MLB News
Matt Vierling Almost Ready For Rehab Assignment
Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) will hopefully be ready to begin a rehab assignment pretty soon, according to manager A.J. Hinch. He's yet to play this season after suffering a strained rotator cuff in February. His rehab assignment should be expected to be on the longer side, considering he missed almost all of spring training with the injury. In 2024, he slashed .257/.312/.423 with 16 home runs, 57 RBI, 80 runs, and six stolen bases in 144 games, making him a useful fantasy player in deeper formats.
1 hour ago
Brandon Marsh Expected To Resume Rehab This Week
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (hamstring) is expected to resume his rehab at some point this week, reports Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Marsh left his rehab game on Sunday with a cramp in his injured right hamstring and is seeing a doctor. Even though it's an issue with the injury he is rehabbing, it was just a cramp, and the Phillies don't seem to be concerned. The outfielder will be looking to turn his season around once he does get activated, since he was batting just .095 through 17 games before being placed on the injured list.
1 hour ago
Ranger Suarez Could Return This Weekend
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (back) could possibly rejoin the rotation this weekend, reports Matt Gelb of The Athletic. That would line him up to make his season debut against the Diamondbacks. He has yet to pitch this season while recovering from a back injury, but will be looking to build on his breakout 2024 season, where he posted a 3.46 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 27 starts for Philadelphia. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball in the first half of 2024 before fading down the stretch, but he has enough potential to be worth adding in any fantasy league where he is available.
1 hour ago
Cristopher Sanchez Set To Start Wednesday
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (forearm) will start on Wednesday, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. He left his previous start last week after two innings due to forearm soreness, but luckily the injury didn't turn into something more serious. Sanchez threw a bullpen session on Sunday without issue and will be ready to start Wednesday against the Nationals. He'll look to pick up where he left off in the midst of a breakout season where he has posted a 3.42 ERA with 33 strikeouts and eight walks over 26 innings.
1 hour ago
Shota Imanaga Exits With Leg Cramps
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga left his start on Tuesday after five innings with leg cramps. He was cruising before he was knocked out of the game, shutting out the Pirates over the five frames while allowing six hits, one walk, and striking out three. His ERA for the season is now down to an excellent 2.77, and he should be good to go for his next start, assuming the cramps don't become an ongoing issue. If he stays on his normal schedule, his next start will come on Sunday in Milwaukee.
1 hour ago
George Kirby "Feeling Great", Could Throw Again On Sunday
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (shoulder) felt great after completing his bullpen session on Monday and is expected to throw again on Sunday. After the session, Kirby noted that he "felt great" and described his session as "nasty." Fantasy managers should monitor his status over the week, as Kirby could be cleared to embark on a rehab assignment this weekend. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since the start of the campaign due to right shoulder inflammation. While the right-hander will need to increase his workload significantly before being in contention to return to the majors, this was a great step in the right direction. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Kirby in all standard formats as he will carry solid SP2 value in all formats when he returns. Last summer, Kirby held a 3.53 ERA with a stellar 1.07 WHIP across 191 innings of work.
3 hours ago
Tyler Fitzgerald Returning To Starting Nine
San Francisco Giants infielder/outfielder Tyler Fitzgerald (chest) is returning to the starting nine on Tuesday when they face the San Diego Padres. The 27-year-old has been held out of the starting lineup for the past two games due to this minor injury. However, Fitzgerald will be making a quick return to the lineup. This evening, he will cover the keystone and bat in the nine-hole. Before his injury, Fitzgerald had not tallied a hit in each of his past two games. However, before this minor skid, the 27-year-old held an impressive .391/.429/.630 slash line with three doubles, two home runs, and seven RBI over his last 14 contests. Even though he has enjoyed a productive start to the campaign, he has generated a low .257 xwOBA, which is well below the average marks. He is best to fade this evening in DFS facing San Diego right-hander Nick Pivetta.
3 hours ago
Max Scherzer Completes 27-Pitch Bullpen Session
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) completed a 27-pitch bullpen session on Friday. Toronto manager John Schneider noted that it was a "step in the right direction" for the veteran right-hander. Scherzer has been sidelined with this injury after making his season debut on March 29. In this outing, Scherzer lasted just three innings before exiting the contest. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears Scherzer will need to complete several more bullpen sessions before being cleared to embark on a rehab assignment. Last season, the 40-year-old was limited to numerous injuries and logged just 43 1/3 innings on the bump. Even though he has battled injuries over the past few seasons, when on the mound, he has been effective. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should continue to stash Scherzer while he slowly increases his workload.
