In The Field
OF Byron Buxton (knee) started a rehab assignment on Wednesday. He went 0-3 with 2 K's but was playing centerfield which is a good sign after spending last year as a DH. He was activated on Saturday and OF Austin Martin was optioned to Triple-A. He hit The issue with Buxton is no longer just injury-related. His skills have declined. He has seen his strikeout rate increase (32% K) and he has combined it with a heavy fly ball approach (50%+) which leads to low batting averages. Buxton has also been running less due to a myriad of lower body injuries which saps the rest of his fantasy value. OF Jasson Dominguez (elbow) started a rehab assignment on Tuesday. The plan is for him to DH for 10-14 days before beginning to play the outfield. He is also expected to be optioned to Triple-A after his rehab assignment is up so that he can continue to get at-bats and a normal rehab assignment can only last 20 days. SS J.P. Crawford (oblique) was hit by a pitch on Wednesday during his rehab assignment and had to leave the game early. 3B Josh Jung (wrist) was able to play catch on Wednesday. This was his first baseball-related activity since hitting the IL. He is still looking at a mid-June return if everything goes as planned. OF Anthony Santander left Wednesday's game early due to a bruised knee. He was back in the lineup on Thursday. Santander is hitting .216 with 7 HR, 22 R, 25 RBI, and 0 SB. SS Taylor Walls (hip) has been cleared for activity and is currently in Florida at the Ray's spring training facility. His goal is to increase activity so that he can begin a rehab assignment before coming back to the major league team. SS Jose Caballero hasn't run away with the job (.252 AVG with 2 HR, 20 R, 13 RBI, and 17 SB) so it will be interesting to see what the Rays decide to do. DJ LeMahieu (foot) is going to start a rehab assignment on Friday. OF Chas McCormick is not going to return on Friday and make a rehab start instead. C Mitch Garver (back) was not in the Mariners lineup on Wednesday due to back spasms. He returned on Friday. 2B Jorge Polanco has missed four straight games. 3B Justin Turner was out of the Blue Jays lineup due to an illness but returned on Friday. 3B Yoan Moncada (thigh) has been able to hit from both sides of the plate as he ramps up baseball activities. The initial timeline had him out until the All-Star break but it appears as if it might be sooner than that if there are no setbacks. 1B Triston Casas (oblique) is feeling good about his recovery. He mentioned that he will run first, then throw, and hitting will be the last baseball activity that he does because it requires the most rotation. 2B Brandon Lowe (oblique) is going to resume his rehab assignment on Saturday. He has been out since April 12 and has had one setback already. He is expected to be back in the Rays lineup on Monday for their series with the Red Sox. 3B Bryan Ramos was placed on the 10-day IL with a left quadriceps strain. He had hit .281 with 0 HR, 4 R, 2 RBI, and 0 SB in 10 GP. He is expected to start a rehab assignment within the next couple of days. OF Steven Kwan (hamstring) took BP on Friday which is the first time since being placed on the 10-day IL. He is still without a timetable for his return. 3B DJ LeMahieu (foot) is expected to be back before the end of the month. 3B Josh Jung (wrist) has had his timeline moved from 6-8 weeks to 10-12 weeks. He has yet to pick up a bat.
On The Mound
Jeffrey Springs (elbow) is going to start his rehab assignment on May 20 in the Florida Complex League. He was able to make it through a two-inning live BP session unscathed. It is going to be a long process to return but it is encouraging that he is starting a rehab assignment. It is easy to forget how dominant Springs was before getting injured. Ryan Pepiot (leg) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and the next step is a simulated game. Pepiot has been excellent to start the year (3.69 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21% K:BB). His 3.29 SIERA indicates where his skills can take him. Max Scherzer (back/thumb) has been moved from the 15-day to the 60-day IL as he has hit multiple roadblocks in his return from back surgery. He is dealing with a nerve issue but MRIs on his triceps, elbow, and neck have all come back clean. Ronel Blanco has been suspended for 10 games for foreign substances in his latest start. He is not going to appeal the suspension. Alex Wood (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday with left rotator cuff tendinitis. Wood has a 5.26 ERA and 1.78 WHIP. The Athletics called up Aaron Brooks to take his rotation spot. He isn't much of a fantasy option because he has struggled to miss bats at the major league level (16% K). Ken Waldichuk had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and is going to be out for the year and most of 2025. Garrett Whitlock (oblique) looked good in his most recent rehab start (4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, and 5 K) but has been shut down from throwing after experiencing soreness in his elbow. Bowden Francis (forearm) went 2 IP, 1 H, and 4 K in his most recent rehab assignment. The Blue Jays have decided that he needed another rehab appearance (Saturday) before returning. With Alek Manoah being up with the big-league club it looks as if Francis is going to be moved into a long relief role. Gerrit Cole threw a bullpen session on Tuesday (36 pitches). He threw a 2 IP simulated bullpen on Saturday. The real test will come once he starts facing live hitters. Kenta Maeda (illness) is already throwing off a mound. He is scheduled for a rehab start on Sunday. Maeda has struggled this year (6.75 ERA and 1.40 WHIP) and his underlying skills don't paint a pretty picture (17% K, 8% BB, and 4.58 SIERA). Dane Dunning (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. This was his first bullpen session since being placed on the IL on May 8. He is eligible to return on Monday but he is going to need at least one rehab start before returning. Shane Baz (elbow/oblique) struggled with control (5 BB) in a rehab start last Friday. In his most recent rehab start, he went 3.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 3 K. He is trying to work his way back from Tommy John surgery and a setback due to an oblique injury. His stuff has been down and he is struggling with control (20% BB). Baz still has immense upside but he is going to have to show improved stuff (velocity and movement) plus control before he should be considered for fantasy. Cody Bradford (ribs) has been cleared to throw but is still a month away from returning according to manager Bruce Bochy. Nathan Eovaldi (groin) threw a bullpen session on Friday. He was eligible to return on Saturday but will need a couple of weeks to get going again. Once he starts facing live hitters we will have a better understanding of when he will return. Yariel Rodriguez (back) has scheduled a rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday. The Blue Jays have not given a detailed plan for Rodriguez in terms of whether he will return as a starter or reliever. Jose Urquidy (forearm) was scheduled for a rehab start on Saturday for 60-65 pitches which means that he will need at least one more before being activated. Grayson Rodriguez was activated off the 15-day IL to start Saturday against the Mariners.
