RADIO
Tarik Skubal Will Need a Minor-League Rehab Assignment
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he comes off the 15-day injured list following surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. "That's not true," Hinch said when responding to a claim that Skubal could be back next week without a rehab assignment. "That's ridiculous." The two-time Cy Young winner had a minimally invasive Nano-Scope procedure on his elbow, which cuts down his recovery time, but Hinch basically shut down any rumors that the talented left-hander would be back in the Tigers' starting rotation by next week. However, Skubal has already thrown a bullpen session and could be ready to start a rehab assignment by next week, so barring a setback, he might be back from the IL in early June. Before having elbow surgery, Skubal was 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings across seven starts. He's still one of the best pitchers in baseball and should not have been dropped in any fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Rays Attempted to Acquire Shohei Ohtani in Potential Blockbuster
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that the Tampa Bay Rays attempted a blockbuster trade to acquire two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani before the 2023 trade deadline, according to people briefed on the conversations. The potential deal would have sent third baseman Junior Caminero to the Los Angeles Angels. The trade obviously didn't go down, with owner Arte Moreno deciding for the second straight year to keep Ohtani, only to lose him in free agency to the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Dodgers four months later. The other prospect who would have been sent to Anaheim in that proposed blockbuster deal was shortstop Carson Williams, who was then a 20-year-old in High-A. Before the 2022 trade deadline, the Angels discussed an Ohtani trade with the San Diego Padres that would have brought them a comparable, or perhaps even better, package than the one the Padres ultimately sent to the Washington Nationals for outfielder Juan Soto. The Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series championships after signing Ohtani to a mega-deal in free agency.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Kyle Harrison has Second Straight Scoreless Outing, Strikes Out 11
Left-hander Kyle Harrison has looked like a completely different pitcher in 2026 in his first year with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 24-year-old southpaw completely shut the division-rival Chicago Cubs down on Wednesday at Wrigley Field in the team's 5-0 win, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing only two hits, walking one, and striking out 11 to improve to 5-1 on the year. Harrison retired 15 straight hitters at one point and generated a 41% whiff rate in the impressive outing. It was his second straight scoreless appearance as well after shutting out the San Diego Padres for five innings while striking out seven in his previous start on May 14. Harrison now has two double-digit strikeout performances in 2026 and is currently sporting a strong 1.77 ERA (2.50 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 59 strikeouts and 14 walks in 45 2/3 innings pitched across his nine starts for the Brew Crew. He's only rostered in 74% of Yahoo leagues, too. That number should be rising.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Josh Lowe Blasts Fifth Home Run, Showing Signs of Improvement at the Plate?
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe connected on his fifth long ball of the year in the second inning off Aaron Civale in his team's extra-inning loss on Wednesday night. Lowe went 1-for-4 with two RBI and two strikeouts and is still hitting only .182 on the year with a 29.2% K%. However, he has been much more productive lately. In his last 10 games, he is 8-for-24 (.333) with a 47.1% hard-hit rate and a .379 wOBA. He has a .215 BABIP on the season, which is well below league average, and if more of his contact starts falling in, his average could climb in the next few weeks. The lefty remains in a platoon but does have a high ceiling despite his low batting average and high strikeout rate. If you're in a deep league, Lowe has shown enough signs over the last 10 games to watch him closely moving forward or try to get ahead of a surge with a speculative pickup. His power potential is clearly intriguing if he can continue his current momentum.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
TJ Rumfield Stays Hot at the Plate, Emerging as Must-Add Slugger?
Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield has been a huge addition to his team's offense, and he can give your fantasy lineup a boost if you're looking for some power production at first base from the waiver wire. Rumfield was acquired from the Yankees in a trade late in spring training and earned the starting 1B job with a big spring. He has lived up to his potential through 200 plate appearances this season, hitting .275 with six homers, 20 runs scored, and 25 RBI. He has a .349 wOBA and a .433 SLG, with just a 15.5% K%. Rumfield has been especially hot lately, going 2-for-4 on Wednesday against the Rangers and hitting .321 with three homers and a .414 wOBA over his last 15 games. The Rockies are in Arizona for a four-game series this weekend at Chase Field before heading to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers next week. Rumfield is a solid waiver wire pickup even as the Rockies go on the road, though, since he has produced great batting average and power numbers as a key part of the heart of Colorado's lineup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jose A. Ferrer Grabs Third Save, Seeing Value Increase in Deeper Leagues?
