The most notable development from Wednesday is that Paul Skenes will make his debut for the Pirates Saturday against the Cubs. The No. 1 pick in last year's draft might be the most highly anticipated pitching prospect in MLB history (with apologies to Stephen Strasburg), and as such, he's already rostered in virtually all CBS Sports leagues. What that sort of widespread buy-in presents, though, is a selling opportunity if you can even bring yourself to test the market. The return would have to be high to forfeit the upside, but Skenes isn't a total lock, largely because of workload concerns. I weigh the merits of selling vs. holding in this article [link to it] and encourage you to check it out.

I wrote an in-depth breakdown on Skenes' call up and what it means for Fantasy Baseball here.

As for what happened on the diamond Wednesday, Nick Pivetta struggled in his return from an elbow strain, though he was facing the Braves lineup and specifically a blazing hot Marcell Ozuna, who homered off him twice. Pivetta's velocity readings were fine, so I'm not especially concerned there. More concerning is Craig Kimbrel's struggles. He suffered what really should have been his fourth blown save in five chances if not for manager Brandon Hyde continuing to replace him mid-inning, allowing someone else to take the fall. Hyde confirmed after the game that the Orioles are standing behind their closer, and we've seen Kimbrel overcome these control lapses enough times over the years that we should probably stick with him, too, at least in leagues where saves are scarce.

On the other side of the coin, Dylan Cease struck out 12 and Chris Sale struck out 10, but we already regard them as Fantasy aces or something close to it. Someone we have little regard for is Chris Paddack, who also had double-digit strikeouts and is one of several potential waiver wire pickups who I'm happy to address now.

T.J. Friedl, OF, Reds

TJ Friedl ranked 20th among outfielders in categories leagues last year and 24th in points leagues. He was a must-start player, in other words, offering decent power and even better speed. However did we forget when he fractured his wrist in spring training? To be fair, there was always some skepticism over the performance -- namely the power given his bottom-of-the-scale exit velocity readings -- but he's clearly the Reds' starting center fielder, even getting to play against a lefty in his second game back Wednesday (and going 2 for 4). The speed alone should make Friedl startable across the board, and seeing as he plays his home games in the majors' most homer-friendly park, it may turn out that his 2023 home run total wasn't such a fluke.

Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics

You read that correctly: Brent Rooker has a .998 OPS on the year, which is really something considering he was batting .206 at the end of April. All he's done since then is hit .462 (12 for 26) with four homers, and he was one of the standouts in a doubleheader against the Rangers Wednesday, going 5 for 9 with a homer and two doubles. His strikeout rate, which exceeds 30 percent and always has, will surely lead to some correction in the batting average department, but it's fair to say now that his 30-homer season last year likely won't be his last. What may be most impressive is that he actually missed a 10-game stretch earlier this season with a rib injury, and yet he's still on pace for 35 homers and 91 RBI. Power isn't so readily available that you can dismiss Rooker in a categories league, and he's at least a hot-hand play in a points league.

Frankie Montas, SP, Reds

Frankie Montas didn't do anything of significance in five starts prior to taking a liner off the forearm and seemed like a lost cause for Fantasy. But his return from the IL two weeks later brought with it a 1.5 mph increase on all of his pitches, which led to his best start of the season so far. Montas' explanation is that he "let it eat" for the first time since having shoulder surgery early in 2023, his fastball peaking at 99 mph. There weren't many swinging strikes, which would suggest that his secondary arsenal is still a work in progress, but when he gets his splitter and slider working in tandem, the results can be ace-like. I'd say he's worth a second look if you have a spot to play with.

