6 days agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) and left-hander John Means (elbow) are both expected to pitch early in the first half of the 2024 season, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Bradish is recovering from a right UCL sprain, while Means has a left-elbow injury. There's no specific timetable for either pitcher to make their debut this year, and it's a good bet that both of them won't be ready to return until at least late April. Bradish, 27, is the more attractive fantasy arm after he had a mini breakout in 2023 by going 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 44 walks and 168 strikeouts in 168 2/3 innings covering 30 starts. Means, 30, had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and has made only six starts the last two seasons as a result.Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
6 days agoBoston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (ankle) is suiting up for Friday's game in Detroit. He recorded a career-high 30 points in Sunday's blowout win over the Washington Wizards. Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle during the game, ending his day after logging only 23 minutes. The Celtics will get him back on a night. Al Horford (toe) and Jayson Tatum (ankle) are unavailable.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoBoston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (ankle) is available for Friday's game against Detroit. He has been dealing with a right ankle injury for the last few weeks. However, the 27-year-old hasn't missed much time because of it and recently scored 21 points in 37 minutes in the narrow win over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Despite playing the worst team in the National Basketball Association, Brown will not be resting his ankle on Friday.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck has locked up one of the final spots in the team's Opening Day starting rotation. He'll join Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford and Garrett Whitlock. Houck definitely earned the starting spot by posting a 2.40 ERA with only three walks and 16 strikeouts in 15 innings in Grapefruit League action this spring. The 27-year-old had a career-worst 5.01 ERA (4.43 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP while walking 41 and striking out 99 in a career-high 106 innings over 21 starts for the Red Sox last year. It was Houck's first year being used exclusively as a starter by the BoSox, so hopefully for fantasy managers in AL-only leagues, he'll be able to take a step forward in 2024. Houck will need to improve against left-handed hitters in order to accomplish that.Source: The Athletic - Chad Jennings
6 days agoBoston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) will play in Friday's contest against the Pistons. He's been suffering from pain in his right hamstring. However, Friday's tilt will be the third consecutive game he's suited up in despite his injury. He didn't have a minute restriction Wednesday versus Milwaukee, but Boston could manage his workload more against Detroit, which will be the first half of back-to-back games.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock has officially been named to the team's Opening Day starting rotation. Cooper Criswell will be optioned to Triple-A Worcester and will stay stretched out as a starter. It's good news for Whitlock's fantasy value as a streamer and in AL-only leagues, but his fantasy upside will be capped with the Red Sox most likely monitoring his innings in 2024 since he hasn't gone over 78 1/3 innings in any of his three major-league seasons to this point. The 27-year-old had a 3.45 ERA with two walks and 16 strikeouts in 15 2/3 Grapefruit League innings this spring. Whitlock has some upside in a starting role, but he was inconsistent in a starting role in 2023 before injuries moved him back to the bullpen.Source: The Athletic - Chad Jennings
6 days agoBoston Celtics forward/center Al Horford (toe) will miss Friday's game against the Pistons due to a toe sprain and could also miss Saturday's contest in the Windy City. Jayson Tatum (ankle) will also be out of the lineup with a right ankle injury. Sam Hauser (ankle) is available. He and Luke Kornet could see more time on the court against the worst team in the NBA. If that's the case, Kornet and Hauser could see plenty of attention from fantasy managers.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (elbow) is expected to start playing catch in camp on Saturday. Meanwhile, fellow reliever Erik Swanson (forearm) played catch on Friday for the second consecutive day. The Blue Jays plan to wait until the end of spring training early next week before making a final decision on both relievers' availability for the start of the regular season. It remains to be seen if either reliever will open the year on the injured list. The 30-year-old Romano received an anti-inflammatory injection after he was diagnosed with right-elbow inflammation. When healthy, he's a top-15 fantasy closer, but his stock is down right now due to his elbow injury. If both Romano and Swanson are unavailable for closing duties to begin the year, Yimi Garcia is the best bet to pick up save chances for the Blue Jays.Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
