Aroldis Chapman Locks Down Red Sox's Win
Aroldis Chapman closed out his team's 4-3 win in Boston on Wednesday, working a perfect ninth inning against the Rays, including two strikeouts. After getting Christopher Morel to ground out, he struck out Taylor Walls and Josh Lowe to end the game. Chapman has 12 saves on the season and is just two away from matching his total from last season. He has been very strong in his first year in Boston, posting a 1.59 ERA, 2.20 FIP, and 12.4 K/9. He has converted 12 of his 13 save chances and has at least one strikeout in each of his last 10 games while allowing just a single earned run. He and the Red Sox have Thursday off before taking on the Yankees this weekend.Source: ESPN.com
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Lane Hutson Voted NHL's Best Rookie
Source: ESPN
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie this season. He earned 165 of a possible 191 first-place votes and totaled 1,832 points, finishing ahead of Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. Hutson, who turned 21 in February, had a truly special campaign, tying an NHL rookie record among defensemen with 60 assists. Over 82 appearances, he also had six goals, while producing 91 shots on goal and blocking 123 attempts from the opposition. Following a breakout campaign, Hutson looks poised to make a mark in fantasy hockey for years to come.Devin Williams Earns Save No. 8
New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams only had to get two outs to get the save on Wednesday night, as his team held on to win 6-3 in Kansas City. The Yankees started the ninth withread more...
Adam Klapka Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
Source: NHL.com
Calgary Flames right wing Adam Klapka has signed a two-year extension with the team. The deal is worth $2.5 million, giving Klapka's contract an average annual value of $1.25 million. Before signing the contract, Klapka was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1. Klapka has been a prolific scorer in the AHL and showed potential in the big league this season. He notched 10 points (six goals, four assists) over 31 outings while dishing out 108 hits. In the fall, Klapka will look to build on a strong finish to the campaign, as he racked up six points (three goals, three assists) over his last eight regular-season appearances.Alex Vesia Slams the Door on San Diego
Alex Vesia earned his third save of the season in impressive fashion on Wednesday night. He entered the game with a three-run lead and struck out the side in order on just 14 pitches. Tanner Scott pitched the eighth inning against the heart of the Padres' order before Vesia struck out Jake Cronenworth, Tyler Wade, and Elias Diaz to close out the 5-2 win that also secured the Dodgers the series win in their first set against their division rivals this season. Vesia is 2-0 with three saves and 10 holds in his 33 games this season, compiling a 2.79 ERA, 4.42 FIP, and 12.7 K/9. He is a solid source of holds and can get a save opportunity every once in a while, although he is not the primary closer for the Dodgers at this point.Source: ESPN.com
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Considered a Game-Time Call Thursday
Source: Sportsnet
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) will once again be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The veteran is managing an undisclosed injury and was also a game-time call for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Nugent-Hopkins suited up on Monday night but logged only 15:30 of ice time, four minutes less than his postseason average. Monday's matchup marked a fourth consecutive game without a point for Nugent-Hopkins, who has tallied 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 19 games overall in the playoffs. Jeff Skinner, who has produced a goal and an assist over two postseason appearances, is ready to slide into the lineup if Nugent-Hopkins cannot play in Thursday's contest.Kohl Drake Sharp in Wednesday's Victory
Source: MiLB.com
Texas Rangers left-handed pitching prospect Kohl Drake was sharp in his victory on Wednesday over Double-A Midland. In this outing, Drake allowed just four hits and one run. He struck out six and allowed two walks. This was a nice bounce-back outing for Drake as he allowed at least two runs in each of his previous two starts. Prior to that minor slump, Drake was very effective, logging 29 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.52 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. During this stretch, the southpaw struck out 44 batters and allowed just nine total walks. Through 42 1/3 innings at Double-A this season, Drake has posted a 3.19 ERA with a strong 1.11 WHIP. He has tallied 62 punchouts and shown solid command, allowing 18 free passes. The No. 12-ranked prospect in Texas will likely earn a taste of Triple-A this season.Connelly Early Strikes Out Eight in Victory
Source: MiLB.com
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early struck out eight batters across six innings of one-run ball en route to picking up the victory over Double-A Somerset. Early allowed just six hits and just one free pass. Since the start of May, the southpaw has been one of the more effective pitchers at the Double-A level. During this stretch, Early has logged 30 innings ot the tune of a 2.10 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. He has struck out 44 batters and allowed 14 walks. Through 43 2/3 total innings, the No. 9-ranked prospect in the Boston system has held a solid 2.27 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP. Last season, the Virginia product struggled during his first taste of Double-A, holding a 4.50 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP. Early should be in the mix to earn a taste of Triple-A later in the second half of the season.Spencer Jones Goes Deep on Wednesday
