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 5: Robby Snelling arriving Friday?
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
The Miami Marlins designated Chris Paddack for assignment on Tuesday, leaving their rotation with a noticeable void for Friday’s home game against the Washington Nationals. Braxton Garrett, who posted a 3.66 ERA in 30 starts and one relief appearance in his last fully healthy season for the Marlins in 2023, and Robby Snelling, the team’s No. 2 overall prospect, were considered the most likely replacements.
But Garrett, who is on the mend following December 2024 Tommy John surgery, remains scheduled to take his regular rotation turn for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville on Tuesday — the Jumbo Shrimp’s own website has him tabbed as their starter — apparently signaling that Snelling’s big-league debut is right around the corner. For those wondering, there are also no 40-man roster issues, since Paddack’s removal creates an opening to install Snelling.
Snelling has been regarded as one of 2026’s highest-prospective-impact pitching prospects, and he has been stellar at the Triple-A level thus far. In 18 starts for Jacksonville since first being promoted there last July, he has nine wins, nine quality starts, a 1.46 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 34.6% strikeout rate. From a pitch-repertoire standpoint, Snelling’s 29.3% hard-hit rate in those games underscores his ability to minimize hard contact, while his 39.1% whiff rate with his curveball demonstrates that he has a potentially elite, strikeout-generating offering.
Acquired from the San Diego Padres in the July 2024 Tanner Scott trade, Snelling will enjoy one of the most pitching-friendly environments as his home, giving him good odds of being at least a streaming option initially. As my past research has reflected that top prospects often offer their greatest first-year fantasy value in their first several appearances at the big-league level — albeit with less efficiency with their pitch counts — Snelling is well worth the add, even in standard leagues, in the hopes he can capitalize upon unfamiliar opposing hitters.
Certainly the lefty is a must-add in all leagues deeper than our standard mixed, as there’s little doubt that a positive outcome for Snelling would have him performing among the top 75 starting pitchers from this point forward.
May 5: Tuesday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
All 14 games on today’s schedule are evening affairs, beginning with a quartet of 6:40 p.m. ET contests. The matchup in Busch Stadium between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers is in jeopardy, with the forecast calling for rain all day and into the evening.
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With snow in the Denver forecast, tonight’s meeting between the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets at Coors Field has been postponed. Wednesday’s scheduled afternoon game has been pushed back to 9:20 p.m. ET and today’s contest will be made up at 3:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, originally an off day for both teams.
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The Houston Astros will be without starting catcher Yainer Diaz after placing him on the 10-day IL for a left oblique issue. Christian Vazquez will take over as the primary backstop with Cesar Salazar serving as the backup. The club also reported that SS Jeremy Pena is set to embark on a rehab assignment this weekend and could be back early next week.
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The Kansas City Royals scratched Noah Cameron from today’s start due to lower back tightness. He’ll be replaced by Stephen Kolek, who will come off the 15-day IL to face the Cleveland Guardians. He has been out since spring training with a Grade 1 left oblique strain.
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Gleyber Torres remained out for the Detroit Tigers last night, missing his second straight game with a left side issue. Right-handed Hao-Yu Lee started last night against Boston Red Sox southpaw Payton Tolle. If Torres is unable to return tonight, Zach McKinstry could come off the IL and get the nod against Brayan Bello when the Tigers try to even the series with the Red Sox. Kevin McGonigle should be back in the lineup after getting yesterday off.
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The Red Sox will be without Roman Anthony tonight and probably tomorrow, after he flew back to Boston to visit a hand specialist. He hurt his wrist while swinging in the first inning last night and was removed from the contest. X-rays were negative, but the club wants to make sure Anthony isn’t seriously hurt. Masataka Yoshida took over in left field last night, but with left-hander Framber Valdez on the mound tonight, Andruw Monasterio could get the call, likely as the DH.
