San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ribs) is dealing with some sore ribs, but he is expected to be ready to play in the next few days, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Merrill most likely will not be in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics at Petco Park, but he could return before Sunday's series opener. The 23-year-old tweaked his ribs while trying to rob a Shohei Ohtani home run in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, and it was originally reported as a potential back injury. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now and check back later this weekend to see if he can return to the starting nine. Bryce Johnson could make a start on Friday in center field for the Friars against left-hander Jeffrey Springs. Merrill, along with plenty of other Padres hitters, has been a disappointment offensively so far in 2026. He entered Friday's games hitting just .203/.273/.322 with a career-low .595 OPS, four homers, 19 RBI, nine steals, and 23 runs scored across 47 games.

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Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said on Friday that left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) will throw a side session this weekend ahead of a live batting practice/simulated game early next week, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Crochet is currently on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation, and although he is making progress, his return to Boston's starting rotation isn't imminent. The talented southpaw has been out since April 25. Whether Crochet requires a minor-league rehab assignment will likely be dependent on how his throwing sessions this weekend and early next week go. Fantasy managers are going to need to be patient, as he is unlikely to be back in the big leagues until early June. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star was second in the American League Cy Young voting last year, but he has disappointed so far in 2026 with a 3-3 record, 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched across six starts. Crochet is rightfully rostered in 99% of Yahoo leagues.

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The Miami Marlins announced that left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling (elbow) had a left-elbow UCL repair with an internal brace on Friday, which was performed by Dr. Keith Meister. The timeline for Snelling's return to play is 10 to 12 months. Initial reports suggested that Snelling would undergo Tommy John surgery. Although Snelling will still miss the rest of the 2026 season and most likely half of next year, the internal-brace procedure should allow him to return on the early side of that timeline in 2027. The 22-year-old is considered Miami's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he'll have to wait until late next season to potentially make his return to the major-league starting rotation. The former first-rounder in 2022 by the San Diego Padres made his big-league debut on May 8 against the Washington Nationals and allowed three earned runs in five innings with four walks and two strikeouts before landing on the injured list. Snelling development will be on pause, but he's still a stash candidate in deep dynasty/keeper formats.

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New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham (knee) is back in center field and in the leadoff spot for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Nick Martinez in the Bronx, per MLB.com. Grisham did not play on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays in the series finale after tweaking his knee on Thursday. Imaging on Grisham's knee came back negative, though, and he'll be back in there for the start of a big series in New York against the first-place Rays. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger can still provide fantasy managers with plenty of pop, but he has come back down to Earth in 2026 and is currently hitting just .174/.305/.348 with six long balls, 27 RBI, 27 runs scored, and three steals in 187 plate appearances. Grisham has been a big disappointment after clubbing a career-high 34 home runs and driving in 74 in 143 regular-season games in 2025. He has faced Martinez just three times in his career and has one hit against him.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (triceps) is back at shortstop and will hit leadoff for the M's in Friday's series opener in Kansas City against the Royals and left-hander Noah Cameron, according to MLB.com. Crawford has missed a couple of games this week with a sore triceps muscle after he was initially hit by a pitch on Sunday in the series finale against the San Diego Padres, but he's back in action to kick off the weekend in KC. Rookie infielder Colt Emerson will shift back to third base and will hit ninth in the batting order against the Royals. The 31-year-old Crawford could be in danger of losing playing time on Seattle's infield this year if he continues to struggle at the plate. He enters Friday's game with a weak .210/.358/.364 slash line, .722 OPS, six home runs, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored, and one stolen base in 143 at-bats. With below-average power and speed at a premium position in fantasy, Crawford isn't much to look at. He is currently rostered in only 11% of Yahoo leagues. Crawford has gone 2-for-3 in his three career at-bats against Cameron, but he's gone 7-for-41 (.171) with one of his six homers this year against lefty pitchers.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (hands) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup for the Rays in Friday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees and right-hander Gerrit Cole, who is making his first major-league start since 2024, according to MLB.com. Jonathan Aranda is starting at first base for Tampa and will hit third in the batting order. Diaz got the day off on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles after being hit in both of his hands on Tuesday, but he's now back in action after the team had a day off on Thursday. Fantasy managers will want to plug Diaz back in their lineups in all formats now that he's back. He has gone 11-for-24 (.458) with three home runs, three doubles, 10 RBI, and seven runs scored during his six-game hitting streak, and he's also batting .318 with an .875 OPS, two home runs, and six RBI in 44 career at-bats against Cole in his career. The 34-year-old Cuban first baseman continues to be a hitting machine, as he enters Friday's action with a .316 average (55-for-174) and a .394 on-base percentage in 45 games.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (thumb) departed Thursday's series finale against the Miami Marlins with a left-thumb bone bruise, but he's back in right field and is batting leadoff for Atlanta in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Washington Nationals and left-handed opener Richard Lovelady, according to MLB.com. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative on Acuna, who recently returned from a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. It's great news for the Braves and fantasy managers, and he should be returned to all starting lineups in traditional fantasy formats. Acuna's surface stats don't look great so far in 2026, but in five games since returning from the IL, he's riding a five-game hitting streak and has gone 7-for-17 (.412) with a double, two RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base across 20 plate appearances. Overall, the former MVP and five-time All-Star is slashing only .261/.370/.384 with two homers, 11 RBI, seven steals, and 22 runs scored. Acuna is a five-category contributor and could just be starting to heat up.

