1 hour agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Shane Baz (elbow) made his third minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Thursday, throwing 3 1/3 innings while allowing one run on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Baz threw 69 pitches on Thursday as he continues on the road to recovery from Tommy John surgery, and he'll likely need another appearance or two in the minors to sharpen things up before rejoining Tampa Bay's injury-riddled rotation. The 24-year-old former top prospect should be able to return before the end of May at this rate, so he's worth a stash in the majority of fantasy leagues. For his major-league career, Baz features a promising 4.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while fanning 48 and walking 12 through 40 1/3 frames (nine starts) for the Rays.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Nestico
1 hour agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique, hand) is not traveling with the team ahead of Friday's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Crawford's hand is still sore and a little swollen after getting hit by a pitch during Wednesday's minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, and the M's aren't certain when he'll rejoin the club. Working his way back from a strained right oblique as well, the 29-year-old infielder will likely need a few days to allow the swelling in his hand to go down before getting back into game action. It may be enough to keep Crawford from being reinstated from the injured list this weekend. Fantasy managers should have a few more days of streaming value out of utility man
Josh Rojas, who's taken over as Seattle's primary leadoff man while slashing a potent .330/.395/.482 with three home runs, nine RBI, 12 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 126 plate appearances (35 games) this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Divish - The Seattle Times
2 hours agoChicago Cubs second baseman
Nico Hoerner (hamstring), who remained out of Thursday's lineup, went through a more regular pregame workout before the game against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Craig Counsell said. If all goes well, the hope is that Hoerner will be back in Chicago's lineup for the second game of the series against Pittsburgh on Friday. The 27-year-old contact-hitting infielder appears to be on the cusp of a return from tightness in his left hamstring after being out of the lineup in each of the past three contests, so fantasy managers should expect to get him back without needing a trip to the injured list. In 41 games (156 at-bats) before picking up the injury, Hoerner slashed .269/.361/.391 with two home runs, 11 doubles, 12 RBI, 25 runs scored, and five stolen bases as the Cubs' primary leadoff hitter.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Maddie Lee - Chicago Sun-Times
2 hours agoChicago Cubs shortstop
Dansby Swanson (knee) continued to ramp up his activity ahead of Thursday's game against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, including fielding ground balls. After a period of rest, recovery, and treatment, Swanson did some light running and agility work and played catch before Wednesday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves and seems to be progressing well in his recuperation from a sprained right knee. The 30-year-old star infielder is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list as early as Saturday's contest against Pittsburgh, though it's unclear if he'll need a brief minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs activate him. Although Swanson was slashing a meager .209/.285/.341 with four home runs, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 37 games (129 at-bats) as Chicago's everyday shortstop before the injury, he's a must-stash player in all fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Mike McGraw - Daily Herald
2 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers shortstop/outfield prospect
Wilman Diaz tallied two hits and stole three bases on Wednesday to lead Single-A Rancho Cucamonga to a victory. During the season, Diaz has posted a .200/.305/.289 slash line with nine total stolen bases and no home runs. The 20-year-old has flashed his elite speed throughout his time in the minor leagues and is on pace to steal double-digit bases in consecutive years. In the batter's box, this performance will hopefully help Diaz break out of his May slump, as he has a weak .133/.257/.133 line. Diaz could force a promotion to High-A later this summer but should be left on the waiver wire in all dynasty leagues for the foreseeable future.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 hours agoDetroit Tigers shortstop prospect
Kevin McGonigle extended his hit streak to six games with a two-hit performance on Wednesday. On the season, the 19-year-old has totaled 18 hits through 15 games this season with a .321/.406/.464 slash line with a long ball and an 8:8 BB:K ratio. Since he started his hit streak on May 8, he is sporting an incredible .357/.400/.536 line. McGonigle got a small taste of Single-A last season and is settling in quite nicely in his first extended look. He should be expected to reach High-A later this summer and could become a name to monitor in dynasty leagues down the road.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 hours agoChicago White Sox third base/outfield prospect
Wilfred Veras went 3-for-4 at the plate on Wednesday with two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's victory. Veras has been doing very well with Double-A Birmingham this season with a .328/.352/.529 slash line with five home runs through 30 games. However, he has posted a high 40:3 K:BB. Last season in 38 games at Double-A, the 21-year-old posted a similar .309/.346/.533 line with six home runs. MLB Pipeline ranks Veras as the 25th-best prospect in the White Sox's system, but he could easily climb higher due to his stellar performance this season. He should be expected to reach Triple-A later this summer and is worth monitoring in dynasty leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 hours agoTexas Rangers left-hander
Brock Burke (hand) has been sent to the Arizona Complex League Rangers in the Rookie league on a minor-league rehab assignment. Burke is scheduled to pitch for the ACL Rangers in Thursday's game against the ACL Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Burke is trying to recover from a broken right (non-throwing) hand that landed him on the injured list on April 13. The 27-year-old southpaw had allowed five earned runs on nine hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out five in three innings out of the Texas bullpen earlier this year before going on the shelf. Since he's currently on the 60-day injured list, Burke will not be eligible to return to the team's big-league bullpen until June 12. When healthy, Burke isn't on the fantasy radar in a middle-relief role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
