8 mins agoNew York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto said on Thursday that he would give his blessing to contract talks during the season if the Yankees want to approach his agent, Scott Boras, about a long-term contract. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said he'd consider such a tactic for the three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, who is just 25 years old. "We'd like to see him here for the rest of his career. I don't think there's any doubt in that," Steinbrenner said. Soto is currently hitting a strong .302 with nine homers, 34 RBI and a .920 OPS in his first 45 games in pinstripes. Neither Steinbrenner nor Boras typically do in-season contract extensions, but the Yankees are willing to make an exception with such a special player. If the two sides don't reach an extension before free agency this winter, Soto will be a highly sought-after free agent.Source: The Associated Press
17 mins agoChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-handed reliever Julian Merryweather (ribs, shoulder) will start throwing in Arizona on Monday. Merryweather still has a long ways to go to get up to speed, but it's a good sign that he's ready to resume throwing. The 32-year-old veteran was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his ribs in early April and is currently on the 60-day injured list, meaning he's not eligible to return until early June. Given the severity of his injury and the fact that he's starting his throwing program next week, Merryweather is unlikely to be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible. The former fifth-round pick by Cleveland in 2014 out of Oklahoma Baptist has a 3.29 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, two saves and 104 K's in 76 2/3 relief innings for the Cubs the last two years and will be a useful high-leverage arm out of their bullpen when he's ready to come back.Source: Chicago Daily Herald - Mike McGraw
22 mins agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) will resume baseball activities on Monday, according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomcyzk. The plan is for Hayes to play catch and field ground balls on Monday and then swing the bat on Tuesday. The 27-year-old landed on the injured list with a back injury that doesn't sound too serious, so as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, Hayes could be back with the Pirates before the calendar flips to June. Until Hayes is able to return, expect the Pirates to continue to lean on Jared Triolo at the hot corner. Triolo is hitting ninth for the Bucs on Friday against Chicago Cubs veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Before his injury, Hayes was hitting a modest .240/.322/.318 with only one home run and 11 RBI in 34 games played.Source: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
2 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Colten Brewer (back) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a lower-back injury and recalled right-handed pitcher Porter Hodge from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Brewer last pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Sunday. In a middle-relief role for the Cubs this year, the 31-year-old has been solid for the team, posting a 3.09 ERA (3.20 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. In six years in the big leagues, Brewer has a 4.78 ERA (5.06 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP with a very mediocre 20.2% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate. Hodge, 23, was a 13th-round pick by the Cubs in 2019 and will be making his big-league debut when he enters a game out of the Cubs' bullpen.Source: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
2 hours agoOakland Athletics outfielder Miguel Andujar (knee) went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI while serving as the designated hitter in his first minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday evening. Andujar didn't play the entire game, but it was a good first test for the 29-year-old as he attempts to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him all year to this point. Andujar was swinging the bat well in spring training with the A's before injuring his knee, so it looks like he picked up where he left off. Because of the long layoff, the A's are going to make sure he gets enough at-bats in the minors before he makes his 2024 debut. Andujar's role with the A's is to be determined, but he could at least be worth considering in AL-only leagues.Source: Milb.com
2 hours agoThe Houston Astros are calling up left-hander Parker Mushinski from the minors before Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a source. Shawn Dubin threw three innings on Thursday, so he's the most likely candidate to be optioned down to the farm in a corresponding move. Mushinski, 28, will give the Astros a fresh arm out of their bullpen but is not at all on the fantasy radar. The former seventh-round pick in 2017 out of Texas Tech has allowed seven runs (five earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out two in his four relief innings in the big leagues so far this year. In his three years in the majors, Mushinski has a 5.88 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while walking 10 and striking out 25 in 26 innings out of the bullpen.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers currently have no plans to bench struggling shortstop Javier Baez. "He's going to play, a lot," manager A.J. Hinch said. The two-time All-Star in his prime, Baez is hitting just .167 with a homer, five walks and 27 strikeouts inread more...
