Jonathan Villar Batting Third Against Yanks

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Villar is hitting third against Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka on Opening Day on Thursday. Villar is useful to fantasy owners in all leagues because of his speed, mostly, but he'll also have a chance to drive in runs in the middle of the O's lineup. He's hitting .333 but has […]

Franklin Barreto Likely To Be Optioned

Oakland Athletics shortstop Franklin Barreto is likely to start the year in the minors after the team acquired first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old still has time to develop into a decent major league player and should be back with Oakland eventually, but he's hit only .215/.252/.424 with seven home runs […]

Peter Alonso Likely To Hit Second Thursday

New York Mets first baseman Peter Alonso is likely to hit second in the Opening Day lineup on Thursday against Nationals ace Max Scherzer, which means outfielder Juan Lagares is expected to hit seventh. Alonso is a budding power prospect that needs to be owned in all leagues, but he'll face a tough task right […]

Red Sox Not Naming Closer Before Opening Day

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he won't name a closer with Opening Day on Thursday. However, Cora said he's known since November how he'd approach the ninth inning, he's just not tipping his hand. Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier will likely be used in situations with the highest leverage at the end of […]

Anthony Alford Being Added To 25-Man Roster

It looks as though the Toronto Blue Jays will add outfielder Anthony Alford to the 25-man roster after they traded first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales to the A's on Wednesday night. The former top prospect of the Blue Jays has hit just .111/.172/.148 with one RBI and a steal in just 29 plate appearances for […]

Michael A. Taylor, Howie Kendrick Begin On Injured List

The Washington Nationals placed outfielder Michael A. Taylor (hip, knee), second baseman Howie Kendrick (hamstring) and relief pitcher Koda Glover (forearm) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. All three players likely won't be ready until at least mid-April, with Taylor's injuries likely to keep him out possibly until May. Taylor has an intriguing mix […]

Bengals Want To Extend A.J. Green

The Cincinnati Bengals seem interested in a long-term contract extension with wide receiver A.J. Green, who is entering the final year of his current contract. Green has been one of the best receivers in the game in his eight seasons in the league -- he had five straight 1,000-yard seasons to open his career -- […]

Jake Noll Makes Nationals Roster

Washington Nationals infielder Jake Noll has made the team's Opening Day 25-man roster out of nowhere. He'll be part of a five-man bench that includes Kurt Suzuki, Andrew Stevenson, Wilmer Difo and Matt Adams. Noll is a 25-year-old that hasn't had a single at-bat above Double-A ball, but he'll provide the Nats with infield flexibility […]

Miguel Sano Has Sutures Removed

Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano (Achilles) had his sutures removed in Florida on Tuesday. Sano will continue his rehab and isn't expected to be available until sometime in May. The 25-year-old has tremendous power but his fantasy stock is way down after he struggled with injuries and with a .199/.281/.398 slash line in 71 […]

Jorge Polanco Expected To Be Fine For Opener

Minnesota Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said the team has "every expectation" that shortstop Jorge Polanco (arm) will be good to go on Opening Day on Thursday. Polanco and the Twins are facing Indians ace Corey Kluber, so avoiding Polanco in DFS is the right move, especially if he's not 100 percent. The 25-year-old […]

Rafael Devers To Hit Third On Opening Day

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers will hit third on Opening Day on Thursday against Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales. However, first baseman Steve Pearce (calf), who is starting on the injured list, will typically hit third against left-handers when he's healthy. Devers swings from the left side, so his matchup on Opening Day isn't […]

DeMarcus Lawrence Seeking $22.5 Million Annually

Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who was hit with the franchise tag, is seeking $22.5 million per season in long-term contract negotiations. Lawrence went from asking for an average salary of $20 million to $22.5 million in the last few weeks, and the two sides aren't anywhere close to common ground right now. Despite […]

Angels Claim Brian Goodwin Off Waivers

The Los Angeles Angels claimed outfielder Brian Goodwin off waivers from the Royals on Wednesday, according to a source. Goodwin failed to make the Royals roster after a dismal spring training, but he'll help provide the Halos with some outfield depth now that Justin Upton (toe) will begin the year on the injured list. Goodwin, […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. To Say In Florida To Rehab

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (oblique) is expected to stay in Florida for another week to rehab. After that, the Blue Jays will likely send Guerrero to Triple-A to get more rehab work in game situations. Once he's ready, the top prospect in baseball is expected to make his major league debut, […]

Doug Baldwin Out 6-8 Weeks

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said wide receiver Doug Baldwin (hernia) is expected to be out six to eight weeks after his latest surgery for a sports hernia. It's already Baldwin's third surgery of the offseason, which isn't great news for anyone, let alone a player that turned 30 last September. Although Baldwin finished […]

Browns Cooling On Trading Duke Johnson?

