2 days agoCleveland Guardians right-hander
Gavin Williams (elbow) felt the same right-elbow discomfort after his latest start in Arizona as he did this spring. He will receive an injection and will be shut down for seven days as a result. The Guardians are hoping Williams can then resume throwing and won't be set back too far. It's obviously bad news, and there remains no timetable for a potential return for the 24-year-old. Williams started last year at Double-A Akron before making it all the way to Cleveland's starting rotation in his rookie campaign, where he impressed by going 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 37 walks and 81 strikeouts in 82 innings over 16 starts. It's becoming more of an uphill battle for Williams to return to the Guardians in the first half of 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
2 days agoAs long as New York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez (back) comes out of his final minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday without a setback, the team expects him to be their starting DH on Friday night against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez signed with the Mets late in spring training but didn't join the big-league club for Opening Day because he needed to get his timing down first. A back issue has delayed his arrival to the big leagues in New York, but it sounds like his 2024 debut is right around the corner on Friday. Injuries are probably going to continue to be an issue, but if Martinez is available in your fantasy league, he's worth a pickup if you're in need of a power boost. The 36-year-old six-time All-Star hit .271/.321/.572 with an .893 OPS, 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 113 games with the Dodgers in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
2 days agoVeteran offensive tackle James Hurst announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, marking the end of a 10-year professional career. The 32-year-old was originally undrafted out of North Carolina in the 2014 class and signed by the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. He spent six seasons with Baltimore before four campaigns with the New Orleans Saints. Hurst played in 150 games with 95 starts, so he clearly exceeded expectations and is a feel-good story for undrafted prospects.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 days agoThe Washington Nationals officially placed outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-MCL sprain and recalled infielder
Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move, according to president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. The 28-year-old Thomas hit just .184 with two home runs, 10 RBI, eight walks, 11 stolen bases and six runs scored in 22 games before injuring his knee on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. While he hasn't hit well in the early going, he ranks third in the league with his 11 thefts. If the Nats move
Nick Senzel to the outfield, Lipscomb should see regular starts again at the hot corner in D.C. Thomas is probably going to miss more than 10 days, but he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues after clubbing 28 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Nationals Communications
2 days agoDetroit Lions quarterback
Jared Goff had a monster 2023 season, throwing for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He led Detroit to the No. 3 seed in the NFC and the organization won two playoff games in a single postseason for the first time since 1957. On Wednesday, the team signed Pro Bowl wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell to high-dollar four-year contract extensions, but Goff is reportedly not close to agreeing to a new long-term deal. According to Adam Schefter, no new deal is "imminent" as of now. This will be an interesting development to watch play out, as the former Los Angeles Rams No. 1 overall pick is entering the final year of his contract in the Motor City and could become a free agent next offseason.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
2 days agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin classified left-hander
Blake Snell's groin strain as moderate, and he could stay on the injured list beyond the 15 days, but that's to be determined right now. Snell felt the groin strain while throwing a bullpen session the other day and shut himself down briefly, but he didn't feel good when he tried throwing again. He was scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday against the New York Mets. In a bullpen game against the Mets on Wednesday,
Ryan Walker will serve as the opener. The 31-year-old Snell is not only hurt now but is 0-3 with a rough 11.57 ERA and 1.97 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in his first three starts with the Gigantes. Fantasy managers must stash the two-time Cy Young winner in an IL spot in all leagues and hope that he'll be better when he returns to full health.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
2 days agoThe Chicago Cubs called up outfield prospect
Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday with outfielder
Cody Bellinger (rib) landing on the 10-day injured list due to a rib fracture, according to manager Craig Counsell. Crow-Armstrong is the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and deserves immediate waiver-wire consideration in mixed fantasy leagues, as he could take over primary center-field duties in Chicago until Bellinger is able to return. The 22-year-old former 19th overall pick in 2020 by the New York Mets was hitting just .203 (16-for-79) with two home runs, seven RBI and five stolen bases at Iowa before the call-up. He's more advanced defensively at this point than offensively, but his speed alone could make him valuable in the short-term.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
2 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Cody Bellinger (rib) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday due to a right-rib fracture that he suffered on Tuesday when he crashed into the outfield wall at Wrigley Field, according to manager Craig Counsell. Prospect
Pete Crow-Armstrong is being called up from the minors in a corresponding move. Initial X-rays turned up negative on Bellinger, but a CT scan found the fracture, which will cause the 28-year-old to miss at least several weeks. In the meantime, Bellinger should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. He's currently hitting .226 (19-for-84) with five home runs and 17 RBI in the first 22 games. Crow-Armstrong could see regular playing time as Chicago's center fielder until Bellinger is able to return, making him an attractive short-term waiver-wire pickup in single-year leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Andy Martinez
2 days agoLos Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that infielder
Brandon Drury (hamstring), who is out of the lineup for the third straight game on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, has been feeling soreness from a left-hamstring injury he suffered last week. Washington added that Drury was left out of Wednesday's lineup as a precaution but could pinch hit, if needed.
