May 16, 2025
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Luis Matos (shoulder) was scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics due to right-shoulder discomfort, according to MLB.com's Justice delos Santos. With Matos out in the series opener,
David Villar is serving as the designated hitter and will bat seventh against A's left-hander
JP Sears. The Giants will likely put Matos through some tests, but for now we'll consider him day-to-day and check back on Saturday to see if he's available to return to the lineup. The 23-year-old Venezuelan outfielder has been a non-factor for fantasy managers so far in 2025, slashing a weak .167/.219/.350 with three home runs, four RBI, eight runs scored and a stolen base in just 60 at-bats. The 28-year-old Villar won't be much of a DFS play for the Gigantes near the bottom of the lineup. He's gone 4-for-16 with an RBI and a run scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Justice delos Santos
May 16, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Pete Crow-Armstrong was hitting the ball all over the place during Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox. He smacked his 12th home run of the season in the second inning off right-hander
Shane Smith. His day wouldn't end there as Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-5 with three singles, a homer, and six RBI in the blowout win. If it wasn't for a two-way superstar on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Crow-Armstrong might be a darkhorse for National League MVP. Regardless, Crow-Armstrong is off to an impressive start and needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 16, 2025
Chicago White Sox infielder/outfielder
Miguel Vargas came out of the gate slowly, but has been crushing the ball over the last two weeks or so. On Friday, Vargas continued his hot streak at the plate during their Crosstown matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Vargas crushed a two-run home run off right-hander
Cade Horton to open the game. He got Horton again in the third inning, but this time it was a solo shot. Vargas finished his day 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBI in the loss. Vargas is hitting .351 with five homers and 13 RBI over his last 20 games. He's going to be a popular waiver wire pickup with the way he has been swinging the bat lately.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 16, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Kutter Crawford (knee) has been transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Friday. This move shouldn't shock anyone as Crawford still needs at least a month to recover from his knee injury. The Red Sox shifted Crawford to the 60-day IL in order to open up a roster spot for right-hander
Nick Burdi on the 40-man roster. The organization is hopeful that Crawford can get on the mound in possibly June or July. Crawford isn't someone that needs to be held onto with his timetable unclear right now.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
May 16, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Richard Fitts (pectoral) has been ramping up his activities and could begin a rehab assignment next week. Fitts has been sidelined due to a pectoral strain for over a month. That being said, Fitts could require a few rehab starts before rejoining the Red Sox rotation. The Red Sox could use the help with
Tanner Houck (elbow) landing on the injured list. Fitts threw five shutout innings during the game he got injured, but he wasn't great before that. He could be worth a look in deep leagues once he's back on the mound for the Red Sox.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
May 16, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Tanner Houck (shoulder) recently underwent an MRI, which came back clean. That means, Houck appears to have avoided any major injuries to his elbow. The 28-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week due to a flexor strain. That being said, Houck isn't eligible to return to the active roster until basically the end of May. The organization hasn't given a timetable for Houck's return, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him sidelined to begin June. Houck was blasted for 11 earned runs during his latest start, which probably caused many fantasy managers to drop him. The right-hander might be worth stashing if you have an open IR spot. Otherwise, Houck isn't someone that needs to be rostered in standard 12-team formats through this injury.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
May 16, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Walker Buehler (shoulder) is expected to take the mound for Tuesday's game against the New York Mets, according to manager Alex Cora. Buehler appears to be on the verge of returning after landing on the injured list on May 2 due to a shoulder bursitis. He threw a successful live batting practice session on Thursday. Now, the Red Sox are waiting a few days to make sure Buehler doesn't suffer any setbacks. He won't get an easy matchup against the tough Mets lineup, but Buehler is still worth rostering in most 12-team formats right now.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
May 16, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Taijuan Walker will return to the team's starting rotation for the series in Colorado against the Rockies that begins next Monday after the team placed right-hander
Aaron Nola (ankle) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a sprained right ankle, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb. In the meantime, pitching prospect
Mick Abel will make his big-league debut and start on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. While a start at hitter-friendly Coors Field isn't ideal for his return to a starting role, Walker certainly deserves fantasy consideration off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues after his strong bounce-back campaign so far for the Phils. The 32-year-old veteran has made eight appearances (six starts) and has only allowed 10 earned runs with 14 walks and 31 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. Walker should be in line for at least two more starts before Nola returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
May 16, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman
