MacKenzie Gore Lined Up To Start On Sunday
MacKenzie Gore (ankle) will make his next start this Sunday on the road in St. Louis against the Cardinals, according to MASN's Mark Zuckerman. Gore was a little sore following his last start against the Cincinnati Reds after tweaking his ankle, but he's been cleared to make his next start to close out the weekend series against the Cardinals. The 26-year-old southpaw made it through five innings last Saturday against Cincy, allowing an earned run on four hits while walking a season-high four and striking out nine. Overall, the former first-rounder by the San Diego Padres in 2017 has been strong for the Nats in 2025 through his first eight starts, posting a 3.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 68 punchouts in his 46 innings of work. The Cardinals currently hold the 11th-best OPS (.732) in the league, but Gore should be started in fantasy lineups.Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
Washington Nationals left-hander Tanner Bibee To Start On Saturday
Tanner Bibee (legs) will make his next start this Saturday at Progressive Field against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Bibee will not miss a turn through Cleveland's starting rotation after dealing with cramps in both of his legs in his last start on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 26-year-old allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out three in five innings for a win on Sunday and is now 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA (6.11 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP while walking 16 and striking out 28 in 38 innings over his first seven starts. Bibee's 6.11 FIP speaks to how fortunate he's been while currently posting a career-low 17.6% strikeout rate and a career-high 10.1% walk rate. He still has plenty of time to turn it around, but he should be considered a shaky fantasy play this weekend against the Phils, who rank 11th in OPS (.735).Source: MLB.com
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Kyle Farmer Out For Rockies On Wednesday
Kyle Farmer is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the visiting Detroit Tigers at Coors Field. Adael Amador will make the start at the keystone for Colorado and will hit eighth against Tigers rookie right-hander Jackson Jobe. Farmer has been the team's primary second baseman early in the 2025 season. The 34-year-old veteran hasn't been much of a fantasy contributor, though, even in deep leagues, as he enters Wednesday's action with just a .240 average (23-for-96) with no home runs, seven RBI and two runs scored in 29 games in his first year in Colorado. Amador, 22, will be playing in just his 26th MLB game. In 15 games so far this year, he's struggled by going 7-for-39 (.179) with a homer and three RBI. He has never faced Jobe in his career and will be a low-upside DFS sleeper on Wednesday.Source: MLB.com
Colorado Rockies infielder Ketel Marte Getting The Day Off Against Mets
Ketel Marte is getting the day off in Wednesday's series finale against the visiting New York Mets. Rookie Tim Tawa will make the start at second base and bat eighth against Mets right-hander Kodai Senga. Marte has struggled since returning from a left-hamstring strain that kept him out for almost a full month, as he's gone just 2-for-15 with a run scored in six games since being activated from the injured list. The recent cold stretch has brought the 31-year-old Dominican's slash line down to .268/.388/.341 on the year. Marte has yet to go deep after clubbing a career-high 36 long balls a season ago. Tawa hasn't been great in his first 21 big-league games, hitting 190 (12-for-63), but he's displayed some pop with five home runs and 11 RBI in 75 plate appearances. He is hitless in just one career at-bat against Senga.Source: MLB.com
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz Resting On Wednesday
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz will both retreat to the bench for Wednesday's contest in Sacramento against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. Jhonnyread more...
Noelvi Marte Placed On 10-Day Injured List
Noelvi Marte (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday's contest against the Atlanta Braves. In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled outfielder Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville. Marte was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to an oblique strain but will now miss at least the next two weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status while he is sidelined, but given his injury, he will likely remain sidelined longer than the 10-day period. After a disappointing 2024 campaign, Marte enjoyed a strong start to the 2025 season, holding a .294/.342/.515 slash line with three home runs and four stolen bases. While the 23-year-old is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Santiago Espinal to see most of the opportunities at the hot corner.Source: Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Francisco Alvarez, Mark Vientos Sitting On Wednesday
Francisco Alvarez and third baseman Mark Vientos are taking a seat on Wednesday when they play the final game of a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Alvarez has been in the starting nine in each of the past three contests. During this stretch, the backstop has posted a strong .444/.545/.444 slash line with one RBI. Vientos has been swinging a hot bat over his last five games, holding a .316/.381/.316 line and will be given a typical day off. Fantasy managers should expect both Alvarez and Vientos to return to the starting nine on Friday when they begin a series against the Chicago Cubs. This afternoon, Luis Torrens and Brett Baty will be behind the dish and cover the hot corner, respectively. The Mets are worth a look in DFS facing Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly.Source: MLB.com
New York Mets catcher Will Smith Sitting On Wednesday
Will Smith is getting the day off on Wednesday when the Dodgers play the final game of a three-game set against the Miami Marlins. The backstop started in each of the first two games of the series and has gone 2-for-9 with a double. As a result, Austin Barnes will get the nod this afternoon behind the dish and will bat in the nine-hole. Fantasy managers should expect Smith to return to the starting nine on Thursday when they begin a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Through his first 29 games of the season, Smith has posted a strong .309/.398/.479 slash line with three home runs and two stolen bases. He has generated an elite .376 xwOBA with an impressive 15.5 percent barrel rate. Barnes could be worth a look as a value play in DFS facing Miami right-hander Valente Bellozo.Source: MLB.com
