RADIO
Max Scherzer's Thumb Issue Returns, Receives Injection
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (forearm, thumb), who had a cortisone injection in his right forearm last Thursday, is getting another shot in his troublesome right thumb, manager John Schneider told Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Schneider said Scherzer's thumb issue popped back up recently, and he's taking the opportunity to address it while he's on the 15-day injured list. The 41-year-old veteran was bothered by a thumb issue last year in Toronto. Right-forearm tendinitis is still his biggest obstacle this year, but it has been one thing after another for the three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer in the last couple of seasons. When actually healthy, Scherzer is no longer the dominant hurler that he was for so much of his 18-year career. He continues to try to work his way back to Toronto's starting rotation, but Father Time is undefeated. In his five starts this year before landing on the IL, Scherzer struggled to a 9.64 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 10:8 K:BB in 18 2/3 innings. Retirement might not be far off.
Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
Jose Caballero Going for MRI Exam on Injured Finger
New York Yankees infielder Jose Caballero (finger) injured his right middle finger while diving back into first base in the ninth inning of Sunday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. He is undergoing an MRI exam on Monday to figure out what he's dealing with, which is why he's not in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener versus the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. For what it's worth, Caballero doesn't think anything is broken. If the 29-year-old's injury requires a stint on the injured list, the Yankees will most likely recall Anthony Volpe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take over everyday duties at the 6 in the Bronx. Max Schuemann will start at short and bat ninth on Monday against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. Caballero is mostly useful for his speed (13 stolen bases) and positional versatility (he's eligible at short, second, third, and outfield in Yahoo leagues) in fantasy baseball. Going into Monday's slate, Caballero is hitting .259 (35-for-135) with four homers, 13 RBI, and 18 runs scored. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Source: New York Post - Greg Joyce
Source: New York Post - Greg Joyce
Giants Looking at Fire Sale This Summer?
The San Francisco Giants are 16-24 through 40 games of the 2026 season and haven't had a winning record since 2021. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the team is one of the five most intriguing teams to watch as the summer trade deadline nears, according to a survey of club executives and scouts. President of baseball operations Buster Posey isn't just going to sit around, and he already made that clear by sending catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend. The Giants "would love" to unload outfielder Jung Hoo Lee ($85 million left on his contract), shortstop Willy Adames ($161 million left), first baseman Rafael Devers ($226.5 million remaining), and third baseman Matt Chapman ($125 million remaining) and "start over." They've also had no choice but to shop lefty Robbie Ray, who will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Some executives think the Giants would listen to offers on righty Logan Webb, too, but that's highly unlikely because he has three years left on a reasonable five-year, $90 million deal. "They've got an old team that's underachieving with a lot of money on their books," one executive said. "They've had to listen on Webb. It makes too much sense."
Source: USA Today - Bob Nightengale
Source: USA Today - Bob Nightengale
Addison Barger Goes Back on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Monday that they placed infielder/outfielder Addison Barger (elbow) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 10) with right-elbow inflammation and recalled outfielder Yohendrick Pinango from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Barger had just returned on Saturday from an IL stint due to injuries to both of his ankles, but he ended up playing in just one game over the weekend before suffering an elbow injury. It's unclear what the severity of Barger's new injury is, but he's obviously been a big disappointment early in 2026 due to the injury bug. In just nine games played, he's hit .045 (1-for-22) with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, five walks, and seven strikeouts. Barger isn't a must-hold in mixed fantasy baseball leagues, and he's currently rostered in just 26% of Yahoo leagues. Pinango, a 24-year-old Venezuelan outfielder, is in his first MLB season. He got off to a good start in his first 10 games with Toronto, going 11-for-26 (.423) with four RBI and a run scored, and he'll now get another chance to prove himself in the Jays' outfield. UPDATE: Barger's MRI exam didn't show any structural damage in his elbow, per manager John Schneider.
