5 hours agoCincinnati Reds corner infielder
Jeimer Candelario had a successful return to the lineup in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. The 30-year-old went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk. Candelario got things going, pulling a first-inning
Lance Lynn fastball over the right-field wall for his sixth HR of the season. Despite the move to a favorable home park, Candelario has struggled offensively, slashing .222/.299/.419 with 20 RBI in 187 plate appearances. He has hit for more power at home but has actually batted worse with a .202/.333/.440 slash line compared to a .241/.259/.398 slash line on the road. While it seems likely that Candelario's overall numbers will improve as he starts to hit better at home, fantasy managers will have to be patient until he can start producing more consistently.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Nick Lodolo (groin) improved to 4-2 in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Lodolo, who was activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a groin strain, pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with three strikeouts over 81 pitches. This was very encouraging for the 26-year-old and fantasy managers, as Lodolo has pitched well this season with a 3.12 ERA and a 10.26 K/9 rate in seven starts and 40 1/3 IP. The former high-end fantasy prospect had a poor, injury-shortened 2023 season after a promising rookie season, so it is nice to see him back on the right track. Lodolo will look to keep things going in his next start, which is projected to be a decent matchup at the Cubs.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Lance Lynn turned in another nice start but took the loss in Monday's 3-1 game against the Reds. Lynn pitched six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits (including a solo home run) and three walks with five strikeouts. The 37-year-old veteran has had a nice bounce-back season after a poor 2023, going 2-3 with a 3.45 ERA, an 8.32 K/9 rate, a 3.61 BB/9 rate, and a 1.10 HR/9 rate in 10 starts and 51 1/3 IP. His next matchup will be a tough one at the Phillies. While Lynn has pitched better this season, fantasy managers may want to avoid starting him later in the week if they can afford to.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt added another long ball to his recent total in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Reds. Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout. He provided his team's entire offense, sending a first-inning
Nick Lodolo fastball into the left-field seats. The 36-year-old has been cold at the plate overall this season but now has three HR in his last two games and is hitting .276 with six extra-base hits in his last seven games. Age is a concern for Goldschmidt, but hopefully, he can extend his hot streak and start performing closer to the high-end fantasy option he has been throughout his career.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoCincinnati Reds relief pitcher
Lucas Sims picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Sims came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by two and delivered a 1-2-3 outing with a strikeout. Closer
Alexis Diaz had pitched the last two days, so Sims got the call to close things out. The 30-year-old has had a middling season, going 1-1 with seven holds as well as a 4.15 ERA, a 9.87 K/9 rate, and a 5.19 BB/9 rate in 17 1/3 IP. He has only seen two save opportunities all season, so his fantasy value is very low except in deeper saves-plus-holds leagues at this time.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher prospect
Carson Whisenhunt fanned seven batters in five innings for Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday. The lefty allowed two earned runs on five hits while walking just one, although he also hit two batters. The strikeouts have been there this season for the former second-round draft pick, with 62 punchouts in 40 1/3 innings pitched, but the southpaw owns a 6.02 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 11 starts. Hopefully this is the start of something good for the Giants' top pitching prospect who still might see the big leagues this season, and with the big strikeout potential fantasy managers should continue to keep him on the radar.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 hours agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
George Springer had a nice game at the plate in Monday's 5-1 win over the White Sox. The 34-year-old went 2-for-3 with a single, a two-run home run, and a walk. Springer crushed a second-inning
Nick Nastrini fastball into the left-center seats for his fourth HR of the season. Springer has seven stolen bases but has been dreadful offensively otherwise, slashing just .196/.274/.296 with 11 RBI in 201 plate appearances. He has been a solid fantasy option throughout his career and still can produce power and speed, making him a worthwhile roto player. However, fantasy managers in shallower points leagues may be able to find more impactful players to pick up.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 hours agoToronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette made his one hit count in Monday's 5-1 win over the White Sox, going 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout. Bichette drilled a fourth-inning
Nick Nastrini fastball over the center-field wall for his fourth HR of the season. The 26-year-old has had an uncharacteristically underwhelming season with the bat so far, slashing just .247/.297/.366 with 23 RBI. The good news is that he is running more overall and has picked things up in May with an improved .291/.330/.442 slash line. The Blue Jays have started slowly as a team offensively, but it looks like Bichette has started to turn the corner.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoWashington Nationals infield prospect
