3 days agoThe Minnesota Twins announced on Tuesday that they recalled outfielder Trevor Larnach (toe) from Triple-A St. Paul and optioned outfielder Matt Wallner to St. Paul in a corresponding move. Larnach was recently activated from the Triple-A injured list due to turf toe, but he'll now head to Minnesota to make his 2024 debut. Wallner will head to the farm to work on some things after starting off 2-for-25 with the Twins. The 27-year-old Larnach started last year in the big leagues but was sent to St. Paul after a slow start at the plate. The left-handed slugger has some intriguing power upside from the left side in a likely platoon role in Minnesota, but he's probably not going to help your team batting average and has been injury-prone in his career to this point.Source: Minnesota Twins
3 days agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers are going with a bullpen game against the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will pitch in "bulk" but won't necessarily make the traditional start. Pitching prospect Kyle Hurt, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 6 prospect, will also be added on Tuesday for more depth out of the bullpen. LA will call up a starter, potentially prospect Landon Knack, for Wednesday's contest. The Dodgers' rotation is a little short-handed right now with right-hander Bobby Miller (shoulder) on the injured list and Walker Buehler (elbow) still not quite ready to make his 2024 debut. The 32-year-old Yarbrough is the best bet to provide the most length for the Dodgers on Tuesday, and he's allowed six runs (five earned) while walking four and striking out six in 14 2/3 innings of relief so far in 2024.Source: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
3 days agoThe Houston Astros are calling up former top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley from the minors on Tuesday, according to a source. After a myriad of injuries, Whitley will be getting his first big-league call-up and will work as a reliever for a bullpen that needs a fresh arm. Whitley is on the 40-man roster, and the team's many other optionable relievers at Triple-A Sugar Land haven't been down long enough to be recalled without putting someone on the injured list. The 26-year-old got a late start at Sugar Land this year due to a finger injury and has allowed four runs while walking two and striking out four in three appearances on the farm before getting the call to Houston. Whitley's prospect status has faded and he should be ignored for now in fantasy, as he could be sent back to Sugar Land before long.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
3 days agoChicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said there was no recovery related reason for outfielder Eloy Jimenez not starting on Monday against the Kansas City Royals after he was activated from the injured list. Grifol said they are getting their cleanup hitter back but are also easing him back in after his groin injury. The 27-year-old could play some outfield again now that he's back, but Gavin Sheets will probably play the outfielder sooner. Jimenez had yet to play the outfield before his injury and started only 14 times in the outfield a year ago. It would be nice if Jimenez played enough outfield in 2024 to gain eligibility there for fantasy managers, but that's no guarantee. As long as Luis Robert Jr. (hip) remains sidelined, both Jimenez and Sheets should be lineup regulars for the Pale Hose.Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (wrist), who was activated from the injured list on Monday, is expected to make his 2024 debut on Tuesday against the New York Yankees and left-hander Carlos Rodon. Jansen suffered a fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in a spring training game on March 13. He'll wear special padding to protect his hands because he's been prone to hand injuries due to the way he swings. The return of Jansen will mean fewer rest days for catcher Alejandro Kirk moving forward. Jansen hit .228 last year but with 17 home runs and 53 RBI for the Blue Jays. If he can stay healthy the rest of the way, he can provide some nice pop at the catcher position for fantasy managers. Jansen has never faced Rodon in his career.Source: ESPN.com
3 days agoAtlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (toe) had an extremely sore toe after being hit by a pitch in the second inning in Monday's game against the Houston Astros, and the Braves will wait and see how he feels on Tuesday morning before determining if he'll play. Albies played the rest of Monday's game but was limping afterward and had his foot checked out. The 27-year-old appears to be day-to-day for now, so fantasy managers will want to check back closer to game time on Tuesday to see if Albies is in the starting lineup. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI, walk and two strikeouts in Monday's 6-1 win over Houston and is hitting a strong .317 (20-for-63) with two home runs, 14 RBI and two stolen bases in his first 70 plate appearances of 2024.Source: The Athletic - David O'Brien
