NL Week 11 Strategy-May 30, 2026
In The Field
OF Jung Hoo Lee was activated off the 10-day IL on Friday. Lee was hitting .283 with 3 HR, 22 R, 17 RBI, and 0 SB in 198 PA. 3B Nick Gonzales was removed from Thursday’s game early due to left knee discomfort. He fouled a ball off his left knee on Wednesday. He was back in the lineup on Friday. SS Konnor Griffin was not in the Pirates lineup on Thursday due to forearm soreness. It is not believed to be a serious issue, but one the Pirates want to take caution with. He returned to the lineup on Friday as the DH. Griffin is hitting .261 with 4 HR, 29 R, 21 RBI, and 12 SB in 199 PA. INF Enrique Hernandez is going to be out 6-8 weeks with a significant tear in his left oblique. He had only been off the 60-day IL for two days before suffering this injury. OF Teoscar Hernandez was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday with a hamstring injury. Hernandez was hitting .276 with 7 HR, 30 R, 31 RBI, and 2 SB in 204 PA before the injury. OF Alex Call figures to get the majority of the playing time while Hernandez is out. The more interesting option would be OF James Tibbs III, who has been excellent in Triple-A (.310 AVG with 14 HR, 52 R, 44 RBI, and 3 SB in 240 PA), but that doesn’t appear likely at this point. OF Brandon Marsh (finger) was not in the Phillies lineup on Wednesday. He was back in the lineup on Friday. Marsh has been very productive to start the year (.326 with 5 HR, 28 R, 24 RBI, and 4 SB in 194 PA). 3B Nolan Arenado was not in the Diamondbacks lineup on Wednesday or Friday due to right groin tightness. He was used as a pinch hitter and was hit on the arm by a pitch, and had to be removed from the game. Arenado has played well this year (.271 AVG with 7 HR, 27 R, 27 RBI, and 1 SB in 194 PA). OF Luis Robert Jr. was moved from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL on Tuesday. This opens up a long runway for OF A.J. Ewing, who has hit .250 with 1 HR, 6 R, 4 RBI, and 3 SB. 1B Jorge Polanco (Achilles) started a rehab assignment on Wednesday with Double-A Binghamton. 1B/OF Pavin Smith (elbow) is expected to be back for the Dodgers series next week. Smith is going to take at-bats against RHP at either 1B or DH. Smith has a career .252 AVG and .771 OPS against RHP. 3B Max Muncy missed four straight games before playing on Wednesday due to getting hit on the wrist by a pitch two Fridays ago. Muncy has performed well for the Dodgers this year (.251 AVG with 12 HR, 36 R, 19 RBI, and 0 SB in 194 PA). OF Jordan Lawlar (wrist) has been able to take BP on the field. He is eligible to return from the 60-day IL on June 2, but that is looking unlikely given that he hasn’t taken any live at-bats. 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn (quad) has been able to work out and is expected to return on Sunday. He has quietly been very good for the Pirates (.289 AVG with 7 HR, 27 R, 29 RBI, and 1 SB). 2B Tommy Edman (ankle) started a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He is expected to spend three weeks rehabbing with Oklahoma City. C Francisco Alvarez (knee) is ahead of schedule in his rehab. He started hitting on Monday. He is still not expected to return until the second half of June. SS Francisco Lindor (calf) has started a running progression, which is a big step in his recovery from his calf injury. He will need multiple rehab games before returning. C Joey Bart (foot) has been cleared to work out in the weight room and play light catch. He is still weeks away from returning. At that point, the Pirates will have a better picture of their catching situation. C Endy Rodriguez has swung the bat well (.316 AVG with 0 HR, 4 R, 2 RBI, and 0 SB). He has been able to barrel the ball (8% Barrels) and shown a good plate approach (33% BB and 23% K). The tough part of this situation is C Henry Davis, who is Paul Skenes personal catcher and is great defensively, but has struggled with the bat (.134 AVG). The Giants have switched up their lineup by moving SS Willy Adames to leadoff. Adames has been good in the month of May (.288 AVG with 4 HR, 15 R, 13 RBI, and 1 SB). OF Harrison Bader was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday with plantar fasciitis.
