RADIO
Pierce Johnson is Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Pierce Johnson (elbow) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Saturday. Ouch, another tough blow to the Reds' bullpen that just lost Graham Ashcraft (elbow) on Friday. Johnson heads to the shelf due to right elbow inflammation, which explains why he hasn't pitched since Tuesday. The Reds have now lost two high-leverage bullpen arms in back-to-back days. Tony Santillan figures to be the favorite for saves until Emilio Pagan (hamstring) returns. In a corresponding move, right-hander Lyon Richardson has been recalled from Triple-A Louisville. Fantasy managers in need of bullpen help should scoop up Santillan, with him being one of the only high-leverage relievers not on the shelf for this team.
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Carson Benge Cooling Off at the Plate, Still Flashing Tools in Rookie Season
New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge has struggled at the plate recently, hitting just .115 over his last seven games. The 23-year-old showed strong form in mid-May with six multi-hit performances across eight games, but his production has cooled since that stretch. The early-career upside remains clear, but consistency continues to be the primary hurdle. Through 54 games in his rookie season, Benge is slashing .242/.308/.326 with a .634 OPS. He continues to stand out defensively and on the bases, including a 93rd percentile baserunning run value and 98th percentile arm strength. Benge should remain in the lineup regularly as the Mets evaluate their young outfield options, but his fantasy value depends on whether the bat can stabilize.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dylan Cease Set for Bullpen Saturday, Blue Jays Await Key Rotation Reinforcement
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease (hamstring) is expected to throw a bullpen session Saturday as he continues his recovery from a left hamstring strain. Cease has progressed through a throwing program and is now set to throw approximately 25 to 30 pitches. The next step in his recovery will be facing hitters in live bullpen sessions, although a return date has not yet been established. Before the injury, Cease was enjoying an outstanding first season in Toronto, posting a 3.05 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 11 starts. The 30-year-old also leads the American League with 92 strikeouts in 62 innings, showcasing some of the best swing-and-miss stuff of his career. His absence has been significant for the Blue Jays, but his recovery appears to be moving in the right direction.
Source: Arden Zwelling
Source: Arden Zwelling
Christian Scott Turning Corner, Emerging as Under-the-Radar Rotation Option
New York Mets right-hander Christian Scott continues to trend upward after delivering his best start of the season last Sunday. Scott fired 5 2/3 scoreless innings, marking the deepest outing of his 2026 campaign and lowering his ERA to 3.20. The 25-year-old appears to be settling into a rhythm as he builds toward a full workload. Through 25 1/3 innings, Scott has recorded 30 strikeouts while posting a 1.38 WHIP. His ability to miss bats has remained a strength, and he has done an excellent job limiting hard contact. Scott's 1.5 percent barrel rate ranks in the 98th percentile among qualified pitchers. While he is still somewhat under the radar in fantasy leagues, the improving results and strong underlying metrics suggest he is worth monitoring as a potential rotation addition.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bryson Stott Hitless in Four Straight Games, Offensive Concerns Growing
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott continues to search for answers at the plate, hitting just .174 over his last seven games and going hitless in each of his last four contests. The recent struggles have dropped his season line to a .222/.270/.375 slash line with a .645 OPS across 51 games. Stott has still contributed five home runs, but his offensive approach has shifted this season. He is pulling the ball more frequently and has moved away from the all-fields profile that helped fuel his success in previous years. The former first-round pick should continue to receive regular playing time because of his strong defense and baserunning value. However, fantasy managers may want to consider other middle-infield options until signs of a turnaround begin to emerge.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
A.J. Ewing Collects Two Hits Saturday, Trending Onto Fantasy Radar
New York Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing continued his strong rookie campaign on Saturday, going 2-for-4 with two RBI, one stolen base, and one run scored. The former fourth-round pick has taken advantage of increased playing time with Luis Robert Jr. on the injured list and Tyrone Taylor still weeks away from returning. Through his first 17 major-league games, Ewing is slashing .268/.359/.357 with a .716 OPS while adding four stolen bases. His 92nd-percentile sprint speed has already translated into fantasy value, and his athleticism gives him multiple paths to production. The Mets' No. 1 prospect appears positioned for continued opportunities in the short term. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should keep a close eye on Ewing as he continues to establish himself at the major-league level.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Xander Bogaerts Cold Streak Continues, Fantasy Value Slipping in San Diego
San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts has continued to struggle at the plate, hitting just .154 with a .172 OBP over his last seven games. He is also homerless across his last 19 games, reflecting a clear drop in offensive production. The slump adds to a longer-term trend since joining San Diego in 2023, where Bogaerts has yet to post an OPS over .800 in a Padres uniform. His line drive rate has also fallen from 26.8 percent in 2025 to 18.8 percent in 2026, signaling weaker contact quality. Bogaerts still has the underlying talent that made him an elite hitter earlier in his career, but the current profile is less stable. On the season, Bogaerts is slashing .240/.304/.362 with a .666 OPS. Fantasy managers may want to explore other shortstop options while he works through the downturn.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jose Altuve May Not Need a Rehab Assignment
Jose Altuve (oblique) is trending toward avoiding a rehab assignment altogether. Manager Joe Espada has stated that the 36-year-old is healing at an incredible pace and that his on-field preparation may come through simulated at-bats rather than a minor-league rehab assignment. With his recovery progressing in that direction, a return could come sooner than originally anticipated. There is still no official timetable for his return, but Altuve was swinging at nearly 80 percent effort earlier in the week and continues to field ground balls and run the bases as part of his recovery process. The biggest test will be when he faces live pitching over the next couple of days. Assuming that goes well with no setbacks, fantasy managers should be ready for an activation at some point during the first half of May.