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The Kansas City Royals expect left-hander Cole Ragans (elbow) to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday with Triple-A Omaha. Ragans has finally been cleared to return to game action after throwing some bullpen sessions in the last week. Saturday will be his first performance since he was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 6 with a left-elbow impingement. The talented southpaw is expected to need a couple of rehab starts in the minors before the Royals put him back in their big-league starting rotation. The 28-year-old left-hander was excellent in 2024, going 11-9 for the Royals with a 3.14 ERA (2.99 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with a career-high 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 186 1/3 innings over 32 starts, but he made only 13 starts last year due to injury, and the injury bug has reared its head for him again in 2026. Ragans was 1-4 in his first eight starts in 2026 before going on the IL with a 4.84 ERA (6.19 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP, but he also had 45 K's in 35 1/3 frames and should remain stashed in an IL spot in most fantasy leagues while he recovers to see if he can rediscover his 2024 form.

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The New York Yankees officially announced that they reinstated infielder/outfielder Jose Caballero (finger) from the 10-day injured list on Friday. Caballero is starting at shortstop and will hit seventh in his return on Friday versus the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Nick Martinez at Yankee Stadium in the series opener. With Caballero back after missing only 11 days due to a right middle-finger fracture, he'll take back over at the 6 and will send Anthony Volpe to the bench. Fantasy managers who need speed and versatility for their fantasy lineups should consider adding Caballero off the waiver wire if he is available. The 29-year-old native of Panama will return to a .259/.320/.400 slash line with a .720 OPS, four home runs, 13 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and 18 runs scored on the year. Caballero offers elite speed and is also eligible at second, third, shortstop, and the outfield. He's rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues. He has gone hitless in just four career at-bats against Martinez.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (illness) is feeling better and is serving as the DH and batting second in Friday's series opener against the visiting Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Gavin Williams, according to MLB.com. Schwarber was under the weather earlier this week and missed the entire three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, but he's back for the weekend series at Citizens Bank Park. Despite missing three contests, the 33-year-old veteran left-handed slugger still leads all of baseball with 20 home runs and is slashing .230/.357/.624 with a .980 OPS. Schwarbs has added 36 RBI, 33 runs scored, and even a stolen base in his 178 at-bats so far in 2026. Fantasy managers are hoping that the three-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger winner can pick up where he left off before his illness, as he has gone 13-for-43 (.302) with nine home runs, a double, 16 RBI, 10 runs, and a steal in his last 10 games, dating back to May 7. Get him back into your starting lineups in all traditional fantasy formats.

