3 days agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Max Scherzer (back) is slated for a rehab start on Wednesday. Scherzer recovered well from his live batting practice session and the team feels comfortable enough to move him forward in his recovery process. The expectation is that Scherzer may be ready to return to the Rangers' rotation in early May. The 39-year-old was solid in the regular season with the Rangers in 2023, posting up a 3.20 ERA in eight starts. Scherzer did show some cracks late in the season, though, and expectations for the veteran right-hander may need to be tempered by fantasy managers who are used to Scherzer's gaudy numbers. When he joins the AL West leading Rangers, his value may be best in DFS formats
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Evan Grant
3 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas is experiencing "left rib discomfort" according to the Red Sox. Not much other detail was given by the team in regards to Casas' injury. The 24-year-old exited the game in the first inning after grabbing at his left side during an at-bat. Though Casas was able to draw a walk and run the bases after the injury it was too painful for him to continue. Boston is already dealing with a litany of injuries to key members of their lineup with
Trevor Story,
Rafael Devers and
Tyler O'Neill being hurt and if Casas is to miss any significant time it would be yet another blow to their lineup. In Casas' absence,
Pablo Reyes may see additional playing time.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Pete Abraham
3 days agoTexas Rangers first baseman
Jared Walsh was designated for assignment on Saturday. The move was correlated with activating
Nathaniel Lowe off of the injured list. Walsh hit below league average in his early season stint, slashing .226/.317/.321 in 60 PA and has been a subpar hitter since his breakout years in 2020 and 2021. With the lefty off of the Rangers active roster, Lowe will take on the starting role at first base. Utility player
Ezequiel Duran will see decreased playing time as well. Fantasy managers should only have interest in Lowe at this time.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
3 days agoTexas Rangers first baseman
Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) was activated off the injured list today and is in the Rangers lineup for their tilt against the Atlanta Braves. Lowe has been out since early March after experiencing side tightness during spring training. The 28-year-old will bat fifth in his season debut against Braves right-hander
Charlie Morton. Lowe is projected to hit for a .269/.352/.431 slash line in 2024 and joins a Rangers lineup that continues to be one of the most productive lineups in the majors. Fantasy managers should look to snag Lowe if possible. With Lowe active, expect decreased playing time for
Jared Walsh going forward.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
3 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas exited early in the Red Sox game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. Casas took a swing on a 3-1 count in the top of the first, fouled the ball off and then appeared to grab at his left side. Casas eventually drew a walk and still ran the bases before exiting.
Pablo Reyes entered the game for the 24-year-old. More should be known about the extent of Casas' injury after the game but fantasy managers are hoping the highly-ranked first baseman won't miss much time if any. The Red Sox are already dealing with a swath of injuries to key contributors in
Trevor Story and
Rafael Devers and another blow to a productive member of their lineup would be a gut punch to Boston.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
3 days agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand is back in the Reds lineup on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. Encarnacion-Strand had been out the last two games with a scheduled day off on Wednesday and an illness on Friday. The 24-year-old will get a matchup against Angels lefty
Patrick Sandoval. Encarnacion-Strand has struggled this season, putting up a .192/.197/.329 slash line in 76 PA. He hasn't been good against lefties either, hitting for just a .095 batting average. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much in his return today and may need to exercise some patience before getting Encarnacion-Strand back in their lineups.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
3 days agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Cedric Mullins is out of the Orioles lineup on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. This appears to be a matchup decision as the Royals are starting their dynamic lefty
Cole Ragans.
Jorge Mateo will be starting in center field in place of Mullins. Mateo has been much stronger against lefties, hitting for a .908 OPS compared to Mullins' .388 OPS in 16 PA. The 29-year-old should be expected to be back in the lineup on Sunday as the Orioles will face off against Royals right-hander
Seth Lugo.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
3 days agoBaltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday and outfielder
Colton Cowser are out of the Orioles lineup on Saturday against Kansas City Royals lefty
Cole Ragans. Holliday has had a rough start to his MLB career, hitting for a .037 batting average in 28 PA. Cowser has been Baltimore's best hitter, on the other hand, posting a 1.178 OPS in 51 PA.
Austin Hays will get the start in left field for Cowser.
