RADIO
Jacob Misiorowski Leaves Start Early on Friday With Hamstring Cramp
Milwaukee Brewers hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (hamstring) was pulled from his start on Friday early against the Washington Nationals in the sixth inning with a right-hamstring cramp, according to Brewers reporter Sophia Minnaert. The Miz's hamstring cramps came at a bad time, as he was no-hitting the Nationals through 5 1/3 innings with two walks allowed and eight strikeouts when trainers came out to check on him. It doesn't appear to be a very serious issue, but fantasy managers will need to keep an eye out for whether he's ready to make his next start next week, which should come against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. The 6-foot-7, 201-pound, 24-year-old is already one of the best strikeout arms in baseball in his first full season in the big leagues after fanning 87 in his first 66 big-league innings over 15 outings (14 starts) in his rookie season in 2025. The Miz entered Friday's game with a 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a league-leading 51 punchouts across six starts and 32 2/3 frames. Misiorowski is a must-start in fantasy lineups every time he toes the rubber.
Source: Sophia Minnaert
Source: Sophia Minnaert
Brandon Nimmo Aggravates Hamstring, Pulled Early on Friday
Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo (hamstring) left early on Friday in the series opener against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning after his second single of the contest after aggravating his hamstring injury, according to Jeff Wilson of All City DLLS. Nimmo also left Wednesday's series finale against the New York Yankees early due to hamstring tightness, which he said is a common occurrence and is manageable. Before hitting the showers early, Nimmo went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored and a walk to raise his season average over .300 to .302. Ezequiel Duran shifted from second base to right field to replace Nimmo. Even though Nimmo doesn't appear to be very worried about his right hamstring, fantasy managers should at least expect him to sit out of Saturday's contest in Motown. And if Nimmo needs a trip to the injured list, Sam Haggerty could benefit the most from extra playing time in the outfield for the Rangers. Nimmo is a must-roster outfielder in all fantasy leagues as an on-base machine and multi-category contributor at the top of Texas' batting order.
Source: All City DLLS - Jeff Wilson
Source: All City DLLS - Jeff Wilson
Matt Brash Diagnosed With Lat Inflammation, Could Land on IL
Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Matt Brash (lat) had an MRI exam that showed "trace inflammation" in his right lat, president of baseball operations Justin Hollander told MLB.com's Daniel Kramer. There were no signs of structural damage for Brash. The Mariners are now trying to determine if he'll need to go on the 15-day injured list. Brash was pulled on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins after throwing just two pitches. The 27-year-old Canadian could need to rest his lat for several weeks, which would be a big blow to Seattle's bullpen. Brash isn't the team's closer (that's Andres Munoz), but he's been excellent in a late-inning setup role and is a fine source of holds. Through his first 11 1/3 innings of 2026, Brash has yet to allow a run while picking up two wins and striking out eight in 14 appearances. If anything were to happen to Munoz, Brash would also be the clear favorite for saves in Seattle. He's currently rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Bryce Miller to Make Next Rehab Start on Wednesday
Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (shoulder) said the tentative plan right now is for him to make another minor-league rehab start on Wednesday with High-A Everett, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Miller is getting close to rejoining the Mariners' starting rotation to make his 2026 season debut, and fantasy managers looking for rotation upgrades should consider stashing him now. The 27-year-old former fourth-rounder out of Texas A&M in 2021 has looked good on his rehab assignment through three starts, and he threw 36 of his 53 pitches for strikes while tossing four scoreless innings his last time out on Thursday with Triple-A Tacoma. Right now, Miller is rostered in only 29% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available. The good news for Miller is that he hasn't dealt with any elbow injuries, which derailed his 2025 campaign. He's worth a look to see if he can rediscover the form he had in 2024 with the M's, when he went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with 171 K's and 45 walks in 180 1/3 innings across his 31 starts. Miller should be back in the big leagues by mid-May.