Andres Gimenez (quadriceps) continues to increase his baseball activities, and the team is hoping that he'll start running this weekend, according to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. Gimenez has been taking ground balls and hitting in the batting cages as he works his way back from a strained right quadriceps muscle. If the 26-year-old doesn't suffer any setbacks while attempting to run this weekend, he could be cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. However, it's looking like he won't be ready to return from the 10-day injured list when he's eligible on Sunday. Until Gimenez is able to return, the Blue Jays should mix and match at the keystone with
Michael Stefanic and
Ernie Clement. The former Cleveland Guardian infielder is struggling so far in his first year in Toronto with a .195/.273/.305 slash line, three homers, 10 RBI, 17 runs and nine steals in 128 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
May 16, 2025
Miami Marlins right-hander
Edward Cabrera (finger) dealt with some "fluid build-up" in his fingernail area in Chicago, according to manager Clayton McCullough. As a result, the Marlins will push his next start back and give him a few extra days of rest. Instead of starting this weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays, Cabrera will now be pushed back and likely take his next turn in the starting rotation in a much tougher matchup against the Chicago Cubs. The 27-year-old has been dealing with finger/nail issues off and on for a while, and it certainly hasn't helped with his control issues on the mound. Fantasy managers will definitely want to think twice about using him in their starting lineups if he's able to make his start next week against the Cubs. In his fifth year in the big leagues with Miami, Cabrera has a bloated 5.52 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB in 29 1/3 innings over six starts in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
May 16, 2025
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Slade Cecconi (oblique) is set to be activated from the injured list in order to start on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds in what will be his Guardians debut, according to MLB.com's Tim Stebbins. This will also be Cecconi's first start of 2025 after he suffered a strained left oblique back in spring training. The 25-year-old former 33rd overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks will for the time being take
Ben Lively's (forearm) spot in the starting rotation, but he'll be a shaky fantasy streamer this weekend against a very capable Reds lineup in a hitter-friendly ballpark in Cincy. Cecconi had a 4.85 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and two walks in 13 innings over his three rehab starts for Triple-A Columbus. His 18.7% strikeout rate in two MLB seasons leaves plenty to be desired. Cecconi had a 6.66 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 20 outings (13 starts) for Arizona in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
May 16, 2025
The Kansas City Royals will skip veteran right-hander
Seth Lugo (finger) ahead of his scheduled start on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals due to right middle finger inflammation, according to The Kansas City Star's Jaylon T. Thompson. As a result, the Royals are expected to recall pitching prospect
Noah Cameron to make a spot start. The Royals are hoping Lugo can avoid a trip to the 15-day injured list. If the 35-year-old veteran does avoid the IL, he'd next be scheduled to take the mound on May 23 against the suddenly hot division-rival Minnesota Twins on the road. Lugo doesn't have the most fantasy upside because of his lack of swing-and-miss stuff, but the crafty veteran knows how to mix his pitches and keep hitters off balance. He's currently sporting an ERA just over 3.00 and has delivered five straight quality starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Kansas City Star - Jaylon T. Thompson
May 16, 2025
Minnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton (head) has been cleared from the league's concussion protocol, according to Audra Martin. Buxton was not included in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, though, and is considered day-to-day. Buxton was able to avoid landing on the seven-day concussion injured list, unlike shortstop
Carlos Correa, who he collided with in Thursday's win over the Baltimore Orioles. The oft-injured 31-year-old could be available off the bench on Friday and could be back in the starting lineup as early as Game 2 of the series at American Family Field on Saturday. The former second overall pick in 2012 does lead the big leagues with his 56 strikeouts in 173 plate appearances entering Friday's action, but he's done well considering, batting .261/.312/.522 with 10 homers, 27 RBI and eight steals in 41 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Audra Martin
May 16, 2025
The San Francisco Giants announced on Friday that they activated infielder
Tyler Fitzgerald (ribs) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder
Brett Wisely to Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Fitzgerald is right back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics and left-hander
JP Sears, playing second base and batting ninth. The 27-year-old is making his return after landing on the IL earlier this month with a fractured left rib. In three rehab games with Sacramento, he went 3-for-10 at the plate with three RBI. Fitzgerald has hit .333 with a .666 OPS in just six career at-bats against Sears. Given his spot at the bottom of the batting order, he won't be a recommended DFS target, especially in his first game back. The third-year big-leaguer returns to a .284/.341/.432 slash line with two homers, seven RBI and five steals in 25 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Giants
May 16, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Bryan Reynolds will take a seat on the bench for Friday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies with left-hander
Ranger Suarez taking the bump.
Tommy Pham is making the start in left field for Pittsburgh and will hit seventh against Suarez. Not only are the Pirates facing a tough left-hander, but Reynolds could use a day off after going hitless in 21 at-bats with seven strikeouts in his last five games. The cold stretch has dropped the two-time All-Star's season line to .194/.259/.309 with five home runs, 20 RBI, 16 runs scored and three stolen bases in 43 games played. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues may want to keep Reynolds benched until he shows signs of breaking out of his slump. Pham has been worse in 2025, going 19-for-108 (.176) with no homers, six RBI, nine runs and three steals for the Bucs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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