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The New York Mets recalled top pitching prospect Jonah Tong from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday ahead of their series opener against the division-rival Miami Marlins, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel was designated for assignment. Tobias Myers will make the start in Miami on Friday, but the right-handed Tong could be used as the team's bulk reliever in his return to the majors. Per MLB Pipeline, Tong is considered New York's No. 2 prospect, behind only outfielder A.J. Ewing. The 22-year-old Canadian hurler made his big-league debut last year and made five starts, going 2-3 with a bloated 7.71 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and nine walks across 18 2/3 innings. Before his call-up this year, Tong went 1-3 at Syracuse with an ugly 5.68 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 24 walks in nine starts (38 innings), but he also struck out 55 batters. For his strikeout upside alone, Tong is worth a look in mixed fantasy leagues as a potential long-term replacement in the Mets' starting rotation for Clay Holmes (leg). Tong is currently rostered in only 6% of Yahoo leagues, so the young prospect with a funky delivery is widely available.

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Colorado Rockies first base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon has only slugged four homers this year, but he has above-average power upside and an impressive ability to get on base. Through 40 Triple-A games this year, he's slashing .240/.370/.383 with four homers, 18 RBI, three steals, a career-high 15% walk rate, a 25% strikeout rate, and 88 wRC+. His walk rate ranks in the 80th percentile at Triple-A, and he's shown very good plate discipline overall with a 19.5% chase rate (89th percentile). His 105.7 mph EV90 also suggests that he could be getting unlucky in terms of home runs, and his ability to hit balls hard could lead to increased home run numbers once he reaches the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field. A high-priority waiver wire target, Condon is available in 96% of leagues, and he ranks #2 among first base prospects in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jett Williams continues to deliver impressive results at Triple-A, earning consideration for a potential midseason promotion to the majors. Williams' blend of power and speed should translate nicely to fantasy production in the majors, and we've been encouraged by his improvements from 2025 (in the Mets' system) to 2026. From last year to this year, his walk rate has increased while his strikeout rate has decreased. He has demonstrated great swing decisions with a 20.3% chase rate, and his 20.4% whiff rate also ranks among the top one-fifth of batters in Triple-A. The biggest flaw in Williams' profile is his 32% hard-hit rate, which is heavily influenced by a 102.1 mph EV90 that ranks in the bottom half of the league. With that said, he's already up to 11 steals this year, and he's an intriguing fantasy baseball stash in hopes that he can tap into a little more power. He currently ranks as RotoBaller's #3 shortstop prospect and #9 outfield prospect.

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The Cincinnati Reds announced on Friday that they activated infielder Eugenio Suarez (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and placed infielder Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) on the 10-day IL (retroactive to May 21) in a corresponding move with a lumbar bulging disc. Suarez is back after missing a month with a left-oblique strain, but he'll have to wait to play on Saturday after the game against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals on Friday was postponed due to inclement weather. Now that he's back, Suarez should play regularly for the Reds between third base and designated hitter. He appeared in just two minor-league rehab games, going 1-for-7 at the plate with a double. The 34-year-old Venezuelan infielder/DH has struck out 30% of the time again in 2026 while hitting .231 (21-for-91) with three home runs, 11 RBI, and 10 runs scored across his 25 games played before his oblique injury. Suarez can be useful for his power from the right side of the plate in a hitter-friendly home environment, but he's not going to help your team's average or on-base percentage. He's currently rostered in 87% of Yahoo leagues.

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Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Cole Carrigg is having a fantastic year at the plate in Triple-A, and it seems likely that he'll make his MLB debut within the next couple of weeks. From last year to this year, Carrigg has improved in nearly every offensive category. He owns a .356/.413/.537 walk rate with four homers, 35 RBI, 26 steals, an 8.1% walk rate, a 13.7% strikeout rate, and 131 wRC+. The power numbers are merely average, but he has blazing speed that he uses to steal a ton of bases and play dependable defense up the middle. Most of his reps have come in center field, but he also has 13 appearances at shortstop this year. That type of defensive versatility will help him get into as many games as possible once he's promoted to the majors. With impressive on-base and steal numbers, plus an anticipated promotion sooner rather than later, Carrigg is a must-add prospect in fantasy baseball leagues. As it stands, he's available in 99% of leagues.

