3 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Cionel Perez (oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Monday and pitched a scoreless inning in a 2-0 win over the Yankees. Perez had been dealing with a right oblique strain.
Dillon Tate was optioned in a corresponding move. Perez has made just two appearances this season, allowing two runs over an inning plus of work. The 28-year-old has been a reliable later-inning arm for the O's over the past couple of seasons, making him worth a look in saves-plus-holds leagues.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoMiami Marlins outfield prospect
Victor Mesa Jr. went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored on Sunday for Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins' top-ranked offensive prospect is having a great season for the Jumbo Shrimp, slashing .298/.362/.500 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a 7:8 BB:K. Strikingly though, the 22-year-old has yet to record a stolen base thus far after swiping 16 bags last season. With the Marlins losers of seven straight and owners of the worst win percentage in all of baseball, it wouldn't be surprising to see Mesa Jr. get the call to the majors at some point this season.
Jesus Sanchez and
Nick Gordon haven't done much of note this season and Mesa Jr. is already on the 40-man roster.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown remains the No. 2 option out of the backfield after the team opted not to select any competition in the NFL Draft. Cincinnati replaced
Joe Mixon with
Zack Moss last March, and while it seemed like they could upgrade their backfield in the draft, that wasn't the case. Instead, it appears Moss will be Cincinnati's primary running back, barring a surprise signing or trade. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic indicates that Moss has a leg up over Brown heading into the summer, including on third downs. This isn't necessarily a surprise given that Moss looked great in Indianapolis last year, but Brown also flashed promise as a rookie, totaling 335 yards and a touchdown. He enters the summer as Moss' backup but could push for more snaps with a strong camp.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Paul Dehner Jr.
3 days agoBoston Red Sox second baseman prospect
Nick Yorke went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base on Sunday for Double-A Portland, extending his current hit streak to seven games. During the streak, the 22-year-old has gone 10-for-28 (.357) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases, raising his season average to a solid .284. He's coming off a season in which he hit .268 with 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 110 games at Double-A. The former first-round draft pick could see Fenway by the end of 2024, but offseason acquisition
Vaughn Grissom is going to get a shot at being the everyday second baseman starting this week when he comes off the IL. Nevertheless, with the tools that Yorke has, he should be on dynasty managers' radar.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
3 days agoCarolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the plan in 2024 is to use all three of running backs
Chuba Hubbard,
Miles Sanders and rookie second-rounder
Jonathon Brooks (knee). The Panthers traded up in the second round to take Brooks. Because he's a rookie and is coming off ACL surgery, The Athletic's Joseph Person has put Brooks initially at third on the Panthers' running back depth chart. However, if he's healthy, he'll have a chance to surge up the depth chart in a hurry, and it's fair to wonder if Sanders will be marginalized with Brooks' arrival. The 26-year-old Sanders just didn't look good at all in 2023, getting a career-low 129 carries for 432 yards (3.3 yards per tote) and one touchdown. Sanders' fantasy stock is reaching rock bottom.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person
3 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman prospect
Blaze Jordan went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored for Double-A Portland on Sunday, extending his current hit streak to nine games. After beginning the season 3-for-29 (.103) through eight games, the 21-year-old has gone 15-for-39 (.385) over his next nine games, including five multi-hit efforts in his last six. Jordan was a third-round draft pick in 2020 and is expected to reach the majors by 2025 per MLB.com. The right-handed hitter had 18 home runs in 2023 over 122 games between High-A and Double-A, but with his profile, that was a bit under expectation and he's got just two so far in 2024. As long as he keeps on hitting like this though, the home runs should come. Dynasty managers in need of power production should keep tabs on Jordan for signs that the home run stroke is continuing to develop.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
3 days agoThe Las Vegas Raiders didn't take a quarterback in this year's NFL draft, which means QBs
Gardner Minshew and
Aidan O'Connell are set to compete for the starting job in training camp this summer. The Raiders were rumored to be angling to trade up in the first round of the draft for a franchise signal-caller, but instead they stayed put and took Georgia tight end
Brock Bowers with their first-round selection. O'Connell held his own in 2023 when he was thrust into the starting role because of
Jimmy Garoppolo's injuries and inconsistency, but Minshew should still be considered the favorite this fall given his experience. The 27-year-old Minshew would be a solid midrange QB2 in fantasy if he wins the starting job after making his first career Pro Bowl in 2023 with the Colts. He threw for a career-high 3,305 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions in 17 games (13 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press - Mark Anderson
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Jermaine Burton could have a leg up on the No. 3 job in Cincy in 2024 behind
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins if he can acclimate quickly due to his size, explosiveness
read more...
