RADIO
Taj Bradley Throws Successful Bullpen Session
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Taj Bradley (pectoral) threw a successful 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday. This is the first time that Bradley has taken the mound since going down with right pectoral inflammation on May 6. The expectation is that he'll throw another bullpen session at some point next week. After that, Bradley should progress to facing live hitters. It doesn't sound liike he's too far away from being activated from the Injured List. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Bradley, with him possibly being able to return by the end of May.
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Brandon Woodruff Feels Good After Bullpen Session
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) reportedly felt good after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session on Thursday. Assuming nothing changes in the next few days, Woodruff will throw another bullpen session on Monday. Afterwards, he'll likely throw a simulated game before possibly rejoining the Brewers rotation. It's unclear if he'll require a minor league rehab assignment, but that'll likely depend on how he feels after these sessions. The right-hander hasn't pitched since late April due to right shoulder inflammation. There seems to be a good chance that Woodruff will be back in the mix for the Brewers before the end of May.
Source: Adam McCalvy
Source: Adam McCalvy
Matthew Boyd is Making Solid Progress
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (knee) is reportedly feeling good physically and plans to throw off the mound on Saturday. If everything goes well, Boyd will throw a bullpen session sometime next week. This is great news considering Boyd underwent meniscus surgery on his left knee last week. The recovery timetable is about six weeks, so there's still more work to be done. It sounds like the veteran southpaw has a chance to beat that timetable, assuming everything continues to go well. There's a chance he is back in the Cubs rotation by mid-June. Boyd wasn't posting great numbers before the injury, but could be someone worth stashing in deep leagues.
Source: Tony Andracki
Source: Tony Andracki
Blake Snell Heads to 15-Day Injured List
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (elbow) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Friday. Ugh, this sucks for fantasy managers who just got Snell back. The southpaw was scratched from his scheduled start on Friday, and now we see why that happened. Snell heads to the shelf due to loose bodies in his elbow, which is something that could sideline him for multiple months. In a corresponding move, reliever Charlie Barnes was recalled to take over the spot on the active roster. It's unclear at the moment what the Dodgers plan to do with the vacant spot going forward. Will Klein gets the nod as the opener on Friday, with the Dodgers going with a bullpen game. The Dodgers should announce a timetable for Snell soon, but fantasy managers should expect to be without Snell for at least a month or more.
Source: Maddie Lee
Source: Maddie Lee
River Ryan Could Join the Starting Rotation
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher River Ryan (hamstring) is making a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. Recently, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that there is a slim possibility that Ryan joins the starting rotation at some point. It's going to take some time as the Dodgers want to slowly build up Ryan. He hasn't pitched since suffering a hamstring injury on April 11. The plan is for Ryan to throw four innings during his outing on Friday. He'll likely continue to be built up from there, but could be an option for the Dodgers down the road. Fantasy managers in deep leagues that are looking for a stash option might want to consider adding Ryan.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
Source: Fabian Ardaya
Roman Anthony has Brace Removed, "in a Good Spot"
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (wrist) said he's "in a good spot" after getting the brace/splint removed from his injured wrist and playing catch on Friday, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. However, Anthony's return from the 10-day injured list remains to be determined. It's the first time that Anthony has done any baseball activities since the Red Sox put him on the IL last week with a right-wrist sprain. It's good news for the 22-year-old former top prospect, but he could still have a ways to go before he's cleared to resume playing in games, and he'll almost certainly require a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the major-league roster. Anthony debuted in 2025 to much fanfare and looked the part of a top prospect, hitting .292 (75-for-257) with eight homers, 32 RBI, and four steals in 71 games before ending his season on the IL with an injury. He's now injured again and had gone 25-for-109 (.229) with a homer and five RBI in 30 contests this year before injuring his wrist. It's been a disappointing start to 2026 for Anthony, but he's a top-tier power/speed prospect and should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues. Masataka Yoshida will continue to benefit from more playing time in Beantown with Anthony out.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Blake Snell Scratched From Start on Friday for Undisclosed Reasons
The Los Angeles Dodgers are scratching left-hander Blake Snell (undisclosed) from his scheduled start in the series opener on Friday night against the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Angels, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. The Dodgers will roll with a bullpen game instead and will use right-hander Will Klein as the "opener." It's unclear why Snell is being scratched, but fantasy managers have to be concerned after the 33-year-old veteran southpaw just made his 2026 season debut due to left-shoulder issues, dating back to last year. In his season debut last weekend against the Atlanta Braves, the two-time Cy Young winner didn't look great, either, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out five in just three innings of work. We'll consider him day-to-day for now and provide an update on his status once we know exactly why the Dodgers scratched him. Snell has been a high-risk, high-reward fantasy starter with high strikeout upside. He has dealt with shoulder problems since joining L.A. last season.