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Giancarlo Stanton Not Cleared to Run, Could Resume Hitting This Weekend
New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (calf) has yet to run after going on the 10-day injured list with a low-grade right-calf strain, manager Aaron Boone told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. The hope is that Stanton resumes hitting this weekend. The last box that Stanton will probably have to check before being cleared to return to the Yankees or go on a minor-league rehab assignment will be to run at full speed. Until that happens, it's hard to say when the right-handed power hitter will return from the IL. Given his lengthy injury history, fantasy managers should expect the Yankees to be cautious. Former top prospect Jasson Dominguez (elbow) was called up from the minors with Stanton hurt, but he suffered an elbow contusion earlier this week and has missed the last two games. Stanton is only rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues after his injury, but he'll be the team's full-time DH when he returns, and he can still provide useful power numbers in a strong Yankees lineup.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Gerrit Cole Scheduled to Make Next Rehab Start on Tuesday
New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole's (elbow) next scheduled minor-league rehab start will come on Tuesday with High-A Hudson Valley, according to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. Cole went 5 2/3 innings in his latest rehab start on Wednesday with Double-A Somerset, but the 35-year-old hasn't exactly looked great so far in the minors as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery early last year that kept him out for all of 2025. The former first overall pick out of UCLA in 2011 has been knocking off the rust with a 4.40 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and one walk in his three rehab appearances. Cole is understandably taking a little longer than fellow rotation mate Carlos Rodon (elbow) in his return, and although he's had some trouble with the long ball, Cole remains on track to rejoin New York's rotation in a couple of weeks or so, barring a setback. He's rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues right now. Cole could be more of a question mark initially as he works his way back from a long layoff, but fantasy managers are willing to gamble on the chance he finds his pre-injury form as an ace.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Carlos Rodon Might Need Only One More Rehab Start
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that it's possible that left-hander Carlos Rodon (elbow) only makes one more minor-league rehab start, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. The plan is for Rodon to pitch on Tuesday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Barring a setback on Tuesday, that will be his last start in the minors before making his 2026 season debut in pinstripes. The 33-year-old veteran is on the cusp of rejoining the Yankees, and he's looked great so far in his two rehab starts, striking out 12 and walking one while giving up just one run in 9 2/3 innings with High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. Rodon will look to go over 80 pitches with Triple-A next week, so he'll be fully stretched out when he reaches the big leagues. He's coming off surgery last October to remove a bone spur in his left elbow. The three-time All-Star should be scooped up immediately if he's available in your league. Rodon is rostered in 86% of Yahoo leagues already.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Vinnie Pasquantino Back in Royals Starting Lineup Against Mariners
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (back) is starting at first base and batting third for the Royals against the hosting Seattle Mariners and right-hander Bryan Woo in Friday's series opener, according to MLB.com. Pasquantino, who said he has been battling some back injuries for most of the year so far, will return after sitting out each of the last two games with lower-back tightness. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger is a must-roster player in fantasy baseball leagues after his breakout 2025 season, in which he set career-highs in home runs (32), RBI (113), and runs scored (72). He's off to a slow start this year, though, and perhaps it's due to his back problems. Pasquantino returns to the lineup hitting .165 (17-for-103) with three home runs, 14 RBI, 11 runs scored, 16 walks, and 24 strikeouts across 29 games and 124 plate appearances. Fantasy managers hope his back injury doesn't flare up again and that he starts to swing a hotter bat to begin May.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tyler Soderstrom Returns to A's Lineup After Getting Banged Up
Athletics first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (head, shoulder) is back in left field and will hit sixth in the batting order for Friday's series opener against the visiting Cleveland Guardians and left-hander Joey Cantillo, according to MLB.com. Even with a left-hander on the mound, Soderstrom will return to the A's starting nine after sitting out the last two games because he was banged up from a diving catch in the outfield on Tuesday. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger won't be the most popular DFS play on Friday night, even with the A's at home at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. Soderstrom has hit just .211 (23-for-109) on the season with three home runs, 18 RBI, 14 runs scored, and a steal. He's really struggled against lefties, too, going 3-for-34 (.088) against them with none of his three home runs, two walks, and 11 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances. Soderstrom will be facing Cantillo for the first time in his career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Michael Harris II Out Again With Quad Injury
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (quadriceps) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Denver against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, per MLB.com. Mauricio Dubon is starting in center field for Atlanta and will bat fifth against Rockies veteran left-hander Jose Quintana. Jorge Mateo is starting at the 6 for the Braves. Harris is being considered day-to-day for now, but if he cannot return during the weekend series in Colorado, he could land on the 10-day injured list after coming down with quadriceps tightness the other day. It's a really bad time for the 25-year-old to be injured after his really hot start to the 2026 season. Going into Friday's games, Harris is slashing .317/.352/.535 with an .887 OPS, six home runs, 20 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 101 at-bats. Both Dubon and Eli White are options to replace Harris in center field for the Braves if he continues to miss time beyond Friday's contest. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for an update on Harris and to see if he's back in the lineup for Game 2 in Denver.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ryan Helsley Placed on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation
Baltimore Orioles right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with right-elbow inflammation, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. This one is a bit of a surprise after Helsley looked fine in his last outing, when he locked down his seventh save of the year with a perfect ninth inning. It's quite a big shakeup in fantasy baseball leagues and will give managers a chance to poach some saves off the waiver wire for at least the next couple of weeks. It's unclear how Baltimore will approach save situations going forward, but they will most likely go with a committee approach that could involve all of Andrew Kittredge, Rico Garcia, Anthony Nunez, and Yennier Cano. Kittredge has the most experience (nine-plus seasons in the big leagues), but Garcia, Nunez, and Cano have all pitched extremely well this year and deserve opportunities as well. Garcia is probably your best bet if you're speculating, and he's currently rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues. Helsley should be stashed in an IL spot in all leagues in what is looking like a bounce-back 2026 campaign.