Taj Bradley, SP, Rays

Taj Bradley (pectoral) was basically untouchable on his rehab assignment, which itself should prompt a certain level enthusiasm for his return Friday against the Yankees. But given the level of bench crowding from all the starting pitchers to emerge off the waiver wire already, it may be hard to look past his 5.59 ERA as a rookie last year. By the looks of the minor-league data, though, Bradley has a new splitter that he's throwing 20 percent of the time. The splitter has become a popular finishing pitch for talented pitchers who've struggled to get over the hump (with Bryce Miller being a prime example), and it may explain Bradley's minor-league dominance. Granted, he pitched well in the minors previously -- he was a top prospect, after all -- but the strikeouts in particular are next-level.

Chris Paddack, SP, Twins

Color me confused on this one. I had hope for Chris Paddack coming back from Tommy John surgery, but his return to the starting rotation this year had been mostly a failure until May 3, when he two-hit the Red Sox over six innings. He upped his slider usage considerably in that start, throwing it 35 percent of the time, and I figured that would be a key to his success moving forward. But he threw it only 20 percent of the time in this latest effort. Instead, the fastball was responsible for 11 of his 19 swinging strikes, which is even harder to figure. It may be unfair, though, to reduce Paddack's success to his last two starts. He also struck out 10 over seven shutout innings April 22, which means he has a 1.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 in his last four. It's clear improvement for a talented pitcher, and maybe that's enough.

Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics

With Willson Contreras suffering a fractured forearm Tuesday, you may be in need of a new catcher, and while Contreras' replacement in St. Louis, Ivan Herrera, makes for a compelling possibility, Shea Langeliers does even more so. His two home runs in Tuesday's doubleheader give him nine total, which ties him with Cal Raleigh for the most among catchers, but we already knew he had power from his 22 homers last year. What's changed in his second full season is the strikeout rate, which has gone from a suffocating 29 percent to a manageable 22 percent. There's actually hope for him being a plus offensive contributor with that second number, and indeed, his .247 xBA ranks in the top half of the league. Hopefully, his performance in Tuesday's doubleheader is the first step toward bringing his actual .209 batting average in line with the expected mark.

• Christian Yelich was activated out of nowhere and in the lineup as the DH, batting third. Tyler Black was optioned back to Triple-A.
• Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said ankle concerns will likely be something Oneil Cruz has to deal with throughout the season. He suffered a fractured left ankle in April of last year.
• Blake Snell will throw a bullpen Thursday and begin a rehab assignment at Single-A on Sunday.
• Grayson Rodriguez threw 15 pitches off the mound Wednesday, his first time doing so since landing on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand was placed on the IL after tests revealed a fracture in his right wrist. He's expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
• The Reds started Jeimer Candelario at first base with Santiago Espinal at third against the lefty Jordan Montgomery. It looks like maybe they could play Mike Ford at first against RHP.
• Max Scherzer will remain shut down from throwing for the next few days due to a right thumb and forearm issue. I believe this is the first we're hearing of a forearm issue, right?
• Bo Bichette was moved down to sixth in the Blue Jays' lineup.
• Bryan Woo is expected to rejoin the Mariners during their upcoming homestand. Emerson Hancock was optioned back to Triple-A.
• Zack Gelof has been cleared for a rehab assignment at Triple-A this weekend. 
• Sean Murphy has progressed to hitting in the batting cage. He's already missed nearly six weeks with a left oblique strain.
• Ryan Pepiot was placed on the IL with a left lower leg contusion, retroactive to May 6.
• Edward Cabrera was placed on the IL with that recurring right shoulder impingement. The Marlins also reinstated Braxton Garrett who is set to make his season debut Sunday against the Phillies.
• Shane Baz will make his second rehab start at Triple-A on Friday. He only threw 39 pitches in his first rehab outing. He's 47% rostered and a priority stash.
• Dane Dunning was placed on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain, retroactive to May 5.
• Chas McCormick could begin a rehab assignment this weekend. He's on the IL with hamstring soreness.
• Jorge Soler was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain. Heliot Ramos was recalled from Triple-A.
• Taj Bradley is slated to make his season debut Friday. He's 53% rostered.
• Tyler Soderstrom was recalled by the A's and started the second game of their doubleheader at first base.