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Robby Snelling to be Re-Evaluated Next Week
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling (elbow) will go for further evaluation next week, manager Clayton McCullough told Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. After making his MLB debut last week, Snelling was placed on the 15-day injured list with a UCL sprain in his left elbow, and it's unclear exactly when he might be able to rejoin the Marlins' starting rotation. In his MLB debut on May 8 against the Washington Nationals, the highly-touted pitching prospect allowed three earned runs in five innings while walking four and striking out two to take the loss. Fantasy managers stashing him in dynasty and deeper fantasy leagues might want to prepare for an extended absence, and there's also the possibility that the 22-year-old needs surgery. Left-hander Braxton Garrett took Snelling's spot in the rotation in Miami, but he flopped in his season debut with five earned runs allowed and five walks in just 1 1/3 innings against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Ronald Acuna Jr. to Return Next Friday?
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is taking batting practice on the field with the team on Friday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Manager Walt Weiss said that Acuna likely won't be activated from the 10-day injured list until he can play the outfield. Bowman guesses that won't be until next Friday, May 22. Acuna has been recovering nicely from a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain that landed him on the IL earlier this month, but the Braves have been careful not to rush him back. It sounds as though fantasy managers will have to wait another week before the 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star is back in the everyday lineup in Atlanta. Despite a lackluster start by his standards in 2026, Acuna should be rostered everywhere. He's currently hitting .252/.362/.378 with a .740 OPS, two home runs, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 17 runs scored. Acuna has elite five-category skills while at the same time being a high-risk commodity because of injuries.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Ryan Helsley Plays Catch, Feeling Much Better
Baltimore Orioles right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) played catch on Friday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list, and he is feeling much better, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Helsley landed on the shelf on May 1. It's good news that he's throwing, but he still has some boxes to check and will most likely need a short minor-league rehab assignment before he can rejoin the back end of Baltimore's bullpen. The 31-year-old former fifth-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015 out of Northeastern State University is a two-time All-Star who led the league with 49 saves in 2024. Helsley also had 21 saves for St. Louis last year before being traded to the New York Mets and falling apart in 22 appearances. He was bouncing back in Baltimore before his elbow injury, striking out 15 while picking up seven saves in his first 10 2/3 innings. Keep him stashed in all fantasy leagues, as he should immediately take over closing duties upon his return. In the meantime, Rico Garcia has proven to be an elite short-term source of saves for fantasy managers.
Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
Gleyber Torres "Trending Toward a Rehab Assignment"
Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) is "trending toward a rehab assignment," manager A.J. Hinch told Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Torres' rehab assignment is likely to be brief, too, so he could be back for fantasy managers as early as next week. The 29-year-old Venezuelan infielder will return to everyday duties at the keystone in Motown when he finishes a brief rehab assignment. Before his oblique injury, he was slashing .259/.289/.328 with a .716 OPS, two home runs, 11 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 116 at-bats. Torres is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Friday, but he's not quite ready. Once he's back, Hao-Yu Lee will return to a utility role for the Tigers. Torres is rostered in only 54% of Yahoo leagues and isn't a big-time fantasy asset because of his minimal power and speed contributions. He's more attractive in leagues that count on-base percentage.
