5 mins agoNew York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor belted his seventh home run of the season in Friday's loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves, continuing his recent rise from a sluggish start to the year. Lindor launched a solo homer to put the Mets on the board in the seventh inning. Over his last 14 games, the 30-year-old All-Star switch-hitter is batting a productive .278 with five long balls, four doubles, 15 RBI, and three stolen bases. Lindor has to deal with Braves pitching two more times during this series, and in 15 games against the Braves since 2023, he's hitting just .218 with three big flies, two doubles, and eight RBI. He does have five steals during this span, and fantasy managers should set and forget Lindor in all settings this weekend.Source: MLB.com
12 mins agoAtlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias finished off the division-rival New York Mets to preserve Friday's win, but he allowed one run on one hit and one walk before gaining the save in the ninth inning. Starling Marte walked before Pete Alonso singled him in later in the frame, and J.D. Martinez just missed a game-tying home run that was fouled off during the final at-bat of the game before flying out. Despite Iglesias' shaky outing, he's been one of fantasy's most bankable closers with a 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while fanning 10, walking four over, and converting 10 of his 12 save opportunities over 15 1/3 innings for the Braves this season. The 34-year-old right-hander should remain a reliable option for saves for the remainder of the season.Source: MLB.com
18 mins agoChicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger tallied four hits during Friday's win on the road over the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, totaling nine bases in the victory. Bellinger opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field, crushing a Jared Jones fastball and giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first inning, later doubling twice to add to a monster night. Over his last nine games, the 28-year-old All-Star slugger is hitting a sizzling .417 with five home runs, nine RBI, and eight runs scored. Bellinger gets two more dates with Pittsburgh this weekend, and in 12 games as a member of the Cubs versus the Pirates, he's batting .333 with two homers, eight doubles, and 14 RBI dating back to last season. Continue rolling with Bellinger in fantasy leagues as you normally would.Source: MLB.com
26 mins agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez authored yet another brilliant performance in Friday's victory over the division-rival Miami Marlins, throwing seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Suarez scattered only three hits and walked just two over 97 pitches, earning his seventh win of the campaign and his seventh in a row. The 28-year-old southpaw is enjoying a Cy Young-caliber start to the year, gathering a 1.50 ERA and 0.72 WHIP while punching out 55 and walking eight across 54 frames (eight starts) out of Philly's rotation thus far. Suarez will get the New York Mets next in a home start that's scheduled for Wednesday, when he'll be a locked-in fantasy start in all season-long leagues.Source: MLB.com
2 hours agoThe Houston Astros activated infielder Grae Kessinger (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Jacob Amaya to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Kessinger spent the minimum time on the injured list with right-shoulder discomfort and will now return to the Astros as infield depth. The 26-year-old played in only seven games (one start) with Houston this year before getting hurt, going hitless in 10 plate appearances with no walks and four strikeouts. The former second-rounder in 2019 out of Mississippi played in his first 26 big-league games in 2023 and hit .200/.289/.325 with a homer and an RBI before joining the 'Stros in the postseason as a bench player. Kessinger shouldn't be rostered outside of very deep AL-only and dynasty/keeper leagues.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 hours agoNew York Mets left-hander Brooks Raley (elbow) is "not close" to throwing, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Raley is going to see another doctor this week in hopes that he can be cleared to throw. It's obviously bad news for a pitcher that was originally placed on the 15-day injured list on April 21, especially since he was expected to return from the IL when he was first eligible. The 35-year-old southpaw reliever probably won't return until at least June now, depending on how things go when he's cleared to resume throwing. The former sixth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2009 out of Texas A&M was a key weapon out of the Mets' bullpen in 2023 with three saves, a 2.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Raley hadn't allowed a run in seven innings with nine K's in eight appearances this year before getting hurt.Source: The Athletic - Tim Britton
2 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that left-hander Bailey Falter will start on Sunday at home against the visiting division-rival Chicago Cubs. Shelton added that the team will decide on what they will do with their starting rotation moving forward after the weekend series against Chicago. Now that top prospect Paul Skenes has entered the rotation and is set to make his major-league debut on Saturday, Falter may need to pitch well in the series finale in order to convince the coaching staff to keep him around. The 27-year-old southpaw has so far gone 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA (4.93 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with nine walks and 26 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings over seven starts in 2024. It will likely be either Falter or Quinn Priester who get bumped from the rotation now that Skenes is here.Source: Pittsburgh PG - Noah Hiles
