May 21, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed reliever
Dennis Santana closed the door on the division-rival Cincinnati Reds in the 3-1 win at PNC Park on Wednesday for his fifth save of the season. Santana threw a scoreless inning to pick up his 10th hold of the year in Tuesday's win against the Reds while
David Bednar picked up the save, but Pittsburgh gave Santana the nod in the save situation on Wednesday in the series finale. The 29-year-old didn't disappoint, throwing a scoreless inning with no walks and two strikeouts. Bednar had thrown in back-to-back days on Monday and Tuesday, but the closing situation in Pittsburgh appears to be a two-way committee between Bednar and Santana. It will be frustrating for fantasy purposes on a team that doesn't see many save situations, but Santana will remain valuable in holds leagues. Santana will be a prime trade candidate as the deadline approaches this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
21,
2025
Although
the
Houston
Astros
were
on
the
wrong
side
of
an
8-4
score
in
Wednesday's
series
finale
against
the
Tampa
Bay
Rays,
it
didn't
stop
third
baseman
Isaac
Paredes
from
having
a
strong
game.
Paredes
went
read more...
May 21, 2025
Cincinnati Reds shortstop
Elly De La Cruz is in a funk at the plate. The talented infielder went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park and is now hitting just .182 (14-for-77) with 25 strikeouts and eight walks in the month of May in 20 games played. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter came into Wednesday's series finale in Pittsburgh with a .246/.318/.410 slash line, .728 OPS, eight home runs, 33 RBI, 32 runs scored and 16 stolen bases in 50 games played. While he's been struggling at the plate so far in May, De La Cruz remains a must-start in traditional fantasy leagues and is tied for the major-league lead in stolen bases with Royals star shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. De La Cruz has been putting the ball on the ground more often than fantasy managers would like, but he should be just fine in the long run.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 21, 2025
The Washington Nationals placed outfielder
Dylan Crews (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-oblique strain and recalled outfield prospect
Robert Hassell III from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. The Nationals were initially calling Crews' injury a back ailment when he was removed from Tuesday's game early against the Atlanta Braves. In addition to the injury, the 23-year-old former second overall pick in 2023 out of LSU has been a massive disappointment early in 2025 after being a popular preseason National League Rookie of the Year pick. Through 45 games this year, he's hit just .196 (31-for-158) with seven home runs, two doubles, a triple, 15 RBI, 11 steals and 24 runs scored. Crews should return to a regular role when he's healthy, but that might not be for around a month.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Bobby Blanco
May 21, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder
Enmanuel Valdez (shoulder) underwent season-ending surgery on his injured shoulder on Wednesday. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Valdez is estimated to miss six months while recovering. It's been a rough day of injury news for the struggling Pirates after it was confirmed that right-hander
Jared Jones (elbow) will miss the rest of the year following UCL surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday. Valdez, 26, should be ready for spring training in February next year, barring a setback in his recovery from his shoulder surgery. Before getting hurt, the Dominican infielder had gone 19-for-91 (.209) with two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored in 31 games in his first year in Pittsburgh. If healthy next spring, Valdez will be competing for a reserve infield role for the Bucs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: PGH Baseball Now - Danny Demilio
May
21,
2025
New
York
Yankees
first
baseman
Paul
Goldschmidt
is
taking
the
day
off
on
Wednesday
versus
the
visiting
Texas
Rangers
in
the
Bronx.
Ben
Rice
will
take
over
at
first
base
and
read more...
May
21,
2025
San
Francisco
Giants
right-hander
Jordan
Hicks,
who
was
recently
demoted
to
a
relief
role,
is
ready
to
"turn
the
page"
for
now
but
isn't
giving
up
on
being
a
starter.
Hicks
made
20
starts
in
2024
read more...
