Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Jones is currently sidelined due to elbow discomfort, having missed his final spring training start. While he sought a second opinion, the encouraging news is that there are no torn ligaments, eliminating the need for surgery. However, he will be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks, which may push his return to late June or early July. This situation presents a challenge for fantasy managers who were counting on his contributions this season.

Last season, Jones demonstrated potential, finishing with a 4.14 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 121.2 innings, but his performance significantly declined in the second half. He relied heavily on his fastball and slider, with room for improvement on his curveball. In his absence, Carmen Mlodzinski is expected to step in as the No. 5 starter, but keep an eye on rising prospects like Bubba Chandler, who posted a stellar 1.83 ERA in Triple-A last season and could be a valuable stash for the future.