3 mins agoHouston Astros right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) has been throwing off a mound and has hit the mid-80s with his fastball while adding in some changeups. His next step will be to add in some breaking pitches to build up his pitch count and intensity in the coming weeks. McCullers didn't pitch at all in 2023 after having surgery on June 13 to fix his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur from his right elbow. He had rehabbed to the point that he was close to facing hitters in mid-May of last year, but he had another setback that ultimately led to surgery. It's positive news for the 30-year-old starter, but McCullers still has a ways to go and probably won't start a minor-league rehab assignment for around another month, so fantasy managers in shallow mixed leagues can leave him to the waiver wire for now. In a best-case scenario, McCullers won't be back with Houston until after the All-Star break.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 mins agoHouston Astros right-hander
Jose Urquidy (forearm) allowed three runs on three hits while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings in his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. Urquidy threw 28 of his 46 pitches for strikes and will make another rehab start this Saturday with Double-A Corpus Christi, where he's expected to throw 70 pitches. "When I finished the game, I didn't feel anything bad," said Urquidy, who was topping out at 90-93 mph. "I wasn't thinking to not put too much stress on my arm, but I think I've got more than that. I think next outing, I'm going to have more velocity for sure." The Mexican hurler went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) in 2023 and spent three months on the injured list with right-shoulder discomfort. Given all the injuries to Houston's rotation early this year, Urquidy figures to have a spot waiting for him when he's healthy enough to return.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 mins agoHouston Astros outfielder
Chas McCormick (hamstring) went 2-for-5 at designated hitter in his first minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. He said he tested his injured right hamstring on a double and had no issues. McCormick will continue his rehab assignment on Tuesday and Wednesday for Double-A Corpus Christi and is expected to play the outfield both days. "I felt really good," McCormick said. "I could stick in the ground and use my hamstring when I'm swinging, and that's really important. I hit a couple of balls hard and I was happy with my swing. I still feel like I need to play a couple of more games, work on some things and know where I'm at. The outfield tomorrow will be a good test." If McCormick doesn't suffer any setbacks while playing the outfield, he could return to the Astros lineup this weekend in Milwaukee. He has yet to homer in 72 big-league at-bats in 2024 and is carrying a .236/.325/.278 slash line.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 mins agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Jasson Dominguez (elbow) is scheduled to start his minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Tampa on Tuesday. Dominguez is scheduled to serve as the designated hitter for the Tarpons for the first two weeks of his rehab assignment, according to manager Aaron Boone. He's fully expected to use the maximum of 20 days on a rehab assignment as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery before being an option to start in center field for the big-league club around the All-Star break. Once his rehab assignment is over, there's a good chance the Yankees will send him back to the minors to continue working his way back. The 21-year-old they call the Martian is eventually expected to be the team's starting center fielder in the second half this year and should be rostered in all fantasy formats while we wait.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Tarpons
22 mins agoNew York Mets outfielder
Harrison Bader and second baseman
Jeff McNeil are both sitting out of Tuesday's contest against the visiting division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. With both players starting on the bench,
Tyrone Taylorread more...
28 mins agoPhiladelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto (knee) is out of the starting lineup once again on Tuesday versus the New York Mets.
Garrett Stubbs is behind the plate again and is batting ninth against Mets right-hander
Jose Butto. Although Realmuto is missing his third straight game with a right-knee injury, manager Rob Thomson said that Realmuto's knee is feeling better and he was able to do some work on the field and in the batting cage prior to Tuesday's game. However, the 33-year-old isn't a lock to return to action on Wednesday, so fantasy managers may have to wait another day or to get him back. Stubbs is a poor DFS choice at the catching position, especially while hitting ninth. He's currently hitting just 4-for-30 (.133) on the year with no home runs and one RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 hour agoChicago Cubs outfielder
David Peralta opted out of his minor-league deal with the Cubs and became a free agent. Peralta chose to sign a minor-league deal with Chicago in the offseason after having surgery on the flexor tendon in his left elbow last October. The 36-year-old veteran left-handed hitter was batting just .217 (15-for-69) with two home runs, eight RBI and 10 runs scored in 20 games for Triple-A Iowa before opting out of his deal. Peralta will now be hoping he can latch on with another team where he'll have a better shot at making it back to the Show. The Venezuelan outfielder also underwhelmed last year in 133 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, slashing .259/.294/.381 with seven home runs, 55 RBI, four stolen bases and 47 runs scored in 422 plate appearances. For now, Peralta is well off the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
4 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks catcher
