Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson homered during Friday's 4-2 win over the New York Mets, snapping a stretch that saw the All-Star go 26 straight games without going deep. Olson had not homered since he went deep off Diamondbacks hurler Ryne Nelson in the second inning of a 5-2 win over Arizona on April 7. The home run, just Olson's fourth of the season, was only the fifth hit he had recorded in the month of May, entering Friday's game with a .190/.290/.190 slash line in 21 at-bats prior to Friday. Despite his recent struggles, Olson remains a must-start in all league formats. Overall, the 30-year-old slugger is slashing .202/.311/.372 with four home runs, 18 RBI, and 16 runs across 151 plate appearances in 2024.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Taj Bradley (pectoral) fanned seven New York Yankees in his 2024 debut on Friday but took the loss in the team's 2-0 defeat at Tropicana Field. Reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, the 23-year-old allowed one earned run on four hits over his six innings while also walking a pair of batters. Bradley tossed 93 pitches, with 59 crossing home plate for strikes. Bradley's fastball topped out at 99.2 mph. He is projected to remain in the Rays rotation and will make his next start this Wednesday when the Rays visit the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The Houston Astros activated infielder Grae Kessinger (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Jacob Amaya to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Kessinger spent the minimum time on the injured list with right-shoulder discomfort and will now return to the Astros as infield depth. The 26-year-old played in only seven games (one start) with Houston this year before getting hurt, going hitless in 10 plate appearances with no walks and four strikeouts. The former second-rounder in 2019 out of Mississippi played in his first 26 big-league games in 2023 and hit .200/.289/.325 with a homer and an RBI before joining the 'Stros in the postseason as a bench player. Kessinger shouldn't be rostered outside of very deep AL-only and dynasty/keeper leagues.

New York Mets left-hander Brooks Raley (elbow) is "not close" to throwing, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Raley is going to see another doctor this week in hopes that he can be cleared to throw. It's obviously bad news for a pitcher that was originally placed on the 15-day injured list on April 21, especially since he was expected to return from the IL when he was first eligible. The 35-year-old southpaw reliever probably won't return until at least June now, depending on how things go when he's cleared to resume throwing. The former sixth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2009 out of Texas A&M was a key weapon out of the Mets' bullpen in 2023 with three saves, a 2.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Raley hadn't allowed a run in seven innings with nine K's in eight appearances this year before getting hurt.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that left-hander Bailey Falter will start on Sunday at home against the visiting division-rival Chicago Cubs. Shelton added that the team will decide on what they will do with their starting rotation moving forward after the weekend series against Chicago. Now that top prospect Paul Skenes has entered the rotation and is set to make his major-league debut on Saturday, Falter may need to pitch well in the series finale in order to convince the coaching staff to keep him around. The 27-year-old southpaw has so far gone 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA (4.93 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with nine walks and 26 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings over seven starts in 2024. It will likely be either Falter or Quinn Priester who get bumped from the rotation now that Skenes is here.