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
May 16, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz (back) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the hosting Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Matt Gorski will give it a go in center field and will hit eighth against Phillies left-hander
Ranger Suarez. This will be Cruz's fifth straight game on the sidelines with back soreness, and if he doesn't recover in time to play this weekend in Philly, the Bucs might decide to put him on the injured list. Cruz hasn't impressed with his .238 average (31-for-130) in 37 games this year, but he's added eight home runs and a league-best 16 stolen bases. Gorski should be considered a low-upside deep DFS streamer near the bottom of Pittsburgh's batting order on Friday night. In his first 14 major-league games in 2025, Gorski has gone 8-for-38 (.211) with two homers and four RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 16, 2025
Seattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (shoulder) is playing shortstop and batting leadoff for Friday's series opener in San Diego against the Padres and right-hander
Stephen Kolek. The Mariners scratched Crawford from Wednesday's series finale against the New York Yankees but he's back after a travel day on Thursday. The 30-year-old brings little power to the shortstop position but has hit a respectable .271 (38-for-140) on the year for the M's with three home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored and two stolen bases in 40 games played. The former 16th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2013 is hitting .240 (12-for-50) with a homer, two doubles, four RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in 11 games in the month of May. Crawford is hitless in just one career at-bat against Kolek.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
16,
2025
The
Colorado
Rockies
announced
on
Friday
that
they
activated
shortstop
Ezequiel
Tovar
(hip)
from
the
10-day
injured
list.
Tovar
is
starting
at
shortstop
and
batting
second
in
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
division-rival
Arizona
Diamondbacks
and
read more...
May 16, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect
Moises Chace (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old is currently ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the system on MLB.com. Through the opening month of the regular season, Chace logged 16 2/3 innings at Double-A. Through this stint, Chase held a 3.24 ERA with a 1.62 WHIP. He struck out 19 batters but struggled to command his pitches as he served up 16 free passes. Last season, Chace logged 60 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A and posted an overall 3.56 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Chace to remain sidelined through at least the first half of the 2026 season. When he does return, the Phillies will likely keep him at Double-A given his early-season struggles.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Lochlahn March
May 16, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte (hip) is starting at the keystone and batting in his customary leadoff spot in Friday's series opener at Chase Field against the Colorado Rockies. After a scheduled day off for the team on Thursday, Marte will return to action after he was pulled late in Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants with hip stiffness. The 31-year-old All-Star hit two home runs in that contest, though, and his departure from the game was mostly precautionary. It's unclear who the Rockies are starting in the series opener in the desert on Friday, but Marte should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups regardless. His counting stats on the season are down because of a stint on the injured list in April due to a hamstring injury. Marte is currently slashing .262/.377/.554 with five homers, eight RBI and 14 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 16, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers have optioned left-handed pitching prospect
Justin Wrobleski to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Wrobleski was tasked to pitch four innings of relief on Thursday but will now return to Triple-A. In this contest against the Athletics, the left-hander performed quite well, logging four one-hit innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out four batters. During his first outing of the season, Wrobleski allowed eight runs and eight hits across five innings against the Nationals. Last season, the No. 10-ranked prospect in the system held a 5.70 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP across 36 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his production at Triple-A, as he should be in the mix to return to Los Angeles later in the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
May
16,
2025
Miami
Marlins
shortstop
Xavier
Edwards
(back)
was
scratched
from
Friday's
series
opener
against
the
Tampa
Bay
Rays
due
to
back
tightness.
With
Edwards
sitting
out,
Javier
Sanoja
will
play
shortstop
and
read more...
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