20 mins agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar went 3-for-5 in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cubs. One of his hits was a triple and the 26-year-old also stole his third base of the season. Nootbaar struggled when he initially came off the IL, however, over the last 12 games the left-handed hitter is slashing .341/.460/.561 with a .444 wOBA, 10 RBI, and six runs scored. The former eighth-round draft pick is making good contact (83.3% Contact%), has a 52.0% HardHit% (93rd percentile), and a strong BB% of 14.2% (95th percentile) on the season. With an xBA almost 50 points higher than his current batting average, it seems like there is room for this hot streak to run, and he's rostered in just 38% of Yahoo leagues.Source: ESPN
47 mins agoColorado Rockies outfielder Jordan Beck broke his left hand while trying to make a diving catch in left field during Saturday's game against the Phillies. There is no definitive timetable for his return yet, but he'll be sidelined for an extended period of time. After a hot start at Triple-A, Beck was called up to the majors only to struggle through his first 23 MLB games, hitting just .190 and posting a 1:30 BB:K (37.0% K%). The Rockies have summoned Sean Bouchard from Triple-A to take Beck's place on the roster. Bouchard has seen some success in limited action at the major league level in 2022 and 2023, but is probably off the radar for season-long fantasy for now. While Beck was not hitting well, managers who have an IL spot could stash Beck there until his return and hope that he eventually finds the stroke that made him successful at Triple-A.Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
51 mins agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole threw another successful live batting practice session on Saturday. The Yankees will see how he feels today before determining next steps, but it sounds like he could potentially begin a rehab assignment "as soon as this coming week." Everything seems to be going according to plan which still puts Cole's return likely around the end of June or early July after he makes a few rehab starts, assuming he does not suffer any setbacks.Source: Chris Kirschner - The Athletic
9 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk, and a stolen base Saturday in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. Turang took Zack Kelly deep in the eighth inning to give the Brewers a 6-2 lead. His homer traveled 391 feet with an exit velocity of 102.1 mph. The 24-year-old also logged his 19th stolen base of the season, second in the majors behind Elly De La Cruz (31). He is having a terrific season for the Brewers, slashing .301/.356/.429 with three home runs, 19 RBI. 21 runs, and 19 steals over 47 games in 2024. Turang has solidified a role as Milwaukee's leadoff hitter, and fantasy managers should continue to start him in all leagues.Source: MLB
9 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers reliever Trevor Megill recorded a one-out save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. He allowed one hit and struck out one over a 1/3 of an inning to secure the save. With two outs and the tying run at the plate, Megill was called on to protect the lead. He allowed an RBI single to the first batter he faced but quickly rebounded by striking out Red Sox infielder David Hamilton to end the game. The 30-year-old has converted 8-of-9 saves while owning a 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts over 14 innings in 2024. Megill is Milwaukee's primary closer, while Devin Williams (back) is sidelined, and fantasy managers should continue to roll with him in all league formats.Source: MLB
9 hours agoWashington Nationals outfielder Jesse Winker cramped up while running the bases in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. He went 2-for-3 before being replaced by Victor Robles in the seventh inning. The Nationals didn't go into specifics as to what was ailing Winker. According to Nationals manager Davey Martinez, Winker is fine and should be able to play on Sunday. The 30-year-old has logged multi-hit efforts in two of his last five games. Overall, the veteran is slashing .230/.349/.398 with six home runs, 21 RBI, 23 runs, and six stolen bases over 48 games in 2024. If Winker is available for Sunday's game, he is mainly a fantasy option in deep-league formats.Source: Mark Zuckerman
10 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals right-hander Ryan Helsley allowed two runs on four hits in one inning to earn the save in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cubs. Helsley entered the game in the ninth inning to protect a three-run lead. The 29-year-old surrendered back-to-back hits before retiring Ian Happ for the first out in the ninth. He later got Seiya Suzuki to fly out but yielded two runs before retiring Christopher Morel for the final out of the game. It was the first earned runs Helsley had allowed since April 8. He owns a 1.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 23 innings in 2024. Helsley has been one of the top closers in baseball, and fantasy managers should continue to start him in all leagues.Source: MLB
10 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks farm director Shaun Larkin said shortstop prospect Jordan Lawlar (thumb) will play in rehab games next week and is on track to return from his thumb injury in two weeks. He underwent surgery in late March to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. The 21-year-old is on the 60-day injured list and could be optioned to Triple-A Reno to get consistent at-bats instead of the big leagues once activated. He slashed .129/.206/.129 with two runs and a stolen base across 14 games for the Diamondbacks in 2023. Lawlar has a ton of upside after hitting 15 homers and 33 bases in Double-A last year, and fantasy managers with an open roster spot can continue to stash the top prospect in most leagues.Source: Jesse Friedman