Trey Lipscomb has continued to hit since he was optioned back to the minors on May 17, including a four-hit game for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday and going 9-for-28 (.321) with a pair of stolen bases over the last seven games. On the season, the 23-year-old is hitting .327 in the minors (13 games), but while with the big league club he was able to swipe 10 bags and score 16 runs in 33 games despite a mediocre .252 average. If he can continue to get on base and get the call again, the former third-round draft pick could be a sneaky source of steals for managers in need, so keep him on your season-long radar.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani (elbow) said Monday that he has progressed to throwing from 60 feet. The two-way superstar is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and hasn't pitched since 2023. He said his sessions have been 60 to 70 throws at up to 80 mph. He and the Dodgers are hoping he can return to the mound in 2025. Ohtani has still been a top fantasy player without pitching, as he has slashed an impressive .336/.403/.621 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 239 plate appearances. He has a way to go before providing fantasy value as a pitcher again (in 2025), but Ohtani should continue to be one of fantasy's best hitters.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Juan Toribio - MLB.com
6 hours agoSan Francisco Giants first base prospect
Trenton Brooks had a big day at the plate on Sunday, going 4-for-5 with a triple, a walk, two RBI, and a run scored for Triple-A Sacramento. The hits extended his hit streak to eight games and he's hit safely in 10 of his last 11. During the hit streak, the 28-year-old is hitting .484 (15-for-31) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, eight RBI, eight runs scored, and a 9:6 BB:K. Despite being 28, the left-handed hitter has yet to make his MLB debut, but the offensive surge couldn't come at a better time as
LaMonte Wade Jr. appears headed to the IL and this could be an opportunity to call up Brooks. On the season, the left-handed hitter is slashing .308/.426/.462 with a wOBA of .403, 129 wRC+, and is walking more than he's striking out (31:27). Keep an eye out to see if the Giants finally give him the call.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
7 hours agoThe Miami Marlins have promoted pitching prospect
Noble Meyer to High-A Beloit. The 2023 first-round draft pick posted a 2.65 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP with a 43:23 K:BB over 34 innings pitched so far this season. The 19-year-old is already ranked as the Marlins top prospect and 45th overall in all of baseball. The righty is not expected to reach the majors for a couple years, but should already be on dynasty league managers' radar.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB Central - Chase Ford
7 hours agoThe Boston Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect
Zach Penrod to Triple-A Worcester. The lefty was just recently named Eastern League Double-A Pitcher of the Week after posting back-to-back 10-strikeout performances. Although he allowed four runs in his last start, Penrod nearly made it three straight starts with 10 strikeouts, striking out nine batters over five-and-a-third innings pitched. On the season the 26-year-old has a 2.80 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 53:13 K:BB in 35 1/3 IP.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Alex Speier - Boston Globe Sports
8 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Justin Steele put together his most complete start of the year in Monday's loss to the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, throwing a season-high seven innings of scoreless ball on three hits and one walk to go with a season-best eight strikeouts for a tough-luck no-decision. The three hits also marked a season-low figure for Steele, who hadn't tossed at least five scoreless innings in any of his prior five starts to Monday's strong outing. The 28-year-old southpaw has endured a trying year due to injury as well as poor results on the field overall, but his 31:7 K:BB over 32 1/3 innings should instill some optimism that a turnaround is on the horizon despite a lackluster 4.45 ERA. Steele next lines up to take the ball at home on Saturday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, a team he's struggled against to the tune of a ghastly 8.64 ERA over 16 2/3 frames since 2022.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
8 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber clubbed his 10th home run of the season in Monday's loss to the hosting San Francisco Giants, adding a stolen base in the defeat. Schwarber crushed a two-run home run to right-center field off Giants left-hander
Blake Snell, cutting the Phillies' deficit to 3-2 in the third inning, and he also tacked on a popup single in front of home plate in the seventh. In the month of May, the 31-year-old star slugger is slashing a strong .288/.422/.413 with two long balls, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two steals over 80 at-bats as the everyday leadoff man atop Philly's loaded lineup. Keep rolling with the hot Schwarber for the remainder of the series against San Francisco, as he's batting .270 with seven big flies, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 17 games for the Phils against the Giants in his career.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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