59 mins agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates optioned outfielder
Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday and recalled left-hander
Jose Hernandez from the minors in a corresponding move. Suwinski is being shipped down to the farm to work on his swing after struggling so far this year to a .174/.268/.297 slash line with four home runs, 13 RBI, five stolen bases and 16 runs scored in 138 at-bats. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter should eventually be back in Pittsburgh, but he probably won't be anything more than a platoon center fielder. With Suwinski in the minors for the time being, it should open up more playing time in the outfield for
Ji Hwan Bae and
Connor Joe, which will in turn open up more action for the lefty-hitting
Rowdy Tellez at first base in Pittsburgh.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
1 hour agoThe Tampa Bay Rays reinstated left-hander
Shane Baz (elbow) from the 15-day injured list on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Durham. Baz is finally nearing a return after opening the year on the IL as he recovers from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in July of 2022. Although he's already made four minor-league rehab starts for the Durham Bulls, the Rays aren't going to rush him back and want to see more before they consider returning him to their big-league starting rotation later this season. In his four rehab starts for Triple-A, the 24-year-old southpaw had a 6.00 ERA and 1.92 WHIP with 22 walks and eight strikeouts in 12 innings. Baz's control could take a while to return as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Fantasy managers are going to want to temper expectations after Baz missed all of last year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications
1 hour agoCincinnati Reds left-hander
Brandon Williamson (shoulder) went 3 2/3 innings in his latest minor-league rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Louisville, allowing one earned run on five hits while walking just one and striking out four in a no-decision. The 26-year-old was making his first rehab start with Louisville but his second overall after pitching for High-A Dayton on May 14. Williamson is likely going to need another rehab start or two before being an option to join Cincinnati's starting rotation. He's been on the IL all year with a left-shoulder strain but may have to settle for a role out of the bullpen for the Reds when he's ready to return if he's not sent back to the minors when he's activated. The former second-rounder by the Seattle Mariners in 2019 out of TCU had a 4.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 39 walks and 98 K's in his first 23 MLB starts in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
1 hour agoThe Cincinnati Reds placed right-hander
Emilio Pagan (triceps) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday due to right-triceps tightness. The move comes after Pagan had not appeared out of the Reds' bullpen since Sunday due to the injury. The 33-year-old veteran setup man had an MRI exam come back negative, so there's hope that he can return to the big-league roster when his 15 days are up. Pagan is a key setup man for the Reds in front of closer
Alexis Diaz in his first year in Cincinnati and is currently sporting a 2-3 record, 4.19 ERA (4.32 FIP) and 1.34 WHIP with seven walks and 25 strikeouts in 19 1/3 relief innings. With Pagan out of the picture for at least the next two weeks, the Reds will need setup men
Fernando Cruz and
Lucas Sims to step up in high-leverage roles.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
1 hour agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitching prospect
Cristian Mena threw five shutout innings on Wednesday and tied a season-high nine punchouts. Through 50 innings with Triple-A Reno, Mena has a 3.42 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 54:25 K:BB ratio. The 21-year-old got a small taste of Triple-A ball last season but struggled with a 5.95 ERA across 19 ⅔ innings. While Mena is showcasing his elite strikeout upside, he is still struggling with his control. Mena should be expected to reach the major leagues later this summer and could become a must-stash player if he lowers his walk rate over his next few starts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
1 hour agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (hand) still has swelling on the outside of his right hand after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday. Fraley said he was going to try and take some swings to test it on Thursday, but he remained out of the starting lineup for the series finale versus the visiting San Diego Padres. X-rays came back negative on the 28-year-old left-handed hitter's hand, so he's considered day-to-day for now. If Fraley feels better while testing his hand on Thursday, he could return to the lineup at some point this weekend for a series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. When healthy, Fraley is an option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues and in DFS lineups against right-handed pitching. The former second-rounder by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 out of LSU is currently hitting .272/.333/.359 with a homer, seven RBI and seven steals in 103 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
2 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl (thumb) is back to hitting flips and continues to progress. He's working toward getting back to taking batting practice soon. Friedl suffered a fractured left thumb 11 days ago but is already swinging a bat and is progressing nicely. If the 28-year-old doesn't suffer a setback with his thumb once he starts to take batting practice, he should be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after that. Surprisingly, Friedl is on track to return from the 10-day injured list when he's eligible early next month. When healthy, Friedl should be a lineup regular, at least against right-handed pitching, after hitting 18 home runs, driving in 66 and stealing 27 bases in a breakout 2023 campaign. He's been unlucky with injuries so far in 2024, though, and is currently hitting .182 (4-for-22) with no homers, two RBI and two steals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
2 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals second baseman