3 days agoThe Cincinnati Bengals mildly surprised by not taking a single running back in this year's NFL draft, which means
Zack Moss is in line for lead-back duties in his first year in Cincy in 2024. Moss will be the prime candidate to assume the third-down role with his extensive experience pass-blocking (68 opportunities last year, 15th in the NFL), and holding up relatively well.
Chase Brown will also be involved as a complement to Moss, but after the Bengals didn't add a single RB in the draft, Moss' fantasy arrow continues to point up heading into 2024 after he impressed in
Jonathan Taylor's absence with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. "No. 1, I think he'll be really good in the screen game because he's the kind of guy you get in space and has lateral quickness to make the first miss," offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
3 days agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the news was "pretty good" on the MRI exam of outfielder
Josh Lowe's injured right hamstring and that "we'll just kind of take it day-to-day." Lowe opened the 2024 regular season on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury and now is dealing with right-hamstring tightness that he felt during his minor-league rehab assignment. The 26-year-old doesn't appear to be dealing with a significant hamstring injury, but it remains to be seen when he'll come off the IL to make his season debut after he was initially expected to return to the Rays lineup over the weekend. It's been frustrating so far this year for Lowe's fantasy managers, but they need to remain patient and keep him stashed everywhere after he hit .292 (136-for-466) with 20 homers, 83 RBI and 32 steals in 135 games in his third MLB season in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
3 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays placed right-hander
Chris Devenski (knee) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 26) on Monday with right-knee tendinitis and recalled left-hander
Jacob Lopez from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Devenski will be eligible to return to the Rays bullpen on May 11. The former 25th-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2011 out of Cal State Fullerton has had a rough start to his first full season with the Rays, as he's allowed 17 runs (12 earned) on 19 hits while walking six and striking out 11 in 14 innings out of Tampa's bullpen. Devenski is not on the fantasy radar at all and could be designated for assignment once he's ready to come off the injured list in May.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications
3 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Luis Severino teased a no-hitter in Monday's 3-1 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs, spinning eight innings of one-run ball on one hit and two walks with five strikeouts. Chicago's offense offered little to no resistance up until the late stages of the game, but
Dansby Swanson's bloop single in the eighth inning broke up the no-hit bid to spoil a masterful performance out of Severino. It still added to a great start to the campaign for the 30-year-old right-hander, however, who looks revived in the early stages of the year following a strong spring training and now owns a 2.31 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 31:11 K:BB through six regular-season starts (35 innings) for the Mets. Severino will take a ton of momentum into his next scheduled start on Saturday on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he'll remain worth deploying in all mixed fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he doesn't think outfielder
Jason Heyward (back) has been cleared to start baseball activities yet. The expectation is that Heyward would be with the team on their road trip to Arizona this week to face the Diamondbacks, but he is not. Heyward recently was still feeling soreness in his back and apparently has yet to resume baseball activities. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter has been out since April 1 and will need a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment as soon as he begins ramping up his activities. It's made it difficult for fantasy managers to hang onto him in deeper leagues, especially as a platoon player in LA's outfield. Rookie
Andy Pages has benefitted from Heyward's absence and entered Monday's game hitting .302 (13-for-43) with two home runs and five RBI in his first 11 MLB games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
3 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Nestor Cortes looks to maintain his strong start to the 2024 season when he takes the ball for Tuesday's start on the road against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Although Cortes had a sluggish start in spring training, he's throwing for a rock-solid 3.50 ERA (3.71 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, and 32:5 K:BB over 36 innings (six starts) to begin the regular season. The 29-year-old left-hander now has to do battle with a high-powered offense, but in his last seven appearances versus the O's since 2021, Cortes is 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA and 59:11 K:BB across 41 2/3 frames. Baltimore's current roster is batting a career .180 (18-for-100) with just four extra-base hits against Cortes, who should be rostered in all fantasy leagues ahead of Monday night's waiver runs and makes for an interesting DFS tournament play on Tuesday in a difficult setup on paper.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Savant
3 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Cody Bellinger (ribs) did some light throwing, running, and hitting at Fenway Park on Sunday. It was a positive step in Bellinger's progression from two fractured ribs on his right side, as he's being evaluated on a daily basis with the goal of ramping up his activity based on his recovery and tolerance. Although there is still no firm timetable for the 28-year-old All-Star slugger's activation from the 10-day injured list, there's optimism he'll be able to return to Chicago's outfield right around when he's first eligible to return. Top prospect
Pete Crow-Armstrong is batting .313 (5-for-16) with one home run and four RBI in six games since being called up from the minor leagues, and he should patrol center field every day against right-handed pitching in the meantime for the Cubs. The former first-round pick is worth a look for fantasy managers in deep mixed or NL-only leagues in the interim.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Bastian - MLB.com
3 days agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique) took grounders before Monday's game versus the Atlanta Braves. Crawford also reported after Sunday's pregame activity that he's feeling much better as he recuperates from a Grade 1 right oblique strain. The M's believe that his timeline is still a matter of multiple weeks, however, so fantasy managers should not be expecting Crawford to be reinstated from the injured list when first eligible on May 5. The 29-year-old on-base machine is only worth stashing in formats that record walks, as evidenced by his .198/.296/.302 triple-slash line with two home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs scored in 86 at-bats (22 games). Utility man
Josh Rojas is seeing more action in the leadoff spot and should be considered in AL-only or deep mixed leagues in Crawford's stead, slashing a robust .297/.366/.516 with three home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored, and one stolen base in 64 ABs (20 games).