3 hours agoBoston Red Sox shortstop prospect
Marcelo Mayer has been on fire to begin the season but has been especially dominant through the early part of May. Since May 1, the 21-year-old has a .314/.379/.529 line with one home run, 11 RBI, three stolen bases, and a 6:9 BB:K ratio. On the season, the top prospect in Boston has posted a .310/.359/.496 slash line. After struggling through 43 games at Double-A last season, Mayer has begun to find his footing and is making a case to be moved up to Triple-A very soon. MLB Pipeline projects him to reach the major leagues this season and could become a stash candidate later in the summer if he continues to dominant minor league pitching.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
3 hours agoThe Los Angeles Angels acquired right-hander
Roansy Contreras from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations, according to sources. The Pirates had designated Contreras for assignment last Saturday. The 24-year-old Dominican hurler went 1-0 with the Pirates with a 4.41 ERA (5.01 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with eight walks and 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 relief innings over 12 outings out of the bullpen this year before being traded to the American League. In his four big-league seasons in Pittsburgh, Contreras has made 53 appearances, with 30 of them coming in a starting role, so he could become an option to make some spot starts for the Halos eventually. Contreras has a career 4.83 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with weak 20.2% strikeout rate and a 10.1% walk rate. Fantasy managers can continue ignoring him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
3 hours agoKansas City Royals starting pitching prospect
Chandler Champlain posted his best outing of the season by tallying 10 punchouts across 6 1/3 shutout innings on Wednesday. This outing brings the 24-year-old to a 3.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through 36 innings at Double-A. Champlain has been on a nice run since the start of May with a 0.52 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings. Champlain is ranked as the 11th-best prospect in the Kanas City system on MLB Pipeline and is projected to reach the majors sometime next season. However, dynasty fantasy managers should begin to pay close attention to him, as a promotion to Triple-A could be imminent. He has totaled 109 innings at Double-A over the past two years.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
3 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-hander
Taijuan Walker (foot) was forced to leave his start early on Thursday against the visiting division-rival New York Mets after he was hit by a line drive on his left foot. Before leaving the contest early, Walker allowed two earned runs on four hits (one homer to
Pete Alonso) while walking two and striking out one in 3 1/3 innings pitched. The Phillies are likely to do some tests on Walker, at which point we should have a better idea of the severity of his injury and whether it will cause him to miss his next start. The 31-year-old got a late start to the season due to injury and came into Thursday's start with a 4.82 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings over his first three starts. After giving up two more runs on Thursday, Walker's ERA now stands at 4.91.
UPDATE: Walker's injury is being called a foot contusion, but he's scheduled for more testing.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia
3 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Emmet Sheehan (elbow) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his UCL on Wednesday. The procedure was performed successfully by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Sheehan was cleared to face hitters in late March but then was shut down in the middle of April when he had a setback with his right elbow. The 24-year-old will now miss all of the 2024 season and probably will not be able to return for the Dodgers until around midseason in 2025. It's a big blow for one of the Dodgers' promising young arms after he made his big-league debut in 2023, going 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA (4.85 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP while walking 26 and striking out 64 in 60 1/3 innings over his 13 outings (11 starts). Sheehan can now be safely dropped by any fantasy managers in deeper redraft leagues that were hanging onto him in an IL spot.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
3 hours agoFor the second straight day on Thursday, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) went through a full agility workout at Citizens Bank Park while taking ground balls and also hitting inside in the cages. It has only been 13 days since he injured his left hamstring and is progressing at a surprising pace given the original timetable of around six weeks. The 30-year-old All-Star is making fantastic progress, but the Phillies will probably pump the brakes on him returning too soon and aggravating his injury, especially given the nature of Turner's game on the basepaths. However, if Turner continues to progress at this pace, he'll surely beat his projected six-week timetable, which is great news for his fantasy managers.
Edmundo Sosa will continue to work as the Phillies' starter at the 6 until Turner returns from his hamstring ailment. Keep Turner stashed in all fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
3 hours agoNew York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that right-hander
Kodai Senga (shoulder) is getting closer to a return and being sent on a minor-league rehab assignment. "We all feel better about it here than we would have 5-6 days ago," Stearns said on Thursday. The front-office executive also said Senga had a good bullpen session recently where the Japanese hurler felt like he made some strides. There's no set date for when Senga will go on a rehab assignment, but that's the next step in his recovery after he took a step back recently in his rehab to deal with some mechanical issues. The 31-year-old looks to have moved past those issues and could be on the cusp of making his 2024 debut, although fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the Mets want to see him make a handful of minor-league starts first. Senga should be stashed in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY
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