54 mins agoChicago Cubs right-hander
Yency Almonte (shoulder) is shut down from throwing and is in a strengthening program. However, the hope is that his strengthening program will be relatively short and he can start throwing again next week. The 29-year-old reliever was placed on the 15-day injured last week with a right-shoulder strain but he shouldn't be out for too much longer, barring a setback. The former 17th-round selection by the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 was 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA (3.31 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP, one save, eight walks and 20 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen this year before going on the IL. Almonte isn't really on the fantasy radar in any formats and holds a career 4.44 ERA (4.41 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with three saves in 223 innings out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Ryan Herrera
60 mins agoThe Washington Nationals reinstated first baseman/outfielder designated hitter
Joey Gallo (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned rookie infielder
Trey Lipscomb to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. It remains to be seen if Gallo will be included in Friday's starting lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander
Zack Wheeler. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger has recovered from a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and should play mostly in right field or as the DH on most days against right-handed pitching for the Nats, at least until
Lane Thomas (knee) returns from his injury. Gallo has elite power but struggles to make consistent contact at the plate. He's returning to a .122/.286/.311 slash line with three homers and five RBI in the 23 games he's played in this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Washington Nationals
1 hour agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers acquired left-hander
Anthony Banda from the Cleveland Guardians on Friday in exchange for cash considerations. Banda will head to the Dodgers after posting a 2.12 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with six walks and 25 strikeouts in 17 relief innings for Triple-A Columbus this year. The 30-year-old southpaw will likely report to Triple-A Oklahoma City now and will operate as left-handed relief depth for the Dodgers moving forward. Banda was originally a 10th-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012 out of San Jacinto College. He made his big-league debut back in 2017 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and has pitched in the majors with seven different teams since then. Overall, he has a 5.69 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with one save, a weak 19.9% strikeout rate and an 8.9% walk rate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider
1 hour agoOakland Athletics right-hander
Mitch Spence will make the start for Friday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals. Spence last pitched on Monday against the Houston Astros, giving up two runs on two hits (one homer) while walking one and fanning one in just two-thirds of an inning. The 26-year-old former Rule 5 pick will be making his first major-league start on Friday in a tough matchup, so we would recommend avoiding him as a streamer in deeper fantasy leagues. The former 10th-round selection of the New York Yankees in 2019 out of South Carolina Aiken has allowed 13 runs (12 earned) on 21 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 22 in 25 1/3 relief innings so far in his rookie season. Spence will essentially be an opener for the A's on Friday, with
Kyle Muller likely being the bulk reliever out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
2 hours agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto said on Thursday that he would give his blessing to contract talks during the season if the Yankees want to approach his agent, Scott Boras, about a long-term contract. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said he'd consider such a tactic for the three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, who is just 25 years old. "We'd like to see him here for the rest of his career. I don't think there's any doubt in that," Steinbrenner said. Soto is currently hitting a strong .302 with nine homers, 34 RBI and a .920 OPS in his first 45 games in pinstripes. Neither Steinbrenner nor Boras typically do in-season contract extensions, but the Yankees are willing to make an exception with such a special player. If the two sides don't reach an extension before free agency this winter, Soto will be a highly sought-after free agent.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
2 hours agoChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-handed reliever
Julian Merryweather (ribs, shoulder) will start throwing in Arizona on Monday. Merryweather still has a long ways to go to get up to speed, but it's a good sign that he's ready to resume throwing. The 32-year-old veteran was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his ribs in early April and is currently on the 60-day injured list, meaning he's not eligible to return until early June. Given the severity of his injury and the fact that he's starting his throwing program next week, Merryweather is unlikely to be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible. The former fifth-round pick by Cleveland in 2014 out of Oklahoma Baptist has a 3.29 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, two saves and 104 K's in 76 2/3 relief innings for the Cubs the last two years and will be a useful high-leverage arm out of their bullpen when he's ready to come back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Daily Herald - Mike McGraw
2 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) will resume baseball activities on Monday, according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomcyzk. The plan is for Hayes to play catch and field ground balls on Monday and then swing the bat on Tuesday. The 27-year-old landed on the injured list with a back injury that doesn't sound too serious, so as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, Hayes could be back with the Pirates before the calendar flips to June. Until Hayes is able to return, expect the Pirates to continue to lean on
Jared Triolo at the hot corner. Triolo is hitting ninth for the Bucs on Friday against Chicago Cubs veteran right-hander
Kyle Hendricks. Before his injury, Hayes was hitting a modest .240/.322/.318 with only one home run and 11 RBI in 34 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
3 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs placed right-hander
Colten Brewer (back) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a lower-back injury and recalled right-handed pitcher
Porter Hodge from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Brewer last pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Sunday. In a middle-relief role for the Cubs this year, the 31-year-old has been solid for the team, posting a 3.09 ERA (3.20 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. In six years in the big leagues, Brewer has a 4.78 ERA (5.06 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP with a very mediocre 20.2% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate. Hodge, 23, was a 13th-round pick by the Cubs in 2019 and will be making his big-league debut when he enters a game out of the Cubs' bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
3 hours agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Miguel Andujar (knee) went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI while serving as the designated hitter in his first minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday evening. Andujar didn't play the entire game, but it was a good first test for the 29-year-old as he attempts to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him all year to this point. Andujar was swinging the bat well in spring training with the A's before injuring his knee, so it looks like he picked up where he left off. Because of the long layoff, the A's are going to make sure he gets enough at-bats in the minors before he makes his 2024 debut. Andujar's role with the A's is to be determined, but he could at least be worth considering in AL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
3 hours agoThe Houston Astros are calling up left-hander
Parker Mushinski from the minors before Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a source.