Luis Rengifo is filling in at the keystone and is hitting eighth against Orioles right-hander
Dean Kremer. Fantasy managers should consider the 31-year-old Drury as day-to-day for now, but if his hamstring soreness lingers, he could eventually land on the injured list. Drury has been a non-factor offensively for the Halos so far this year, going 13-for-66 (.197) with one homer and four RBI in 19 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Bautista
2 days agoBaltimore Orioles rookie outfielder
Heston Kjerstad is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against Los Angeles Angels left-hander
Tyler Anderson. Kjerstad made his 2024 debut for the O's on Tuesday against a right-hander and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, so he'll head to the bench on Wednesday against a lefty that has been pitching well early this year.
Colton Cowser is starting in left field and is batting eighth for the Orioles against Anderson. Kjerstad, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned the promotion to Baltimore after hitting .349/.431/.744 with a 1.176 OPS, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in the first 21 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The 25-year-old should be rostered in mixed leagues, but don't be surprised if he continues to sit against lefties given Baltimore's stacked roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (knee) is back at first base and is hitting third in the order for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander
Tyler Anderson. Mountcastle will return to action after missing the last two games with knee soreness. The 27-year-old former 36th overall pick in 2015 has been swinging the bat well this year with a .333 average (25-for-75) with two home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored in his first two games. Fantasy baseball managers need to make sure to get Mountcastle back into their lineups. He's only faced Anderson twice in his career and is hitless with one RBI. So far against southpaws in 2024, Mountcastle is 8-for-25 (.320) with a homer and three RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
2 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Masataka Yoshida is once again on the bench for Wednesday's contest against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander
Carlos Carrasco. The lefty-swinging outfielder hasn't started a game since April 20 as it's unclear if he is dealing with an injury or is simply in manager Alex Cora's doghouse. He did make a pinch-hitting plate appearance on Tuesday, so it appears to be the latter. The 30-year-old isn't exactly off to a terrible start, hitting .250 with two homers, 10 RBI, a tiny 13.6% K%, and a .708 OPS in 21 games, production that grades out 6% above the league average, as per his 106 wRC+.
Rafael Devers is back in the lineup at designated hitter while
Tyler O'Neill and
Wilyer Abreu are manning the corner outfield spots.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoFormer Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning recently talked with Michigan quarterback
J.J. McCarthy and said the Broncos are interested in him with the 2024 NFL draft beginning on Thursday night. "I know Denver is very interested in him and it sounded like a place he'd love to come to but it's a little bit out of his control," Manning told Denver Sports over the air. McCarthy played in a pro-style offense at Michigan and led the Wolverines to the national championship earlier this year. He wasn't allowed to throw the ball that much in college, but he really impressed at his pro day and has been rising up draft boards ever since. McCarthy is a candidate to go in the first five picks on Thursday night, although it seems unlikely that Denver has the ammunition to pull off a trade up into the top five this year to select McCarthy, especially after trading for
Zach Wilson on Tuesday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Mason
2 days agoNew York Mets right-handed pitcher
Christian Scott has been excellent at the Triple-A level this season, posting a 2.76 xFIP, 14.81 K/9, and 1.74 BB/9. He has gone 3-0 over the course of four starts, including a strong performance on Tuesday that saw him strike out eight batters over 6.1 innings, allowing just two runs, one hit, and one walk along the way. His terrific start to the year has created plenty of buzz about a potential promotion to the majors, though he still has a couple of flaws in his game. Most notably, he allows plenty of loud contact, surrendering a whopping 2.61 HR/9 and a very low ground ball rate of 30.8%. There's no doubt that Scott is having a great year, but he could reach even greater heights (at Triple-A or the majors) if he cuts down on loud contact.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
2 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (knee) is officially in the club's starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander
Carlos Carrasco. It was reported on Tuesday that Devers would sit out one more game before returning as the team's designated hitter for Wednesday's contest. It's been a slow start at the plate for the 27-year-old who is hitting just .188 but his two homers, three doubles, and 15.5% BB% still has his production above the league average, as per his 105 wRC+. Devers last appeared in an April 17 game against the very same Guardians but reported knee discomfort the following day and was scratched from the starting lineup.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoBoston Red Sox right-hander
Brayan Bello (lat) has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right-lat tightness. The club has recalled right-hander
Zack Kelly to take his spot on the active roster. It's another tough injury blow to the club's starting rotation as both
Garrett Whitlock and
Nick Pivetta are sidelined. Additionally, slugger
Triston Casas recently suffered a rib fracture,
Rafael Devers hasn't played in a week since suffering a knee injury,