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Shohei Ohtani will be on the hill, but won’t serve as the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in tonight’s road game against the Astros. Dalton Rushing is a candidate to be tonight’s DH. The reserve backstop is batting .340/.421/.800, albeit in only 57 plate appearances.
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Michael Harris II missed his second straight game last night as he’s nursing a quad issue. He’s considered day-to-day, with his availability uncertain for tonight’s road affair with the Seattle Mariners.
May 4: Tarik Skubal needs elbow surgery
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
The Detroit Tigers unexpectedly scratched their ace from his scheduled Monday start, only to announce minutes later that the left-hander requires surgery to remove loose bodies from his throwing elbow. It’s devastating news with wide-ranging impact, considering the soon-to-be-free agent has scored 1,234 fantasy points (222 more than any other pitcher), since the beginning of 2024. From a rotisserie-scoring perspective, he’s also the MLB leader in wins (34, tied with two others), strikeouts (514) and WHIP (0.91) during that same time span.
Considering the most notable recent pitcher to undergo surgery to remove loose bodies, Edwin Diaz, was given a three-month recovery timetable, it’s safe to assume that we won’t see Skubal back in action until sometime after the All-Star break. A more specific timetable should be announced once he has the operation later this week. Even at that length of absence, Skubal is worth keeping stashed in one of your IL slots, though he’s effectively irreplaceable in the interim.
That’s not to say we won’t try to successfully replace him!
In ESPN standard leagues, finding a serviceable pitcher to fill the next couple of months is more realistic, whereas managers in deeper leagues (AL-only formats especially) will find it next-to-impossible. Here are five pitchers who are available in more than half of ESPN leagues, and have the kind of profit potential to most adequately fill Skubal’s shoes:
Braxton Ashcraft, Pittsburgh Pirates (48.7% rostered): He has already scored at least 15 fantasy points in four — matching Skubal’s 2026 total — of his seven starts, and he has that combination of 97 mph fastball and whiff-generating curveball and slider to pile up the strikeouts.
Ryan Weathers, New York Yankees (34.2% rostered): He’s off to an outstanding start with his new team as his 28.5% K rate ranks 14th among ERA qualifiers, though the worry with Weathers is whether he’ll be able to retain his rotation spot once both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon return from the IL over the next few weeks.
Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays (33.6% rostered): He’s coming off back-to-back scoreless appearances during which his average fastball velocity was greater than 95 mph, a good sign for his return to full health following a two-year injury absence. At his prior best, McClanahan would generate a miss on better than one-third of all hitters’ swings, so there’s a lot of K upside with him, too.
Max Meyer, Miami Marlins (21.7% rostered): As with Weathers and McClanahan, injuries have been the big question with Meyer, who has generated a greater-than-40% whiff rate with his slider in both 2025 and so far in 2026. He’s another strikeout-oriented arm who calls a pitcher-friendly venue his home.
Robby Snelling, Marlins (2.0% rostered): The shot in the dark from this list, Snelling might be the most natural pickup for Skubal’s managers in any league larger than 12-team mixed. Chris Paddack’s early struggles create a prospective rotation opening with the Marlins, and Snelling’s 1.46 ERA and 34.6% strikeout rate in 18 Triple-A starts between this and last season make him a logical choice to fill it soon.
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
The Giants, now last in baseball in runs per game (3.12), HR rate (1.5% of their trips to the plate) and walk rate (5.6%), plan to recall the slugging Eldridge on Monday for their first of a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres. To be clear upfront, it is not a move designed to leave struggling Rafael Devers (.562 OPS, 30.7 K%) on the sidelines, but rather the two should operate in a 1B/DH partnership, relegating Casey Schmitt to a more suitable middle-infield/defensive replacement role.
The team is also expected to recall catcher Jesus Rodriguez. Perhaps he can provide some pop at the plate as Patrick Bailey is batting just .152 on the year.
*Be sure to check all of Tristan’s waiver-wire recommendations before Week 6 lineups lock.
