Fantasy baseball news: Springer’s rest day for the Blue Jays, and Sunday’s news to knowGeorge Springer is slated to rest today for the Blue Jays, and the team is hopeful he can return tomorrow. Cole Burston/Getty ImagesESPN FantasyMay 3, 2026, 10:30 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.
Key links: RP depth chart | Player Rater | Scoring leaders
10-day pitching forecaster | 10-day hitting forecaster
May 4: Sunday morning’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Sunday kicks off early with a 12:45 p.m. ET matchup at Target Field, where the Minnesota Twins will entertain the Toronto Blue Jays. Action continues at 1:30 p.m. with a handful of games, then concludes with the Detroit Tigers hosting the Texas Rangers in the Sunday night affair.
-
George Springer is going to be on the bench for the Blue Jays after aggravating his injured left foot yesterday. He’s been playing through a broken left toe but was hit by a pitch in the area yesterday. X-rays came back negative and Springer was slated to rest today. The Jays are hopeful that he’ll be able to return on Monday for an AL East clash with the Tampa Bay Rays.
-
Cal Raleigh was scratched from yesterday’s game between the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals due to general body soreness. However, the club is sending him for imaging, so his status for today’s series finale is uncertain. If Raleigh is unable to play, either Mitch Garver or Jhonny Pereda will handle catching duties when the Mariners look to avoid being swept.
-
Ronald Acuna Jr. clutched at his hamstring while running out a ground ball in the second inning last night. He left the game and is slated for further evaluation. The Atlanta Braves are already short-handed in the outfield, with Michael Harris nursing a quad injury and limited to DH duty. Eli White took over in right field and Mauricio Dubon started in center field. The Braves won the first two games of their weekend series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
-
The New York Mets‘ infield shuffle continues with Ronny Mauricio heading to the 10-day IL after being diagnosed with a broken left thumb. With Francisco Lindor already out, Bo Bichette slid over from third base with Brett Baty covering the hot corner. This is likely going to be the arrangement for at least another month. The club recently claimed Andy Ibanez off waivers, so he’ll serve as the primary reserve infielder.
-
Christian Walker was hit in the head by a fastball in the ninth inning of Saturday afternoon’s affair. The pitch cracked his helmet, but he passed concussion testing after the game. The Houston Astros are optimistic that he’ll be able to play in today’s game of their series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
-
Brandon Nimmo missed yesterday’s game to rest his lingering hamstring injury. He was taken out early on Wednesday and Friday night, so the Texas Rangers opted to give him a day to hopefully heal. His status for today’s game in Motown against the Detroit Tigers is uncertain.
-
Be sure to check out the just in fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Sunday.
May 2: Saturday morning’s news to know
It’s unclear if Brandon Marsh will need to miss more time after being hit with a pitch Friday night. Rhona Wise-Imagn ImagesBy Todd ZolaToday’s 15-game slate gets underway at 1:35 p.m. ET, with 14 more games scattered throughout the afternoon and early evening. Temperatures remain below average for early May in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. It will likely be raining in Boston, but it shouldn’t put the game between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros in jeopardy.
-
Brandon Marsh left Friday night’s game with a bruised right elbow. Dylan Moore took over and would see more action if Marsh needs to miss additional time. The Philadelphia Phillies hung on to beat the Miami Marlins, with Brad Keller logging the save. It was the first opportunity since closer Jhoan Duran was placed on the 15-day IL in mid-April with a strained left oblique. Duran is eligible to be activated, but he’s slated for a bullpen session today, so his return is unclear.
-
The Tampa Bay Rays may be without Yandy Diaz after he left Friday night’s game with left side tightness. The injury is not considered serious, but his availability for today’s matchup with the San Francisco Giants is unclear. Before the game, the club revealed that Ryan Pepiot is set for season-ending surgery on his right hip.
-
For the second straight game, Brandon Nimmo was forced to leave early with a tight right hamstring. He also exited Wednesday’s game prematurely. Sam Haggerty replaced him in both instances, and is in line to see more action if the Texas Rangers decide to give Nimmo some time off.