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Divish - The Seattle Times
3 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Cristian Javier (neck) threw a bullpen session prior to Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Javier had flown to Chicago on Tuesday to receive treatment and get checked out by team doctors, and he appears to be progressing well in his recovery from discomfort in his neck. There's a chance the 27-year-old star right-hander could come off the 15-day injured list and start in this upcoming weekend's three-game series against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, which begins on Friday. With a 1.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and 11 walks through 23 1/3 innings (four starts) for the Stros this season, Javier is certainly a must-stash fantasy player with his return perhaps looming. Rookie righty
Spencer Arrighetti will draw Thursday's start against the visiting Cleveland Guardians, but he's given up 13 runs across 10 2/3 frames in Houston's injury-riddled rotation this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart - Astros.com
3 days agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Zac Gallen (hamstring) threw a successful bullpen session before Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. It coincides with the optimism that Gallen won't need to miss a turn in the rotation after exiting Friday's start against the Seattle Mariners with tightness in his right hamstring. The 28-year-old ace right-hander appears firmly on track to take the hill in Wednesday's scheduled start against the Dodgers, and fantasy managers should be relieved Gallen isn't dealing with a significant injury. Gallen owns a solid 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 35:9 K:BB over 32 frames (six starts) this year, but he'd be a risky fantasy start in a tough matchup at home if he's ultimately cleared for the start.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Alex Weiner - ArizonaSports.com
3 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder/infielder
Tommy Edman (wrist) has progressed to taking swings from both sides of a tee and has reported no issues. Edman had been limited to swinging from the left side due to pain and swelling in his surgically-repaired right wrist, but he's still not ready to fully participate in baseball activities. While manager Oliver Marmol said on Monday that the switch-hitting 28-year-old speedster is "recovering really well", Edman probably won't be available to make his 2024 season debut until sometime in late May. With St. Louis getting very little offensive production from their outfield bats, fellow switch-hitter
Dylan Carlson's (shoulder) return probably can't come soon enough. Last season, Edman slashed .248./307/.399 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, 69 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 479 at-bats (137 games) for the Cards and is worth stashing for fantasy managers hunting for speed.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Derrick Goold - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
3 days agoAccording to TNT's Allie LaForce, Denver Nuggets guard
Jamal Murray (calf) will play on Monday night versus the Lakers. The 27-year-old was on the injury report because of a left calf strain. While the team is certainly glad to have him out there, he may not be fully healthy. However, Murray has an excellent chance to turn things around after his rough showing in Game 4, making him a viable DFS option for Game 5.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Allie LaForce
3 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Boston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) will undergo an MRI on Tuesday. The veteran suffered what the team called right calf tightness before the end of the first half, so he'd finish the night with seven points in 14 minutes. Fortunately, medical personnel don't suspect an Achilles injury. However, the ailment could be enough to keep Porzingis off the floor for Game 5, although it's still too early to speculate. But if he can't go,
Al Horford should slide into the starting lineup, with
Luke Kornet getting minutes behind him from off the bench.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
3 days agoChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated on Monday that outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) still has some steps to clear before being cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Suzuki ramped up his baseball activity on Saturday and Sunday and is getting a recovery day on Monday, but he'll work out again on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 29-year-old slugger is on the mend from a strained right oblique, but fantasy managers should not be expecting him to be available for the Cubs until sometime in mid-May at this point. Veteran
Mike Tauchman is handling everyday at-bats in Chicago's outfield and worth rostering in deep mixed or NL-only leagues for now, slashing a potent .294/.429/.500 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 16 runs scored, and one stolen base over 84 plate appearances (24 games) this season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Meghan Montemurro - Chicago Tribune
3 days agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is doubtful to return to Monday's playoff matchup with the Heat. Porzingis was having another rough shooting performance, going 1-for-5 from the field. But even worse, he injured his right calf before the end of the first half. The C's have Game 4 under control, so there's no urgency to bring Porzingis back to the floor. However, the real question now is if he'll be healthy enough to suit up for Game 5. If he can't,
Al Horford will likely take over at the five, with
Luke Kornet coming in for relief.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jay King
3 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent wide receiver
