

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) made his fourth minor-league rehab start on Wednesday for High-A Wisconsin and allowed an unearned run on three hits while walking one and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings for the win. In his first three rehab starts, the 32-year-old veteran allowed five earned runs on 12 hits while walking five and striking out 13 in 12 2/3 innings pitched. The Brewers are taking their time with Woodruff after he missed the entire 2024 season following surgery on his right shoulder capsule in September of 2023. His performance on Wednesday was very encouraging, and Woodruff might only need one or two more rehab starts on the farm before he's cleared to make his major-league debut in early May. Woodruff deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues, but temper expectations initially upon his return.


Baltimore Orioles right-hander Charlie Morton will move to the team's bullpen moving forward, according to manager Brandon Hyde. However, the Orioles "haven't closed the door on him being a starter again yet." Morton handled the news of the demotion like a "total pro", and Hyde "thanked him multiple times" for volunteering to pitch in the blowout loss to the division-rival New York Yankees on Tuesday night. The Orioles' one-year, $15 million deal with the 41-year-old isn't looking so good early on after Morton started the year going 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA, 2.17 WHIP, 26 strikeouts, a league-high 21 walks and a league-high 28 earned runs in 26 2/3 innings over seven appearances (five starts). The crafty veteran appears to have lost it so far in 2025. He allowed six walks and four earned runs in a bulk-relief role in his last two outings. Morton's quickly fading fantasy value has taken a big hit.


Colorado Rockies right-handed pitching prospect Chase Dollander (finger) left his start early on Wednesday against the visiting Atlanta Braves at Coors Field with an apparent blister on his finger, according to The Denver Post's Patrick Saunders. Dollander was pulled with two runners on and two outs in the six inning with the Rockies up 2-1. Colorado ended up pulling out the win 2-1, which allowed Dollander to pick up his second big-league win while allowing one earned run on two hits while walking three and striking out four in 5 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old came into his fifth big-league start with a rough 7.91 ERA and 1.71 WHIP with a league-high eight home runs allowed, so this was a big step for the young pitcher, albeit against a struggling team. However, he could now be looking at missing his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for next week against the Detroit Tigers.UPDATE: Manager Bud Black said Dollander was pulled with a cracked fingernail that split and was bleeding.


Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup for Game 2 of a doubleheader on Wednesday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park. It's the third straight game that Hays has been sidelined due to a minor hamstring strain that hopefully won't require a stint on the injured list. If Hays doesn't play in Thursday's series finale against St. Louis, his next chance to play will come in Friday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals. If the 29-year-old cannot play by the end of the weekend, an IL stint would probably be likely at that point. Gavin Lux is starting in left field and batting seventh for Game 2 on Wednesday against Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz. As a left-handed hitter that has never faced Matz in his career, DFS gamers should be looking to avoid Lux, who went hitless in Game 1.


St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado will take a seat for Game 2 of a doubleheader on Wednesday versus the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Nolan Gorman will start at third and bat sixth, while Brendan Donovan will start at the keystone and hit third against Reds pitching prospect Chase Petty, who will be making his MLB debut. Arenado came into Wednesday's doubleheader hitting .255 (26-for-102) with three home runs, 13 RBI and 13 runs over the first month of the season before going 0-for-5 in the Game 1 win. The 34-year-old veteran hasn't had a multi-hit game since April 18 and hasn't homered since April 14. Gorman, a former first-rounder, has struggled at the plate for the Cardinals early on this season, going 10-for-48 (.208) with a homer, eight RBI and eight runs scored. He'll look to get going against a young and inexperienced arm in Game 2 of the twin bill.