Shawn Dubin threw three innings on Thursday, so he's the most likely candidate to be optioned down to the farm in a corresponding move. Mushinski, 28, will give the Astros a fresh arm out of their bullpen but is not at all on the fantasy radar. The former seventh-round pick in 2017 out of Texas Tech has allowed seven runs (five earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out two in his four relief innings in the big leagues so far this year. In his three years in the majors, Mushinski has a 5.88 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while walking 10 and striking out 25 in 26 innings out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
4 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers currently have no plans to bench struggling shortstop
Javier Baez. "He's going to play, a lot," manager A.J. Hinch said. The two-time All-Star in his prime, Baez is hitting just .167 with a homer, five walks and 27 strikeouts in
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4 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Michael Taylor will take a seat on the bench on Friday for the start of a series at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Taylor will retreat to the bench after starting the last four games while going 2-for-13 with a double, two runs scored and five strikeouts to drop his season slash line to a weak .222/.271/.287. The 33-year-old veteran outfielder has added only one home run, eight RBI, three stolen bases and 12 runs scored for the Bucs through a month and a half of the season.
Jack Suwinski is getting the start in center field and is batting sixth, while
Connor Joe will be in right field while hitting cleanup against Cubs right-hander
Kyle Hendricks. Both Joe and Suwinski are worth a look as DFS sleepers in the outfield on Friday against a pitcher who currently holds an 0-3 record and 10.04 ERA.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
4 hours agoChicago Cubs shortstop
Dansby Swanson (knee) is taking live batting practice against left-handers
Drew Smyly (hip) and
Jordan Wicks (forearm) on Friday. Swanson is ramping up his baseball activities this week after being put on the 10-day injured list last week with a right-knee injury. The 30-year-old's injury isn't believed to be all that serious, so he certainly has a chance to come off the IL when he's eligible on Saturday. The Cubs could really use him back, as middle infielder
Nico Hoerner (hamstring) is missing his fourth straight game on Friday versus the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates with a left-hamstring ailment. Until one of Swanson or Hoerner can return,
Miles Mastrobuoni will continue manning the 6 in Chicago. Swanson's fantasy managers will be hoping he can pick things up when he returns, as he was hitting just .209 (27-for-129) with four homers, 12 RBI and four steals before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Ryan Herrera
4 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki is being rested on Friday and will start Friday's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on the bench. It appears to be a regular day of rest for Suzuki, who recently came back from a stint on the injured list due to an oblique injury. The 29-year-old has gone just 6-for-26 since coming back, but he was able to go deep in the team's last game on Wednesday against the Braves. Even after the rough stretch at the plate in May, the Japanese outfielder is still slashing a strong .282/.344/.482 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 85 at-bats for the Cubbies in 2024. Suzuki is a must-start in fantasy when he's in the lineup. With Suzuki out,
Cody Bellinger is in right field and is batting second, while rookie
Pete Crow-Armstrong will start in center field and bat eighth against Pirates rookie right-hander
Paul Skenes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 hours agoChicago Cubs middle infielder
Nico Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Miles Mastrobuoni will get another start at the 6 and will hit sixth, with
Nick Madrigal once again manning the keystone and hitting seventh against baseball's top prospect in right-hander
Paul Skenes.
Dansby Swanson (knee) is on the injured list with knee soreness, so Chicago's middle infield is thinned out at this time. The 27-year-old Hoerner is day-to-day with left-hamstring tightness but has now missed his fourth straight game. If he's unable to rejoin the Cubs' lineup this weekend, he could join Swanson on the IL. DFS gamers can probably find better options at shortstop and second base than Mastrobuoni and Madrigal, who are both light-hitting utility infielders.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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