Gabriel Moreno went 1-for-2 in the batter's box on Monday with three walks and his first home run of the season. In 33 games this season, Moreno has a .248/.350/.356 slash line with a stellar 15:14 BB:K. The 24-year-old launched only seven home runs last season and looks to settle in around that number again this campaign. However, while Moreno lacks in power, he possesses excellent contact skills and a strong eye at the plate. Currently, Moreno has a 12.0% strikeout rate and 12.8% walk rate, which places him in the top 96th and 86th percentile, respectively, of all qualified hitters. He remains a solid contributor for batting average in standard leagues and should remain rostered in most formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 hours agoSan Diego Padres shortstop/outfielder
Jackson Merrill went 2-for-3 at the plate on Monday with a home run. The rookie tallied a solo shot in the seventh inning, which was his third of the season. Through his first 41 games at the major-league level, the 21-year-old has a strong .291/.342/.403 slash line with six stolen bases. Merrill has played in all but one game this season for the Padres and has several strong underlying metrics, such as a 45.5% hard-hit rate and .453 xSLG, which are both significantly above-average. The former first-round selection has settled right in at the major-league level and should be rostered in all standard formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 hours agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Luke Raley went 3-for-4 in the batter's box with a long ball, two singles, and three RBI in Monday's victory over the Kansas City Royals. In the second frame, Raley launched his third home run of the season, which scored
Cal Raleigh. Then in the third inning, he knocked an RBI single, which scored
Jorge Polanco. He capped things off with another single in the eighth frame and then swiped his second bag of the season. Through 31 games, the 29-year-old has a solid .266/.310/.392 slash line. Raley is on the strong side of a platoon and is worth considering in deeper mixed leagues due to his ability to hit for power and potentially steal double-digit bases.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Bryan Reynolds went 5-for-5 at the plate in Monday's victory with a home run and a double. Reynolds laced a double in the third inning to score
Andrew McCutchen and then hit a solo shot to pad the Pittsburgh lead in the ninth. This perfect outing brings Reynolds to a solid .256/.351/.427 slash line with five total long balls through 42 games this season. The 29-year-old is a consistent fantasy contributor, and his strong underlying metrics suggest he could be in store for another successful season. He currently has a .266 xBA and .458 xSLG, which are both above-average among qualified hitters. The former Vanderbilt Commodore should always remain in your fantasy lineup and be considered in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates backstop
Yasmani Grandal launched his second home run in just seven games with his new club on Monday. The 35-year-old looks to be settling in quite nicely in the Steel City with an impressive .545 SLG through his first week as a Pirate. Grandal was on the 15-day injured list to open the season with plantar fasciitis but is now looking like his past self. Grandal began splitting catching duties with
Joey Bart, but he has now started each of the past four games, suggesting he has a slight lead for the starting role. Grandal is worth adding in NL-only formats for the time being but could force his way into mixed leagues if his power surge continues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder
Jake Bauers increased his hit streak to four games on Monday by knocking a single and a grand slam. On the season, the 28-year-old has a solid .244/.326/.476 line with four home runs, four stolen bases, and 21 RBI. Since the start of May, he has been riding an impressive .346/.500/.727 line with a strong 5:9 BB:K ratio. Bauers has only been in the lineup against right-handed pitchers so far this season which does hinder his fantasy value. Nonetheless, in deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats, fantasy managers looking for a strong source of power should consider adding Bauers to their team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Michael Lorenzen produced his best start of the year on Monday, going seven scoreless innings while allowing only one hit and four walks. The Rangers, unfortunately, couldn't provide Lorenzen with any offense, as he finished with a no-decision in the 7-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. The performance lowered his ERA to 3.75 and WHIP to 1.22 on the season, but the four walks gave him 18 walks on the season in only 36 innings. The ERA and WHIP are on par with his career numbers of 4.10 and 1.32, but the walks are higher than normal, as he's averaging almost double the amount of walks per inning with 0.5 walks. The heavy load of walks doesn't bode well for his next outing when he faces a patient Philadelphia Phillies team that ranks fifth in the league in taking free passes.
--Joey Inglese - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates catcher/outfield prospect
Henry Davis has struggled since his demotion to Triple-A Indianapolis last week. The former Number one overall pick opened the year with the big-league club, but struggled with a .162 batting average and four RBI in 68 at-bats before veteran
Yasmani Grandal returned from the injured list and took away his job. Since being sent back down, Davis is 3-for-19 with two runs and two RBI. Davis was picked number one overall for a reason and still has a bright future ahead of him, but he will need to turn things around in Triple-A to get another chance with the big-league club. Although managers in redraft leagues should have already cut ties, Davis still has value in dynasty leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
RADIO
