TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- STASH — Gage Jump (AAA LHP, Athletics call-up, 23, 97-mph fastball, 56 K in 38 IP) per @JeffPassan: elite prospect ready for eventual MLB role.
- HOLD — Jacob Misiorowski (MIL RP, 1.83 ERA, 100 K in 11 starts, 7 IP / 12 K yesterday): league's strikeout leader is untouchable; ride the heat.
- ADD — Tanner Andrews (TOR RP, 1.35 ERA, 22 K in 20 IP at AAA): now on active roster replacing Cease, high-leverage relief spot opening.
- WATCH — Josh Jung (TEX 3B): MRI clean, full ROM/strength; could return as soon as May 26 (today) per @ESPN—monitor lineup for activation.
- DROP — Cole Ragans (KC SP): suffered setback in rehab outing; shutdown indefinitely per @NBCSports, no June return likely anymore.
Misiorowski eclipses 100 strikeouts; scoreless streak snapped
HOLD · MIL · PITCHER
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL, 41% owned) posted a dominant 7 IP / 12 K / 1 ER outing yesterday, becoming the first pitcher in MLB to reach 100 strikeouts this season, per @AdamMcCalvy. His 1.83 ERA after 11 starts ranks among league leaders. His 29 1/3-inning scoreless streak—the third-longest in Brewers single-season history—ended when St. Louis scored, but the velocity signal remains elite: eight pitches at 103.0 mph in the first inning alone, per @AdamMcCalvy. He's locked in as a top-tier fantasy asset.
Action: Hold and start confidently; do not sell into any trade offer unless you receive premium return.
Cease hamstring IL; Andrews called up to fill rotation gap
HOLD · TOR · PITCHER
Dylan Cease (TOR, 58% owned) was placed on the 15-day IL with a mild left hamstring strain after exiting his May 24 start in the 5th, per @KeeganMatheson. He is out at least two weeks. The Blue Jays selected RHP Tanner Andrews (TOR, 5% owned) to replace him—a right-handed reliever with a 1.35 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 20 innings at AAA this year, per @bnicholsonsmith. Toronto's 40-man roster is now full. Andrews enters a high-leverage bullpen role with immediate fantasy upside in leagues counting holds or innings pitched.
Action: Hold Cease; add Andrews on waivers if your league counts relief appearances.
Ragans setback erases June timeline; KC rotation in flux
DROP · KC · PITCHER
Cole Ragans (KC, 27% owned) suffered a setback in his last rehab outing and has been shut down, per @NBCSports (May 26). He was originally targeted to return in June 2026 after being placed on the 15-day IL on May 7, but the regression signals an indefinite pause. With no new ETA provided, fantasy managers should treat him as a drop in redraft leagues and downgrade him in dynasty holds until Kansas City provides a concrete return window.
Action: Drop in redraft; stash only if you have surplus bench space in deep dynasty leagues.
Toronto's pitching ramp: Scherzer BP Wednesday, multiple arms ramping
WATCH · TOR · PITCHER
Max Scherzer (TOR, 63% owned) will pitch a live BP in Toronto on Wednesday, per @bnicholsonsmith. He will require multiple rehab appearances before returning to the rotation, but the progression is on track. Additionally, Tommy Nance and Joe Mantiply are expected to resume throwing within the next day or two. This ramp signals Toronto is managing its 60-day IL cohort carefully—monitor for any setbacks that could slow the timeline.
Action: Hold Scherzer in redraft if you grabbed him late; do not trade for him yet as return date remains uncertain.
Guerrero Jr. available off the bench; hip concerns linger for Taylor
WATCH · TOR/NYM · INFIELDER/OUTFIELDER
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR, 87% owned) was out of the starting lineup May 25 a day after exiting on a hit-by-pitch to the right elbow; X-rays were negative and he could return soon, per @bnicholsonsmith. He remains day-to-day but is available off the bench. In New York, Tyrone Taylor (NYM, 8% owned) exited May 25 vs Cincinnati in the 6th with right hip pain and is heading for an MRI, per @MLB.com (May 25), with IL placement probable. Taylor was hitting just .186 with 3 HR this season, so his absence opens DH/OF reps for NYM bench depth.
Action: Hold Guerrero Jr.; monitor Taylor's MRI result—if IL-bound, he becomes a drop in most leagues.