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Justin Verlander to Throw Another Bullpen, Still Not "Asymptomatic"
Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) will throw another bullpen session in his rehab, and he's taking steps forward, but he's still not "asymptomatic," according to Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group. There has been no talk of sending Verlander on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 43-year-old's body just isn't responding the way he'd like it to as he nears the end of his outstanding and likely Hall of Fame career. Verlander doesn't seem much closer to returning from the 15-day injured list. He missed all of April and doesn't have a clear path to a speedy recovery. The former MVP, three-time Cy Young winner, and nine-time All-Star is clearly running out of steam and has had a tough time staying healthy in recent years. In his lone start in 2026 against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 30, he allowed five earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out only one in 3 2/3 innings. Verlander is now rostered in just 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLive Media Group - Evan Woodbery
Source: MLive Media Group - Evan Woodbery
MRI Comes Back Clean for Garrett Crochet
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that left-hander Garrett Crochet's (shoulder) MRI exam on his left shoulder came back clean, with just some inflammation in his shoulder, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Crochet won't resume throwing for a few days and will now focus on rebuilding strength in his arm. The talented southpaw was put on the 15-day injured list by the BoSox on Wednesday, and the hope is that he can have a minimal stint on the IL. The 26-year-old former first-rounder by the Chicago White Sox in 2020 out of Tennessee hasn't been himself so far in six starts for Boston, and his shoulder injury is likely a big reason for that. Crochet landed on the IL with a 3-3 record, bloated 6.30 ERA (4.33 FIP), 37 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 30 innings pitched. The two-time All-Star needs to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues while he recovers from shoulder inflammation. For now, left-handed pitching prospect Jake Bennett will take Crochet's spot in the rotation and make his big-league debut on Friday against the Houston Astros.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Cade Povich Officially Called Up to Start Against Yankees on Friday
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Friday that they recalled left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned right-hander Cameron Foster to Norfolk in a corresponding move. Povich is slated to start in Friday's series opener in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees. The 26-year-old southpaw will temporarily fill in for the Orioles in place of left-hander Trevor Rogers (illness), but if he pitches well, the O's could be forced to find a permanent spot for Povich in the rotation. The former third-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2021 looked good in two outings (one start) for Baltimore already this year, giving up three earned runs on nine hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out seven in 12 1/3 innings. Povich doesn't have a high-end arsenal as a starter, but he's had a 30% strikeout rate in the minors and should at least deserve some attention off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues. Unfortunately, his matchup on Friday for his second start of 2026 is not one we would recommend as a streamer in the Bronx.
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Source: Baltimore Orioles
Ryan Pepiot to Miss the Rest of the Season, Scheduled for Hip Surgery
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot (hip) will miss the rest of the 2026 season and is scheduled to have hip surgery on May 13, according to Rays sideline reporter Ryan Bass. Pepiot's season will come to an end before it even started due to a right-hip injury. He initially landed on the 15-day injured list before the start of the regular season with what was being called hip inflammation. Pepiot received an injection in his right hip, but it continued to feel unstable, and he'll be forced to go under the knife. It's unclear if his recovery from this injury will spill over into spring training next year or the start of the 2027 season. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues can now safely drop Pepiot to the waiver wire. He's currently rostered in 69% of Yahoo leagues. Pepiot's season-ending injury means that swingman Nick Martinez is safe in Tampa's rotation for now.
Source: Ryan Bass
Source: Ryan Bass