In The Bullpen
Brock Stewart received a PRP injection in his shoulder to help ease the tendinitis he is experiencing. The hope was that he would be throwing by last weekend but that was not the case. Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran are holding down the Twins back end of the bullpen. Liam Hendricks (elbow) is throwing and is getting out to 120 ft. which is a good sign because he is a year removed from Tommy John surgery. He is expected back at the trade deadline. Kenley Jansen has been okay but not great (3.45 ERA and 1.34 WHIP). He has struggled with control (15% BB) which could open the door for Hendricks provided the walks continue and Hendricks comes back with the same stuff. There is a lot of time between now and then so he's not an option for fantasy. Ryan Pressly was unavailable on Friday night due to finger soreness on his throwing hand. He has struggled mightily this year (5.51 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, and 23% K:BB). Pressly has been hurt by a ridiculous .457 BABIP. Felix Bautista (elbow) was able to play catch on Friday. He is still expected to miss all of 2024 but it is encouraging to see him throwing. The Orioles bullpen is a mess right with Craig Kimbrel trying to work his way back into the closer's role. They went without a save this week but Yennier Cano did pick up a hold after blowing a save on Monday. Jacob Webb and Kimbrel also picked up holds. Clay Holmes picked up another save this week and continues to be dominant (0.00 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 24% K:BB). The Rays bullpen was very Raysian this week with Pete Fairbanks, Jason Adam, Kevin Kelly, Erasmo Ramirez, and Garrett Cleavinger picking up saves. Emmanuel Clase continues to be an elite closer (0.40 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 27% K:BB, and 13 SV). James McArthur picked up two saves as it seemed like he might be losing his job as closer. Josh Hader picked up a win and a save this week and has been better in May (1.23 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, and 26% K:BB) albeit a small sample. Andres Munoz continues to look like an elite reliever with 2 SVs this week and now has a 1.47 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 24% K:BB, and 7 SV.
Players to add this week:
OF Brent Rooker (OAK)- Brent Rooker is playing regularly and producing. He is hitting .272 with 10 HR, 21 R, 28 RBI, and 2 SB. He is still struggling with strikeouts (33%K) but he is hitting the ball so hard that it doesn't matter (14% Barrels and 49% Hardhit). Rooker has been red hot in the month of May (.351 AVG with 5 HR, 13 R, 15 RBI, and 1 SB).
3B Abraham Toro-Hernandez (OAK)- Abraham Toro-Hernandez is getting regular at-bats for the Athletics and is producing. He is hitting .296 with 4 HR, 23 R, 17 RBI, and 2 SB. He isn't elite in any one category but he provides just enough value across the board that he could be a valuable piece of your team especially in deeper mixed leagues. Toro-Hernandez makes a lot of contact (18% K) and barrels just enough baseballs (6% Barrels) to get to double-digit home run power.
OF Davis Schneider (TOR)- Davis Schneider has been one of the bright spots of the Blue Jays lineup. He is hitting .267 with 5 HR, 18 R, 17 RBI, and 2 SB in 124 PA. Schneider hits the ball extremely hard (19% Barrels and 40% Hardhit). However, his fly-ball profile (49% FB) is going to make it hard for him to hit for a high average. He is more of a 20 HR/10 SB player with a .230ish AVG. Despite this, if the Blue Jays are going to bat him leadoff he is going to see an increase in his value.
SP Clark Schmidt (NYY)-Clarke Schmidt has looked like a new pitcher this year. He has a 2.49 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. The biggest improvements have come from missing more bats (27% K and 12% SwStr). He struggled last year (4.64 ERA and 1.35 WHIP) but that was with 22% K and 10% SwStr. The other difference maker has been a change to his pitch mix against LHB that has allowed him greater success. He gave up a .377 wOBA to LHB last year and dropped that to .286 wOBA this year.
OF Max Kepler (MIN)- Max Kepler is hitting .305 with 3 HR, 13 R, 17 RBI and 1 SB. He has cut down on the strikeouts (16% K) this year. He hits the ball hard enough (8% Barrels and 41% Hardhit) to make it work. Kepler has been crushing the ball in May (.353 AVG with 2 HR, 9 R, 8 RBI, and 0 SB). Just be aware that he will sit against most left-handed starters.
SP Reese Olson (DET)-Reese Olson has been brilliant this year in terms of ratios (2.09 ERA and 0.99 WHIP) but the underlying skills aren't as rosy. He has an average strikeout (22% K) and walk (8% BB) rates. What he does excel at his getting ground balls (55% GB) which helps make up for the strikeout rate. This gives him a 3.77 SIERA which is worth rostering in mixed leagues. He should be one of the top pickups this weekend as he has two starts next week and both are good matchups (@KC and TOR).
SP Taj Bradley (TBR)-Taj Bradley has now made two starts since coming back from injury. He has looked good (11 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, and 13 K). It is just two starts but he has appeared to make a pitch mix change. He is throwing his fastball less and his changeup more. It is also good news that his cutter is average 90.8 mph which is a key level for his success and one of the reasons why he was sent down last year. He also gets two starts next week (BOS and KCR).
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