On The Mound
Quinn Priester (shoulder) only went 0.2 IP in his latest rehab start (3 ER, 2 H, and 3 BB). The plan was for him to go five innings or 80-85 pitches, but we needed 38 pitches to get two outs. Priester has struggled on his rehab assignment, so it would be wise for the Brewers to let him figure it out at Triple-A as opposed to the majors. Eury Perez left his start early on Wednesday after experiencing hamstring spasms. He is expected to make his next start early next week. Perez has struggled at times this year (4.60 ERA and 1.26 WHIP). He is missing bats (27% K) but has not had consistent control (11% BB), which has shown up in the walks and home run rate (1.58 HR/9). The real issue is that he doesn’t have a productive pitch outside of his fastball. Rhett Lowder (shoulder) is going to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. Logan Webb (knee) was activated off the 15-day IL on Friday (4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, and 5 K). Webb has struggled this year (4.82 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 13% K:BB). Matthew Boyd (knee) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. He is three weeks out from having surgery to repair his meniscus. Hunter Greene (elbow) was able to complete a successful bullpen session on Tuesday. This was his first time throwing off a mound since having surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow in mid-March. We will get a clearer picture of his return date once he starts facing live hitters, but he will need multiple bullpen sessions before that. Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) is going to throw a 60-pitch live BP session next week. The results of this will determine if he is going to need a rehab start. Logan Henderson was placed on the 15-day IL with a low back strain. Tyler Glasnow (back) was able to play catch on Monday. The next progression would be mound work and then live at-bats but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Glasnow hasn’t been able to progres beyond playing catch. Tyler Mahle was placed on the 15-day IL on Friday with a hamstring injury, but it was retroactive to Wednesday, which makes it seem like he will miss just the minimum. Corbin Burnes (elbow) faced a live hitter on Friday, which was the first time since surgery. He is scheduled for another live BP session on Tuesday and is expected back after the All-Star break. Jared Jones made his season debut on Friday night (4.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 Bb, and 6 K). He showed plus velocity by averaging 99 mph on his fastball and touching 101 mph. Despite the premium velocity, he was very hittable (7 H, including 3 HR). He showed better stuff than before he was injured (107 Stuff+ compared to 104 Stuff+ in 2024). The last time he was in the majors, he had a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 26% K, and 8% BB. He is going to miss bats but will need to become less predictable and improve his command within the zone instead of just throwing strikes. Regardless, the upside is too much to ignore even if there are warning signs. Carmen Mlodzinski (3.76 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 19% K, and 8% BB) will move to the bullpen in a multi-inning relief role. The Pirates’ bullpen has struggled outside of Gregory Soto, so he could produce in that role.
In The Bullpen
Paul Sewald picked up two saves (14) this week. He has pitched well this year (3.80 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 30% K, and 7% BB). A.J. Puk (elbow) is targeting a mid-June return. Rasiel Iglesias got save number nine on Tuesday. The Reds did not have any save opportunities this week, so there is no more clarity. Antonio Senzatela is someone to add if he is still available. He has worked his way into save opportunities, and he has been awesome this year (4 W, 3 SV, 1.36 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 21% K, and 7% BB). The Dodgers had three pitchers get saves (Tanner Scott, Kyle Hurt, and Blake Treinen). Tanner Scott has been awesome (1.14 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, 33% K, 4% BB, and 5 SV). Pete Fairbanks got a win last Sunday but took a loss on Friday night. He has a 7.53 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 33% K, 11% BB, and 3.02 SIERA. He has been extremely unlucky in terms of runners left on base (42%, career 72%). Trevor Megill got saves this week (7), but he continues to share save opportunities with Abner Uribe. The Phillies had three saves this week, with two going to Jhoan Duran (11 SV) and Jose Alvarado picking up the other. Gregory Soto had a big week for the Pirates, picking up two saves and a win. He now has 4 W, 6 SV, 2.05 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 32% K, and 10% BB. Mason Miller continues to be absolutely dominant (0.72 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 51% K, and 12% BB) with a save on Friday night. Caleb Kilian got a save last Sunday but blew a save and took a loss on Friday night. He has a 3.96 ERA, 1.16 WIHP, 26% K, and 12% BB in 25 IP.
