May 15, 2025
Three-time All-Star infielder
Matt Carpenter officially announced his retirement on Sports Spectrum's Get in the Game podcast with former teammate Scott Linebrink on Wednesday. "I had quite a thrill being able to don the St. Louis Cardinals logo for many years," Carpenter said. The 39-year-old left-handed hitter spent 14 years in the big leagues, with 12 of them coming with the St. Louis Cardinals, who drafted him in the 13th round in 2009 out of TCU. He will finish his MLB career with three trips to the All-Star game and a Silver Slugger award while slashing .259/.366/.449 with an .814 OPS, 179 home runs, 659 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 1,511 regular-season games played. Carpenter made all three of his All-Star appearances in a four-year span from 2013-16, and he finished fourth in the National League All-Star voting back in 2013.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sports Spectrum
May 15, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow) made his first minor-league rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A El Paso and worked four innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out four. Although Darvish was hit with the loss for the Chihuahuas against Triple-A Las Vegas, all in all, it was a solid first rehab outing for the 38-year-old veteran. He was sitting at 94.5 mph on the radar gun with his four-seam fastball as he works his way back from inflammation in his right elbow that he began experiencing in spring training in mid-March. Darvish is expected to need a couple more rehab outings before he's a candidate to come off the injured list, meaning he could make his 2025 debut for the Friars by the end of May. When healthy, the Japanese All-Star will be an option for the back end of fantasy rotations in mixed leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
May 15, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Chris Paddack was the latest starting pitcher to shut down the Baltimore Orioles in Thursday's series finale at Camden Yards in a 4-0 shutout victory. Paddack picked up his second win of the season by tossing seven shutout innings with three hits allowed, one walk and three strikeouts. With the strong effort, Paddack lowered his ERA on the season to 4.05 through nine starts. In the process, the Twins stayed hot by sweeping the struggling O's and winning their 11th straight game after a slow start in April. Fantasy managers would have liked more punchouts from Paddack, but they'll take the strong start nonetheless. Keep in mind that nine of the 23 runs that Paddack has allowed so far in 2025 came in his first start back on March 31 against the Chicago White Sox. He's allowed four earned runs in 19 1/3 innings over three starts in May.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 15, 2025
Atlanta Braves right-hander
AJ Smith-Shawver continued to look good in his start in Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Washington Nationals. Smith-Shawver picked up his third win of the year by allowing an unearned run on two hits while walking two and striking out six in six solid innings of work at Truist Park in the 5-2 win. The 22-year-old has quickly become a must-start in fantasy in 2025 in his third season in the big leagues dropping his ERA on the year to 2.33. In 19 2/3 innings in the month of May, he has allowed just one earned run with a 0.47 ERA. Smith-Shawver is lined up for a rematch against the Nationals on the road in D.C. early next week, where he should be in all starting fantasy lineups as one of the best rising young arms in baseball.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 15, 2025
Chicago White Sox outfielder
Andrew Benintendi (calf) will be re-evaluated in a week or two. "If it's up to me, I'd be back right now," Benintendi said on Wednesday. "But there's obviously a long way to go, so there's certain steps I've got to take." Benintendi was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 7 with a left-calf strain and has a ways to go before rejoining the big-league roster. When the 30-year-old is cleared to resume baseball activities, he'll eventually need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment as well, so we may not see him again until early June. The former seventh overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2015 out of Arkansas still has some power (five homers in 85 at-bats) but he does little else for fantasy managers and is likely on the waiver wire in most mixed leagues.
Michael Taylor should continue to see extra playing time in Chicago until Benintendi is ready to return.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 15, 2025
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that right-hander
Spencer Strider (hamstring) will come off the 15-day injured list and start during next week's series against the division-rival Washington Nationals that starts next Monday. There was some concern that Strider's velocity was down in the low-90s during his simulated game on Wednesday, but the 26-year-old said he was more focused on throwing strikes and working on his secondary pitches, so it's really nothing to be concerned about. Strider will have a solid matchup for just his second start of the season against the Nats in D.C., but the Braves could choose to ease him back into the starting rotation since he didn't go on a minor-league rehab start. He threw 65 total pitches during his sim game on Wednesday. An All-Star in 2023, Strider should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 680 The Fan
May 15, 2025
Cincinnati Reds corner infielder
Jeimer Candelario (back) played catch on the field on Thursday at Great American Ball Park before the series finale against the visiting Chicago White Sox as he begins to ramp up his throwing progression, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith. Candelario is recovering from a lumbar spine strain after landing on the injured list in late April, and the 31-year-old veteran isn't exactly close to a return. It's good news that he's beginning to throw again, but he'll eventually need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment and might not be ready to return to the big-league roster until late May or early June. With Candelario,
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) and
Noelvi Marte (oblique) all on the shelf,
Santiago Espinal has been afforded everyday playing time for the Reds.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
May 15, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect
Carson Williams continues to struggle mightily at Triple-A. The former first-round draft pick had a two-homer game on May 7, but since then, he's gone 2-for-18 (.111) with 10 strikeouts. For the season, the Rays' top prospect (MLB No. 24) is hitting .175 with an ugly 39.9 percent strikeout rate, and if not for a solid 14.2 percent walk rate, his .297 OBP would look even worse. On the bright side, the 21-year-old has five home runs and seven stolen bases, but for a player who was potentially going to get a call-up to the majors later this season, that probably won't cut it. Hopefully the youngster can heat up with the weather, but for now, it looks like he'll remain at Triple-A, so there's no reason for redraft managers to stash him.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 15, 2025
