About Joseph Barbati - RotoBaller
A.J. Puk Rejoining Bullpen When Healthy
Miami Marlins left-hander A.J. Puk (shoulder) will pitch out of the bullpen when he returns to the major-league roster, according to manager Skip Schumaker. The experiment as a starter in Miami's rotation was a failed one for Puk, who is nursing fatigue in his left shoulder following just four appearances and holds a dismal 9.22... Read More
Zack Gelof Nursing Abdominal Soreness
Updating a previous report, Oakland Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof (abdomen) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx due to soreness in his left abdomen. Gelof, who was originally included in Oakland's starting lineup, was a late scratch and was on the bench for the first time in the... Read More
Thairo Estrada Experiencing Hamstring Tightness
San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada (hamstring) exited Wednesday's loss to the visiting New York Mets in the sixth inning due to tightness in his left hamstring after going hitless in two at-bats. Estrada wanted to stay in the game before Jung Hoo Lee replaced him, so it doesn't seem like he's dealing with... Read More
Manny Machado Expected To Return Friday
San Diego Padres third baseman/designated hitter Manny Machado is expected to return to the lineup on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Machado is currently on the paternity list while he and his wife expect the delivery of their first child, and manager Mike Shildt has... Read More
Sean Murphy Hasn't Resumed Swinging
The Atlanta Braves are increasing the activity of catcher Sean Murphy (oblique). Murphy has caught a bullpen session in each of the past two days, but he's still not swinging a bat yet and may be at least a week away from being cleared to do so. Working his way back from tightness in his... Read More
Cristian Javier Plays Catch Wednesday
Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier (neck) played catch on Wednesday back in Houston. Javier is not with the team during their road series with the Chicago Cubs after flying back home on Tuesday to get checked out by team doctors, but it's encouraging to hear he's throwing. The 27-year-old star right-hander is working his... Read More
Christian Yelich Still Not Swinging
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (back) ran on the field on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his back. Yelich hasn't swung or played catch yet, however, as he's progressed slower than anticipated from a strained lower back. Considering Yelich battled back issues in the early part of his career with the Miami Marlins,... Read More
When is TJ Friedl Coming Back? - Fantasy Baseball Injury Return Update
Back on March 27, the Cincinnati Reds placed TJ Friedl on the 10-day injured list. Friedl fractured his right wrist in a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners on March 16, when he attempted a diving catch and rolled his glove hand in the process, but he managed to avoid the 60-day IL at... Read More
Jon Gray Scheduled For Wednesday's Start
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray made a surprise relief appearance in Saturday's loss to the Atlanta Braves, but he's scheduled to take the ball as a starter for Wednesday's game at home versus the division-rival Seattle Mariners. After yielding five runs in his first start of the 2024 regular season, Gray is getting on... Read More
Blake Treinen Starting Rehab Assignment
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen (lung) is starting a rehab assignment this week, and he will need three or four outings before he's ready to return to the major-league roster. On the mend from a bruised lung that he sustained on March 9, Treinen should be back to help LA's bullpen by the... Read More
Cade Cavalli Throws Bullpen Session
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) threw a 60-pitch bullpen session at the team's spring complex in West Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, and his velocity reached 96 mph. Cavalli is recovering from last year's Tommy John surgery and isn't expected to be available for the Nats until sometime later this summer, but it's... Read More
Cody Bellinger Exits After Hitting Outfield Wall
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger exited Tuesday's game versus the Houston Astros with an apparent injury after crashing into the wall in center field. Bellinger hit the wall hard tracking down a Yainer Diaz double in the fourth inning, and the center fielder was later seen holding his right side in the dugout. Bellinger remained... Read More
Gio Urshela Resumes Baseball Activities
Detroit Tigers third baseman Gio Urshela (hamstring) was cleared to resume baseball activities on Tuesday. After suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain in Friday's win over the Minnesota Twins, Urshela was able to do some straight-line running drills on Tuesday. The fact that the 32-year-old defensive-minded infielder is already progressing from the injury means... Read More
Francisco Alvarez Likely Out Eight Weeks
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb) underwent surgery to address the injury to the UCL in his left thumb on Tuesday. A typical return to play takes approximately eight weeks, which lines up with the club's original timetable after Alvarez tore a ligament in his left thumb in Friday's win over the Los Angeles... Read More
Rays "Encouraged" By Pete Fairbanks' Tests
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that closer Pete Fairbanks (undisclosed) underwent tests on Tuesday that came back "really clean." Fairbanks was sent for multiple tests, evaluating everything from his neck to his fingertips, but the Rays still haven't provided a specific diagnosis. Cash is "encouraged that nothing is showing up," though. While it's... Read More
TJ Friedl Closing In On Rehab Assignment
Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) is taking flips and hitting off a tee. Manager David Bell said on Tuesday that Friedl is "much further ahead" than anticipated in his six-week timetable from a fractured right wrist that he sustained back on March 16, so the center fielder's minor-league rehab assignment sounds like it's imminent.... Read More
Lane Thomas Leaves With Apparent Leg Injury
Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (leg) exited Tuesday's game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers with an apparent left leg injury. Thomas appeared to twist his left leg on a slide while attempting a stolen base in the fifth inning and was able to stay in the game temporarily, but he was later replaced by Eddie... Read More
DJ LeMahieu Suffers Setback Tuesday
The New York Yankees have announced that third baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) left Tuesday's minor-league game with Double-A Somerset due to soreness in his right foot, and the infielder will return to New York for examination on Wednesday. The Yankees' plan was for LeMahieu to make four rehab appearances before potentially being activated from the... Read More
Bryce Elder - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 30% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It’s easy to forget Bryce Elder was a surprise All-Star with an impressive first half in 2023. In his first 18 starts of last season, the 24-year-old former top prospect compiled a 2.97 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 80 batters and... Read More
Kawhi Leonard Present For Shootaround
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) was present at the morning shootaround ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday versus the Dallas Mavericks. Dealing with inflammation in his right knee, Leonard hasn't played since March 31 and remains listed as questionable for the second game of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The 32-year-old two-way superstar's status... Read More
Heston Kjerstad - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 5)
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It's time for fantasy managers to make sure Heston Kjerstad isn't floating around any waiver wires in their leagues. The Baltimore Orioles plan to recall their No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, from the minor leagues ahead of Tuesday's game against the Los... Read More
Landon Knack- Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Landon Knack is getting a crack in the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation while the club waits for All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) to complete his comeback from Tommy John surgery and make his highly anticipated 2024 regular-season debut. Knack ranks as L.A.'s No.... Read More
No Timeline For Jordan Lyles' Return
The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Jordan Lyles (personal) on the inactive list on Saturday, and the team is not disclosing the reason for his absence other than describing it as a "personal matter." There's no timeline for his return, but because of the type of inactive list Lyles was placed on, it opened a... Read More
Joey Votto Hasn't Resumed Hitting
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) has started running more, but he's not hitting live pitching yet. There's no immediate plan for him to get into minor-league games, so until Votto resumes hitting, there's also no reason for fantasy managers to consider stashing the veteran on-base machine. After slashing .202/.314/.433 with 14 home... Read More
Mets Hope To Activate J.D. Martinez Friday
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (back) will move his rehab to Triple-A Syracuse this week, and "it's possible" the team could activate him when they get home on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals, per manager Carlos Mendoza. After receiving a cortisone shot due to lower... Read More
Orioles Calling Up Heston Kjerstad
The Baltimore Orioles plan to recall outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad from the minor leagues ahead of Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Kjerstad, the No. 42 prospect in baseball and Baltimore's No. 4 prospect, is slashing a prolific .349/.431/.744 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 25 runs scored, and one stolen base in 86... Read More
Justin Steele To Throw In Extended Spring Game Friday
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) completed a live batting practice session on Sunday at Wrigley Field. Manager Craig Counsell said everything went well, and Steele's next outing will come in an extended spring training game in Arizona on Friday. On the mend from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain that he suffered back... Read More
Alek Manoah Set For Another Rehab Start
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (shoulder) is slated to start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday or Thursday, per manager John Schneider. Schneider liked Manoah's fastball command and slider movement when he watched his latest rehab start on video, but the Jays want the hurler to get one more minor-league rehab appearance under his... Read More
Orioles Place Austin Hays On Injured List
The Baltimore Orioles placed outfielder Austin Hays (calf) on the 10-day injured list on Monday, retroactive to Sunday. After leaving Saturday's win over the Kansas City Royals, Hays needs to miss some additional time with a strained left calf. The 28-year-old left fielder was already trending down due to a feeble .111/.200/.111 triple-slash line with... Read More
Ryan Mountcastle Out Of Lineup With Sore Knee
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (knee) is out of Monday's lineup for the start of a three-game series on the road against the Los Angeles Angels as a precaution due to knee soreness. Skipper Brandon Hyde says Mountcastle is available to pinch-hit from Baltimore's bench if needed, so there's no need for fantasy managers... Read More