Michael Gallup intends to ink a deal with the Raiders. The Cowboys released the wideout mid-March, saving the club nearly $10 million. But he's now heading to Las Vegas, where he will reportedly sign a one-year, $3 million contract. Gallup's best season was in 2019, with the 28-year-old amassing 1,107 yards and six touchdowns off 66 receptions. Since then, his production has declined. Gallup also tore his ACL late in 2021, which hindered his chances of turning things around. With that said, Gallup could have trouble getting consistently involved in Vegas, considering he'll presumably be behind
Davante Adams and
Jakobi Meyers on the depth chart. The quarterback situation also won't help his fantasy potential. Yet, Gallup could have a few decent outings with the Raiders, and his stock will rise if Adams or Meyers goes down with an injury at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 days agoOakland Athletics left-hander
Ken Waldichuk (elbow) faced live hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Monday and will pitch in a simulated game and could go on a minor-league rehab assignment after that. The 26-year-old former fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's could be a starting rotation option for the A's and fantasy managers in deeper leagues sooner than later. In his second big-league season in 2023, he went 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 71 walks and 132 strikeouts in 141 innings over 35 appearances (22 starts). His 3.42 ERA in his final 10 outings last year gave fantasy managers some hope that he could be better this year, but a UCL sprain and flex strain have delayed his start to 2024. Waldichuk is a consideration in AL-only leagues once he's activated.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
3 days agoOakland Athletics third baseman
J.D. Davis (thigh) will continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas through at least this Thursday. Davis played in his first rehab game with Vegas on Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a strikeout as the designated hitter. The A's would like to see him play in several more games down on the farm and return to the field before they consider activating him from the 10-day injured list. The 31-year-old veteran should eventually return to everyday duties for the A's at third base when he's healthy. In his first 14 games for the A's before getting hurt, he went just 10-for-51 (.196) with two home runs and two RBI in 55 plate appearances. Darrell Hernaiz has been playing often at the hot corner of late with Davis sidelined.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
3 days agoOakland Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (oblique) is currently shut down from baseball activities. Unsurprisingly, Gelof will miss more than the 10 days on the injured list with a strained left oblique. There will be no timetable for his return to the big leagues until he starts ramping up his activities and goes on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of Virginia held his own in his rookie season in 2023 with a .267/.337/.504 slash line with an .840 OPS, 14 home runs, 32 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 69 games, but he's gotten out of the gates slow in 2024 with a .196 average (18-for-92) with three homers, seven RBI and four stolen bases in his first 24 games. His oblique injury won't make it any easier to bounce back once he returns. In the meantime,
Max Schuemann figures to see most of the playing time at the keystone in Oakland.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
3 days agoArizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Ryne Nelson (elbow) threw a five-inning simulated game on Monday that went smoothly, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Nelson was able to toss 75 pitches during the session and may not even need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. He's only dealing with a right-elbow contusion after being hit by a line drive. It's a good bet that he'll come off the IL when he's eligible on May 4. The former second-round selection in 2019 out of Oregon made four starts before his injury and has gone 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA (4.14 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings pitched. Nelson is going to need more strikeouts to become attractive in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Until then, he'll be a matchup-based streamer in deeper leagues when he returns to Arizona's rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
3 days agoArizona Diamondbacks closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Sewald was supposed to throw a bullpen on Sunday, but the Diamondbacks pushed him back a bit after he experienced soreness in his oblique after a minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Reno. While the team has slowed the 33-year-old veteran down slightly, it's great news that he's still on track to throw a bullpen this week. After Wednesday's session, Sewald could make another rehab appearance before being cleared to return to Arizona's bullpen. He has yet to make his 2024 debut, but Sewald should be stashed in all fantasy leagues as Arizona's primary closer when he's healthy. He had a career-high 34 saves in 65 regular-season outings with the D-backs and Seattle Mariners in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
3 days agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Jesus Luzardo (elbow), who was diagnosed with a mild left-flexor muscle strain after undergoing testing, played catch before the team's game on Monday. The Marlins placed Luzardo on the injured list recently after he felt tightness in his left elbow. All in all, it's good news that the 26-year-old southpaw was able to play catch on Monday, but he remains without a timetable to return to the team's starting rotation. Luzardo will definitely have a spot in the rotation waiting for him when he's able to return, and even though he's gotten off to a rough 0-2 start with a 6.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in his first five starts in 2024, he deserves to be rostered in most fantasy leagues once he's back in action.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
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