-
The Baltimore Orioles placed Ryan Helsley on the 15-day IL with an inflamed right elbow. Albert Suarez was summoned from Triple-A Norfolk to replace him on the roster. Rico Garcia, Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge are the likeliest candidates for ninth-inning duties.
-
Nico Hoerner left Friday’s Chicago Cubs matinee in the second inning with tightness in his neck. He was replaced at the keystone by Matt Shaw. Hoerner’s status is day-to-day, with his availability for today’s game uncertain.
May 1: Forecaster findings
Jackson Chourio’s expected return for Week 6 of the fantasy season should bring smiles to Brewers fans. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesBy Tristan H. CockcroftWould you believe that we’re nearly one-quarter of the way through the 2026 season? Believe it, as that point arrives at the conclusion of fantasy baseball’s Week 6. Assuming no postponements between now and then, 25% of this year’s schedule will be in the books once 14 of the 15 games on Sunday, May 10 — Mother’s Day! — are completed.
-
Among the week’s matchup highlights are a showdown between the NL East and West division leaders — the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers — at Dodger Stadium. The two teams play a three-game weekend series from Friday through Sunday. Over the past two seasons, the Dodgers have taken 10 of these teams’ 13 meetings, including all six games at Dodger Stadium.
-
Braves rookie JR Ritchie, who scored 19 and seven fantasy points in his first two career starts, is projected for his first two-start week, facing the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park before starting the concluding game of that Dodgers series. The Braves could also get closer Raisel Iglesias (shoulder, 15-day IL) back on Tuesday, the first day he’s eligible for activation, though that would have him available for only five of the team’s six Week 6 games.
-
The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs meet in a NL Central showdown — the teams entered play on Friday in first and second place respectively in the division — playing four week-opening games at Wrigley Field. Both teams’ hitting matchups grade among the best, helped by each being among the 12 teams scheduled for seven games.
-
Jackson Chourio (hand, 15-day IL), a 20/20 player in each of his first two MLB seasons and a fourth-round pick on average in ESPN leagues (ADP 31st overall), is on track for activation by the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. He and his Brewers don’t have the easiest schedule on the hitting side, primarily due to a three-game weekend home series against the New York Yankees, but he’s well worth immediate activation in all fantasy leagues, if his recovery stays on schedule.
*Be sure to check the complete Forecaster prior to setting your Week 6 lineups.
May 1: Friday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff’s ‘dead arm’ is causing a lot of concern in Milwaukee. Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesThe weekend kicks off with an afternoon affair at Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks at 2:20 p.m. ET. Action picks up again at 6:40 p.m. ET for the standard array of 14 evening games.
-
Zac Gallen was not a certainty to start today’s game for Arizona due to his having taken a comebacker off his shoulder in his last start, but he revealed no issues following a bullpen session on Wednesday. Assuming he doesn’t tighten up in the cool temperatures, Gallen should benefit from favorable conditions with the wind blowing in.
-
Brandon Woodruff left last night’s game after just 1 1/3 innings. He threw only 21 pitches, but the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t want to take any chances considering his velocity was down more than 7 mph. After the game, Woodruff revealed no issues other than experiencing a dead arm and is expected to undergo some testing. With Quinn Priester not expected back for another couple of weeks, Shane Drohan may come out of the bullpen to join the rotation. The club could also recall Logan Henderson from Triple-A Nashville, where he sports a 1.02 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
-
Michael Harris II served as the Atlanta Braves’ DH last night as a lingering quad issue kept him from playing the outfield. The club indicated that they would continue to use Harris at DH for now but may also consider letting him heal on the IL. Ultimately, a healthy Harris is the goal, but he has hit .474/.500/.868 over the past 12 games, so the Braves hope he can simply get better while staying in the lineup without having to play the field.
-
Vinnie Pasquantino didn’t start yesterday’s game for the Kansas City Royals as he’s been nursing a sore back. However, he was able to pinch-hit and is likely to be in the starting lineup for today’s series opener against Bryan Woo and the Seattle Mariners.