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New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. has posted mixed results at the plate since his promotion to Triple-A, but there's no denying that he's an on-base machine. Lombard has walked more than he's struck out in Triple-A, and he also has more walks than hits. He's slashing .178/.362/.205 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with zero homers, four steals, a 20.2% walk rate, and a 18.1% strikeout rate. We'd like to see a little more power, but it's also a small sample size. Between Double-A and Triple-A combined this year, he has four homers and eight steals. The impressive on-base percentage and decent steals total could make him an intriguing stash in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. His MLB debut isn't imminent, as he's played just 19 games in Triple-A, but there's definitely long-term upside here. He ranks #27 among shortstop prospects in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy baseball rankings.

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Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) said earlier this week that he's set to start his throwing program soon after being diagnosed with left-shoulder inflammation in early May, and he's hopeful that he can return in the early part of the second half of the season, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Kikuchi was placed on the 15-day injured list after leaving his start early after two innings on April 29 with shoulder discomfort. Surgery was never considered an option despite receiving a second opinion from a personal doctor. Kikuchi believes that he can return by late July. Fantasy managers won't be in a rush to pick Kikuchi up off the waiver wire -- he's currently rostered in only 12% of Yahoo leagues -- after the 34-year-old southpaw had a 5.81 ERA with 33 strikeouts, 14 walks, and three homers allowed in 31 innings over seven starts before his shoulder injury. Managers have quickly forgotten that Kikuchi was an All-Star for the second time in his career in Anaheim in 2025, registering a 3.99 ERA with 174 K's in 178 1/3 innings pitched.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo hit his 10th homer of the season at Triple-A on Thursday, and he's getting closer to making his MLB debut. Arroyo is having a fantastic season at the plate, posting a career-best .348/.408/.604 slash line with 10 homers, eight steals, a 8.3% walk rate, a 15.1% strikeout rate, and 159 wRC+. He's walking less than ever before in his minor league career, and he has also delivered more home runs and steals. This is truly a breakout year for the infield prospect, and it's coming at the right time as he pushes for a promotion to the majors. With 46 Triple-A games under his belt, it seems like Arroyo is ready for the next level. With a potential debut coming in June, Arroyo is absolutely on the stash radar in fantasy baseball, especially because he offers both speed and power.

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Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (hernia) underwent surgery to fix a sports hernia, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Story said last week that surgery would require six to 10 weeks to recover. The Red Sox placed the veteran shortstop on the 10-day injured list last weekend. Boston has been mixing and matching at the 6 with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio with Story out, and that should now continue for the foreseeable future. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star is no stranger to long-term injuries, although he did manage to play in a career-high 157 games for the BoSox last year, slashing .263/.308/.433 with a .741 OPS, 25 home runs, 96 RBI, 31 stolen bases, and 91 runs scored in 654 plate appearances. It's looking like another lost season in 2026, however, and he was hitting just .206 (34-for-165) with three homers, 19 RBI, four steals, and 16 runs scored in 41 games before getting injured. With the news of his hernia surgery, it's hard to recommend holding Story in shallow-mixed fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) will make a minor-league rehab start on Sunday at Double-A Corpus Christi, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. It will be Brown's first game action since last pitching on March 31 against the Boston Red Sox. He's currently on the 60-day injured list with a right-shoulder strain and won't be eligible to return to the big-league starting rotation until the end of May. Most likely, we won't see Brown back with the Astros until early June, but it could depend on how he fares during his rehab assignment. The 27-year-old former fifth-round pick in 2019 out of Wayne State broke out and was an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2025, going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (3.14 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 206:57 K:BB in 185 1/3 innings over 31 starts. Brown has quickly developed into a front-line starter and shouldn't be floating around on the waiver wire in any fantasy leagues. In his first two starts this year before injuring his shoulder, he had allowed only one earned run with 17 K's and six walks in 10 2/3 frames.

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