Jordan Westburg will slide over from third base to second base and
Ramon Urias will start at third. Both Holliday and Cowser should be expected to be back in the lineup on Sunday against Royals right-hander
Seth Lugo.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
3 days agoMinnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis (quadriceps) has started to begin baseball activities according to the Twins head trainer Nick Paparesta. "We're looking to get him in a running progression probably the end of next week. He's still got some boxes to check, but heading in the right direction," the trainer said. No timetable has been set for the 24-year-old's return though it's still likely he won't be back until closer to the All Star Break.
Kyle Farmer and
Jose Miranda have been splitting time at third base in Lewis' absence. Farmer has hit for a paltry 15 wRC+ in 41 PA while Miranda has hit for a 119 wRC+ in 28 PA. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to add either player in Lewis' absence, though Miranda shows more potential currently.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Gleeman
3 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Saturday. This marks the first time Valdez has thrown off of a mound since he was put on the injured list. The Astros will wait to see how the lefty responds to the bullpen session before taking next steps, though there is a chance he will be activated without needing a rehab start. The Astros are desperate for his return as their staters have posted a 4.93 ERA to begin the season, 5th worst in the majors. The lefty posted a 2.19 ERA in his two starts before hitting the injured list so his return will provide a boost to the Astros, who also welcomed back
Justin Verlander on Friday. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Valdez's progress in the event a rehab assignment isn't necessary.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Julia Morales
3 days agoCincinnati Reds infielder
Jeimer Candelario (illness) is back in the starting lineup Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and left-hander
Patrick Sandoval. The veteran has been out since being scratched from Tuesday's contest with an illness, but he appears to be feeling better and will man the hot corner and hit cleanup against the southpaw on Saturday. It's been a slow start to the season for the 30-year-old, who is hitting just .190 with a couple of homers and a .649 OPS across his first 64 trips to the plate after he set career-highs with 22 homers and eight stolen bases across 140 games between the Nationals and Cubs in the 2023 campaign.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoPittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Mitch Keller will look to keep up the good work in a Saturday outing versus the visiting Boston Red Sox. After allowing four earned runs in each of his first two starts of the season, the 28-year-old has allowed just two earned runs in each of his last two starts and 13 innings of work. He has 13 strikeouts against just four walks in that time and did not walk a batter across seven innings his last time out. Fantasy managers should certainly be encouraged by his start to the season, even if his 19.8% K% leaves something to be desired as he posted a 25.5% K% last season alongside a healthy 18.8% K-BB%. He should see continued positive ERA regression moving forward as his 3.87 xFIP and 4.09 SIERA sit well below his 4.50 ERA on the young season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoOakland A's left-hander
Alex Wood will be in search of better results as he takes on the hosting Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. The club's Opening Day starter, Wood was tagged for six earned runs in that outing and has pitched to a 8.10 ERA through his first four starts of the season. He lasted just 4 1/3 frames his last time out, yielding four earned runs on seven hits, including a homer, with four walks and four strikeouts in a no-decision against the Washington Nationals. Wood has struggled with his control via an 11.8% BB% while his ground-ball rate has plummeted to just 32.7%. However, his results should improve once his bloated .442 BABIP normalizes.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoLos Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto is on the bench to start Saturday's contest against the hosting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander
Graham Ashcraft. Neto's slow start to the season continued in on Friday as he went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts as part of a 7-1 loss in the series opener. The 23-year-old is hitting just .185 without a homer and four stolen bases alongside a .495 OPS across his first 72 plate appearances on the young season. Neto needed just 48 minor-league games before making his MLB debut last season when he hit .225 with nine homers, five steals, and a .685 OPS across 84 contests.
Luis Rengifo will handle shortstop duties on Saturday.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoCleveland Guardians second baseman
Andres Gimenez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the visiting Oakland Athletics. The 25-year-old went 1-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI, and a stolen base during Friday's 10-2 victory but will begin Saturday's game on the bench. Gimenez has shown a nice combination of power and speed over the last couple of seasons, slugging 32 homers and stealing 50 bags over the last two campaigns. He has hit .291 on the young season and while he has yet to hit a home run, he does have three stolen bases and a .736 OPS across his first 91 trips to the plate. The Guardians are off to a hot start, sitting atop the AL Central with a 14-6 record on the young season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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