2 hours agoBaltimore Orioles infield prospect Connor Norby (wrist) was pulled from Friday's game at Triple-A Norfolk early as a precaution with a left-wrist injury. Norby, the team's No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will probably undergo testing on his wrist, but as of right now, he should be considered day-to-day down on the farm. The 23-year-old entered Friday's contest with Norfolk hitting .275/.361/.497 with an .857 OPS, eight home runs, nine doubles, 26 RBI, four stolen bases and 29 runs scored in his first 172 plate appearances and 35 games. Norby is an average defender at both second base and left field and may find it hard to carve out regular playing time with Baltimore if he's called up to the majors at some point in 2024. For now, Norby is just a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues.Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
2 hours agoNew York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) started hitting in the batting cages last Saturday and started taking ground balls in the infield on Tuesday. He took batting practice on the field at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. There isn't yet a timetable for LeMahieu's return from the injured list, but he will travel with the Yankees on their upcoming road trip to play the Rays from Friday through Sunday so that he can take live at-bats and do infield work at the team's minor-league complex. After that, LeMahieu could start a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 35-year-old hasn't played in a big-league game after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his right foot on March 16 in spring training. He was shut down after starting a rehab assignment in late April due to more soreness in his foot. When LeMahieu returns, he should be the regular third baseman in the Bronx.Source: MLB.com
2 hours agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi had a very strong outing on Friday night but picked up the loss as the Blue Jays fell to the Minnesota Twins 3-2. Kikuchi threw eight innings and gave up just two earned runs while striking out three. Kikuchi has been the Blue Jays' best pitcher this season, now having a 2.64 ERA. Kikuchi has shown significant improvement year-over-year by slightly reducing his BB% and has greatly reduced his HR/9 rate also. Fantasy managers should snag Kikuchi off the waiver wire if available. The lefty will look to continue his dominant season next Wednesday in a tough matchup against the Baltimore Orioles.Source: MLB.com
3 hours agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan posted up a strong outing on Friday, striking out seven and giving up just one earned run while picking up the win in the Twins 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan's only blemish was giving up a solo home run to Isiah Kiner-Falefa but gave up no other extra-base hits after that. The win moves Ryan's record on the year to 2-2 and reduced his ERA to 3.21. The Twins' right-hander will get his next shot to continue his dominant ways against the New York Yankees on Thursday.Source: MLB.com
3 hours agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt held the Rays scoreless while striking out six in the Yankees 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night. Schmidt threw six and two-thirds innings and gave up five hits, all singles, en route to picking up his fourth win of the season. The 28-year-old reduced his ERA to 2.95, the lowest ERA he's posted in any season. Fantasy managers looking for additional pitching depth should look to snag Schmidt if available as he'd make a great bench and streaming option. The right-hander will look to continue his hot run in his next scheduled start on Thursday against the red-hot Minnesota Twins.Source: MLB.com
3 hours agoNew York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo had two hits, one a solo shot, and drove in the Yankees only other run in New York's 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Rizzo now has a hit in six of his last seven games and increased his OPS to .772 on the season. The lefty has been on a tear over the last two weeks, hitting for a .296 BA and a .926 OPS. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Rizzo if he's available on the waiver wire and snag him up if possible. DFS managers should continue to target Rizzo against righties as he's hitting them for an .878 OPS. Rizzo will look to continue his hot streak on Saturday against Rays right-hander Zach Littell.Source: MLB.com
3 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez notched four strikeouts in seven innings and picked up the win in Houston's 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Valdez has now picked up two wins in three starts since coming back from elbow inflammation in his left elbow. The lefty needed to come back strong after a disappointing outing vs Seattle, where he gave up five earned runs, and he did so in a big way by helping the Astros win back-to-back games. Valdez will make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Oakland A's as he will look to improve to 3-1 on the season.Source: MLB.com
3 hours agoHouston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker went 1-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run in the Astros' 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday. The solo shot marks his 12th home run of the season (most in the league) and his fourth in his last five games. The lefty has now raised his OPS to .965 on the season, leading the Astros as they work to make their way out of the cellar of the American League West. Tucker will have a tough matchup on Saturday night against Tigers ace and early AL Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal.Source: MLB.com