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Jose A. Ferrer struck out the side in the ninth inning on Wednesday to close out his team's 5-4 win over the White Sox. He allowed a home run to Randal Grichuk to lead off the inning before fanning Munetaka Murakami, Derek Hill, and Colson Montgomery to end the game. Ferrer has allowed five earned runs in his 23 2/3 innings this season for a 1.90 ERA and 2.56 FIP to go with his 22 strikeouts. The young lefty has established himself as one of the team's top setup options in front of Andres Munoz, who pitched on both Monday and Tuesday. Ferrer also pitched in both those contests but needed only four pitches Tuesday before giving the ball to Munoz, who was charged with a blown save. While Munoz is one of the top closers in the game and will likely get a long leash, Ferrer is a very effective setup option who can step in and close if needed. In deep leagues where setup men have value, Ferrer is definitely one of the better widely available options to consider from the waiver wire.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Louis Varland Stumbles En Route To Sixth Save, Remains Top Option for Blue Jays?
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Louis Varland wasn't perfect on Wednesday night in New York, but he did enough to get the job done and secure his team the victory. He entered the ninth inning with a 2-0 lead after a brilliant performance from Trey Yesavage. After striking out Aaron Judge, he allowed a double, a single, and a groundout to plate one run and place the potential tying run in scoring position. He was able to strike out Amed Rosario, though, to end the game and secure the win. Varland still has an impressive 0.70 ERA and 1.28 FIP with 37 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings this season. He still seems locked in as the Blue Jays closer moving forward, as long as Wednesday's issues don't develop into a bigger problem. He should be owned in almost all formats and makes a great closer addition if available.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Hogan Harris Earns Another Save, Emerging as Primary Closer for Athletics?
Athletics relief pitcher Hogan Harris closed out the team's comeback victory over the Angels on Wednesday night, preserving a one-run lead in the 10th inning to earn his fourth save of the year. Harris issued two walks (one intentional), but he forced Jorge Soler to ground out to second to end the game with the bases loaded. Harris has secured the team's two most recent saves and has a 3.00 ERA and 4.65 FIP in his 24 innings this season. The lefty has not allowed a run in six of his last seven appearances and seems to be the preferred closer option with a slight advantage over righties Jack Perkins and Joel Kuhnel. Perkins and Kuhnel did not appear in the A's 10-inning win on Wednesday after all three relievers pitched on Tuesday. The A's close out their four-game set in Anaheim on Thursday before heading to San Diego for three games this weekend. Harris is a solid big-picture closer pickup in deep leagues, although he may not get the call on Thursday after pitching two straight games. The A's closer committee will continue to be an important situation to monitor, but for now, Harris seems to be the first option.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Juan Soto Remains Locked in, Goes Deep Twice in Loss to Nats
It's an understatement to say that New York Mets superstar outfielder Juan Soto is locked in at the plate right now. Soto went 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday night's loss to the hosting Washington Nationals in D.C. The 27-year-old Dominican is now hitting .299 on the season with a .951 OPS. He missed some time early in the season while going on the injured list with a calf strain, but he is quickly making up for lost time and has hit five home runs and produced nine RBI during his current seven-game hitting streak. Soto's multi-homer game on Wednesday was the 29th multi-homer game of his career. In addition to his .299 batting average, the four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner now has a .392 on-base percentage, .559 slugging percentage, 14 extra-base hits, 20 RBI, 21 runs scored, and four steals on the season in just 34 games played. Unfortunately for the Mets, not even Soto's hot hitting has been able to carry them, as they sit seven games under .500 and last in the National League East. Soto will be looking to stay on a tear this weekend in Miami against the division-rival Marlins.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Trent Grisham Departs Early on Wednesday With Knee Discomfort
The New York Yankees announced that outfielder Trent Grisham (knee) left Wednesday's contest early against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays with left-knee discomfort. Team physicians were looking at Grisham at Yankee Stadium, and he will undergo imaging on Thursday to determine the severity. Grisham was moving gingerly after running out a second-inning double, and he was checked on by manager Aaron Boone before staying in the game temporarily. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting center fielder doubled in his only official at-bat of the ballgame before he was replaced in center field by rookie Spencer Jones. The Yankees are already without Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder), so they'll be even more short-handed in the outfield if Grisham's injury sidelines him for an extended period of time. Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge are both capable of playing center field, though. Grisham hit a career-high 34 homers in his second year with the Yanks in 2025, but he entered Wednesday's tilt with an ugly .169/.301/.338 slash line with six homers in 48 games played.
