May 16, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned second baseman
Coco Montes back to Triple-A Durham on Friday. Montes was recalled from Durham earlier in the week to replace
Yandy Diaz, who was on the restricted list. However, with Diaz expected to return on Friday, Montes will return to the minor leagues. Through five games in Tampa Bay this season, the 28-year-old has posted a .200 AVG with a high 30% strikeout rate. Last season, Montes made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies and held a similar .184 AVG across 18 games. However, through 304 career games at Triple-A, Montes has been very effective, posting a .303/.385/.521 slash line with 52 home runs and 32 stolen bases, Fantasy managers should expect Montes to have a depth role in the infield if he returns to Tampa Bay later this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Rays Communications
May 16, 2025
The Houston Astros have placed infield prospect
Brice Matthews (concussion) on the Triple-A 7-day injured list with a concussion. According to Chandler Rome, Matthews sustained this injury after a slide. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he slowly ramps up his activity. Through the first 37 contests of the Triple-A regular season, Matthews has posted a .234/.375/.375 slash line with two doubles, two triples, and four home runs. Matthews has tallied 23 runs, added 13 RBI, and swiped 16 bags. He was riding a three-game hitting streak prior to the injury. If he is able to return to form, the former 28th overall pick should be in the mix to make his MLB debut in the second half of the campaign. For now, he should not be stashed in any redraft leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
May 16, 2025
Atlanta Braves catching prospect
Drake Baldwin went 3-for-4 with an RBI during their victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. Baldwin knocked an RBI single in the fifth inning, which scored
Nick Allen. The young backstop has begun to earn more playing time over
Sean Murphy, given his recent surge at the plate. Over his last eight contests, Baldwin has posted an incredible .684/.684/1.105 slash line with two doubles and two round-trippers. During this stretch, he has only struck out twice. However, prior to this stretch, Baldwin was operating as the clear No. 2 option behind Murphy and posted a modest .250/.323/.393 line. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he appears to be earning the 1A role on the depth chart. If he continues to see stable playing time, he would be a viable No. 1 catcher in standard formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 16, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher/outfield prospect
Dalton Rushing went 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs during his MLB debut on Thursday evening against the Athletics. Rushing hit two singles. He got the starting nod behind the dish and was in the seven-hole. This was a promising debut for the top prospect in the Dodger system. While Rushing got the start at catcher in this contest, fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could work out a role in left field, especially if
Michael Conforto were to continue to struggle. At Triple-A this season, Rushing was very productive, posting a strong .308/.424/.514 slash line with five doubles and five home runs. However, given that Rushing appears to only be viewed as a catcher, his upside will be limited, serving as the clear No. 2 behind
Will Smith.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 16, 2025
Colorado Rockies left-handed pitching prospect
Carson Palmquist is expected to make his MLB debut this evening against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to the contest in case they opt to have him serve in a long relief role. The 24-year-old is currently considered the No. 9-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com. Through the early part of the Triple-A regular season, the southpaw has held a 3.82 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP across 35 1/3 innings of work. Palmquist has struck out 45 batters and served up 18 walks. Last summer, Palmquist made his Triple-A debut and posted a much higher 5.86 ERA with a 1.84 WHIP over an identical 35 1/3-inning stint. Given his modest showing at Triple-A, fantasy managers should only view Palmquist as a desperation streaming option in NL-only formats, facing a potent Arizona lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Harding
May 16, 2025
Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates will activate first baseman
Spencer Horwitz (wrist) from the injured list on Friday. Horwitz has been shelved since spring training after he underwent surgery to repair an extensor tendon in his thumb. Pittsburgh acquired him by trade last December in hopes that he'd solve their issues at first base, and he projects to be their everyday option there for the foreseeable future. The 27-year-old has only appeared in 112 games, with a bulk of that experience coming last season with the Blue Jays. He was solid for Toronto with 12 home runs, 19 doubles, 40 RBIs, and a .790 OPS over 97 contests. Horwitz didn't do anything too special during his rehab stint in the minors, but he did bat .323 with a double and a homer over 31 Triple-A at-bats.