Trevor Story is out for the season due to shoulder surgery, and
Vaughn Grissom has yet to make his Red Sox debut due to a hamstring issue. Bello, the team's Opening Day starter, has worked to a quality 3.04 ERA across five starts, posting a solid 17.3% K-BB% in that time while generating ground balls at another healthy 51.3% rate.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
2 days agoFree-agent cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) was fully cleared for football activities earlier in April, his doctor informed teams in a letter. Howard is currently a free agent and battled a foot injury last year that limited him to 13 games with the Miami Dolphins. In those 13 games, he had 45 tackles (36 solo), an interception and 12 passes defended. Now that the 30-year-old defensive back appears to be fully healthy, he should be able to sign with another team in advance of the 2024 season this fall. The four-time Pro Bowler was a second-round pick by the Dolphins in 2016 out of Baylor and has a total of 331 tackles (258 solo), two sacks, eight tackles for loss, 29 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 95 passes defended, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries (two returned for TDs) in his eight years in Miami.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
2 days agoDetroit Tigers right-hander
Jack Flaherty will be looking for some positive regression to kick in on Wednesday in a road tilt with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 28-year-old has posted a 4.44 ERA through his first four starts in a Tigers uniform but his underlying numbers suggest he has been much better than that. Flaherty has also worked to a 2.90 xFIP, 2.74 SIERA, and a big-time 25.2% K-BB% with a 29.1% K%, as well. He has walked just 3.9% of the batters he has faced and has generated whiffs at a career-best 15.1% clip, a figure that ranks in the league's 95th percentile. He will take on a Rays team that is tied for 23rd with a .299 wOBA and 18th with a 23.1% K% against right-handed pitching on the season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoDetroit Lions All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell agreed to terms on a four-year, $112 million contract extension with the Lions on Wednesday that makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. The deal also includes $85 million guaranteed. The Lions were active in keeping several key contributors of their offense around for the long term, as they also gave receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown a four-year extension that makes him the highest-paid wideout in the league for the time being. Sewell, who was drafted seventh overall in 2021 out of Oregon, has made the Pro Bowl each of the last two years and was a first-time All-Pro in 2023. The 23-year-old has been a big reason for the Lions' resurgence in the last two years.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Mike Garofolo
2 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Andrew McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander
Bryse Wilson. The veteran homered as part of a two-hit effort on Tuesday but will give way to
Connor Joe to leadoff and man left field on Wednesday. Interestingly, McCutchen's splits lean heavily towards righties so far this season as he's hitting .295 with all three of his homers coming off of southpaws while he is just 1-for-16 (.063) with three walks in 20 plate appearances against lefties. He is seeing semi-regular playing time this season, appearing in 16 of the team's 24 games but isn't doing a ton for fantasy managers with a .233 average and 30.9% K% on the young season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers did a simple restructure of the salary of pass-rusher Alex Highsmith's contract on Wednesday to create more than $7 million in salary cap space, according to a source. The Steelers will convert a portion of Highsmith's base salary in 2024 into a signing bonus. The 26-year-old former third-round pick in 2020 out of Charlotte has put up 21.5 sacks in the last two years and had 57 tackles (34 solo), seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two forced fumbles in 17 regular-season starts in 2023 in his fourth year in the league. Along with All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt, Highsmith is a key member of the Steelers' defense moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers aren't expected to pick up quarterback
Justin Fields' $25 million fifth-year option, according to league sources. The Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears last month for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Fields and
Russell Wilson will now both be entering the last year of their contracts in 2024. Wilson is fully expected to open the 2024 campaign as the starter under center for Pittsburgh, but if he falters, Fields will get a shot to prove that he belongs with the Steelers beyond this season. The 25-year-old showed some improvement late last year with Chicago, but it wasn't enough to keep him as the franchise signal-caller in the eyes of Bears brass. Fields' fantasy stock is obviously way down entering next season, but he could become a high-upside waiver-wire pickup if Wilson is benched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 days agoBaltimore Orioles infielder
Jackson Holliday is once again taking a seat against a left-handed starter on Wednesday as the team takes on the Los Angeles Angels and southpaw
Tyler Anderson. Holliday has yet to start against same-handed pitching as the rookie gets his feet wet in the big leagues at just 20 years of age. It's been a very slow start out of the gate for the top prospect in baseball as Holliday is hitting just .059 (2-for-34) and is without an extra-base hit across his first 36 big-league plate appearances. Fantasy managers shouldn't hit the panic button yet as any investment in the 2022 first-overall pick should have been for the long haul, although it's not difficult to see the O's send him down to the minors for more seasoning if his immense struggles in the big leagues continue.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoThe Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver
Rashod Bateman to an undisclosed contract extension on Wednesday that ties him to the team through the 2026 season. Bateman was able to stay healthy in 2023, but he was overshadowed by rookie first-rounder
Zay Flowers and finished with a disappointing 32 catches for 367 yards and just one touchdown on 56 targets in 16 regular-season games (12 starts) in his third year in the league. The 24-year-old former 27th overall pick in 2021 out of Minnesota hasn't lived up to his first-round billing and has found the end zone just four times in three years. The Ravens continue to say that Bateman is going to have a bigger role in the passing attack in 2024, but fantasy managers will want to see it before they believe it.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 days agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Jung Hoo Lee is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday afternoon with New York Mets left-hander
Sean Manaea toeing the rubber. The lefty-swinging outfielder has been getting regular playing time out of the leadoff spot for the club this season but will take a seat as the Giants stack right-handed bats against Manaea. It's been a solid start to the 25-year-old's big-league career as Lee is hitting .272 with two homers, two steals, and a tiny 8.7% K% across his first 103 trips to the plate. Lee had a history of elite strikeout and contact rates through a wildly successful seven-year run in the KBO.
Austin Slater will handle leadoff duties as he often does against left-handed pitching. First baseman
LaMonte Wade Jr. is also out on Wednesday against the lefty.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoThe Cincinnati Bengals exercised the fifth-year option for wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase on Wednesday, as expected. Chase is now officially locked up through the 2025 season. The 24-year-old former fifth overall pick in 2021 out of LSU has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in the NFL and set a career-high with 100 catches on 145 targets for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in 2023, despite the fact that quarterback
Joe Burrow (wrist) missed considerable time with a season-ending injury. Chase's seven touchdowns in 2023 were a career-low, but he should bounce back in that department in 2024 as long as Burrow can stay healthy all year. Chase's fantasy arrow continues to point up and he should be considered a top-tier WR1.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe Detroit Lions agreed to a four-year contract extension with wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown on Wednesday that is worth $120 million with $77 million guaranteed. The deal makes St. Brown the highest-paid receiver in the league and ties him with Miami's
Tyreek Hill in average annual value ($30 million). The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of USC has been an excellent value for Detroit. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons and put up career-highs in catches (119), targets (164), receiving yards (1,515) and touchdowns (10) in 16 regular-season games in his third year in the NFL in 2024. With Quarterback
Jared Goff still peppering St. Brown with targets in 2024, he'll continue to serve as a high-end WR1 for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoMilwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Gregory Barrios signed out of Venezuela in early 2021. He has proven himself as a reliable hitter and defender, possessing the qualities needed to ascend through the minors. He's not a power hitter -- he has just one home run over 198 pro games -- but shows a decent understanding of the strike zone, puts the ball in play, runs the bases well, and demonstrates the glovework needed to carve out a significant career at shortstop. Last week, Barrios logged multiple hits in all five of his games. He ultimately went 13-for-18 during his big week, adding six extra-base hits, seven RBI, two walks, one strikeout, and one stolen base. The 20-year-old will need to spend a little more time at High-A before he's ready for a promotion, but Barrios is certainly a name to monitor.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
2 days agoVegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicholas Hague is out for Wednesday's Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the Dallas Stars, according to head coach Bruce Cassidy. No specific reason was given and Hague is listed as day-to-day. The hulking 6-foot-6 defender doesn't contribute much on offense with two goals and 12 points across 73 games this season but is physical with 153 hits and 43 penalty minutes while he also blocked 111 shots on the campaign. It appears Alec Martinez will jump in and make his series debut on Wednesday. He notched four goals and 17 points with 165 blocked shots across 55 games this season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Elliotte Friedman
2 days agoBoston Bruins winger James van Riemsdyk will make his series debut in Wednesday's Game 3 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the series but will replace forward Jakub Lauko to likely skate on the team's fourth line. The 34-year-old tallied 11 goals and 38 points on 142 shots on goal across 71 games this season, his 15th in the NHL. Defensemen Mason Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon will also join the lineup while defenseman Matt Grzelcyk comes out. Fellow defender Andrew Peeke is listed as week to week with a finger injury suffered in Game 2 on Monday.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Fluto Shinzawa
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