6 days agoMajor League Baseball announced on Friday that they have opened an investigation into allegations involving Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. "Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media. Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter," MLB said in a statement. The Dodgers fired Mizuhara on Wednesday following accusations of a "massive theft" that involved him making sports bets with an illegal bookmaker in California. While the 29-year-old Ohtani currently isn't facing any discipline from the league, this is a developing story that could eventually drastically affect his draft stock if he faces a lengthy suspension. Stay tuned.Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
6 days agoAfter New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (lat) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League game due to lat tightness, he said he's "fully confident I'll be in there Opening Day" and added that the decision to scratch him on Friday was a precaution. "He didn't seem too concerned with it. He said it's something he has every now and then during the season, but just wanted to be certain," manager Aaron Boone said. Fantasy managers that took the 34-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran as a power-hitting corner-infield option in mixed leagues will be hoping that Rizzo can carry over his strong spring training performance into the regular season. If Rizzo can stay healthy in 2024 after missing the last two months of 2023 with a concussion, he could be an excellent value play in fantasy.Source: Yes Network - Meredith Marakovits
6 days agoMiami Marlins right-hander Sixto Sanchez will be on the team's Opening Day roster, according to manager Skip Schumaker. Sanchez hasn't pitched in the big leagues since the shortened 2020 season due to multiple shoulder injuries, so the fact that he will even start in the big leagues is a modest surprise for the Fish. The 25-year-old former top prospect tossed seven scoreless Grapefruit League innings this spring while walking three and striking out four and will open his second MLB season in a relief role, which puts him off the fantasy radar for now. It's hard to predict how Sanchez will fare because of how long of a layoff he's had due to injuries. In his rookie campaign in 2023, he showed promising upside with a 3.46 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 11 walks and 33 K's in 39 innings over just seven starts.Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
6 days agoMiami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (elbow) will start the 2024 regular season on the 15-day injured list after being diagnosed with right-elbow inflammation. In addition to his elbow injury, Perez dealt with a fingernail issue in spring training. All in all, fantasy managers who are counting on the young 20-year-old to contribute to their rotation in 2024 have to be happy that he avoided any structural damage in his arm and won't need surgery. But Perez is going to miss at least the first couple weeks of the season and might not make his season debut until late April or early May. The Dominican hurler is one of the most impressive young arms in baseball after he posted a 3.15 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 108 strikeouts in 19 starts after making his MLB debut in 2023, but his elbow injury has made him more of a No. 3/4 fantasy starter entering 2024.Source: Miami Herald - Barry Jackson and Craig Mish
6 days agoArizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka is getting the starting nod for Friday's home game against the visiting Seattle Kraken. The 27-year-old has been alternating starts with Connor Ingram of late but he has been the better goaltender over his last handful of starts after Ingram had overtaken the No. 1 job earlier in the season. Vejmelka has allowed two goals or fewer in three of his last four starts and has posted a .933 save percentage in that time. His overall numbers still leave plenty to be desired as he sports a 3.37 goals-against average and an .897 Sv% in 31 games (27 starts) this season but is a decent streaming option against a Seattle team that ranks 29th in overall offense and is playing their second game in as many nights.Source: Craig Morgan
6 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is going to open the regular season on the injured list. This was expected, but Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol confirmed the news on Friday. The left-handed slugger continues working his way back from fractures in his ribcage. At the moment, it looks like Alec Burleson is the favorite to handle left field in the absence of Nootbaar. Burleson doesn't hold a ton of value, but could be a possible deep league option or maybe worth a shot in NL-only formats.Source: Derrick Goold
6 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (hamstring) won't be ready in time for Opening Day. Cards manager Oliver Marmol confirmed on Friday that Gray will open the season on the injured list. The plan is for Gray to take the mound on Saturday in a spring contest. After that, Gray will make a pair of rehab starts before hopefully returning in mid-April. His stint on the injured list shouldn't be too long, so fantasy managers might just want to hold him here.Source: John Denton