May 21, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (elbow) mixed in breaking pitches for the first time during a throwing session on Tuesday. Ohtani had been limited to fastballs and splitters previously as he continues to rehab his second Tommy John surgery in September of 2023. Manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani is getting closer to facing live hitters for the first time. The Dodgers don't have a firm timetable for the Japanese MVP to return to their starting rotation, but it has been expected to come around the All-Star break in mid-July. Offensively, Ohtani continues to be among the best in the big leagues and is currently hitting .311 (59-for-190) with a major-league-leading 17 home runs. He also leads the league in runs scored (52) while recording nine doubles, 31 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 47 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
May 21, 2025
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect
Jaison Chourio (shoulder) has begun a rehab assignment with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate. The Guardians' third-ranked prospect (MLB No. 53) has been out of action since May 3. Before that, the 20-year-old was just 15-for-70 (.214) in his first taste of High-A pitching, however, he was getting on base at a high rate (.396 OBP) thanks to a 23.1 percent walk rate. This was a trait he displayed last season at Single-A as well, recording 86 walks to 69 strikeouts, posting a .414 OBP while hitting .269 as a 19-year-old. The switch-hitter also stole 44 bags in 2024, so there is plenty of fantasy potential here, although he is still a couple of years away from the majors. Look for him to head back to High-A Lake County once rehab is complete and push for a promotion to Double-A in the latter half of the year.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 21, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt went 3-for-4 on Tuesday with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored for High-A Hillsboro. Arizona's 2024 first-round draft pick showed well in limited action (14 games) last season at Single-A, then began the 2025 campaign on a nine-game hit streak, now slashing .283/.427/.400 with five home runs, four steals, and a sterling 37:34 BB:K through 39 games. The right-handed hitter appears well on his way to a promotion to Double-A and could be knocking on the door to the majors by the end of 2026. Arizona's third-ranked prospect (MLB No. 100) has solid hit, power, and run tools, making him a prospect worth keeping an eye on as he ascends the ranks of the minor leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 21, 2025
Cleveland Guardians infield prospect
Angel Genao (shoulder) is set to begin a rehab assignment with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate. It was previously reported that the team expects him to return to action with Double-A Akron the week of June 1, and this timeline still appears to be on track. Genao suffered a right shoulder sprain in spring training that has held him out all season, but is coming off a fantastic 2024 campaign where he slashed .330/.379/.499 with 10 home runs and 25 stolen bases over 110 games between Single-A and High-A. Cleveland's fourth-ranked prospect (MLB No. 55) could see some action at Triple-A later this year if all goes well, and with a solid power/speed combination, he could be an impactful fantasy asset in the majors as soon as next season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 21, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Jose Urquidy (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Urquidy had been playing catch out to 120 feet in early April but has now progressed to throwing off a mound in his recovery from his second Tommy John surgery of his career last June. The 30-year-old Mexican hurler is making progress but still has a ways to go and is not expected to be ready for his 2025 debut until the second half of the season. And when Urquidy is eventually activated, there's a good chance he won't have a spot in the starting rotation waiting for him. He made 16 appearances (10 starts) for the Houston Astros in 2024 and posted a career-worst 5.29 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 45:25 K:BB in 63 innings. However, in his first four MLB seasons in Houston, he never had an ERA over 3.95.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
May 21, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Sawyer Gipson-Long (elbow, hip) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. It will come after Gipson-Long allowed an earned run on five hits while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings on Sunday in his third minor-league rehab start with High-A West Michigan. The 27-year-old threw 30 of his 46 pitches for strikes in the outing. Gipson-Long is making progress after having Tommy John surgery last April and surgery on his left hip last July, but he's got a ways to go and most likely won't be a starting-rotation option for Detroit until the second half of the season. It's unclear if he'll move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Toledo for his fourth rehab start. Gipson-Long came out of nowhere to post a 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his first four big-league starts in 2023 before missing all of last year with his two injuries.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
May 21, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect
Mike Burrows was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday and is expected to start Thursday's home game against the Brewers. The righty has pitched well this season at Triple-A, posting a 2.51 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a strong 23.1 percent K-BB% across 32 1/3 IP. While it will be his season debut in the majors, it will not be his first appearance there, as the 6-foot-1 hurler was called up late in 2024 and pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks while striking out two. The Brewers are winners of three straight games, but have very contrasting home/road splits, with the team 15-9 at home but just 9-16 on the road. Be that as it may, Burrows hasn't pitched more than five innings in any start this season and will likely be on a short leash, leaving him as a poor DFS option.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Alex Stumpf
May 21, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Alex Cobb (hip) is scheduled to receive a series of injections to help treat the remaining inflammation in his right hip, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. The good news is that Cobb continues to play catch on a daily basis. The bad news is that he continues to deal with inflammation in his bum right hip, and there remains no timetable for his potential return to the Tigers. The 37-year-old veteran's hip has been bothering him since the start of spring training, and he's been on the injured list since Opening Day. He initially received an epidural injection in his hip in late February, which apparently didn't do much. At this point in time since Cobb hasn't returned to the mound, it seems likely that we won't see him until after the mid-July All-Star break. The oft-injured hurler was a first-time All-Star in 2023 with the Giants but made just three starts in 2024 with Cleveland due to injuries.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
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