Fantasy baseball: A pair of Blue Jays exit early, and other news for MondayBlue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease left Saturday night’s game early. Nick Turchiaro-Imagn ImagesESPN FantasyMay 25, 2026, 10:00 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 25: Monday’s news to know
Everyone is in action on Memorial Day except the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels. Two of the 13 games get underway at 1:35 p.m. ET. After three straight slates with at least one rainout, nothing on Monday appears to be in jeopardy. Though there will be morning rain at Camden Yards, it’s expected to taper off by the time the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays meet for one of the first games of the day.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left yesterday’s game after being hit by a pitch on his right elbow. X-rays were negative, but Guerrero revealed feeling numbness in his fingers, indicating the pitch hit a nerve. He’s expected to be examined before tomorrow’s pre-game workout prior to the opener of the Toronto Blue Jays home series against the Miami Marlins. It’s best to have a contingency plan ready in case Guerrero can’t play.
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Guerrero wasn’t the only Blue Jay injured yesterday, as Dylan Cease had to leave with a sore hamstring after logging 4 2/3 innings. Initial evaluation is encouraging, but he’s slated for an MRI today.
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Josh Jung missed yesterday’s game after leaving Saturday’s contest with a sore left shoulder. Michael Helman played shortstop, with Ezequiel Duran manning the hot corner. Jung is one of the few bright spots on a Texas Rangers team dealing with multiple injuries. He’s batting .309/.357/.462 over 48 games. He’s considered day-to-day in advance of this evening’s home date with the Houston Astros.
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Ian Happ was on the bench for both Chicago Cubs’ weekend meetings with the Houston Astros. The Cubs were swept, extending their losing streak to eight games. Manager Craig Counsell indicated that he wanted to give Happ a mental break and that he expects Happ to be in today’s lineup for their early matinee against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was 1-for-24 with 14 strikeouts and two walks over the six games heading into the weekend.
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Max Muncy is expected to miss tonight’s home affair when the Los Angeles Dodgers entertain the Colorado Rockies. He missed the past two games after being hit by a pitch on Friday. He was initially scheduled for a CT scan today, but manager Dave Roberts indicated that Muncy showed enough improvement yesterday to avoid imaging. Miguel Rojas should continue to see action at third base, though Enrique Hernandez is expected to be activated from the 10-day IL and could be an option. Hernandez has been rehabbing from a torn tendon in his left elbow. He underwent surgery last November.
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Be sure to check out the recent fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Monday.
May 24: Sunday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Brycen Mautz is slated to make his MLB debut today. Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesRain postponed two games yesterday, with a handful in jeopardy today. One of the rainouts between the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards was rescheduled for today, making it a 16-game slate. The first game gets underway at 12:35 p.m. ET with the Toronto Blue Jays hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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The forecast calls for heavy rain for the following contests: the Kansas City Royals at the Boston Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays at the New York Yankees, the St. Louis Cardinals at the Cincinnati Reds, the Cleveland Guardians at the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals at the Atlanta Braves. It will also still be raining in Baltimore, so the status of the day-night twin bill is uncertain.
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Weather permitting, Brycen Mautz is set to make his major league debut for the Cardinals when they face the Reds. Their pitching was taxed by yesterday’s doubleheader, so the 24-year-old southpaw will be called up after posting a 2.90 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings for Triple-A Memphis.
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Injury woes for the Texas Rangers continue, with Josh Jung leaving last night’s game with a sore left shoulder. After the game, he indicated that he didn’t think it was serious, but he’ll likely undergo testing to confirm. To replace Jung, Ezequiel Duran moved from shortstop to third base and Michael Helman came in to play shortstop.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks placed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the 10-day IL with a hamstring issue. They called up Tommy Troy to take his roster spot and fill in as the starting left fielder. The 24-year-old was batting .307/.397/.449 with six steals for Triple-A Reno. However, temper expectations as offense is boosted in the Pacific Coast League, and Troy is a bit advanced for the level.
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Yordan Alvarez left yesterday’s game in the sixth inning with back spasms. After the game, the Houston Astros indicated that Alvarez was scheduled to be on the bench today when they wrap up a series in Wrigley Field with the Chicago Cubs. The club is hopeful that Alvarez will return to its lineup on Memorial Day when they visit the Rangers.
May 23: Saturday morning’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with 12 home runs but will miss at least the next 10 games. AP Photo/David ZalubowskiToday’s 14-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 already postponed, with a split doubleheader scheduled for September 22. The matchup between the the Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers has als0 been postponed, with a twin bill scheduled at Camden Yards tomorrow. Heavy rains will also threaten the Philadelphia Phillies hosting the Cleveland Guardians 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.
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.