Spencer Jones went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run during the first game of their doubleheader against Double-A Portland on Wednesday. In the second game of the doubleheader, Jones was quiet as he went 0-for-3 with a run and a walk. Over his last 11 contests, Jones has enjoyed a power surge, posting a .500 SLG and .810 OPS with four doubles and two home runs. Last summer, the No. 2-ranked prospect in the New York system spent the entire season with Double-A but struggled as he held a .259/.336/.452 line with 17 home runs and a 200:54 K:BB. However, this season, Jones has begun to take the next step, posting a .231/.355/.538 line with seven doubles, 11 home runs, and a 56:24 K:BB. The 24-year-old should be in the mix to reach Triple-A later this season.Source: MiLB.com
New York Yankees outfield prospect Brice Matthews Posts Second Straight Three-Hit Game
Brice Matthews went 3-for-4 with a home run and a walk during Wednesday's contest against Triple-A Reno. This was Matthews's second-straight game tallying at least three hits and his second-straight game hitting a long ball. Prior to this recent surge, Matthews went 1-for-17 at the plate with an 8:4 K:BB over his last five games. The top-ranked prospect in the Houston system has spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Sugar Land. Through 51 games, Matthews has been productive, posting a .269/.397/.478 slash line with six doubles, four triples, eight home runs, and 18 stolen bases. During his first taste of the top level of the minor leagues last summer, Matthews posted a modest .143/.250/.190 line. The 23-year-old could be in the mix to join Houston in the second half.Source: MiLB.com
Houston Astros infield prospect Christian Moore Stays Hot on Wednesday
Christian Moore went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk during Wednesday's contest against Triple-A Las Vegas. This was Moore's second-straight contest going deep. Over his last six contests, Moore has tallied a hit in all but one game and launched three long balls over this stretch. Since joining Triple-A Salt Lake, the former eighth overall pick from last year's MLB draft has been one of the most productive hitters at the level. During this stretch, he has held a stellar .350/.424/.575 slash line with four doubles, a triple, four round-trippers, three stolen bases, and a 25:10 K:BB. Across 57 career games with Double-A, Moore held a .271/.357/.411 line. Given his fast progression through the minor leagues, Moore could get the call to Los Angeles in the coming weeks.Source: MiLB.com
Los Angeles Angels infield prospect Shelby Miller Earns Save on Wednesday
Shelby Miller fired a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Miller allowed one hit while striking out two to earn the save, his seventh of the season. The veteran hurler appears to have taken over as the team's closer following Justin Martinez landing on the injured list with an elbow injury earlier in the week, making him a priority waiver add for any fantasy managers in need of saves. Miller now has a 3-1 record, 1.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over 27 2/3 innings of work this season, while working on a seven-game scoreless streak.Source: MLB.com
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Jett Williams Launches Two Home Runs on Wednesday
Jett Williams went 2-for-3 with two home runs and a walk during their contest against Double-A Richmond on Wednesday evening. This was Williams' third-straight contest tallying at least one hit and third-straight game tallying at least one extra-base hit. Over his last 14 games, Williams has been very productive in the batter's box, posting a stellar .326/.475/.543 slash line with four doubles, two home runs, eight stolen bases, and an 11:11 K:BB. Through 51 total games at Double-A this season, Williams has looked quite strong, holding a .288/.397/.497 slash line. Given his steady production, fantasy managers should expect him to be in the mix to get the call to Triple-A later this season. The top-ranked prospect in the Mets' organization could reach the majors late in the second half.Source: MiLB.com
New York Mets infield prospect David Bednar Earns Save on Wednesday
David Bednar tossed a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. Bednar did not allow a hit while striking out two to pick up his ninth save in as many opportunities for Pittsburgh this season. The veteran hurler now has a 1-4 record, 3.57 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings of work on the year. Bednar got off to a bit of a shaky start this season, but he has now logged eight straight scoreless appearances for the Pirates. He continues to have a firm grip on the closer's role in Pittsburgh.Source: MLB.com
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Trea Turner Scores Twice, Steals a Base in Win Over Cubs
Trea Turner had a productive game in a 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Turner went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two runs, and a stolen base to help overtake Chicago in the contest. The veteran infielder is putting together another strong season hitting atop the Philadelphia lineup, batting .303 with 14 doubles, seven homers, 47 runs, 30 RBI, and 19 stolen bases across 271 at-bats. With his 19th stolen base on Wednesday, he already matched his total from the 2024 season, which was the fewest of his career outside of the 2020 shortened season. Turner remains an elite fantasy shortstop in all formats.Source: MLB.com