3 hours ago
Josh Lowe Progressing Well, Could Play In Rehab Games On Saturday
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) has been progressing well and could be cleared to participate in rehab games on Saturday. According to Ryan Bass of the FanDuel Sports Network, Lowe participated in batting practice on Tuesday and is expected to take another session on Friday before officially being cleared for a rehab assignment. This is an excellent sign for the 27-year-old as he has only appeared in one game this season before suffering this injury. If Lowe progresses well this week and is able to carry this success into his rehab assignment, he could be cleared to return to the starting nine sometime next week. In 2023, Lowe held a .241/.302/.391 slash line with 10 home runs and 25 stolen bases. Given his five-category potential, he is a solid depth outfielder in standard formats when he returns to action.
3 hours ago
Shane McClanahan Begins "Throwing-Like" Activities
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (triceps) has begun "throwing-like" activities but has yet to begin playing catch. Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash noted that his recovery process has been "slow and steady." While this is not a significant improvement in his progress, it is a good sign to see the southpaw slowly progressing and not facing any setbacks. The left-hander was expected to be Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter but suffered a triceps injury during spring training. He has been on the injured list since the start of the campaign. In addition, McClanahan was recently shifted to the 60-day injured list, which means he will not return till at least the end of the month. Despite his potential extended recovery timetable, McClanahan remains a strong stash option in standard formats given his strikeout potential. While he remains sidelined, Zack Littell should continue to see opportunities in the rotation.
3 hours ago
Spencer Strider Expected To Have Defined Timeline In The Coming Weeks
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (hamstring) is expected to have his timeline determined in the coming weeks. The right-hander was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain last week and could be facing his second extended absence of the season. Strider opened the campaign on the injured list as he was recovering from an internal brace procedure. During his lone start this season, Strider tossed five innings of two-run ball against the Toronto Blue Jays. In this outing, the hard-throwing righty struck out five batters and served up one walk. Last season, Strider was only able to log nine innings before being shut down after undergoing the internal brace procedure. Despite his recent health concerns, when on the bump, Strider is an elite option in all fantasy formats and remains a must-stash option. While he is sidelined, AJ Smith-Shawver should see opportunities in the big leagues.
4 hours ago
Nolan Schanuel Back In Action For Angels
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (knee) is back at first base and is batting in the two-hole for Tuesday's contest against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander Bryce Miller at T-Mobile Park. Schanuel bruised his right knee on Saturday when he fouled a pitch off of it against the Minnesota Twins, and he was held out of Sunday's lineup as a result. But after a day off on Monday, the 23-year-old left-handed hitter will return to the starting nine. The former 11th overall pick in 2023 out of Florida Atlantic University comes into Tuesday's contest slashing a mediocre .247/.327/.382 with a .709 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs scored in 89 at-bats. Schanuel has gone hitless in his last 11 plate appearances with four strikeouts in four games and is hitless in five career at-bats against Miller.
4 hours ago
Jeimer Candelario Dealing With Lower-Back Injury
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that infielder Jeimer Candelario (back) spoke up on Tuesday about a lower-back injury that he's been dealing with. The Reds are looking at Candelario, who is out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's divisional tilt against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Spencer Steer is at first base and batting sixth, while Noelvi Marte is at the hot corner and hitting fifth against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. Candelario has found himself on the bench more of late due to his slow start at the plate, and his back injury could be the primary culprit. The 31-year-old switch-hitter is batting just .113/.198/.213 with two homers and 10 RBI in the first month of the season. Don't rule out an injured-list stint if his back doesn't improve. Marte will benefit from a playing-time standpoint for however long Candelario is out.
4 hours ago
Austin Hays Has "Tender" Hamstring
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that outfielder Austin Hays (hamstring) is out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals due to a "tender" hamstring that is being looked at. Hays has been one of the hotter bats in baseball lately, so fantasy managers would hate to lose the 29-year-old for an extended period of time. For now, consider him to be day-to-day and check back on Wednesday to see if he's back in the starting lineup. With Hays sitting for Game 2 of the series against St. Louis, Santiago Espinal is starting in left field and batting eighth against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. Espinal has hit .167 in just six career at-bats against Mikolas. Hays has played in only 13 games so far due to injury, but he's hitting a robust .365 (19-for-52) with five homers, three doubles and 13 RBI in his 58 trips to the plate. As long as he's healthy, he's a lineup regular for Cincy.