The Minnesota Twins sent right-hander
Simeon Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday. Right-hander
Zebby Matthews is expected to be recalled from St. Paul to take Woods-Richardson's spot in the starting rotation, with his first start of the year expected to come in Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee against the Brewers. Woods-Richardson loses his rotation spot in the big leagues after starting the year going 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA (5.28 FIP), 1.54 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB in 37 2/3 innings over eight appearances (seven starts). The 24-year-old had his worst outing of the year in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing six earned runs on eight hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out four in four innings in a no-decision Woods-Richardson should get another shot with the Twins later this season, but for now they'll go with Matthews.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
May 15, 2025
The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale reports that Minnesota Twins right-hander
Zebby Matthews is expected to be recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to start on Sunday versus the Milwaukee Brewers on the road for his first outing in 2025. It comes after the Twins announced on Thursday that they sent right-hander Simeon Woods-Richardson to St. Paul. The 24-year-old Matthews has looked good for the Saints this year in the minors, posting a 1.93 ERA with 38 strikeouts and nine walks in 32 2/3 innings over his seven starts, and the red-hot Twins are hoping he can keep that up in his second go-around in the big leagues. Matthews struggled in his MLB debut in 2024, going 1-4 with a 6.69 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with 43 K's and 11 walks in 37 2/3 frames over nine starts. The Brewers have been a solid matchup for starters this year, and Matthews is certainly worth a look in deep-mixed leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
May 15, 2025
Chicago White Sox outfield prospect
Braden Montgomery needed just 18 games at Single-A earlier this season before earning a promotion to High-A at the end of April. Instead of withering in the face of stiffer competition, it has been quite the opposite. After recording a .304/.393/.493 slash line with three home runs, a 22.6 percent K%, and an 11.9 percent BB% in 18 games at Single-A, the 2024 first-rounder is slashing .388/.466/.755 with four home runs, a 19.0 percent K%, and a 12.1 percent BB% in 14 games at High-A. Chicago's fourth-ranked prospect's projected power appears to be coming through, but without the anticipated strikeout issues. Dynasty managers will want to see how the rest of the year plays out, but at this rate, he could make a case for another promotion to Double-A later in the campaign. With seven steals thus far, the switch-hitter could be an eventual multi-category producer for fantasy.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 15, 2025
Minnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton (head) was forced to leave Thursday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards after a scary collision in the third inning with teammate
Carlos Correa in shallow center field, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. The good news for Buxton's fantasy managers is that he went 1-for-2 with a solo home run before departing and being placed in MLB's concussion protocol. It's a good bet that the 31-year-old won't play in Friday's series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, and if he does have a concussion, he'll be placed on the seven-day concussion injured list.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. moved from left field to center field after Buxton's injury. With
Harrison Bader (groin) injured on Wednesday, Keirsey could be in line for regular playing time moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Minnesota Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
May 15, 2025
Minnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa (head) is in the league's concussion protocol after a scary third-inning collision with teammate
Byron Buxton in Thursday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Correa backpedaled into shallow center field before Buxton slammed into the back of him and jarred his head and neck drastically. The 30-year-old veteran appeared to absorb the worst of the impact, although Buxton was also removed from the game. Correa went 0-for-1 in the game before
Brooks Lee shifted from second base to shortstop to replace him. It's a pretty good bet that Correa will be out for Friday's series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, and he could be headed for the seven-day concussion list. Lee, a former first-round pick, figures to see most of the starts at the 6 for however long Correa is out.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Minnesota Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
May 15, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays placed outfielder
Travis Jankowski (groin) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-groin strain and reinstated outfielder
Josh Lowe (oblique) from the 10-day IL in a corresponding move. Jankowski was forced from Wednesday's game early against the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh inning with his groin injury and will now be forced to miss at least the next 10 days. The 33-year-old veteran will be eligible to return to Tampa's big-league roster on May 25. However, now that Lowe is back after straining his oblique on Opening Day, Jankowski won't have a clear path to playing time for the Rays when he's able to return. He wasn't all that attractive in AL-only leagues to begin with aside for his speed. Jankowski is hitting .244 (11-for-45) on the season in 21 games with the Rays and White Sox, adding no homers, two RBI and two steals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications
May 15, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays infielder/outfielder
Jose Caballero is starting in right field and batting sixth in Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander
Kevin Gausman. Caballero has been playing regularly for the Rays all over the diamond, as he's started four games in right field, one at third base, one at second and one at shortstop in the last eight games. However, the 28-year-old's playing time could start to dry up somewhat now that
Josh Lowe (oblique) is back from the injured list. It's not like he's been outstanding on offense so far in 2025, as the Panamanian utility man enters Thursday's game with a .239/.327/.352 slash line with a homer, 12 RBI, eight runs scored and nine stolen bases. Caballero is primarily valuable in deeper fantasy leagues for his positional versatility and his speed.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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