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Ryan Helsley has Not Resumed Throwing
Baltimore Orioles right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) has not resumed throwing as he recovers from right-elbow inflammation that landed him on the 15-day injured list on May 1, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. The good news is that Helsley did some running drills at Camden Yards over the weekend. He will not be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible this week, so fantasy managers must remain patient with the 31-year-old veteran reliever. In his 12 appearances (10 2/3 innings) for the O's this year before his injury, Helsley went 0-2 with a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, seven saves, 15 strikeouts, and seven walks. Helsley had a league-high 49 saves in 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals and was named to his second All-Star team, but he struggled in 2025 after being traded to the New York Mets. He should be stashed in an IL spot while he recovers and will return to closing duties in Baltimore when he's ready. Rico Garcia has both of the team's saves since Helsley landed on the shelf, and he's the team's primary short-term option for saves.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Jacob Calvin Meyer
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Jacob Calvin Meyer
Jackson Holliday Moving his Rehab to Triple-A on Tuesday
Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday (hand) will move his minor-league rehab assignment to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Holliday restarted his rehab assignment last Thursday with Double-A Chesapeake and will now head to Triple-A as he nears his 2026 season debut with Baltimore. The 22-year-old former first overall pick had surgery back in spring training for a broken hamate bone in his hand back in spring training and had to be pulled off a rehab assignment twice due to soreness in his hand. Holliday has struggled at the plate in the minors so far this year while rehabbing, going 9-for-57 (.158) with three doubles, four RBI, three runs scored, a steal, seven walks, and 16 strikeouts in 17 games with Norfolk, Chesepeake, and High-A Frederick, but he could be reinstated from the 10-day injured list later this week as long as he doesn't have another setback with his surgically-repaired hand at Norfolk. When Holliday returns, he'll be Baltimore's everyday second baseman, making him worthy of rostering in mixed fantasy leagues. Holliday is currently rostered in only 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Athletics to Promote Top Outfield Prospect Henry Bolte to Major Leagues
According to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com, the Athletics are promoting outfield prospect Henry Bolte to the major leagues. The team's No. 5-ranked prospect according to MLB.com has been swinging a hot bat at Triple-A Las Vegas this season and is being rewarded with an early promotion. Through 37 games with the Aviators, the outfielder has posted an impressive .348/.418/.658 line with a 1.076 OPS. During this stretch, Bolte has flashed high-end speed upside, swiping 17 bags while launching 12 long balls. Last summer, Bolte showed similar speed upside, stealing 44 bags over a 114-game stint in the upper minors, but had minimal power, hitting only nine round-trippers. Seeing Bolte begin to tap into his raw power makes him a priority waiver option ahead of his debut. If he sees an everyday role, Bolte could possess elite speed upside while pushing for double-digit home runs.
Source: Martin Gallegos
Source: Martin Gallegos
Drake Baldwin is the Real Deal at Catcher
Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has quickly become one of the best offensive catchers in baseball in just his second season in the big leagues. Baldwin went 1-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-2 win over the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers and is now hitting .297/.383/.509 with an .892 OPS, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, 35 runs scored, and a stolen base in 41 games across 188 plate appearances. The 25-year-old backstop has cooled off since his hot start earlier in the season, but he has still hit .257 (9-for-35) with three long balls, a double, seven RBI, and five runs scored in May. The former third-rounder in 2022 out of Missouri State was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2025, when he hit .274/.341/.469 with an .810 OPS, 19 homers, and 80 RBI in 124 games. Even though Sean Murphy has returned from offseason hip surgery, Baldwin will play regularly in Atlanta and is a bit part of the first-place Braves' offense. His strong start is backed up by the fact that he's in the 90th percentile in hard-hit rate.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Pete Crow-Armstrong Showing Signs of Turning Things Around?
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was one of the best breakout players in 2025, which earned him his first All-Star appearance. He finished his second full season in the majors with a .247/.287/.481 slash line with a .768 OPS, 31 home runs, 95 RBI, 35 stolen bases, and 91 runs scored in 157 regular-season games across 647 plate appearances. However, he slowed down considerably in the second half, and his poor plate discipline was very much a concern coming into 2026. So far through 41 games played this year, PCA has been a disappointment, hitting .245 (37-for-151) with four home runs, 17 RBI, nine stolen bases, 24 runs scored, 12 walks, and 42 strikeouts over 167 plate appearances. He did recently have a six-game hitting streak in May, but Crow-Armstrong's plate discipline remains concerning. He's in the 29th percentile in walk rate and the 32nd percentile in strikeout rate. The good news is that Crow-Armstrong is in the 78th percentile in hard-hit rate, but his speed is the most reliable part of his game. His buy-low window remains open, but fantasy managers need to know what they're getting -- a streaky power/speed commodity with unreliable on-base skills.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Is Devin Williams' Buy-Low Window Closed After Recent Strong Stretch?
