May 23, 2025
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Slade Cecconi will make another start in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Detroit Tigers in Motown. Cecconi will stick in the starting rotation in Cleveland for a second turn after an impressive debut with the team last Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds in which he gave up three earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out eight in five innings pitched. The 25-year-old got a late start in 2025 due to a strained left oblique, but he could stick around as a starter for the Guardians until
Ben Lively (elbow) comes off the 15-day injured list. Cecconi will have a tough matchup as he looks for a second strong outing, making him a risky fantasy streamer on Friday. The first-place Tigers currently have the sixth-best OPS (.744) in the big leagues entering action this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 23, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays left-hander
Eric Lauer will make another start in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. It will be Lauer's second straight start after he allowed an earned run while walking none and striking out five in a no-decision over three innings his last time out on May 17 against the Detroit Tigers. Before that, he served in a bulk-relief role on May 11 and picked up his first win of the year by striking out five Seattle Mariners in 4 2/3 innings of work. The 29-year-old southpaw has been sharp in his four appearances with Toronto this year, giving up just three earned runs on seven hits while walking three and fanning 14 in 12 frames. Lengthy might be an issue for Lauer again in just his second start of the season, but the matchup is friendly against a Rays team with an OPS (.673) that ranks 24th in MLB.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 23, 2025
MASN's Roch Kubatko reports that left-hander
Trevor Rogers has been called up by the Baltimore Orioles from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as their 27th man for a doubleheader against the division-rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday, and he will likely serve as the spot starter in Game 2. Fantasy managers shouldn't consider the 27-year-old southpaw as a very tempting streaming option against Boston, especially since he could be deployed as the bulk reliever after opening the 2025 campaign on the injured list with a knee injury. The former 13th overall pick by the Miami Marlins in 2017 struggled last year after being acquire in a trade with Miami and was demoted to the minors. Rogers hasn't been good in five starts with Double-A Chesapeake and Norfolk, either, sporting a 7.71 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and seven walks in 16 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
May 23, 2025
Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports that Detroit Tigers outfielder
Matt Vierling (shoulder) has an outside chance at rejoining the team this weekend from his stint on the injured list. The St. Louis native has been sidelined since the second game of spring training with a strained rotator cuff. Vierling and teammates
Parker Meadows and
Wenceel Perez were all sent to Single-A Lakeland to play a game Wednesday after rain spoiled Tuesday's Triple-A Toledo outing. To get his team to full strength sooner rather than later, manager A.J. Hinch opted to get the players reps any way he could. McCosky notes that the 28-year-old could be activated on Sunday with Detroit set to line up against lefty Logan Allen and the Guardians. Whether that happens is unclear, but it appears Vierling should return soon.
--Alex CiullaSource: Chris McCosky
May 23, 2025
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they designated infielder
Orlando Arcia for assignment to make room on the active roster for outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) in his return from the injured list. Arcia went from being the team's starting shortstop on Opening Day to losing the gig to the light-hitting
Nick Allen, and now he finds himself off the 40-man roster entirely. If nobody claims the 30-year-old on waivers, he'll be free to sign with any team. The Venezuelan infielder was a first-time All-Star in 2023 with Atlanta but has fallen off a cliff offensively the last two seasons. He hit .218/.271/.354 in 157 games last year but matched his career-high with 17 homers. In just 14 games in 2025, Arcia went 6-for-31 (.194) with no homers, one walk and eight strikeouts before quickly finding himself on the bench in favor of Allen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
May 23, 2025
The Minnesota Twins announced on Friday that they reinstated infielder
Carlos Correa (concussion) from the seven-day concussion injured list. Minnesota's lineup for the series opener on Friday against the division-rival Kansas City Royals at Target Field has not been released yet, but fantasy managers should expect Correa to be back in there at shortstop to face left-hander
Noah Cameron. In a corresponding move, the Twins sent
Ryan Fitzgerald back to Triple-A St. Paul. The 30-year-old Correa has done very little for fantasy managers so far in 2025 with a .236 average (35-for-148) with only two home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored. However, the Puerto Rican shortstop is hitting .417 (5-for-12) in the last 14 days before his head injury suffered in a collision with
Byron Buxton last week. Fantasy managers are hoping Correa can pick up where he left off in the month of May.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
May 23, 2025
Per the team, the Kansas City Royals have designated outfielder
Hunter Renfroe for assignment. Infielder
Nick Loftin was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. The former first-round pick has been dreadful this season, batting .182 (18-for-99) with six doubles, five runs scored, four RBI, and no home runs (35 appearances). Kansas City will now have the week to decide what is next for the veteran. If Renfroe ends up in the minors, it will be his first trip there since 2018, during his time with the San Diego Padres. He hasn't posted a double-digit barrel rate since 2022, having plateaued around 6% over the prior three seasons after regularly achieving 10% or higher through the first seven years of his career.
--Alex CiullaSource: Kansas City Royals
May 23, 2025
Washington Nationals outfielder
Jacob Young (shoulder) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 20, with an AC sprain in his left shoulder. The former seventh-round pick picked up the injury last Saturday when he slammed into the outfield wall in the team's 10-6 win against the Baltimore Orioles.