Source: MLive.com - Evan Woodbery
Source: MLive.com - Evan Woodbery
Chase Dollander Goes on Injured List With Elbow Strain
The Colorado Rockies are placing right-hander Chase Dollander (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a right-elbow strain, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The Rockies are making the move after they pulled Dollander from his outing on Thursday early against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to right-arm tightness. It's now confirmed that he is dealing with an elbow strain, which means he'll almost certainly be sidelined beyond two weeks. It's unfortunate for the 24-year-old former ninth overall pick out of Tennessee in 2023, especially since he had made strides from his first MLB campaign. Through his first 10 appearances (three starts) in 2026, Dollander was sporting a 3.89 ERA (4.18 FIP), 1.29 WHIP, and 47:18 K:BB in 44 innings while mostly working as a bulk reliever. In Dollander's absence, Tanner Gordon is the most likely candidate to take his spot in Colorado's starting rotation. Dollander isn't a must-hold in shallow mixed fantasy leagues while he recovers, as he's only rostered in a third of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
Max Fried Heading to Injured List With Elbow Bone Bruise
After undergoing an MRI exam and a CT scan on Thursday, New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will be placed on the 15-day injured list after initial findings showed a left-elbow bone bruise, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Repeat imaging will be taken again in a few weeks (or when asymptomatic) to further determine when Fried can resume throwing. We'll have a more specific timetable on his potential return at that time. The 32-year-old southpaw avoided any structural damage, but a quick return from the IL should not be expected, and depending on when he can resume throwing, Fried may be fighting an uphill battle to return before the All-Star break in mid-July. It's a big injury blow for the Yankees' pitching staff and for fantasy managers, as the three-time All-Star has been a must-start in all lineups. Until right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) can make his season debut, the Yankees may turn to pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez in the short term. Fried must be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Grayson Rodriguez to Make his Angels Debut on Sunday Against Dodgers
The Los Angeles Angels announced on Friday that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) will come off the 15-day injured list to make his debut with the team in Sunday's series finale against the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. It will be a boost for the Halos' starting rotation, but fantasy managers in mixed leagues will probably want to take a wait-and-see approach with a pitcher who will be making his first appearance in the big leagues since 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles due to multiple arm-related injuries. Rodriguez was not ready for the start of the 2026 campaign due to right-shoulder inflammation that began back in spring training. In his two minor-league rehab starts, the former top pitching prospect allowed three earned runs while walking two and striking out 18 over 9 2/3 innings pitched. If healthy, G-Rod will be a staple in the Angels' starting rotation, but there are major concerns as to whether he can return to his pre-injury form as a high-end rotation arm. Rodriguez is currently rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues. DFS managers should be looking to avoid him against the first-place Dodgers.
Source: Angels PR
Source: Angels PR
Christian Yelich Still Bothered by Back, Injured List Stint Coming?
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich (back) is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Minnesota against the hosting Twins, according to MLB.com. Andrew Vaughn will serve as the team's DH and will bat sixth against Twins right-hander Joe Ryan at Target Field. Yelich returned on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres after a stint on the injured list with a groin injury, but he immediately reported some back stiffness after playing on Tuesday and could go right back on the IL after missing the last three games. Manager Pat Murphy said earlier this week that he isn't going to take any chances with the veteran left-handed hitter because of his history with back injuries -- he had a microdiscectomy on his back in 2024. Don't be surprised if Milwaukee makes a move to put Yelich back on the IL before Friday's game starts. Yelich is hitting .291 (16-for-55) in limited time so far in 2026 with just one homer. Fantasy managers have to be concerned that injuries will wreck his 14th year in the big leagues. UPDATE: The Brewers will wait another "couple of days" before deciding if they will put Yelich on the IL.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