Soto's illness exits; set to return Wednesday
WATCH · NYM · OUTFIELDER
Juan Soto (NYM, 98% owned) was out of the lineup for a second straight game May 25 with an illness but is reportedly set to return to the lineup Wednesday, per @MLB.com (May 25). His absence is temporary and roster-impact minimal; no IL placement is imminent. Resume him in daily lineups once he returns.
Action: Bench him today if available; add back to active roster once the team confirms his return in Wednesday's lineup.
Jung MRI clean; Rangers could have him back as soon as today
WATCH · TEX · INFIELDER
Josh Jung (TEX, 62% owned) had an MRI Monday that showed no significant issues in his non-throwing shoulder, with full range of motion and strength, per @ESPN (May 25). He could be back in the lineup as soon as May 26 (today). This is a green-light signal—monitor Rangers' lineup card for confirmation of his return to the starting 3B spot.
Action: Hold and activate in lineups once the Rangers confirm his return.
Muncy IL inevitable; swelling remains a barrier
DROP · LAD · INFIELDER
Max Muncy (LAD, 31% owned) is no longer on track for a May return, per @AthlonSports (May 24). Manager Roberts said Monday is unrealistic; best case is swinging once swelling subsides, otherwise an IL stint with backdating is likely. Muncy was slashing .258 with 12 HR before the injury, so the timeline is now mid-to-late June at best. In shallow redraft leagues, this is a drop candidate.
Action: Drop in leagues with shallow benches; stash only in deep formats with DL slots.
Quintana elbow IL; first-ever elbow issue for Colorado starter
DROP · COL · PITCHER
Jose Quintana (COL, 24% owned) was placed on the 15-day IL May 25 with a sprained pitching elbow after leaving his May 24 start in the 2nd inning, having allowed six runs in 1.1 IP, per @MLBTradeRumors (May 25). This is his first-ever elbow issue, making the severity uncertain. Welinton Herrera was recalled. Quintana's mid-June ETA gives him 3-4 weeks of absence; drop in redraft and monitor for updates.
Action: Drop or trade; Quintana's elbow is a red flag that could signal longer absence than 15 days.
McClanahan exits with HBP, bases loaded; Rays monitor closely
WATCH · TB · PITCHER
Shane McClanahan (TB, 19% owned) left his May 25 outing with 1 out and 2 on in the 6th after recording a hit-by-pitch and a walk, per @TBTimes_Rays. The circumstances (HBP, walk leading to jam) suggest potential injury or loss of control. Monitor the Rays' medical update for any IL placement or role change.
Action: Bench McClanahan pending injury update; do not drop yet if IL status is day-to-day.
DeLuca hamstring strain carries 6-8 week timeline
DROP · TB · OUTFIELDER
Jonny DeLuca (TB, 3% owned) suffered a Grade 1 right hamstring strain on the basepaths May 22, with an MRI confirming a 6-8 week recovery window, per @TBTimes_Rays. He was already placed on the 10-day IL with an ETA in mid-June, but this timeline suggests 8+ weeks of absence—a full 2-month sidebar. In redraft leagues, this is a drop. Cedric Mullins (BAL, 5% owned) is a potential fill-in outfielder, though he plays for a different team; check TB's internal depth chart for primary replacement.
Action: Drop DeLuca; monitor if any TB outfielders are called up to fill the vacancy.
Bradish's ERA climb stalls; no run support weighs on decision
HOLD · BAL · PITCHER
Kyle Bradish (BAL, 38% owned) allowed just 1 run over 6 innings on May 25, lowering his ERA from 5.03 (May 2) to 3.86, per @masnRoch. He threw 92 pitches with efficient command. However, he received no offensive support, a recurring theme for Baltimore's rotation. His peripherals are improving; continue to start him in favorable matchups.
Action: Hold and start confidently against weak offenses; his ERA recovery suggests renewed fantasy value.
Herrera recalled; Quintana's absence opens rotation slot
STASH · COL · PITCHER
Welinton Herrera (COL, 12% owned) was recalled to fill Jose Quintana's rotation spot after Quintana's elbow injury placed him on the 15-day IL May 25, per @MLBTradeRumors (May 25). Herrera is now in line for starts in the coming weeks. In deep leagues counting SP starts, he warrants a speculative add; in shallow formats, he remains a stream candidate on matchup days.