New York Mets right-handed closer Devin Williams' numbers still look pretty bad on the surface, as he enters Monday's action with a 5.68 ERA and 1.66 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and six walks in 12 2/3 innings pitched in his first 15 appearances with the Mets. But outside of a four-game stretch from April 15 to April 23, when he allowed eight earned runs on nine hits in two innings for a blown save and a loss, Williams hasn't allowed any runs. In his last six appearances covering 5 2/3 innings pitched, he has allowed just one hit, no runs, no walks, and has struck out eight batters. The 31-year-old two-time All-Star has five saves on the season and has three saves and a win in four outings so far in May. Williams has clearly turned things around in New York of late, potentially closing his buy-low window in fantasy baseball. He's only blown one save, and his rough four-game stretch in April is the reason why his surface stats still look gross. His recent strong performances have quieted any chatter of the Mets potentially making a change in the ninth inning.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Not Providing Fantasy Managers With Much Power
It's been a frustrating season so far for New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who enters Week 7 with a .207 average (30-for-145) with only four home runs, 14 RBI, 17 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 16 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 163 plate appearances across 40 games played in his second full season in the Bronx. The 28-year-old two-time All-Star hit a career-high 31 home runs, drove in 80 runs, and stole 31 bases in his first full year with the Yanks in 2025, making him the clear top option at second base in fantasy going into the 2026 campaign. Chisholm is still providing useful speed on the basepaths, but his power numbers are down early on, and he has a bad combination of ranking in the 20th percentile in strikeout rate and the 26th percentile in hard-hit rate. In 10 games so far in May, Chisholm has gone 8-for-36 (.222) with a homer, double, four RBI, four runs, and two steals. He hasn't had a multi-hit game since April 26. It's still early, though, so there's a buy-low opportunity for his power/speed potential.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Bryan Woo a Buy-Low Candidate After Bounce-Back Outing
Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo doesn't have amazing surface stats (4.02 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched over his eight starts), but most of the damage against him (13 earned runs in nine innings) came in two starts against the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals. He showed his true potential his last time out in a bounce-back effort against the first-place Atlanta Braves on May 6, when he tossed six shutout frames with only one hit allowed and a season-high-tying nine strikeouts. The 26-year-old has a 1.00 WHIP on the year and only eight walks in 47 innings pitched. The 26-year-old's 3.80 FIP and 3.53 xERA show that he's pitched better than his surface stats suggest, making him a prime buy-low candidate in fantasy baseball. Woo is also in the 96th percentile in walk rate, and he's had ERAs under 3.00 in each of the last two seasons with the M's. He'll have another difficult matchup upcoming against the Houston Astros, but if he has another strong start against them, it may be difficult to buy low on him.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Matt Olson on a Tear Early in 2026 Season
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson is on pace for a monster season in 2026. He went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he's now slashing .296/.377/.654 with 14 home runs in 41 games and 183 plate appearances. Olson leads the league in RBI (36), doubles (15), runs scored (36), OPS (1.031), and total bases (104) for the first-place Braves. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed slugger has gone 10-for-34 (.294) in nine games so far in May with five home runs, two doubles, eight RBI, nine runs scored, and one stolen base. Not only does Olson rake, but he's been durable, as he entered the 2026 campaign with the longest active consecutive games streak in baseball. His underlying numbers back up his strong start, too, as he's in the 92nd percentile in hard-hit rate, and he holds a .406 xwOBA, which ranks 12th in baseball. Olson probably won't have a batting average near .300 by season's end, but his durability and power production remain elite for fantasy managers.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Grayson Rodriguez Fans 11 in Rehab Start at Single-A
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) turned some heads in his second minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. The 26-year-old allowed two earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out 11 in just 4 2/3 innings pitched. Rodriguez also had a wild pitch and hit a batter, but he got up to 94 pitches in the outing, so he may not need another rehab start before being activated from the 15-day injured list. He threw 63 of his 94 pitches for strikes. In his first rehab outing in the Arizona Complex League last week, Rodriguez allowed just one earned run with seven strikeouts and no walks in five innings. He has looked sharp down on the farm, but it has also come against weak competition. The former Orioles top prospect is nearing his Angels regular-season debut and is worth a look for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who need rotation arms. Right now, Rodriguez is only rostered in 13% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Gerrit Cole Looks Better in Latest Rehab Start, Goes Five Innings
New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) took a step forward in his fifth minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Double-A Somerset, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out eight in five innings of work. Cole got up to 77 pitches in his latest outing and didn't give up a home run for the first time as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery that he had last March. It was an encouraging performance from the former Cy Young winner and six-time All-Star, although he will probably require another rehab start or two before the Yankees reinstate him from the 15-day injured list. But barring a setback with his right elbow, Cole should rejoin New York's starting rotation before the end of May. In his five rehab starts, he's posted a 5.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and only two walks in 23 2/3 innings pitched. Home runs have been an issue, but his control has been a bright spot. Fantasy managers will want to temper expectations for Cole initially when he returns to the Bronx, but he should be scooped up if he's available on your league's waiver wire. He's rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