Source: Chandler Rome
Source: Chandler Rome
Corey Seager Faces Live BP and Fields Groundballs
Corey Seager (back) had a busy day on Saturday, facing live pitching and fielding ground balls as planned. Both Seager and manager Skip Schumaker were pleased with the results, as the 32-year-old shortstop appears to be making significant progress in his recovery. It remains unclear what the next steps will be. The 12-year veteran has been sidelined since May 13 with lower back inflammation and suffered a minor setback 10 days later. Given that setback, along with his extensive injury history, the Rangers may wait to see how his body responds to this demanding workout before determining the next phase of his recovery. Seager has struggled to begin the season, hitting .179 with seven home runs in his first 42 games.
Source: Kennedi Landry
Source: Kennedi Landry
Ryan Helsley Inching Closer to a Rehab Assignment
Ryan Helsley (elbow) progressed through a bullpen session on Saturday, throwing between 15 and 20 pitches. This was his first bullpen session since being limited to playing catch for several weeks. It was reported that the 31-year-old closer is nearing the start of a rehab assignment, although no specific timeline was provided. How he recovers from this session will be a key indicator of how quickly the team can advance his recovery process. Helsley last pitched on April 28 before landing on the injured list. He had been perfect up to that point, converting all seven of his save opportunities this season, and is expected to reclaim the closer's role once he is activated from the injured list.
Source: Roch Kubatko
Source: Roch Kubatko
Munetaka Murakami to Miss 4-6 Weeks With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain
It was announced on Saturday that Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The hard-hitting rookie injured himself while running to first base on a ground ball and was immediately removed from the game. This is a crushing blow to the surging White Sox, who will miss his presence in the lineup. The 26-year-old has hit 20 home runs in his first 57 games and has been a spark for the team all season. In his absence, the White Sox's long-term plan could be to move Miguel Vargas to first base and have Colson Montgomery slide over to third base to replace him. With those moves appearing in Saturday's lineup, it seems like a feasible strategy, given that both players have experience at those positions.
Source: Scott Merkin
Source: Scott Merkin
Jeff Hoffman Re-Emerging as Saves Source in Toronto's Bullpen?
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman has racked up two saves while adding two wins over his last four relief appearances. He owns a 0.69 WHIP with nine strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings during that span. Braydon Fisher picked up the save in Friday's 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles as Hoffman was unavailable after pitching in back-to-back games. With Hoffman getting the day off, he will likely return to closer duties if a save chance arises in the near future. Since the calendar has flipped to May, Hoffman has recorded a 2.84 ERA with a 12.1 K:9 over 12 2/3 frames. Overall, the 33-year-old owns a (4-3) record, with a 4.62 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts across 25 1/3 innings. Hoffman has been elite recently and should be added in all leagues (65% rostered in Yahoo) for fantasy managers searching for saves.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ryne Nelson Becoming a Starter to Target Off the Waiver Wire
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson (2-3) allowed one run on six hits and three walks while striking out three across eight innings against the Rockies in his previous start. He owns a 2.36 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 6.6 K:9 across 34 1/3 innings in his last five outings. Overall, he owns a 4.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts through 60 frames this season. Nelson will likely see regression, as his BB% is up from 6.6% to 7.5% this season, while his SIERA is currently sitting at 4.54. The Diamondbacks right-hander has pitched well enough to become a starter to target off the waiver wire. Nelson will look to continue his recent success in his next scheduled start against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Fantasy managers might want to see how Nelson fares against the Mariners before adding him everywhere. However, managers needing a pitching boost can add Nelson, as he's rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Samuel Basallo Blasts Another Home Run, Top Catcher to Target Amid Hot Streak
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Basallo crushed a solo shot off Austin Voth during the bottom of the fifth inning, raising his home run total to nine on the season. The 21-year-old is starting to heat up and is hitting .364 (4-for-11) with two home runs, six RBI, and three runs scored over 14 plate appearances in his last five games. He is ranked as the No. 1 catcher to add based on the latest RotoBaller waiver wire rankings. Basallo is rostered in 55% of Yahoo leagues and is emerging as a top waiver wire add due to his recent hot streak.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Noelvi Marte Emerging as a Top Stash Target Amid Dominant Play at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored in Friday's game against Triple-A St. Paul. He has now logged multi-hit efforts in seven of his last 12 games, while slashing .438/.451/.792 with five home runs, 14 RBI, 10 runs, and a stolen base with Triple-A Louisville. The 24-year-old continues to make a case in the minors for another promotion after being optioned by the Reds in mid-April. Marte struggled mightily with a .138 (4-for-29) in 11 games in the big leagues this season before being optioned, but could force the issue if he continues to wield a hot bat in Triple-A. Fantasy managers with a NA spot or searching for a 3B/OF to stash should target Marte off the waiver wire as he's currently only rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