Action: Stash in deep dynasty; stream on favorable matchup days in redraft.
Littell dominance in relief; 7-IP, 7-K outing elevates profile
ADD · WSH · PITCHER
Zack Littell (WSH, 4% owned) recorded a dominant 7 IP / 7 K / 1 ER victory May 25, per the QUIET CONTRIBUTORS data block. He is a depth-chart starter and a breakout candidate in leagues counting relief appearances and wins. His 4% ownership makes him a streaming or speculative add in deeper formats.
Action: Add in leagues 12+ teams deep; monitor for starts or bulk-relief opportunities.
Liberatore's 5-IP, 10-K outing signals potential
WATCH · STL · PITCHER
Matthew Liberatore (STL, 11% owned) posted a 5 IP / 10 K / 3 ER outing May 25, per the QUIET CONTRIBUTORS block. His strikeout rate is elite; the 3 ERs suggest occasional wildness. In shallow redraft leagues, he remains a stream candidate; in deeper formats, he is worth speculative ownership if your league counts K.
Action: Add in 14+ team leagues; stream on matchup days in shallower formats.
Quiet bats heat up: Curtis Mead, Luis García Jr., Colton Cowser
ADD · WSH/BAL · UTILITY/OUTFIELDER
Curtis Mead (WSH, 3% owned) went 2-5 with 2 HR and 3 RBI May 25, posting a .282 xwOBA and 37% hard-hit rate, per the QUIET CONTRIBUTORS block. Luis García Jr. (WSH, 42% owned) went 3-5 with 1 HR and 4 RBI, with a .339 xwOBA. Both remain under-owned in most redraft leagues. Colton Cowser (BAL, 3% owned) added 1 HR and 2 RBI, with a .293 xwOBA. These are all low-ownership bats with contact metrics improving; add Mead and Cowser in deeper formats as bench bats or utility fills.
Action: Add Mead and Cowser in 12+ team leagues; Mead's 2-HR day suggests a breakout window.
Adames and Crawford bumped up in order; opportunity for OBP gains
WATCH · SF/SEA · INFIELDER
Willy Adames (SF, 73% owned) was slotted #1 in the batting order vs Arizona on May 25, a promotion from his L14 average of 6.0, per the LINEUP-SPOT PROMOTIONS block. J.P. Crawford (SEA, 11% owned) was slotted #1 for Seattle, up from an L14 average of 5.4. Both moves signal increased plate appearances and OBP exposure. Monitor whether these become permanent lineup shifts or one-game experiments.
Action: Hold Adames; Crawford's top-spot positioning is a micro-upgrade that may boost his fantasy floor—monitor next 3 games for stability.
Justin Verlander live BP scheduled; 60-day IL progress checkpoint
WATCH · DET · PITCHER
Justin Verlander (DET, 58% owned) will throw live BP during the Tigers' May 26-28 series at Comerica Park, per @MLB.com (May 25). He remains on the 60-day IL with no return ETA, but the live BP signals incremental progress in his rehab. This is a long-term dynasty hold; do not expect him back until July at earliest. Pair him with Tarik Skubal (DET, 47% owned), who threw an indoor bullpen May 23 and may throw live BP during the same May 26-28 series, per @MLB.com (May 25).
Action: Hold in all dynasty leagues; hold one more week to see if Skubal or Verlander make additional rehab strides.
Francisco Lindor resumes baseball activities; short-window return possible
WATCH · NYM · INFIELDER
Francisco Lindor (NYM, 73% owned) resumed baseball activities May 25, taking swings in the indoor cages, running sprints, and completing fielding drills, per @MLB.com (May 25). He was placed on the 10-day IL April 22 with an ETA of early June. This progression suggests he is on track for a return by early June; activate him in redraft lineups once the team provides a specific return date.
Action: Hold; monitor for activation within 7-10 days. Activate immediately upon return announcement.
Wyatt Langford ramping toward live BP and rehab games
WATCH · TEX · OUTFIELDER
Wyatt Langford (TEX, 31% owned) took BP in the cage May 25 and is progressing toward live BP and base-running within days, with potential rehab games starting next weekend, per @ESPN (May 25). He was placed on the 10-day IL April 22 with an ETA of early June. This timeline suggests a late May or early June return; hold and monitor for rehab-assignment announcements.
Action: Hold; activate as a speculative bench bat once rehab games are confirmed.