7 hours agoBoston Red Sox starting pitch
Tanner Houck threw another gem on Sunday in a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Houck tossed 6 ⅔ innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits while striking out nine and walking none. It is the fourth start this season where Houck hasn't walked a batter, and his strikeouts haven't suffered either. His season line looks mightily impressive, with a 1.60 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 39 ⅓ IP. He needs to be owned in all leagues at this point, as he looks to be truly breaking out.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies relief pitcher
Jose Alvarado shut down the San Diego Padres on Sunday, helping the team to an 8-6 win. Alvarado was sharp in this one, striking out a pair while not allowing a baserunner in his inning of work. The lefty remains the only Philly with more than one save and appears to be the go-to guy in the ninth inning. He should be rostered in any league where saves matter.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies second baseman
Bryson Stott put the team on his back in an 8-6 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Stott finished the day going 2-for-3 with two homers and a stolen base. He also scored three runs and drove in four. It was a blistering day at the dish for the 26-year-old, who sorely needed it after a tough start to the season. The homers were just his second and third of the season and the stolen base was his fourth. Stott has 20/20 upside that was on full display Sunday, so he should be held onto in most leagues.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Nolan Jones (back) was removed from Sunday's game early with back stiffness. Jones missed two games earlier this week with the same injury and was only able to play in one game before the injury popped up again. It is worrying that the back issues appear to be lingering, with manager Bud Black saying that the team will determine whether an IL stint is necessary before the team's next game on Tuesday. Perhaps this offers a reason for Jones' brutal start to the season, but fantasy managers won't be any happier with that explanation.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Harding
7 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Masataka Yoshida (hand) was removed from Sunday's game in the sixth inning after jamming his hand in his first at-bat of the game. Manager Alex Cora said after the game that the team wasn't sure what the extent of the injury was and X-rays hadn't been taken yet. Yoshida is off to a pretty good start to the year with a .274/.357/.403 slash line, although his two homers and zero steals don't make him much of a roto league option in fantasy. An update on his status should come sometime on Monday.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Jen McCaffrey
7 hours agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Dane Dunning had his best start of the season on Sunday, picking up the win in a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Dunning was on a mission in this one, racking up 10 strikeouts over 5 ⅓ innings of two-run ball (one earned). The righty allowed just three hits, and maybe most importantly didn't walk a single batter. Considering he had walked at least two in every other start this season, this was clearly a big part of his success. Dunning remains a deeper-league option with some streamer appeal in standard-sized leagues, but he has shown an improved ability to get strikeouts this year, which is something to watch for in his coming starts.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoHouston Astros outfield prospect
Joey Loperfido is being promoted from Triple-A Sugar Land, per Ari Alexander. Loperfido currently has the most home runs in professional baseball with 13 and has posted a .287/.393/.713 stat line with five swiped bags across 25 games this season. The Astros have had a rough start to the season, and they are hoping that their sixth-ranked prospect will provide a much-needed spark. The 24-year-old should be expected to see time in left field or at first base over the struggling
Chas McCormick and
Jose Abreu. While his strikeout rate is high, Loperfido is a must-add in all formats and is worth spending at least 10% of your FAAB budget on simply due to his power potential alone.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
12 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher
Kevin Ginkel has been a viable option for the team early in the season. The right-hander was asked to take over the closer role after
Paul Sewald (oblique) went down. On Sunday, Ginkel made it look easy as he threw a scoreless ninth inning to hold the one-run lead over the Seattle Mariners. He holds a 3.00 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 13/3 K/BB ratio, while converting five of his seven save chances. The expectation is that Ginkel will remain the primary closer until Sewald is ready to return.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Brandon Pfaadt looked terrific on the mound during Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners. The right-hander threw six innings, allowing five hits, and striking out 11 batters during a no-decision. The D-Backs would end up winning the game, but they didn't get the lead until Pfaadt was already done for the day. The hope is that this performance will help Pfaadt improve his 4.63 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. His next outing will be against the San Diego Padres next weekend.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Brayan Bello (lat) has reportedly been making great progress in his recovery, according to manager Alex Cora. The right-hander recently landed on the 15-day injured list, but sounds like Bello should be back sooner rather than later. It's uncertain if the team plans on having Bello go on a rehab assignment. If not, Bello could rejoin the rotation once his injured list stint is over.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mac Cerullo
13 hours agoNew York Yankees first baseman
Anthony Rizzo has been heating up at the plate over the last week. On Sunday, Rizzo went 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the blowout win over the Milwaukee Brewers. This marked Rizzo's fourth homer in six days and his 300th career long ball of his career. It came in his 1,664th game since debuting with the San Diego Padres in 2011. The six hits in the last two days has boosted his slash line to .277/.341/.446 on the season. Fantasy managers should check the waiver wire to see if Rizzo is available.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoNew York Mets third baseman
Mark Vientos came up clutch for the team during Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning and singled during that plate appearance. Vientos remained in the game and got another at-bat versus left-hander
Matthew Liberatore in the 11th inning. He blasted a two-run home run off Liberatore to help the Mets get the 4-2 win. The 24-year-old has a chance to remain with the team if he continues to hit like this. Fantasy managers should use a wait-and-see approach for Vientos.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoChicago White Sox relief pitcher
Jordan Leasure was called upon to record the final two outs during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. It sounds like
Michael Kopech was unavailable for this game after pitching in the last two games. That being said, the White Sox went with Leasure after starting pitcher
Erick Fedde went into the ninth inning. Leasure got the final two outs and recorded his first save in the MLB. He holds a 1.59 ERA through 11 1/3 innings but has also walked seven batters. Fantasy managers should run to the waiver wire after this save. Leasure might get more chances down the road, but it probably won't be enough to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde was sharp on the mound during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander threw 8 1/3 innings while allowing seven hits and two earned runs during the 4-2 win. Fedde struck out nine batters during this game to build his season total to 39 strikeouts. The assumption is that the right-hander is going to regress, but for the time being he holds a strong 2.20 ERA over six starts. Fantasy managers in need of pitching help should look at Fedde.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
15 hours agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics. The 27-year-old has homered in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Mountcastle is enjoying solid production at the plate as he is slashing .319/.379/.527 with four homers, 14 RBI and 16 runs. He may not be the most electrifying fantasy asset, but he is worthy of a roster spot in all formats given his strong start and placement in one of the best offenses in baseball.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
RADIO