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Ramon Urias Homers, Steals a Base on Wednesday
Ramon Urias turned in a productive game in his team's 10-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Urias went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a stolen base in the win. The veteran infielder ripped a two-run homer off Detroit starter Casey Mize to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Urias is now hitting .278 with three homers, 16 runs, 21 RBI, and one steal across 151 at-bats this season. He is not a very strong fantasy option outside of AL-only leagues.Source: MLB.com
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Yandy Diaz Hits Two-Run Homer on Wednesday
Yandy Diaz had an excellent game in his team's 4-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. Diaz went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer but it wasn't quite enough to down the Red Sox. The veteran tied the game at 3-3 with his fifth-inning homer, a shot that traveled 386 feet with an exit velocity of 103.4 MPH. Diaz is now hitting .256 with 10 homers, 28 runs, 39 RBI, and three stolen bases across 254 at-bats this season. He has been on a tear at the plate lately, batting .370 with two homers and five RBI over his past seven games. Diaz remains a solid fantasy option in all leagues.Source: MLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays DH Willi Castro Triples, Drives in Two on Wednesday
Willi Castro turned in a solid game in his team's 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Castro went 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, a run, and two RBI to help lead Minnesota to the win. The veteran did most of his damage with his two-run triple in the fifth inning, pushing the Twins' lead to 5-2. Castro is now hitting .275 with one triple, six homers, 28 runs, 15 RBI, and three stolen bases across 160 at-bats this season. He has been red-hot at the plate of late, hitting .353 with four homers and eight RBI over his past 15 contests. Castro should be a consideration for starting lineups in fantasy while he's on his hot streak.Source: MLB.com
Minnesota Twins outfielder Isaac Paredes Doubles Twice, Drives in Two on Wednesday
Isaac Paredes had a productive day in his team's 10- 2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Paredes went 3-for-5 with two doubles, one run, and two RBI to help power his team to the win. The veteran infielder drove in his first run with an RBI double in the fourth inning and later came back to add an RBI single in the eighth. Paredes is putting together a solid season, hitting .254 with nine doubles, 14 homers, 35 runs, and 41 RBI across 248 at-bats. He has two homers and seven RBI to go along with a .269 batting average over his past seven contests. Paredes remains a solid source of power numbers in all fantasy leagues.Source: MLB.com
Houston Astros third baseman Jung Hoo Lee Triples, Scores Three Runs on Wednesday
Jung Hoo Lee had a productive evening in a 10-7 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. Lee went 1-for-3 with a triple, two walks, and three runs scored to help lead the Giants to victory. The leadoff hitter is now hitting .275 with 17 doubles, four triples, six homers, 40 runs, 32 RBI, and six stolen bases across 251 at-bats. While he hasn't been hitting for much power, Lee should continue to score plenty of runs hitting at the top of the San Francisco batting order. He is in play as a solid reserve outfielder in deeper fantasy leagues going forward.Source: MLB.com
San Francisco Giants outfielder Carlos Santana Hits Grand Slam on Wednesday
Carlos Santana had an excellent afternoon in an 11-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Santana went 1-for-4 with a grand slam to help down Cleveland's intrastate rivals. On the 15-year anniversary of his MLB debut, the veteran gave Cleveland a 5-0 lead with the sixth grand slam of his career. Santana is now hitting .251 with eight homers, 32 runs, 34 RBI, and two stolen bases across 219 at-bats this season. He has been fighting through a slow stretch at the plate of late, hitting just .167 over his past seven contests. A solid corner infielder in deeper fantasy leagues, Santana will hope his Wednesday slam gets his bat going again.Source: MLB.com
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Alec Bohm Homers, Drives in Four on Wednesday
Alec Bohm had a big game in a 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Bohm went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI to help power the Phillies to the win. The veteran infielder hit a two-run single in the sixth inning and followed that up with a solo homer in the seventh. Bohm is now hitting .283 with six homers, 27 runs, 28 RBI, and two stolen bases across 254 at-bats this season. He has been heating up at the plate of late, batting .346 with seven RBI over his past seven games. While it would be nice to see more power out of Bohm in fantasy, he provides a steady bat in deeper leagues.Source: MLB.com
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Clarke Schmidt Strikes Out Seven in Win on Wednesday
Clarke Schmidt notched a quality start in a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Schmidt tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while walking three and striking out seven to earn the win. The veteran hurler improved his record to 3-3 with the outing, to go along with a 3.60 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts over 55 innings of work. Schmidt has just a 2.90 ERA over his past seven starts as he has solidified himself as a rock-solid fantasy starting pitcher. He is slated to face the Los Angeles Angels at home on Monday in his next start.Source: MLB.com