Players to add this week:
RP Antonio Senzatela (COL)-Antonio Senzatela is someone to add if he is still available. He has worked his way into save opportunities, and he has been awesome this year (4 W, 3 SV, 1.36 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 21% K, and 7% BB).
3B Curtis Mead (WSH)-Curtis Mead is hitting .244 with 8 HR, 25 R, 22 RBI, and 3 SB through 150 PA while showing an improved approach at the plate (14% BB and 17% K). The quality of contact has also been solid (12% Barrels and 46% HardHit), supporting the power growth. Mead’s low .245 BABIP suggests there could be some batting average upside moving forward. He is an intriguing add because of the improving plate skills and balanced offensive profile. Mead has started 8 out of the last 10 games and has hit either 2nd or 3rd in those games.
RP Gregory Soto (PIT)-Gregory Soto had a big week for the Pirates, picking up two saves and a win. He now has 4 W, 6 SV, 2.05 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 32% K, and 10% BB on the year. Soto is an automatic add if he is still available.
SP Ben Brown (CHC)-Ben Brown has been excellent through his first 44.2 innings, posting a 2.01 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. The underlying skills strongly support the breakout, as Brown owns a 26% strikeout rate, 8% walk rate, and 19% K-BB%. He has also done an outstanding job limiting home runs (0.20 HR/9) while generating strong swing-and-miss (12% SwStr). His 3.01 SIERA suggests some ERA regression is likely, but the overall profile still looks very strong. Brown should be rostered in all formats as a breakout pitching option.
1B Spencer Horwitz (PIT)-Spencer Horwitz continues to provide steady production, hitting .288 with 6 HR, 21 R, 25 RBI, and 1 SB through 198 PA. He has shown an excellent approach (15% BB and 12% K) while consistently putting the ball in play. This is why the Pirates have moved him to the leadoff spot. The quality of contact remains modest (6% Barrels and 34% HardHit), which limits the overall power ceiling. Horwitz is a useful add in deeper formats because of the strong batting average and on-base skills.
OF Dylan Crews (WSH)-Dylan Crews has been okay to start 2026, hitting .237 with 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, and 1 SB in 39 PA. He has shown an 18% strikeout rate. He has shown an average quality of contact (7% Barrels and 39% Hardhit). Crews is worth picking up given his speed (30 SB in 125 career GP). He also has untapped potential if he can control the strike zone better (47% O-swing), which is what they wanted him to work on in Triple-A.
SP Cade Cavalli (WSH)-Cade Cavalli has quietly put together a solid season, posting a 3.62 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 59.2 IP. The strikeout ability remains intriguing (25% K) and is supported by a solid 18% K-BB%. Cavalli has been hurt by a high .361 BABIP, which suggests there could be some ratio improvement moving forward. His 3.50 SIERA supports the idea that he has pitched better than the ERA indicates. Cavalli is a strong upside add for strikeouts, especially if the BABIP starts to normalize. He has pitched well in the month of May (3.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 24% K, and 6% BB).
SP Jared Jones (PIT)- Jared Jones made his season debut on Friday night (4.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 Bb, and 6 K). He showed plus velocity by averaging 99 mph on his fastball and touching 101 mph. Despite the premium velocity, he was very hittable (7 H, including 3 HR). He showed better stuff than before he was injured (107 Stuff+ compared to 104 Stuff+ in 2024). The last time he was in the majors, he had a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 26% K, and 8% BB. He is going to miss bats but will need to become less predictable and improve his command within the zone instead of just throwing strikes. Regardless, the upside is too much to ignore even if there are warning signs.
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