Dylan Crews (oblique) is also on the IL, so prospect
Robert Hassell III should have every opportunity for everyday playing time moving forward, especially after an impressive MLB debut on Thursday. Young's season line is uninspiring (.227/.309/.282), but he's exhibiting a solid eye at the plate (15% strikeout rate) and is vastly underperforming his .279 xBA. Look for him to get some better BABIP luck when he returns.
--Alex CiullaSource: Bobby Blanco
May 23, 2025
Baltimore Orioles outfielder
Ramon Laureano (ankle) is sitting out for the first game of Friday's doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox. The 30-year-old tweaked his ankle in Baltimore's outing with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday and has yet to appear in a game since. It seemed that he was heating up, too, notching three multi-hit efforts over the last four games before the injury. Teammate
Heston Kjerstad is occupying right field for the matinee, batting eighth for the club. Initial reports indicated that Laureano's injury was not serious, described as "very mild and minor," and he was expected to return in a few days. He may suit up for the second game on Friday, though that isn't a guarantee.
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB
May 23, 2025
The Washington Nationals are promoting outfield prospect
Daylen Lile to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Nationals are placing outfielder
Jacob Young (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder AC sprain. Earlier this week, the Nationals also promoted another top outfield prospect,
Robert Hassell III, to the major leagues. Lile opened the 2025 season with Double-A but needed just 21 games to prove he was ready for the Triple-A level. Through his first 18 games at Triple-A Rochester, the No. 9-ranked prospect in the system has posted a strong .361/.432/.514 slash line with four doubles, one home run, and three stolen bases. Fantasy managers should monitor his playing time as he could work out a starting role with both Young and
Dylan Crews (oblique) on the IL. For now, he should be rostered in deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Blanco
May 23, 2025
Athletics infield prospect
Brennan Milone went 3-for-4 with three home runs during their contest against Double-A Frisco on Thursday. This outing extended his current hitting streak to three games. Over his last nine contests, Milone has been quite productive at Double-A, posting a strong .394/.475/.788 slash line with one double and four home runs. During this stretch, he has tallied 10 RBI and held a 7:6 K:BB. This is an excellent sign as Milone held a modest .231/.319/.413 line with just four long balls through his first 31 games of the regular season. Last season, the Oregon product spent his entire season at the Double-A level and posted a .278/.361/.441 line with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, and eight stolen bases. If he continues to turn the corner at Double-A, he could be in the mix to earn a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas later this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 23, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect
Arjun Nimmala went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and two RBI during their contest against High-A Eugene on Thursday. This was his second time tallying at least three hits over his past three contests. Over his last 10 games, the top prospect in Toronto has posted an impressive .333/.404/.718 slash line with four doubles, one triple, three home runs, and an 8:6 K:BB. Through his first 37 games at the High-A level, the former 20th overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft has posted a strong .291/.367/.568 slash line with 12 doubles, nine long balls, and two stolen bases. Given his impressive production at High-A, fantasy managers should expect Nimmala to contend for a promotion to Double-A in the coming weeks.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect
Mike Burrows struggled in his season debut on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers. In this outing, Burrows tossed five innings of four-run ball. He allowed four hits and two walks. He struck out three. He ran into trouble early, allowing a three-run shot to Milwaukee outfielder
Christian Yelich in the opening frame. Later in the second, his fourth earned run came on a solo shot by
Joey Ortiz. Burrows was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace
Carmen Mlodzinski in the rotation. Earlier this season, Burrows found success at the Triple-A level, logging a strong 2.51 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP across 31 1/3 innings of work. During this stretch, he struck out 41 batters and served up just 11 walks. He is slated to face a potent Arizona lineup in his next outing.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 23, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks catching prospect
Adrian Del Castillo (shoulder) recently began his rehab assignment with Arizona's ACL affiliate. Across two games, the young backstop has posted a .500/.667/1.333 slash line with a triple and a home run. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his production as he could be in the mix to move his rehab assignment to another level if he does not face any setbacks. Last season, the 25-year-old made his MLB debut and performed quite well during his first taste, holding a .313/.368/.525 slash line with four long balls across 25 contests. Across 142 career games with Triple-A Reno, the No. 6-ranked prospect in the system has posted a .296/.384/.540 slash line with 42 doubles and 28 home runs. If he performs well in his rehab assignment, he could push for an early return to Arizona.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 23, 2025
The Washington Nationals are set to promote right-handed pitching prospect
Travis Sykora to High-A. Sykora is considered the top prospect in the Nationals' system and the No. 62 overall prospect on MLB.com. Through the early part of the campaign, Sykora needed just one appearance at Low-A to prove he was ready for High-A. Sykora underwent offseason hip surgery. In this lone stint, the right-hander tossed six one-hit innings with nine punchouts. He served up two walks. Last season, the former third-round pick logged 85 innings at Low-A and posted an impressive 2.33 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out 129 batters and allowed just 27 walks. Given his impressive strikeout production, Sykora should be in the mix to reach Double-A later this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Blanco
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