3 days agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Kevin Ginkel blew his second save of the season in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs. Ginkel entered the ninth inning with a one-run lead but allowed an earned run on two hits while walking none and striking out one. The tying run ended up scoring on a wild pitch all the way from second base to tie the game and eventually send it to extra frames. The 30-year-old was coming off three straight successful saves, so this hiccup probably won't hurt him too much as he fills in for Paul Sewald (oblique) in the short term in the closer's role. In his eight appearances out of the 'pen for Arizona so far this year, Ginkel has allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 10.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoMiami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera really dazzled in his first start of 2024 on Monday against the San Francisco Giants, giving up just one run on five hits while walking one and striking out 10 in six innings to pick up a quality start and no-decision. The 26-year-old began the 2024 campaign on the injured list due to a right-shoulder injury, but he surely didn't look like a pitcher coming off an injury in this one. It was the third time he's had double-digit strikeouts in a game in his young career, and it was nice to see him pounding the strike zone all night. Cabrera went 7-7 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 66 walks and a career-high 118 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings in 2023 and should be immediately scooped up off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues if he's available after his performance Monday night.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoChicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch has been feeling really comfortable so far in his first year with the Cubs and he extended his home run streak to five straight games in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks by going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two strikeouts. The 26-year-old has now tied the franchise's longest home run streak and has six long balls in the early going, necessitating a pickup off your league's waiver wire if he's somehow still available. Busch's homer binge obviously won't last, but he's so far been a fantastic late-round value pick by fantasy managers in 2024. After Monday's game, he's hitting .327 (17-for-52) with six homers, 12 RBI and nine runs scored in his first 16 games with the Cubbies.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia is getting the day off on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers in a day game following a night game. With Garcia out, rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford moves into the cleanup spot, while Ezequiel Duran is the designated hitter and is batting sixth against Tigers right-hander Casey Mize. Evan Carter is sliding over from left field to right field. Garcia has picked up right where he left off last postseason in the first 17 games of 2024, slashing .308/.370/.538 with a .908 OPS, four home runs, 15 RBI and four stolen bases in his first 73 plate appearances. He needs to be in all fantasy lineups on a daily basis when he's active. Langford has held his own so far in his first 60 MLB at-bats, but he's still searching for his first home run.Source: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
3 days agoThe Texas Rangers are promoting pitching prospect Jack Leiter to the big-league club to debut on Thursday versus the Detroit Tigers. The former first-round pick has had a nice season for Triple-A Round Rock with a 3.77 ERA in three games (two starts). He has been a strikeout artist on the farm with 25 of them in just 14 1/3 innings. It is unknown how long Leiter is expected to remain with the club, but he is worth looking into as a streamer against a Tigers offense that is the least bit intimidating. Leiter is worth a speculative add in most formats.Source: MLB Pipeline
3 days agoChicago Cubs first base prospect Matt Mervis has been off to a nice start for Triple-A Iowa this season. The first baseman didn't break camp with the club, but has responded with a .333 batting average to go along with four homers andread more...
4 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitching prospect Mason Montgomery will look to improve in his fourth start of the season on Tuesday for Triple-A Durham. The left-hander has been off to a rocky start this season with a 10.80 ERA in three starts and has gotten worst in each outing. The lefty is the Rays top pitching prospect and has quickly risen through the system. Walks have been an issue for him in the past, but this year he has just three in 10 innings with 10 strikeouts. Despite being the clubs top pitching prospect, he is just inside their top 10 prospects overall. With his struggles and the Rays set with their rotation at the moment, Montgomery can remain on the waiver wire in all formats.Source: Milb.com
4 days agoWashington Nationals starting pitcher prospect Mitchell Parker picked up the victory in his big-league debut versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday evening. Parker, 24, got the daunting task of facing one of the toughest lineups in the league, but held his own. Over five innings, Parker allowed four hits, two runs, zero walks and struck out four. Strikeouts have been a big part of his game throughout his minor league career and he could be an asset to managers if that translates to the big leagues. Moving forward, Parker is in line to face another tough offense in the Houston Astros this weekend. Parker should be avoided in that matchup, but as the case with many prospects, they are always worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.Source: MLB.com
4 days agoChicago White Sox pitching prospect Nick Nastrini performed well in his big-league debut versus the Kansas City Royals on Monday. Nastrini suffered the loss, but didn't look overmatched in his first outing. The right-hander went five innings and allowed three hits, two runs, two walks and five strikeouts. Nastrini should be expected to remain in the rotation with the White Sox season going nowhere and it being wise to develop young talent, but nothing is guaranteed. Moving forward, Nastrini now is nothing more than a streamer in favorable matchups, but he has the upside to help in deeper leagues, if he continues to improve. The right-hander is in line to face a tough Philadelphia Phillies lineup this weekend and should be avoided.Source: MLB.com