right-hander has posted a hefty 16.78 ERA with a 2.92 WHIP. He has tallied just 10 punchouts and served up walks at a high 9.6% rate. In his most recent outing on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, Gibson tallied just two outs and allowed six hits, six runs, and one walk. Last season, the 37-year-old held his own with St. Louis, posting a 4.24 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP across 169 2/3 innings of work. However, given his disappointing start to the 2025 campaign, the struggling Orioles decided to cut ties with him. This could open a path for
Charlie Morton or
Keegan Akin to return to the rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bob Nightengale
May 18, 2025
The Miami Marlins have activated infielder
Otto Lopez (ankle) off the 10-day injured list prior to their contest against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Marlins placed shortstop
Xavier Edwards (back) on the 10-day injured list. Lopez has been kept out of action since May 2 with a Grade 2 right ankle sprain. Through his first 30 games of the campaign before his injury, Lopez posted a .229/.294/.330 slash line with five doubles, two home runs, three stolen bases, and a 17:10 K:BB. However, under the hood, Lopez has generated an elite .294 xBA, which suggests he should see positive regression when he returns to action. This afternoon, Lopez will get the start at the keystone and will bat in the seven-hole.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Miami Marlins
May 18, 2025
Miami Marlins shortstop
Xavier Edwards (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday due to left mid-back strain. This move was retroactive to May 15. The Marlins activated infielder
Otto Lopez (ankle) from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Edwards has been held out of the starting nine for each of the past two games and will now miss at least the next week of action. Prior to his injury, Edwards was beginning to heat up at the plate, posting a .313/.389/.313 slash line with three stolen bases over his last nine contests. Through 42 total games this season, the 25-year-old has posted a .263/.337/.292 slash line with 11 swiped bags. While Edwards remains out of action, fantasy managers should expect
Javier Sanoja to see most of the opportunities at shortstop.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Miami Marlins
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