10 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates reliever David Bednar allowed two hits over a scoreless inning to earn the save during Saturday's 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. Bednar entered the ninth inning to protect a three-run lead. He retired the first two batters he faced before surrendering back-to-back hits. The southpaw got Ronald Acuna Jr. to ground out to earn his 11th save. Bednar owns a 6.75 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts over 21 1/3 innings in 2024. Since May 1, the 29-year-old has racked up five saves while posting a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and eight strikeouts over 10 1/3 frames. Bednar is Pittsburgh's primary closer, and fantasy managers should continue to roll with him in all leagues.Source: MLB
10 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani (hamstring) is dealing with a right hamstring contusion after getting hit there with a pickoff throw during the team's last homestand. The injury is something the Dodgers are managing. According to Roberts, the Dodgers have put a "governor" on him and to not exert a total effort when running the bases for now. Ohtani hasn't missed any games and doesn't sound like he will miss any time in the near future. The 29-year-old is slashing .338/.406/.628 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 39 runs, and 13 stolen bases over 52 games in 2024. The hamstring issue isn't slowing Ohtani down, and fantasy managers should continue to roll with him in all league formats.Source: Fabian Ardaya
11 hours agoLos Angeles Angels star outfielder Mike Trout (knee) said before Saturday's game that he's feeling better and his rehab is going to plan. He underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee in early May. The 32-year-old has been on the elliptical and the bike. His next step will be the treadmill. Trout has not begun baseball activities but is progressing. There is no official timetable for his return, but he is expected to return later in the season. He slashed .220/.325/.541 with 10 home runs, 14 RBI, 17 runs, and six stolen bases over 29 games before landing on the injured list. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Trout on their rosters in all leagues.Source: Rhettt Bollinger
11 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) ran at a higher intensity on Saturday. According to Phillies manager Rob Thomson, this would be a "heavy" day for him. Turner could run the bases as soon as Monday's series against the San Francisco Giants. The 30-year-old will need to progress into running the bases before he can face live pitching and potentially begin a rehab assignment. He has been sidelined since the beginning of May with a left hamstring injury. Turner slashed .343/.392/.460 with two home runs, nine RBI, 27 runs, and 10 stolen bases over 148 plate appearances in 2024. If Turner can clear a few hurdles, the Phillies star shortstop could return from the injured list soon.Source: Corey Seidman
11 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill (knee) is day-to-day with a knee injury. He was forced out of Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers after revealing that his knee has been bothering him for a while, and he is getting treatment. O'Neill said it didn't happen in any particular play, but that's probably affected his swing. The 28-year-old has struck out nine times over his last four games. He is slashing .236/.343/.500 with 11 home runs, 17 RBI, 29 runs, and a stolen base over 41 games in 2024. O'Neill will get the day off on Sunday for the series finale versus Milwaukee but will likely avoid the injured list for now.Source: Jen McCaffrey
12 hours agoOakland Athletics closer Mason Miller was back on the mound Saturday, two days after his dust-up against the Colorado Rockies (five runs, three earned runs), which saw his ERA balloon from 0.89 to 2.05. If there were any lingering doubts from that last outing, they were immediately put to rest as Miller secured his 10th save after being handed a two-run lead. Facing the middle of a dangerous Astros offense, Miller made short work of the Houston bats, striking out the side needing only 15 pitches. Miller possesses one of the best young arms in all of baseball. Unfortunately, his upside is limited while closing games in Oakland. If he can keep this up (45 Ks in 23 innings), Miller looks to be one of the more coveted assets potentially available at the trade deadline.Source: ESPN
12 hours agoBaltimore Orioles reliever Cionel Perez stepped up in a big way on Saturday, securing his first save of the season. Craig Kimbrel took a breather after registering saves in both prior games against the White Sox. This had the Orioles calling upon Pérez to protect a two-run lead thanks to a fireworks-filled eighth inning, which saw Baltimore score five runs. Against the bottom third of the lowly Chicago batting order, Pérez wasted no time, striking out one and needing only 10 pitches to close out Baltimore's third straight victory. The 28-year-old owns a 5.06 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 9:6 K: BB across 10 2/3 innings in 2024. Fantasy managers searching for saves can add Perez in deep-league formats. Source: ESPN