2 mins agoSt. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that an MRI exam showed a "protruding disc" in left-hander
Steven Matz's lower back. He received a pain-killing injection and will be re-evaluated early next week after being placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. Matz was pitching through lower-back pain in his outing on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers and is now most certainly going to miss more than two weeks. On top of it, the 32-year-old veteran southpaw has opened his third year in St. Louis with a 1-2 record, a bloated 6.18 ERA (4.73 FIP), 1.73 WHIP, 11 walks and 17 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings over his first six starts. In shallow mixed leagues, Matz isn't a must-hold, especially given the nature of his injury, if you have bigger needs on your roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
3 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitching prospect Yilber Diaz posted his best start of the season on Thursday evening when he threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and tallying eleven punchouts. This outing raises Diaz's strikeout total to an eye-catching 42 in just 25 innings. The 23-year-old sits with a 3.96 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in his first full taste of Double-A after making just three starts last season. Diaz is not projected to reach the major leagues until 2025 but could make a push for a late-season promotion, especially if he can reach Triple-A quickly. With his elite strikeout potential, dynasty managers should closely monitor his development this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
10 mins agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Masataka Yoshida (thumb) will get a second opinion on his injured left thumb, according to manager Alex Cora. Yoshida strained his left thumb last Sunday against the Chicago Cubs, and the club isn't ruling out surgery. There's no clear timetable for when the 30-year-old left-handed hitter will be able to return, but obviously he'll be facing an extended absence if he's forced to go under the knife. For now, fantasy managers must stash Yoshida in an IL spot until we know more. Before the injury, he was slashing .275/.348/.388 with two home runs and 11 RBI over 89 plate appearances. In the short term,
Garrett Cooper,
Bobby Dalbec and
Dominic Smith could all see time as the team's designated hitter.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
13 mins agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect
Peyton Pallette earned his first victory of the season by tossing five scoreless innings and tallying seven punchouts. The 22-year-old gave up just four hits and no walks. This start lowers his ratios to a 6.46 ERA and 1.63 WHIP through 15 ⅓ innings at High-A. Palette struggled in his first few starts at High-A this season, but it looks like he has begun to figure things out. MLB Pipeline ranks the former second-round pick as the 12th-best prospect in the Chicago system and projects him to reach the majors in 2026. Pallette should be monitored in deeper dynasty leagues, especially if he can continue to succeed at High-A and if he can carry that momentum into Double-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
16 mins agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that right-hander
Nick Pivetta (elbow) will not need another minor-league rehab start. It's a bit of a surprise after Pivetta gave up four runs in three-plus innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday. The deciding factor is probably the fact that the Red Sox could really use Pivetta back in their rotation sooner than later. The 31-year-old should be rostered in most fantasy leagues after allowing just one earned run with 13 strikeouts and one walk in 11 innings in his first two starts in 2024 before injuring his elbow. However, you'll want to avoid him in his first start back with Boston, especially since it's likely to come early next week against the Atlanta Braves and their dangerous lineup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
20 mins agoThe Oakland Athletics reinstated infielder
J.D. Davis (thigh) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder
Nick Allen to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. The A's also selected the contract of infielder
Brett Harris from Vegas and moved right-hander
Freddy Tarnok (hip) to the 60-day IL. Davis is playing first base on Friday night and hitting fifth in his return against Miami Marlins left-hander
Ryan Weathers. The 31-year-old corner infielder will return to a weak .196/.255/.373 slash line with two home runs and two RBI, but he's worth rostering in AL-only leagues as he should be a regular for the A's at either corner infield spot. Davis went 3-for-15 in four minor-league rehab games with Vegas.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Oakland A's
25 mins agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitching prospect
Tink Hence was named Texas League Pitcher of the Month for April. Throughout April, Hence has pitched 25 ⅔ innings to the tune of a strong 2.10 ERA and stellar 0.74 WHIP. He struck out 31 batters and only surrendered six free passes. The 21-year-old has taken a significant step forward at Double-A this season, as he struggled last year with a 5.47 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. MLB Pipeline ranks Hence as the top prospect in the St. Louis system. He should be rostered in most dynasty leagues, as he could very well push for a late-season promotion, thanks to his dominant opening month.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
27 mins agoMiami Marlins outfielder
Dane Myers has been hitting the cover off the ball since being called up. The 28-year-old is 5-for-11 with five RBI and a stolen base during his limited action with the team. Given the Marlins woes on offense, manager Skip Schumaker has moved Myers up in the batting order. He'll bat cleanup and serve as the right fielder during Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should keep an eye on Myers going forward.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
34 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher
Paul Sewald (oblique) is expected to be activated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 33-year-old has been sidelined since late March due to a left oblique strain. Luckily, it sounds like Sewald is finally ready to contribute to the D-Backs bullpen. That being said,
Kevin Ginkel should only hold onto the closer role through the weekend before Sewald returns.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: John Gambadoro
48 mins agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout (knee) underwent successful surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee on Friday. The Angels have not given a timetable on the return of Trout, but this injury isn't expected to be season-ending. Regardless, it's a crushing blow to both the Angels roster and fantasy managers. For now, fantasy managers will have to sit tight and hold Trout on an IL spot.
Mickey Moniak figures to gain the most playing time in the absence of Trout. He hasn't hit well this season, but possibly more playing time will help him get his bat going again.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
53 mins agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Alek Manoah (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a side session on Friday. The right-hander is working his way back from a shoulder issue but appears to be ready to return. Manoah struck out 12 batters over six scoreless innings during his last rehab start. That being said, Manoah is a potential option to pitch during Sunday's game with
Yariel Rodriguez (back) going down. Manoah has been up-and-down during his time in the big leagues, but a matchup against the Washington Nationals does give him some streaming appeal.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Arden Zwelling
1 hour agoChicago White Sox infielder
Danny Mendick (back) has been scratched ahead of Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team has decided to pull Mendick from the lineup due to back tightness. This sounds like a minor issue that should only sideline Mendick for a day or two. In the meantime,
Braden Shewmake will cover third base and bat ninth on Friday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Scott Merkin
1 hour agoBoston Red Sox pitcher
Garrett Whitlock (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. This is encouraging news that Whitlock has finally been cleared to throw off the mound. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since mid-April due to a left oblique strain. If Saturday goes well, Whitlock could then head to the minors for a rehab assignment. It's unclear if the team plans on having Whitlock do any rehab work, but the assumption is that they'd at least make one or two appearances before rejoining the Red Sox. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates after Saturday's session.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
1 hour agoMinnesota Twins infielder
Royce Lewis (quad) has been progressing well in his recovery, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. The 24-year-old is currently entering his fifth week of recovery from a right quad strain. The organization originally gave an eight-week timetable for Lewis when he first went down. It sounds like Lewis is increasing his baseball activities, so possibly he can beat the current time frame. Regardless, Lewis should be back in the Twins lineup before the end of the month. Fantasy managers will need to stay patient for a few more weeks.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Dan Hayes
2 hours agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Blake Snell (groin) will throw around 50 pitches in another bullpen session on Saturday, according to manager Bob Melvin. If all goes well, the Giants will make a decision on whether Snell will go on a minor-league rehab assignment or face hitters next. Snell is making progress from his Grade 2 adductor strain, but he still has some boxes to check off and may need to make several starts in the minor leagues before rejoining the big-league rotation. It seems like even more of a good idea after last year's National League Cy Young winner opened the year with an 0-3 record, 11.57 ERA and 1.97 WHIP with five walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings over his first three starts for the Gigantes. Despite the ugly start, Snell must remain stashed in all fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
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