Matthew Stafford Expects Bounce-Back Year From Van Jefferson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson was second on the team with 802 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the team's Super Bowl-winning season in 2021, but he was limited to just 11 games due to injury and caught 24 passes for 369 yards and three TDs in 2022. Quarterback Matthew Stafford thinks Jefferson […]

Damontae Kazee Could Be Platoon Player

The Athletic's Mark Kaboly viewed Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee as the starting safety alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick a month ago. However, he's now wondering if Kazee will be a platoon player with Keanu Neal based on scheme and opponent. The Steelers got a look at Neal in various positions this spring, and he looked good […]

Diontae Johnson Spends Time Away From Team

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson looked sharp during the team's mandatory minicamp last week, but his choice to work out in Florida with his trainer for most of the offseason workouts might not have been the best idea, according to The Athletic's Mark Kaboly. Kaboly thinks Johnson should have been with the team more […]

Broderick Jones May Not Play Immediately

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem content with first-round offensive tackle Broderick Jones sitting and learning for a while. How long Jones sits in his rookie season will depend entirely on him. "If you draft a guy in the first round, you're not drafting a guy to sit him," offensive line coach Pat Meyer said. "It's the […]

Jaylen Warren Looks Impressive This Offseason

The Athletic's Mark Kaboly writes that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is a beast and appears to be bigger this offseason, although he says he's not. Warren has been impressive during offseason workouts with the way he attacks the hole during drills at practice. Kaboly doesn't think there is any way offensive coordinator Matt […]

Josh Rojas Sent To Triple-A

The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned infielder Josh Rojas to Triple-A Reno after Sunday's game. In a corresponding move, the D-backs recalled outfielder Alek Thomas from Reno. Rojas had fallen out of favor in Arizona's lineup of late and will now head to the farm to work on his offense. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder was sporting a […]

Joey Votto Activated And Starting Monday

The Cincinnati Reds activated first baseman Joey Votto (biceps, shoulder) from the 60-day injured list on Monday, and he will be making his season debut against the Colorado Rockies and left-hander Austin Gomber. "I feel much more like myself," Votto said. In 22 total minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Louisville, the 39-year-old left-handed slugger hit […]

Tanner Banks To Serve As Opener Against Rangers

Chicago White Sox left-hander Tanner Banks will serve as the opener for the team on Monday against the Texas Rangers. Banks could go two to three innings as the starter on Monday, but fantasy managers should still be looking to avoid him. The 31-year-old southpaw has a tough matchup and will not be around for […]

Javier Baez Sitting Out Monday

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez is not in the team's starting lineup on Monday against the visiting Kansas City Royals. It's just a normal day of rest to begin the week for Baez, who went 5-for-15 with a home run, two triples, six RBI, a stolen base and four runs scored in the four-game series […]

Robert Gasser Pitching Well At Triple-A

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitching prospect Robert Gasser has been impressing at Triple-A Nashville of late, going 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA while walking four and striking out 27 in 26 innings over his last four starts on the farm. The recent good run of form has lowered Gasser's ERA on the year to 4.24, while […]

Royce Lewis, Max Kepler Absent From Monday's Lineup

Minnesota Twins infielder Royce Lewis and outfielder Max Kepler are both out of the team's starting lineup on Monday against the Boston Red Sox. Lewis is taking a day off after going 2-for-11 with an RBI and two runs scored in the team's four-game series against the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. Lewis is hitting […]

Tanner Houck Could Need Surgery On His Face

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is unsure if starting pitcher Tanner Houck (face) will need surgery to fix a facial fracture he suffered when he was hit below his right eye by a line drive from New York Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka last Friday. The 26-year-old right-hander needed stitches and was checked at a […]

Jordan Walker Serving As Designated Hitter Against Nationals

St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Jordan Walker is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth in the lineup on Monday against the Washington Nationals and right-hander Josiah Gray. It will be the first career start for Walker in the DH role with fellow outfielder Lars Nootbaar (back) back from the injured list. Brendan […]

Darick Hall Reinstated And Optioned

The Philadelphia Phillies reinstated first baseman Darick Hall (thumb) from the 60-day injured list on Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated outfielder Dalton Guthrie for assignment. Hall has been out since early April after tearing a ligament in his […]

Michael Taylor Out Of Monday's Lineup

Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Taylor (head) is out of the starting lineup on Monday with the team facing the visiting Boston Red Sox. Taylor left the game early on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers when he was hit in the helmet by a pitch, but he doesn't appear to have suffered a concussion, so treat […]