Jose Fermin went 3-for-4 with his sixth home run of the season to power Triple-A Memphis to a victory. Through 26 games at Triple-A this season, Fermin has posted an excellent .393/.481/.708 slash line with a 13:3 BB:K and nine stolen bases. Fermin has appeared in only 30 games in the majors over the past two years, made just nine appearances earlier this season, and holds a cumulative .227/.338/.242 line. However, the 25-year-old is on pace to set career-highs in every category in the minors and could earn himself a more extended opportunity in the majors later this summer. When he is promoted, he is worth an addition in NL-only formats, as he could provide you with a nice power and speed combination.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 hours agoCincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (groin) had a successful bullpen session on Wednesday and will throw again on Saturday. Lodolo is aiming to come off the 15-day injured list and return to Cincy's starting rotation on Monday to face the St. Louis Cardinals. As long as the 26-year-old southpaw doesn't have a setback in his next bullpen session on Saturday, fantasy managers should be ready to throw him back into their starting lineups in a favorable matchup to kick off next week. Lodolo landed on the 15-day IL due to a left-groin strain that wasn't very serious, which is why he didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment. The former seventh overall pick out of TCU in 2019 should be rostered in all fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside. He was looking good this year before his injury, going 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 43 K's in 35 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
2 hours agoAtlanta Braves starting pitching prospect
Spencer Schwellenbach tossed seven shutout frames on Wednesday, allowed only two hits, and struck out eight to extend his impressive scoreless streak to 17 ⅔ innings. Through his first two starts at Double-A, the number three prospect in the Atlanta system has yet to allow a run and is riding an incredible 17:1 K:BB ratio. The 23-year-old began the season with High-A and posted a solid 2.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 34:9 K:BB ratio through 32 innings. The 25-year-old is not projected to reach the majors until next season but is worth paying close attention to in dynasty leagues as he is developing into one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 hours agoThe Oakland Athletics placed outfielder
Esteury Ruiz (wrist) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a strained left wrist and selected the contract of outfielder
Daz Cameron from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Infielder
Jordan Diaz was also designated for assignment. Ruiz only made two starts in the team's last 13 games due to his injury, so they A's weren't trying to play a man short any longer. The 25-year-old speedster had a league-high 67 stolen bases in 2023 but has already been optioned to the minors once in 2024 and is currently hitting .200 (11-for-55) with two homers, eight RBI and five steals in 29 games. Ruiz has gone 2-for-19 with 10 strikeouts in May. Cameron, 27, could be an interesting option in AL-only leagues if he sees playing time. He was hitting .307 with six homers and eight steals in 41 games for Vegas before this call-up.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
2 hours agoThe San Francisco Giants placed left-hander
Blake Snell on the paternity list on Thursday and recalled relief pitcher
Nick Avila from Double-A Richmond in a corresponding move. Snell should be back in time for his next start against the Philadelphia Phillies. The reigning National League Cy Young winner made his return from the injured list on Wednesday to face the Pittsburgh Pirates and he'll now leave the team for a few days. In his return from a groin strain, Snell allowed four earned runs on four hits while walking a season-high four batters and striking out five in 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision. The 31-year-old southpaw remains winless on the year with a nightmarish 11.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP with 17 strikeouts in 15 innings of work over four starts. Snell should be able to get things figured out and has been notorious for being a slow starter, so he's worth some buy-low offers if you're in need of a strikeout artist.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
2 hours agoNew York Yankees first base/catching prospect
Ben Rice broke out of his 10-game power slide with his first multi-home run game of the season on Wednesday. Rice has hit a solid .245/.373/.496 through 38 games this season at Double-A with 10 long balls, seven stolen bases, and a 25:38 BB:K. Rice got a taste of Double-A ball last season and posted a strong .327/.401/.648 slash line with 16 home runs through 48 games. With how well Rice is performing at Double-A, he could earn himself a Triple-A promotion very soon, which opens the door for a late-season major-league debut. The No. 12 prospect in the New York system, according to MLB Pipeline, should remain a name to monitor in dynasty leagues, especially if he continues to showcase his elite power.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitching prospect
Cade Horton posted his best start at Triple-A on Wednesday with five innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits, one free pass, and striking out six. Through his first four starts with Triple-A Iowa, Horton has posted a 6.88 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 20:10 K:BB ratio. However, in his two recent starts, he has a much better 4.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, which is a good sign. The top prospect in the Chicago pipeline opened the season with Double-A Tennessee and posted a stellar 1.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 18:2 K:BB ratio, which allowed him to move up to Triple-A quite early this spring. The former number-seven overall pick should reach the major leagues later this summer, and with his recent turnaround at Triple-A, this promotion could come relatively soon. Horton should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper leagues and is worth stashing in deeper redraft leagues for now.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 hours agoThe Baltimore Orioles placed left-hander
John Means (forearm) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a left-forearm strain and recalled right-hander
Jonathan Heasley from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. The frustration around Means continues after he was forced to leave his start on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals early due to a flare-up with his left forearm. The 31-year-old southpaw got a late start to the 2024 campaign due to a similar issue with his arm, so fantasy managers should expect him to miss more than the 15 days on the IL. The O's are likely to play it safe with Means at this point, although hopefully he'll be able to return to Baltimore's starting rotation before the All-Star break in mid-July. With Means now sidelined again, it's likely that
Cole Irvin will take his rotation spot.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dan Connolly
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