Fantasy baseball: Rockies’ Mickey Moniak headed to injured listMickey Moniak leads the Rockies with 12 home runs but will miss at least the next 10 games. AP Photo/David ZalubowskiESPN FantasyMay 23, 2026, 08:39 AM ETClose
Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.
Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.
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May 23: Saturday morning’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Today’s 16-game slate gets underway at 1:10 p.m. ET with the first game of a split-admission doubleheader between the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. Last night’s matchup at the Great American Ball Park was rained out and rescheduled for today. The nightcap gets underway at 7:15 p.m. ET..
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While it appears that Mother Nature will cooperate in the Midwest, several East Coast games are in jeopardy, beginning in the Bronx with the New York Yankees meeting the Tampa Bay Rays. Heavy rains will also threaten the Philadelphia Phillies hosting the Cleveland Guardians, the Baltimore Orioles entertaining the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves taking on the Washington Nationals.
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The Rays are set to call up Victor Mesa Jr. from Triple-A Durham, ostensibly to replace Jonny DeLuca. Mesa was lifted early from Friday night’s game and left the team to head to New York. He was hitting .318/.416/.545, though he had just one steal in seven attempts. DeLuca left last night’s contest with a hamstring injury and is likely ticketed for the 10-day IL.
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The Colorado Rockies will be without OF Mickey Moniak for at least 10 days after placing him on the injured list with right ankle tendinitis. He’s hitting .280/.335/.607, with most of the production coming at Coors Field. Only three of the Rockies’ next 11 games are at home, so if Moniak’s IL stint is minimal, most of the missed action will be on the road.
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The Los Angeles Angels’ lineup will get a new look with 3B Yoan Moncada on the 10-day IL and OF Josh Lowe optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. Moncada is out with a sore right knee, and Lowe was struggling with a .184/.226/.320 line. Donovan Walton and Wade Meckler were recalled from Salt Lake to fill the open roster spots.
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The San Diego Padres were without Jackson Merrill for last night’s game with the Athletics. He injured his ribs banging into the outfield wall on Wednesday. The club doesn’t feel the injury is serious and expects Merrill to return over the weekend. Bryce Johnson should see more action while Merrill is out.
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Be sure to check out the newest fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Saturday.
May 22: Friday’s Forecaster findings
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
The Philadelphia Phillies, 16-6 since Don Mattingly took over as manager (entering play on Friday), face among the week’s toughest overall matchups, a direct result of their six-game west coast road trip. They’ll play three games against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park before finishing with three against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
The American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays have among the week’s softest overall matchups, beginning their week with three games against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards before hosting the Los Angeles Angels for three weekend games. Converted reliever Griffin Jax currently aligns as their two-start pitcher, though the team could choose to swap him and Steven Matz in the order.
Assuming all goes well during his scheduled Friday minor league rehabilitation start for Triple-A Sacramento, Logan Webb (knee) should be ready to rejoin the San Francisco Giants’ rotation. He’d line up for a Wednesday home start against the Arizona Diamondbacks or a Friday road assignment at Colorado’s Coors Field, which would represent a near-eight-point fantasy difference in his projection.
Be sure to check out the full Forecaster prior to setting your Week 9 lineups.
May 22: Friday’s news to know
Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees makes his first start since the 2024 World Series. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesBy Todd ZolaFriday’s full slate commences at 2:20 p.m. with the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros getting together for the opener of an interleague set at Wrigley Field. The remaining 14 games are evening affairs.
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The New York Yankees’ roster will have a new look as Gerrit Cole is set to make his 2026 debut this evening. The right-hander will take the hill for the first time since the 2024 postseason as he’s been recovering from Tommy John surgery. Likely joining Cole for tonight’s important home date with the Tampa Bay Rays will be Jose Caballero, who is expected to be activated from the 10-day IL after missing 11 days with a fracture to his middle finger. Caballero is set to return to his starting shortstop role, with Anthony Volpe’s playing status unclear. The club also optioned Spencer Jones back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after posting a .167/.259/.167 line over 27 plate appearances, spanning 10 games.
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Tobias Myers is set to make his second start of the season tonight when the New York Mets open a series against the Miami Marlins in Florida. It was Freddy Peralta’s turn, but Mets manager Carlos Mendoza opted to push everyone up a day. While it’s being considered as a traditional start, Myers will be hard-pressed to toss the requisite five innings needed for a win. It’s uncertain whether this is a spot start, or whether Myers will remain in the rotation.
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Ronald Acuna Jr. is listed as day-to-day after bruising his thumb last night. He apparently hurt his hand while making a catch in last night’s 9-3 road win over the Marlins. X-rays were negative, so the club is hopeful that he’ll be in the lineup for tonight’s series opener, at home against the Washington Nationals.
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The St. Louis Cardinals will reportedly place Nathan Church on the 10-day IL with lower body soreness. They’re expected to call up Bryan Torres to replace Church. Torres is a 28-year-old outfielder set to make his major league debut after hitting .336/.454/.477 for Triple-A Memphis. He doesn’t have much pop, but in 140 Triple-A games, he’s drawn 100 walks while only fanning 82 times. Over that stretch, he stole 38 bases in 46 attempts.
