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It’s Sunday, so you know what that means! It’s time to take a look at the interleague matchups for the upcoming week and determine how it will affect our fantasy lineups. Obviously, with the National League not adding the designated hitter spot, we’ll have to examine American League teams that lose that luxury for a series. On the other hand, when a National League team travels, what fantasy players stand to gain some value? You’ll find that and more here at Fantasy Alarm!
This week, we have four interleague matchups, including two National League teams heading to Toronto! On the other hand, Kansas City and Boston will have to shuffle its lineups around a bit to make room for its respective primary designated hitters. Without further ado, let’s jump in!
Red Sox @ Mets (4/27-4/28)
With J.D. Martinez being white hot of late, without the designated hitter, they will push him in the outfield (likely left field) for this two game set. Martinez has made two starts in left field this season, which allowed a catcher to make an appearance at designated hitter. Alex Verdugo has become a mainstay in the lineup, and with the Mets trotting out a lefty (David Peterson) and a right-handler (Jacob deGrom ), we likely see Kiké Hernández in center field, and Verdugo in right, which pushes Franchy Cordero and Hunter Renfroe to the bench. Against a righty, Cordero typically handles left field, but again, Martinez needs to be in the lineup. It seems Renfroe and Cordero will fight each day for the last remaining outfield spot.
Winners: J.D. Martinez
Losers: Franchy Cordero , Kiké Hernández , and Hunter Renfroe
Royals @ Pirates (4/27-4/28)
Could Jorge Soler find his way to the bench? Perhaps, but considering he’s logged a few appearances in the outfield, he’ll likely head out to right field for this two game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In four of the five starts Soler has made in the outfield, Hunter Dozier moved to third base. Hanser Alberto found himself on the outside looking in, aside from two appearances at shortstop. Soler is going to play, and Dozier is going to play, so perhaps we see Alberto and Nicky Lopez split the starts at shortstop.
Winners: Jorge Soler
Losers: Hanser Alberto /Nicky Lopez
Nationals @ Blue Jays (4/27-4/28)
Juan Soto likely won’t be back for this series, so Andrew Stevenson and Yadiel Hernandez will be involved in the outfield. Washington loves to get Ryan Zimmerman in the lineup against lefties, so that will likely be the case for Wednesday’s contest. If Toronto rolls out two lefties, Zimmerman gains the most value early on in the week. Other than that, there’s no real substantial winners or losers, again, outside of Zimmerman, on the condition that Toronto sends out two southpaws.
Winners: Ryan Zimmerman
Losers: None
Braves @ Blue Jays (4/30-5/2)
In two interleague matchups to date, Pablo Sandoval found himself serving as the team’s designated hitter. That seems to be the likely option here as well for this two game set against the Toronto Blue Jays. The other avenue that Atlanta could choose to take, maybe even for one game, is to let Ronald Acuna serve as the DH for a “half off-day” as he is working back from injury. Yes, he played in the outfield over the weekend, but if you can give him a break from the field without taking his bat out of the lineup, you might do it! However, I’m assuming we get two appearances for Sandoval.
Winners: Pablo Sandoval
Losers: None
Player News
Willi Castro (oblique) could return to the Twins’ lineup this weekend.
Castro has been sidelined with an oblique injury since April 16th and was finally placed on the IL late last week. He has been swinging the bat right-handed and plans to swing left-handed on Tuesday. If his body responds well to that, the Twins could bring him back for this weekend’s series against Boston, which could cut into the playing time for Brooks Lee or Edouard Julien.
Royce Lewis (hamstring) will play 10 innings in a doubleheader on Tuesday and could return to Minnesota on May 6th.
Lewis will play 10 innings as the team’s designated hitter during a doubleheader for Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday and then play a full game at third base on Wednesday, assuming Tuesday goes well. Even though that could mean Lewis returns this weekend, The Athletic’s Dan Hayes suggests “it’s likelier Lewis will play several more games over the weekend and return when the Twins open a homestand on May 6.”
Matt Wallner (hamstring) just started jogging on the treadmill on Monday.
Wallner has been out with a Grade 3 hamstring strain since April 15th. He has yet to swing a bat and will be re-evaluated by the Twins when they return home next week. We won’t have a firm timeline for Wallner’s return until he starts swinging, but it sounds like there’s a chance we don’t see him back until late May or early June.
Twins trainer Nick Paparesta said Luke Keaschall (forearm) will rest and won’t be re-evaluated “for at least a month.”
Keaschall suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right forearm, which halted his impressive MLB debut. The injury won’t require surgery, but the Twins will take time to allow it to heal on its own. “It’s probably going to be a couple of months before he’s back into playing games,” Paparesta said. When he does come back, there’s no guarantee he slots right back into the Minnesota lineup, so we may not see Keaschall back in the big leagues until the end of the summer.
Shane Bieber (elbow) is set to throw simulated games in the Arizona Complex League.
Bieber has said that he’s feeling healthy but is being deliberate in his rehab to ensure that he doesn’t come back too soon. The veteran’s target date had always been sometime around the All-Star break, so this would keep him on schedule. After Bieber throws simulated games, he would likely make a few rehab starts before returning to Cleveland. If all goes well, he could be back by the end of June.
Tony Gonsolin (back) will return from the injured list and start for the Dodgers on Wednesday against the Marlins.
Gonsolin missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and was then sidelined by a back injury in spring after just three innings. The 30-year-old had a great season in 2022 and has been a solid starter for the Dodgers over his career. His lack of strikeouts limits his fantasy value a bit, but his velocity has been up in his rehab outings, so he could be worth a stash in deeper formats while he remains in the Dodgers’ rotation.