Source: New York Yankees
Source: New York Yankees
Justin Verlander Throws Four-Inning Simulated Game on Wednesday
Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) threw a four-inning simulated game on Wednesday, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. Verlander threw 62 pitches, allowed three home runs, and struck out three batters. His fastball sat at 92-93 mph, and he topped out at 94.6 mph. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer is throwing simulated games with the team instead of going on a minor-league rehab assignment as he recovers from left-hip inflammation that landed him on the 60-day injured list. Verlander isn't eligible to return from the IL until early June, but he's on track to do so after throwing another one or two simulated games. Fantasy managers in the majority of formats aren't really concerned, though, as the three-time Cy Young winner, former MVP, and nine-time All-Star doesn't have much left at this point in his career and is struggling to stay healthy. In his lone start in his return to Detroit this year, Verlander surrendered five earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out one in just 3 2/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 30. He's rostered in just 4% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck
Shane Bieber Could Begin Rehab Assignment Next Week
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) could be pitching in minor-league rehab games by the end of next week "if all goes well," manager John Schneider told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Bieber got a late start to his first season in Toronto in 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and then he battled fatigue in his surgically-repaired elbow during the team's run to the World Series last fall. The 30-year-old has been slowly rebuilding his arm, but he appears to finally be ready to return to game action. When he does, he's expected to need four or five rehab outings before being a realistic option to rejoin the Blue Jays' starting rotation in the big leagues. He should have a spot waiting for him, though, when he comes off the 60-day injured list, and he's worth an injury stash in deeper mixed leagues before that happens. Bieber is currently rostered in 44% of Yahoo leagues while he rehabs. The two-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young winner went 4-2 last year in seven regular-season starts for the Jays with a 3.57 ERA (4.47 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB across 40 1/3 frames. Bieber shouldn't be expected to return to Cy Young form, but he could be a key back-end starter if he stays healthy.
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Yandy Diaz Avoids Serious Injury, Could Return on Friday
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (hands) got an X-ray and CT scan on Tuesday night after being hit by a pitch on both of his hands, according to Rays reporter Ryan Bass. The imaging came back negative on Diaz, who woke up sore on Wednesday, which is why he was held out of the starting lineup against the Baltimore Orioles. It appears as though he's avoided a serious injury. "I think it got the nail a little bit, but we'll try to give him the day," manager Kevin Cash said. "He was pretty adamant, like he thought he'd be okay, but if we can give him today, and then with the off day tomorrow, hopefully be pretty optimistic about him getting back in (Friday)." Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief, and they'll want to check back on Friday to see if the 34-year-old veteran is ready to play in Friday's series opener in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees. Although the Cuban slugger doesn't have high-end power, he's a must-start in traditional fantasy leagues when he's active, and he's hitting a cool .316 (55-for-174) on the season with 33 RBI, 27 runs, eight home runs, and a steal.
Source: Ryan Bass
Source: Ryan Bass
Garrett Crochet Throws Two-Inning Bullpen Session on Wednesday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw two innings during an up-and-down bullpen session on Wednesday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Crochet said he will throw a brief side session on either Friday or Saturday before throwing his first live batting practice session next week. The 26-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation on April 29. Crochet isn't very happy with where his mechanics are at right now and said he still has "a lot of boxes to check in terms of workload and time to really iron those things out." Facing live hitters next week will give him a better idea of where he's at in his progression. Crochet said he expects to need more than one live BP session before going on a minor-league rehab assignment, so the two-time All-Star isn't exactly close to rejoining the BoSox's starting rotation. The talented left-hander was second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025 in his first year in Boston, but he got off to a rough start in his first six starts this year with a 6.30 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Still, Crochet is a must-stash in all fantasy baseball leagues.
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Jackson Merrill Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early
San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (back) appeared to tweak his back while leaping up against the fence while going after Shohei Ohtani's leadoff home run in the first inning at Petco Park in Wednesday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers and was pulled from the game, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Merrill struck out in his only plate appearance before being replaced in center field by Bryce Johnson in the fifth inning. The Padres can ill-afford an injury to one of their best hitters and best defenders. For now, we'll consider Merrill day-to-day, but we should have a better idea of his status going forward after he undergoes some imaging. San Diego has a scheduled day off on Thursday before starting a three-game series against the Athletics on Friday night, but Merrill might not be ready to go for that one. If Merrill is forced to miss significant time, Johnson would likely see an uptick in playing time in center field, which would be a massive downgrade for the Friars. Merrill has yet to repeat his strong rookie season in 2024, when he hit 24 homers, drove in 90, and stole 16 bases, and he entered Wednesday's contest with a weak .205/.275/.324 slash line, four homers, 19 RBI, nine steals, and 23 runs in 46 games.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