New York Yankees right-hander Hunter Goodman Homers, Doubles Twice on Wednesday
Hunter Goodman had a big night in a 10-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Goodman went 3-for-5 with two doubles, one homer, two runs, and two RBI but it wasn't enough to overtake the Giants. The veteran catcher ripped an RBI double in the third inning and launched a solo homer in the ninth, a shot that traveled 427 feet with an exit velocity of 103.5 MPH. Goodman is putting together an excellent season, hitting .289 with 16 doubles, 11 homers, 33 runs, 39 RBI, and one steal across 246 at-bats. He has been especially hot of late, with a .400 average, two homers, and five RBI over his past seven games. Goodman has made a name for himself this season as one of the better offensive catchers in the game this season.Source: MLB.com
Colorado Rockies catcher Willy Adames Homers in Three-Hit Performance on Wednesday
Willy Adames was at it again at Coors Field on Wednesday night in his team's 10-7 win over the division-rival Colorado Rockies. Adames finished the contest 3-for-4 with his seventh home run of the season, a double, three runs scored and three RBI. His home run was a two-run shot in the first inning off left-hander Kyle Freeland. The 29-year-old entered Wednesday's game hitting under .200 with just two hits in the month of June, but he's now homered in back-to-back games and could be turning things around at the plate as the weather warms. So far, Adames has been a massive disappointment after signing a seven-year, $182 million deal. It's been a nice two games in Colorado for Adames, but his xBA of just .203 doesn't exactly lead us to believe that a massive turnaround is on the horizon.Source: MLB.com
San Francisco Giants shortstop Carson Whisenhunt Allows Five Runs in Six Innings
Carson Whisenhunt allowed five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings against Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday. Whisenhunt took the loss in this one as he battled to get through six frames. After a dominant month of May, allowing only 11 earned runs in 38.2 innings, the left-hander has allowed eight runs in 11.2 innings through two starts in June. It was just his third start of the season where he allowed three or more walks. Primarily known for his strong changeup, the 24-year-old could earn a promotion at some point this season and carve out a role as a back-end starter or in long relief.Source: MiLB.com
San Francisco Giants pitching prospect Christian Walker Tallies Three Hits, Four RBI in Win Over White Sox
Christian Walker filled the stat sheet in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park, going 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double, four RBI, and a strikeout. Walker's ninth home run of the year came in the first inning off of Sean Burke to put the team up 3-0 in the first frame. The Astros are now 8-0 in games in which Walker goes deep. The 34-year-old veteran later extended the team's lead to 5-0 in the third inning by hitting a two-run double. It was Walker's third three-hit game in his first year with the Astros and his first four-RBI game since July 3 of last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was nice to see from his fantasy managers, as Walker came into Wednesday's tilt hitting just .208 on the season. It was his first multi-hit game of June, and he now has nine hits in 34 at-bats over nine games this month.Source: MLB.com
Houston Astros first baseman Harry Ford Homers, Drives in Six on Wednesday
Harry Ford went 2-for-5 with a home run, double, and six RBI in Wednesday's 10-0 win against Triple-A Sacramento. Ford stuffed the box score and posted a career high in RBI. The 22-year-old has displayed a mature approach at the plate this season, with a 36:38 BB:K. His quality of contact has been promising as well, with a 45.6 percent hard-hit rate. Ford is ranked as the number 63 overall prospect in baseball on MLB.com. There's a decent chance we see Ford make his MLB debut at some point this season, with him seeing plenty of reps at DH. His combination of skills would make for a solid speculative add in most formats.Source: MiLB.com
Seattle Mariners catcher prospect Aaron Judge Homers in Third Straight Game
Aaron Judge continued to be unstoppable in Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the hosting Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, homering for the third straight game. Judge finished 1-for-4 on the evening with a solo bomb, his 25th of the year, in the seventh inning off reliever Steven Cruz. He also walked once and struck out twice. Judge hit two homers in Sunday's loss to the division-rival Boston Red Sox and now has eight RBI over the last three games. We're running out of things to say about Judge, who is now hitting .394 on the year with a 1.269 OPS with 25 home runs, which is one off the major-league lead of 26 (Cal Raleigh). The 33-year-old slugger is in the 100th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, xISO and xOBP.Source: MLB.com
New York Yankees outfielder and reigning American League MVP Red Sox Acquire Jorge Alcala from Twins
The Boston Red Sox have acquired right-handed reliever Jorge Alcala from the Minnesota Twins for infield/outfield prospect Andy Lugo, both teams announced. Boston designated righty Brian Van Belle forread more...