5 hours ago
A.J. Minter's Injury Being Called "Pretty Significant"
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called left-handed reliever A.J. Minter's (lat) injury "pretty significant," and season-ending surgery is a possibility. Minter strained his lat on Saturday against the division-rival Washington Nationals and might have to miss the rest of the 2025 season as a result. It would be a big blow for the Mets' bullpen, as the 31-year-old veteran southpaw had only allowed two earned runs on six hits with five walks and 14 strikeouts in 11 relief innings in his first year with the team. The long-time Atlanta Braves reliever also required season-ending surgery last August for a recurring hip issue. At the very least, he will most likely be out for the rest of the first half of the season. Danny Young is currently the Mets' only left-hander in their major-league bullpen after the injury to Minter.
5 hours ago
Brandon Nimmo Out Sick On Tuesday
Updating a previous report, New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (illness) is out of the lineup on Tuesday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks with some sort of flu, according to Newsday's Laura Albanese. Nimmo is getting an IV and could be available to play off the bench. With Nimmo under the weather, Jose Azocar will man left field in Queens and will bat ninth against Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. It was a bit odd to see Nimmo out of the starting lineup a day after going 4-for-6 with two home runs and nine RBI, but now we know it's because he's not feeling well. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if he's feeling good enough to return to action. Azocar has four hits in his first 10 at-bats with the Mets this year, but those playing DFS will want to avoid the 28-year-old Venezuelan out of the nine-hole.
5 hours ago
Cole Ragans Won't Start On Wednesday
Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (groin) will not make his regularly scheduled start in Tampa against the Rays on Wednesday, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Instead, the Royals will call up pitching prospect Noah Cameron to make the start in Ragans' place on Wednesday. Ragans was pulled from his last start last Thursday against the Colorado Rockies due to a mild strain of his left groin. The 27-year-old southpaw said he had been feeling better since the injury, though, so there's a good chance he'll only have to miss one turn through KC's rotation. Fantasy managers will be hoping he'll avoid a stint on the injured list and will be able to make his next scheduled start in a great matchup on May 5 against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. If Ragans is cleared for that outing, he'll be a must-start in all fantasy formats.
5 hours ago
Dylan Moore Placed On 10-Day Injured List With Hip Inflammation
The Seattle Mariners announced on Tuesday that they placed infielder/outfielder Dylan Moore (hip) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 26) and selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. The team also moved right-handed reliever Gregory Santos (knee) to the 60-day injured list with right-knee inflammation. It's a tough break for the M's and fantasy managers that had scooped Moore up off the waiver wire after his hot start to the 2025 campaign. Before getting injured, the 32-year-old veteran utility man was hitting .286 (20-for-70) with six home runs, nine RBI, five steals and 16 runs scored for Seattle. With Ryan Bliss dealing with a torn biceps, Leo Rivas and Miles Mastrobuoni now figure to split playing time for the Mariners at the keystone until Moore can return.
5 hours ago
Cam Smith Taking The Day Off Against Tigers
Houston Astros rookie outfielder Cam Smith will retreat to the bench for the second game of a series on Tuesday against the visiting Detroit Tigers at Daikin Park. Zach Dezenzo draws into the lineup in right field and will bat seventh against Tigers right-hander Reese Olson. After turning heads with his performance in spring training in the Grapefruit League, the 22-year-old Smith has struggled in the regular season so far and has gone 4-for-22 since hitting two home runs back on April 18. Overall, he's hitting just .211 (15-for-71) with three homers, 10 RBI, a steal and nine runs scored for the Astros. This will be Smith's third time on the bench in the team's last six games. Dezenzo is still searching for his first homer but has hit a decent .273 (9-for-33) in 13 games. He'll be a low-upside DFS play on Tuesday and has never faced Olson in his career.
5 hours ago
Yordan Alvarez Back In Tuesday's Lineup
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (undisclosed) is back in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday and is batting third against the Detroit Tigers and right-hander Reese Olson at Daikin Park. Alvarez exited Monday's game against the Tigers early after hitting a single in the seventh inning, but the Astros never gave an official injury designation for the 27-year-old All-Star. Obviously, the move to pull Alvarez in the series opener on Monday was precautionary, and fantasy managers will want to keep him in their starting lineups on Tuesday. Alvarez has gotten off to a poor start at the plate, especially considering his high standards, as he comes into Tuesday's contest with a .217/.319/.359 slash line, a .677 OPS and only three home runs in his 92 at-bats. The Cuban slugger should turn it around eventually. He has never faced Olson in his career.
5 hours ago
Matt Vierling
• CF
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Tigers
