Fantasy Sports

They’re reportedly targeting a return for Springer when they get back to Toronto next week. Springer has yet to run on the injury, but should make his comeback to the top of the lineup shortly. Springer was off to a .185/.290/.370 start with two homers and a stolen base before getting injured last Saturday.

Against LHP Jacob Lopez, Seager gets a rest day. He homered yesterday and is off to a .203/.321/.453 start in his first 78 plate appearances this year. Ezequiel Duran will cover at shortstop this afternoon.

Bailey is an elite defensive catcher, so the Giants are going to want to keep him on the field often, but this may be more of a 50/50 split going forward, with Vitello mentioning that the catchers may just alternate games. It’s a situation to monitor and likely makes neither player fantasy relevant.

Hinch said, “I don’t think [Verlander’s] taking a step forward, and he hasn’t taken a step back.” That’s not really confidence-inducing. Verlander is 43 years old, so it makes sense that he might not bounce back as quickly as he did 20 years ago. Given that his performance on the field has also been inconsistent, this seems like a situation the Tigers won’t rush, and fantasy managers should avoid.

Sosa went 1-for-3 on Wednesday in his first start with the Blue Jays and will be right back out there again. Eloy Jimenez will remain on the bench with Kazuma Okamoto at first base and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at DH. It seems that the Blue Jays are going to give Sosa a chance to start against right-handed pitchers and use the DH spot as a rotational lineup spot while potentially saving Jimenez for left-handed pitchers.

According to Tomczyk, pitchers generally have between three and six simulated games or live batting practices before rehab assignments begin. If we assume that Jones will try to get two simulated appearances per week, there’s a chance that he is beginning a rehab assignment by early May, which would put him in line to be activated off the IL soon after he first becomes eligible on May 25th.

Even with left-hander Sam Aldegheri on the mound, the Yankees will let Rice play first base over Paul Goldschmidt. This might be because Aaron Boone doesn’t expect Aldegheri, who’s pitched just 13 innings in three minor league starts, to pitch deep into this game. However, we know that Rice has hit lefties well of late, so this could be a good indication that the Yankees are open to getting Rice into the lineup when they have to face many lefties in a short period of time. Amed Rosario will get into the starting lineup at third base today with Ryan McMahon sitting, even though McMahon started against the last lefty they faced.

Billy Cook will start in left field and bat ninth on Thursday. There’s a left-hander on the mound, but Reynolds is a switch-hitter and has 27 plate appearances this season against lefties, so this is not a platoon situation. He is a better hitter against right-handed pitching, so there’s a chance that the Pirates get him more off days when lefties are on the mound, but that will be within his normal rest. Reynolds is off to a solid start to the season, hitting .288/.400/.470 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and a 49 percent hard-hit rate. He could still be a bit of a buy-low target if people are focused too much on his poor 2025 season.

This is the second straight game where Ramos has been on the bench in favor of Will Brennan, who bats left-handed. Ramos is hitting just .234/.258/.266 in 66 plate appearances this season with a 36.4 percent strikeout rate. There is a danger that he is falling into a small side platoon role if Brennan is able to capitalize on this chance.

Enjoying one of the best all-around games of his young career, Merrill, who turns 23 this weekend, robbed Julio Rodríguez of a two-run homer in the third, long before he ended the game with his two-run double in the ninth. His .261/.320/.464 line isn’t all that eye-catching, but that he’s 4-for-4 on the basepaths after going 1-for-3 last year has taken his stock up a couple of notches.