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Gabriel Moreno Remains Out On Wednesday With Side Injury
Gabriel Moreno (side) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday. Moreno was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to left side soreness. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to their contest on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead, the Diamondbacks will give Jose Herrera the starting nod behind the dish. He will bat in the nine-hole. Through the opening month of the season, Moreno has posted a modest .233/.320/.267 slash line with just three doubles and five RBI. However, under the hood, Moreno has generated a strong .276 xBA with a 48.5 percent hard-hit rate, which suggests he should see some positive regression when he returns to action. Herrera is best to fade in DFS this afternoon, facing Mets right-hander Kodai Senga.Source: MLB.com
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Michael Busch Sitting Against Southpaw
Michael Busch is not in Wednesday's lineup when they play the final game of a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants. With left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray taking the bump for the Giants, Busch will take a seat. Through the opening month, Busch has only made two starts against left-handed pitching. Instead, the Cubs will give veteran Justin Turner the nod at first base, and he will bat in the five-hole. Through the first 35 contests of the campaign, Busch has been productive, holding a .252/.350/.479 slash line with seven doubles, six long balls, and 22 RBI. Busch has generated a strong .356 xwOBA and a .478 xSLG, which suggests he should continue to be a viable fantasy asset. However, fantasy managers should continue to expect him to remain in a platoon role at first base, albeit on the strong side.Source: MLB.com
Chicago Cubs first baseman Nolan Arenado Scratched With Back Spasms
Nolan Arenado (back) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to back spasms. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to their next contest on Friday against the Washington Nationals. He was replaced on Wednesday by Nolan Gorman, who covered the hot corner and was placed in the six-hole. Through his first 34 games of the campaign, Arenado has posted a .256/.342/.392 slash line with three home runs and one stolen base. Under the hood, the 34-year-old has generated a modest .299 xwOBA and a low .347 xSLG, which suggests he should see some regression throughout the campaign. If Arenado were to miss time over the weekend, Gorman or Jose Barrero will likely cover third base.Source: Lynn Worthy
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Brice Turang Out On Wednesday
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is out of the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the visiting Houston Astros. Rookie Caleb Durbin will man the keystone and will hit sixthread more...
Yu Darvish Could Face Hitters Soon
Yu Darvish (elbow) has thrown several bullpen sessions and has ramped up the intensity with each session. Darvish traveled to the team's spring training complex in Arizona recently and could face live hitters in the coming days. The 38-year-old Japanese veteran was put on the 15-day injured list on March 27 (retroactive to March 24) with right-elbow inflammation that cropped up during spring training. He has yet to pitch at all in 2025, but barring a setback as he continues to ramp up, Darvish could return to the Padres' starting rotation in late May. He will certainly have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's fully healthy, making Darvish a stash candidate in fantasy, even though he's past his prime. The five-time All-Star went 7-3 last year with a 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with a 78:22 K:BB in 81 2/3 innings over just 16 starts.Source: MLB.com
San Diego Padres right-hander Jake Cronenworth Could Return Friday Against Rockies
Jake Cronenworth (rib) started his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday and went 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI, three runs scored, three walks and a strikeout. Cronenworth might only need two rehab games at El Paso before potentially joining the Friars for their series opener at Coors Field on Friday against the division-rival Colorado Rockies. Before joining El Paso, the 31-year-old veteran went 1-for-3 in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. When Cronenworth returns to the Padres, he'll resume his role as their regular second baseman, sending Jose Iglesias back to a bench role in San Diego. The two-time All-Star went 9-for-35 (.257) with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI and seven runs scored in his first 12 games for the Pads before landing on the injured list with a non-displaced right-rib fracture.Source: MLB.com
San Diego Padres second baseman William Contreras Playing With Fractured Finger
William Contreras (finger) has a fracture of the middle finger on his catching hand, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. It's an old fracture that has bothered Contreras for some time, but he will continue to play through it. The Brewers are working with the All-Star catcher to make a splint for his finger to absorb some of the impact that he takes on a daily basis. He will continue to catch. It helps explain why the 27-year-old Venezuelan backstop has been rather quiet to start the 2025 season at the plate. Heading into Wednesday's action, Contreras has hit .242/.358/.331 with a career-low .689 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, 19 RBI, 19 runs scored and four stolen bases in 35 games played. Contreras isn't in the starting lineup on Wednesday versus the Houston Astros, with Eric Haas doing the catching and batting eighth against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez.Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
X-rays revealed that Milwaukee Brewers catcher