May
16,
2025
Cincinnati
Reds
outfielder
TJ
Friedl
(wrist)
is
back
in
center
field
and
is
hitting
leadoff
for
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
visiting
Cleveland
Guardians
at
Great
American
Ball
Park.
Friedl
suffered
a
bone
bruise
in
his
read more...
May 16, 2025
The Chicago White Sox do not expect outfielder
Mike Tauchman (hamstring) to come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the team this weekend during their three-game series at Wrigley Field against his former team, the Chicago White Sox, according to the Daily Herald's Mike McGraw. The White Sox are going to give him more time to ramp up after his second right-hamstring strain of the season. The 34-year-old veteran isn't going to be rushed back, but it's possible that he'll be back at some point next week after already playing in four minor-league rehab games. When he's healthy, Tauchman will have value in AL-only affairs as the team's likely starting right fielder against right-handed pitching. Before his second hammy injury, Tauchman had gone 4-for-10 in a small sample size in 2025 with a run scored in three games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Daily Herald - Mike McGraw
May 16, 2025
The Chicago White Sox announced on Friday that they designated infielder
Jacob Amaya for assignment and added infielder
Vinny Capra to the active 26-man roster in a corresponding move. The team also acquired right-hander
Miguel Castro from the Houston Astros and selected his contract from Triple-A Charlotte. Left-hander Jared Schuster was optioned to Charlotte. The 26-year-old Amaya started the year as the team's starting shortstop but now finds himself off the 40-man roster after going 6-for-62 (.097) with no homers, seven RBI, six runs scored, two steals, two walks and 15 strikeouts in 33 games for Chicago. If he clears waivers, he could return to the organization as minor-league depth. Moving forward, the Pale Hose will use
Brooks Baldwin as their primary option at the 6, with prospect
Chase Meidroth being another option.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
May 16, 2025
Chicago White Sox second baseman
Lenyn Sosa will take a seat for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the crosstown-rival Chicago Cubs and rookie right-hander
Cade Horton, who will be making his first official big-league start.
Josh Rojas will start at second base for the Pale Hose and will hit eighth in the batting order. Sosa will head to the bench on Friday after starting each of the team's last eight games. The 25-year-old Venezuelan infielder has really only been valuable for volume in AL-only leagues on one of the worst teams in baseball. He's currently hitting .267/.286/.373 with three home runs, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored and one steal in 150 total at-bats. However, he has gone 8-for-21 with a homer, two doubles, an RBI and a steal with four multi-hit games in his last six contests. Rojas offers little DFS appeal with a .143 average (4-for-28) and no homers on the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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
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