It appears the Cleveland Browns have cooled on attempting to trade running back Duke Johnson. "I don’t know why we would ever want to, like, just voluntarily give up a good football player. Duke Johnson is a good football player. Duke Johnson will have a role on our football team," head coach Freddie Kitchens said. […]

Browns Expect Odell Beckham Jr. To Report Monday

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is expected to report to the team for the start of offseason workouts on Monday. Because the Browns have a new head coach in Freddie Kitchens, they are allowed to start their offseason program early on April 1. OBJ's offseason schedule was turned upside down by his trade […]

Yasiel Puig To Hit Third On Opening Day

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig is set to hit third in between first baseman Joey Votto and third baseman Eugenio Suarez on Opening Day on Thursday. Puig and the Reds will face Pirates starter Jameson Taillon in the season opener. The former Dodgers right fielder actually fared better against righties than lefties last year and […]

Peter Alonso To Start On Opening Day

New York Mets first base prospect Peter Alonso will be in the starting lineup on Opening Day on Thursday against Nationals ace Max Scherzer, according to a source. Alonso gets a very tough task right off the bat, so those playing DFS will likely want to avoid him, but the 24-year-old slugger could be a […]

Ndamukong Suh Unlikely To Return To Rams

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead said that re-signing veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is "pretty much guaranteed to be off the table." The Rams have very little salary cap space left in 2019 after signing Dante Fowler, Eric Weddle, Blake Bortles and Clay Matthews. The five-time Pro Bowler didn't make a big impact […]

Seahawks Expected To Extend Bobby Wagner

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is optimistic that the team will get a long-term contract extension worked out with inside linebacker Bobby Wagner, who is entering the final year of his current deal. The All-Pro will turn 29 this June and has made five straight Pro Bowls while being named a first-team All-Pro four […]

Demaryius Thomas Pleads Guilty To Reckless Driving

Free-agent wide receiver Demaryius Thomas will avoid jail time after he pleaded guilty to a careless-driving charge in Colorado on Wednesday. He was sentenced to one year of probation, 50 hours of community service and fines in connection with the charge. Thomas' car crashed last month after he lost control while driving 70 mph in […]

Padres Claim Socrates Brito Off Waivers

The San Diego Padres claimed outfielder Socrates Brito off waivers from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Unfortunately for Brito, he was in a much better situation to see playing time in Arizona than he will be with his new team. The 26-year-old has hit .202/.229/.351 with five home runs and 16 RBI in 82 games with […]

Matt Olson Placed On Injured List

The Oakland Athletics placed first baseman Matt Olson (hand) and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (leg) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. They also optioned relief pitcher Ryan Dull to Triple-A Las Vegas. Olson had surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone that he suffered in the two-game series in Japan last week and will […]

Greg Bird, Luke Voit To Start Thursday

New York Yankees first basemen Greg Bird and Luke Voit will both be in the starting lineup on Opening Day on Thursday, with Bird playing first base and Voit serving as the designated hitter. With outfielder Aaron Hicks (back) on the injured list, it'll allow the Yanks to delay their decision on Bird and Voit […]

Aaron Hicks Still Not Doing Baseball Activities

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (back) has yet to resume baseball activities, although the Yankees think he's moving in the right direction. Hicks will begin the season on the injured list, and there remains no timetable for his return. Given his penchant for slowly returning from injuries, fantasy owners should expect the worst. Hicks' […]

Hanley Ramirez Makes Indians Roster

Cleveland Indians first baseman Hanley Ramirez has been informed that he will make the team's Opening Day 25-man roster. Han-Ram resurfaces after hitting just .254 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 44 games in 2018 before being released by the Red Sox. He'll serve as depth at both first base and designated hitter […]

Francisco Lindor Suffers Acute Ankle Sprain

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (ankle, calf) suffered an acute ankle sprain while running the bases in a minor league game on Tuesday and received an MRI exam. His timetable for a return is unknown. Lindor, one of the best shortstops in the game and one of the top overall fantasy players, was hoping to […]

Gregory Polanco Playing In Minor League Games

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco (shoulder) played five innings in a minor league game on Sunday and was slated to play five more innings in a Triple-A game on Tuesday. Polanco responded well in his first game and reported only normal body soreness. The 27-year-old had left shoulder surgery in the offseason and is expected […]

Jordy Nelson Retiring From Football

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson announced his retirement from football on Wednesday, according to former teammate and NFL Network analyst James Jones. The third leading receiving in Packers history played 10 seasons in professional football, accumulating 613 receptions, 8,587 yards and 72 touchdowns in 151 games played. The former second-round pick in […]