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 12: What you need to know for Monday
Todd Zola: Monday's slate features 11 evening affairs, with action getting started at 6:10 PM ET with an interleague matchup between the host Cleveland Guardians and visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Miami Marlins OF Derek Hill is expected to be activated off the IL in advance of this evening's road date with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He's been out almost a month due to a sprained left wrist. Dane Myers has excelled in Hill's absence, although Myers missed yesterday's contest and is set to undergo imaging for an undisclosed injury. Hill's role will be unclear until Myers' status is clarified.
Pittsburgh Pirates OF Oneil Cruz was held out of yesterday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves. He hurt his back on Saturday night and, with LHP Chris Sale on the hill, the Pirates gave Cruz a day to heal. Still, his availability is unclear for tonight's meeting with the New York Mets at Citi Field. Cruz is batting only .238, but he's clubbed eight homers and swiped an MLB-high 16 bases.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will reportedly promote Jordan Lawlar before tonight's opener of a set at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants. Even though Lawlar has played in one of the best hitting environments with Triple-A Reno, his .336/.413/.992 line is still impressive, especially considering he's stolen 13 bases in 14 tries. A natural shortstop, Lawlar has appeared 16 times at second base, eight at third base and 10 at shortstop for Triple-A Reno, setting him up to be the reserve infielder at all three spots. His presence should manager Torey Lovullo to give regulars 2B Ketel Marte, SS Geraldo Perdomo and 3B Eugenio Suarez a day or two off every week.
Since being sent down to Triple-A Round Rock, Texas Rangers 1B/3B Jake Burger has posted a .391/.462/.696 line in six games. He had hit just .190/.231/.330 before the demotion, but his underlying metrics showed he was hitting the ball with authority only without enjoying the commensurate results. He's eligible to return to the majors tonight, but there's no word if the Rangers will call him up before they host the Colorado Rockies for the opener of an interleague series in Arlington.
Burger's chances of a return could well depend on the status of SS Corey Seager, who re-injured his hamstring on Saturday night and then sat out yesterday. Josh Smith has been collecting a lot of action at first base, but he could switch to shortstop if Seager has to miss more time.
May 11: What you need to know for Sunday
Todd Zola: Sunday's 15-game ledger gets an early start with a 12:05 p.m. ET affair in Citi Field between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. The fantasy week comes to a close at 7 p.m. ET with the Cleveland Guardians hosting the Philadelphia Phillies in the Sunday night ESPN contest.
The Cubs might be without OF Ian Happ on Sunday after he missed Saturday's tilt with a sore oblique. He reportedly suffered the injury in the first inning on Friday night but finished the game. Seiya Suzuki played left field with Justin Turner covering DH in Happ's absence.
Houston Astros 2B/OF Jose Altuve left Saturday night's game in the third inning with a tight right hamstring. He's slated to be examined today, jeopardizing his availability for Sunday afternoon's rubber game with the Cincinnati Reds in Daikin Lark.
The Reds will try to win the series over the Astros with RHP Chase Petty on the hill. The 22-year-old prospect is taking the place of RHP Hunter Greene, who is out with a groin strain. This will be Petty's second start. He was hit hard in his MLB debut, yielding nine runs in 2 1/3 innings to the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30. However, after being optioned back to Triple-A Louisville, he threw six scoreless frames with eight strikeouts his last time out, earning another chance in the show.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS/OF Oneil Cruz was lifted from Saturday's extra-inning affair in the ninth inning with lower back tightness. Cruz is scheduled for evaluation Sunday, so he's questionable for the rubber game of the series after the Atlanta Braves secured Saturday's matinee in 11 frames.
The Boston Red Sox's woes at first base continue with Romy Gonzalez being placed on the 10-day IL with a back injury. Abraham Toro is earmarked for the bulk of the action at first base.
Athletics DH Brent Rooker appeared in the outfield for a fifth time Saturday, making him OF eligible in leagues with a five-game requirement. Rooker clubbed his 10th home run in the game, helping the club to even its weekend set with the New York Yankees.