--Alex CiullaSource: Noah Hiles
May 16, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to promote right-handed pitching prospect
Christian Montes De Oca to the major leagues. Montes De Oca has yet to appear in an MLB contest. Through the early part of the season, Montes De Oca has been very productive with Triple-A Reno. Across 19 innings of relief, the right-hander has posted a strong 2.37 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. Montes De Oca has struck out 17 batters and served up just four walks. He has tallied one save and allowed just one home run. Last summer, the 25-year-old made his Triple-A debut but struggled as he posted a high 5.24 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP across 56 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should expect Montes De Oca to operate in a low-leverage relief role, which will limit his fantasy upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mike Rodriguez
May 16, 2025
Cincinnati Reds shortstop
Elly De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his team's 7-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. He singled, scored twice, and struck out once. The Dominican Republic native was experiencing a slight cold spell earlier in the month, but it appears he's breaking out of it, launching three long balls over his last five outings and two multi-hit efforts in his previous three. De La Cruz crushed his eighth dinger on Thursday, getting a hold of a
Bryse Wilson curveball that he sent 395 feet to left-center field. The 23-year-old is batting .256 (45-for-176), with six doubles, 31 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 14 steals. He's still striking out quite a bit (28.1%), but offers one of the better blends of power and speed amongst batters.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
May 16, 2025
Cincinnati Reds outfielder
Will Benson went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in his team's 7-1 win against the Chicago White Sox. The former first-round pick rejoined the team a few days ago to fill in for the injured
Jake Fraley (calf) in right field and has done well in his stead. In five games, Benson has more extra-base hits than singles (three), smacked his first homer, stole a base, and has drawn more walks (three) than strikeouts (two). It's encouraging to see him producing right away, particularly after he hit .187 in 2024 over 343 at-bats and struck out four times in his first outing with the Reds back in April. The 26-year-old performed well with Triple-A Louisville this season, so if he can continue getting on base, maybe he sticks even after Fraley returns. His quality of contact is looking excellent right now, albeit over a small sample.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
May 16, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The 26-year-old hasn't displayed much power recently, with four extra-base hits in May (two doubles, two homers), but he's still been productive. Through 13 games in the month, Guerrero Jr. is batting a white-hot .354 (17-for-48), with 11 runs, six RBI, and as many walks as strikeouts (11). Furthermore, he's recorded a hit in 17 of his last 18 appearances. The Montreal native started the year off a little sluggish, but has really turned it on -- similar to how he did in 2024 before he hit .376 with a 1.128 OPS after the All-Star break. He's up to .294 now, with eight doubles, 20 RBI, 24 runs scored, and the highest walk rate of his career (14.2%).
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
May 16, 2025
Cincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, and an additional run scored during Thursday's 7-1 win over the White Sox. McLain has gotten off to a slow start in 2025, slashing .182/.308/.341, but the 25-year-old seems to be turning a corner. In his last nine games, McLain is 8-for-32 with a pair of home runs, six runs scored, and four stolen bases. He's now up to six home runs on the season. McLain missed all of 2024 with a shoulder injury, and he may have needed some additional time to get back into the swing of things. In 2023, during his rookie season, he slashed .290/.357/.507 in 403 plate appearances, so the production is in there, it's just taking more time for fantasy managers than they had hoped for when drafting him. McLain is a strong buy-low candidate, and those who have held on, hopefully, this recent stretch can show a sign of better things to come.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 16, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy was seeing the baseball well Thursday night as he went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one home run, and two runs scored and helped the Dodgers win comfortably, 19-2. Muncy got the party going for the Dodgers in this contest, hitting the first home run of the evening and putting them ahead 3-1 in the first inning. Muncy has now homered in back-to-back contests, and over his last seven games, he's gone 9-for-27 with nine RBI. The third baseman has gotten off to a brutally slow start, slashing .207/.323/.341, but he has turned it around of late. During this stretch, he has been wearing prescription glasses to help improve his vision at the plate, as he was recently diagnosed with astigmatism. Regardless of the reason behind his recent hot stretch, he is starting to find a groove and would be worth a waiver wire pickup for those looking for a corner infielder.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 16, 2025
Former three-time All-Star Rafael Furcal, who is now 47 years old, is facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and missile into dwelling, vehicle, building, or aircraft for an incident that happened on Monday, court records show. MLB insider Mike Rodriguez reported this on Thursday afternoon. It was also reported that Furcal turned himself in at the Broward County Jail on Wednesday and was released on bail a short time later. More details will transpire in the coming days, but it is not the best look for the 2011 World Series champion and the all-time hits leader at shortstop for the Atlanta Braves.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: Mike Rodriguez
May 16, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
James Outman hit his second long ball of the season on Thursday night in the sixth inning off
Mitch Spence to extend the Dodgers' lead to 16-2. During an evening in which the Dodgers' offense exploded and hit five home runs, Outman joined the party later in the game and finished his evening going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, one RBI, and one walk. Outman has cracked the Dodgers' lineup due to injuries to
Teoscar Hernandez and
Tommy Edman, and thus far through eight games has a .143/.250/.429 slash line with two home runs, five runs scored, and four RBI. Fantasy managers can lean on Outman as a fill-in for injuries or a streamer if he has a hot bat, but he would not be a recommended play for the long haul. Next up for Outman and the Dodgers is a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May
16,
2025
The
Los
Angeles
Dodgers'
shortstop
Mookie
Betts
went
1-for-1
on
Thursday
with
two
walks,
three
runs
scored,
and
two
RBI.
The
Dodgers
jumped
on
top
of
the
Athletics
early
in
this
contest,
scoring
15
runs
in
read more...
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