Angels Put Anthony Rendon On 10-Day Injured List

The Los Angeles Angels placed third baseman Anthony Rendon (wrist) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a left-wrist contusion. Rendon was originally hit by a pitch on his left wrist last Thursday against the Texas Rangers, and he ended up missing the entire three-game series against the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. […]

Jeimer Candelario Returns On Monday

Washington Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario (thumb) is back at third base and is hitting third in the batting order on Monday against St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty. Candelario suffered a bone bruise in his thumb on Saturday and didn't play on Sunday, but he'll wind up only missing one game over the weekend. […]

Lars Nootbaar Activated From Injured List

The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar (back) from the injured list on Monday and optioned first baseman Luken Baker to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Nootbaar returns to the club for the first time since May 29 after managing two home runs as part of a four-hit attack in his final minor-league […]

Cole Sands To Resume Throwing This Week

Minnesota Twins right-hander Cole Sands (shoulder) will resume throwing off a mound this week. Sands has been sidelined on the injured list since June 4 with a right-shoulder impingement, but he's beginning to make some progress towards a return to Minnesota's bullpen. Before being activated, he'll most likely need a short minor-league rehab assignment. The […]

Stephen Ridings Moves Rehab To Triple-A

New York Mets relief pitcher Stephen Ridings (lat) remains on the 60-day injured list, but he moved his minor-league rehab assignment from Single-A St. Lucie to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. In four outings (two starts) for St. Lucie and Syracuse so far on his rehab assignment, Ridings has allowed one run on two hits while […]

Brendan Rodgers Could Return In August

Colorado Rockies infielder Brendan Rodgers (shoulder), who had surgery to fix the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in spring training, did some running drills on Saturday and will begin hitting softer practice balls in the batting cage when the team reaches Cincinnati to finish their current road trip. There was doubt that Rodgers could return […]

Charlie Blackmon Thinks He Can Return Sooner Than Expected

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon (hand) landed on the 10-day injured list on June 11 after playing a week with a right-hand fracture, but he has felt better after treatment while using a bone stimulator. Blackmon has told manager Bud Black that he thinks he can return quicker than expected. Barring any setbacks once Blackmon […]

Dinelson Lamet Designated For Assignment By Rockies

The Colorado Rockies designated right-hander Dinelson Lamet for assignment on Saturday and recalled left-hander Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Lamet gets cut after providing a horrendous 11.57 ERA, 2.34 WHIP and 22 walks in 25 2/3 innings over 16 appearances (four starts) for the Rockies this year. The Rockies were hoping […]

Red Sox Sign Kyle Barraclough To Minor-League Deal

The Boston Red Sox signed free-agent veteran right-hander Kyle Barraclough to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to a source. Barraclough will return to the big leagues after pitching in the Atlantic League for the High Point Rockers. He made only eight appearances out of the bullpen last year for the Los Angeles Angels, giving […]

Alejandro Kirk Dealing With Hand Contusion

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (hand) had to leave Sunday's game against the Texas Rangers early with a left-hand laceration and contusion after he was hit by a pitch on his hand in his first plate appearance. X-Rays came back negative, according to the team. Fantasy managers should consider the 24-year-old backstop day-to-day for […]

Najee Harris Looks Slimmed Down

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris looked slimmed down a bit in offseason practices and also seemed much more explosive than he did last year. The Athletic's Mark Kaboly doesn't think Harris missed a single offseason practice. The 25-year-old didn't miss a single game in 2022, but he was beat up as opposing defenses keyed […]

Connor Heyward Has Solid Spring

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Connor Heyward had a solid spring catching the ball, especially considering he still doesn't have a clue how he's going to be used this year. However, he's a matchup nightmare on the field, and linebackers just can't cover him. Slot cornerbacks are too small to knock him off his routes. The […]

Markus Golden Looks Like A Good Fit With Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Markus Golden is looking like an excellent rental linebacker for the team in 2023, and The Athletic's Mark Kaboly thinks Golden is much better than Melvin Ingram and Malik Reed of the last two years, at least in the football-in-shorts version during the offseason. Golden should excel as an edge rusher in […]

Hakeem Butler Could Be Perfect Fit As A Field-Stretcher

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hakeem Butler dominated in the XFL and has the look of a big-time receiver with his body structure and ability to get down the field and make contested catches. He could be a perfect fit in a field-stretching role for the Steelers this year. The Athletic's Mark Kaboly writes that Butler […]

Allen Robinson II Impresses In Slot And At Goal Line

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Allen Robinson II (foot) not only participated in spring practices after coming off foot surgery, but he impressed in every facet of his game, especially in the slot and at the goal line. Robinson struggled on the outside the last two years with the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears, but […]