2 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder Michael Taylor will take a seat on the bench on Friday for the start of a series at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Taylor will retreat to the bench after starting the last four games while going 2-for-13 with a double, two runs scored and five strikeouts to drop his season slash line to a weak .222/.271/.287. The 33-year-old veteran outfielder has added only one home run, eight RBI, three stolen bases and 12 runs scored for the Bucs through a month and a half of the season. Jack Suwinski is getting the start in center field and is batting sixth, while Connor Joe will be in right field while hitting cleanup against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Both Joe and Suwinski are worth a look as DFS sleepers in the outfield on Friday against a pitcher who currently holds an 0-3 record and 10.04 ERA.Source: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
2 hours agoChicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (knee) is taking live batting practice against left-handers Drew Smyly (hip) and Jordan Wicks (forearm) on Friday. Swanson is ramping up his baseball activities this week after being put on the 10-day injured list last week with a right-knee injury. The 30-year-old's injury isn't believed to be all that serious, so he certainly has a chance to come off the IL when he's eligible on Saturday. The Cubs could really use him back, as middle infielder Nico Hoerner (hamstring) is missing his fourth straight game on Friday versus the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates with a left-hamstring ailment. Until one of Swanson or Hoerner can return, Miles Mastrobuoni will continue manning the 6 in Chicago. Swanson's fantasy managers will be hoping he can pick things up when he returns, as he was hitting just .209 (27-for-129) with four homers, 12 RBI and four steals before his injury.Source: CHGO Sports - Ryan Herrera
2 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is being rested on Friday and will start Friday's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on the bench. It appears to be a regular day of rest for Suzuki, who recently came back from a stint on the injured list due to an oblique injury. The 29-year-old has gone just 6-for-26 since coming back, but he was able to go deep in the team's last game on Wednesday against the Braves. Even after the rough stretch at the plate in May, the Japanese outfielder is still slashing a strong .282/.344/.482 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 85 at-bats for the Cubbies in 2024. Suzuki is a must-start in fantasy when he's in the lineup. With Suzuki out, Cody Bellinger is in right field and is batting second, while rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong will start in center field and bat eighth against Pirates rookie right-hander Paul Skenes.Source: MLB.com
2 hours agoChicago Cubs middle infielder Nico Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Miles Mastrobuoni will get another start at the 6 and will hit sixth, with Nick Madrigal once again manning the keystone and hitting seventh against baseball's top prospect in right-hander Paul Skenes. Dansby Swanson (knee) is on the injured list with knee soreness, so Chicago's middle infield is thinned out at this time. The 27-year-old Hoerner is day-to-day with left-hamstring tightness but has now missed his fourth straight game. If he's unable to rejoin the Cubs' lineup this weekend, he could join Swanson on the IL. DFS gamers can probably find better options at shortstop and second base than Mastrobuoni and Madrigal, who are both light-hitting utility infielders.Source: MLB.com
5 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitching prospect Cade Horton was recently promoted to Triple-A Iowa but has struggled since his call-up. Through three starts with Triple-A, the 22-year-old has an 8.25 ERA and, 1.67 WHIP with a mediocre 9:14 BB:K ratio. However, Horton began the season with Double-A Tennessee and dominated with a 1.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 2:18 BB:K ratio. Horton is considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and the second-best prospect in the Cubs system, only behind Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is already in the major leagues. Horton should be expected to contend for a position on the major league roster later in the summer but first, he has to work through these struggles at Triple-A. He should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper leagues and will be worth stashing in redraft formats later this summer.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoAfter riding the bench for the past nine games, Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor drew the start on Thursday versus the Cincinnati Reds. Taylor picked up a single in his four at-bats, but he has struggled mightily this season with five hits in 60 at-bats to go along with five RBI and a stolen base. The veteran has had a brutal start to his 2024 season and the Dodgers will have a tough decision to make ahead of Friday's contest versus the Arizona Diamondbacks with outfielder Jason Heyward (back) expected to return. Taylor has helped fantasy managers in the past, but in 2024, the versatile Taylor can be left on the waiver wire in all formats.Source: MLB.com
5 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfield prospect Jay Allen II hit his seventh home run of the season in Thursday's victory. After getting a small taste of High-A ball last season, Allen has found his fitting at this level and has posted an excellent .322/.443/.621 line with seven swiped bags through 24 games. In 25 games at this level last summer, he struggled with a .154/.260/.220 slash line with just one home run. The 21-year-old is expected to reach the major leagues sometime in 2026 but is worth keeping an eye on in dynasty as he is showing a stellar combination of both power and speed.Source: MiLB.com
6 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow tossed five innings in Thursday's loss versus the Cincinnati Reds. Glasnow struggled in the first inning with Will Benson hitting his sixth homer of the season to open up the frame and then Tyler Stephenson hitting a RBI double later in the inning. Glasnow's final line was six hits, four runs, one walk with eight strikeouts. The four runs were the most the right-hander has allowed this season and managers shouldn't worry about him have a rough outing. Glasnow will look ahead to Tuesday's start against the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks where he can look to get back on track. He remains a must-start in all matchups.Source: MLB.com