6 days agoGolden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (knee) has been tagged as questionable for their Friday matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately, for his fantasy value, the rest of the team is healthy, so if he does end up playing he's not the best option in the fantasy playoffs. If he has to watch from the sidelines, however, Brandin Podziemski, Chris Paul, and Klay Thompson will likely split up the vacant minutes. There could be one path to playing time if Moody gets to play and that would have to be a blowout in favor of either team.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoPortland Trail Blazers guard Matisse Thybulle (ankle) has received a questionable tag ahead of their matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. He's been unable to play a full game over the team's last three games, so if he does return, it's unclear how many minutes he'll receive right away. They're dealing with a lot of injuries at the moment though, so Thybulle could be a decent streaming option in deeper leagues, but Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson should get most of the minutes in the backcourt. If he's unable to suit up again, Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, and Dalano Banton will all see a large chunk of minutes.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoDallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (lower body) is set to miss "the near future" after sustaining a lower-body injury in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on March 16. "He's shut down for the near future here," head coach Peter DeBoer said. "He's having some tests done and things like that, so we'll see where that goes. But I don't see him having any availability in the immediate future." The 31-year-old has two goals and 12 points across 64 games on the season while adding a plus-10 rating. He is known for his physical style of play, and his 196 hits rank 14th in the NHL while he has added 123 blocked shots as part of his 18:39 average ice time per game.Source: NHL.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (leg) was forced to exit early during Friday's Cactus League matchup against the San Francisco Giants. The left-hander was lifted after being struck by a ball on the lower left leg. He remained on the ground while grabbing his knee until eventually exiting the contest. This is not good news as Steele is the ace of this staff and a CY Young candidate last season. His absence would be a huge hit to this team. The organization is likely to have Steele undergo further testing and will give an update on his status later in the day.Source: Marquee Sports Network
6 days agoPittsburgh Penguins defensive prospect Jack St. Ivany is expected to make his NHL debut when the club visits the Dallas Stars on Friday. The blueliner will take the place of fellow rearguard Ryan Graves who is with his family for the birth of his first child. "Pretty surreal," St. Ivany said Friday. "They told me this morning. I'm just really excited. I can't wait for tonight. My mom and dad, and a couple of friends are going to make the trip. It'll be nice to have them here. The 24-year-old has appeared in 53 games for the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season, tallying four goals and 15 points while collecting 30 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating in that time.Source: NHL.com
6 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews has been sent to minor league camp on Friday. This was expected as the 22-year-old still has work to do in the minors. Crews was selected second overall by the Nats during the 2023 MLB Draft. He struggled this spring, hitting .161 with one home run and five RBI in 31 at-bats. There's a small chance that Crews will contribute to the big league roster in 2024. The organization will likely give him a full season in the minors before considering him as an option in 2025.Source: Mark Zuckerman
6 days agoMinnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) could possibly return for Saturday's contest versus the St. Louis Blues. The veteran pivot has missed the past four games after getting injured against the Arizona Coyotes on March 12. He skated on Friday, but his participation was limited after he skated on his own prior to the main practice. "If Ek for some reason did not go tomorrow, I would anticipate after those four [off] days [against the San Jose Sharks on March 28], it's a possibility," Wild bench boss John Hynes said on Friday. The 27-year-old is in the midst of a career year offensively, racking up a career-high 29 goals and sits just one point shy of matching his career-high of 61 points set just last season.Source: NHL.com
6 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder James Wood has been reassigned to minor league camp on Friday. He'll be joined by fellow top prospects Dylan Crews and Robert Hassell III as the Nats continue to shrink their roster. There was a low chance that Wood was going to make the team as he's only played as high as Double-A. This spring, Wood hit .341 with four home runs and seven RBI in 41 at-bats. The expectation is that he's going to start the season in Triple-A and then contribute to the big league roster at some point in 2024.Source: Mark Zuckerman
6 days agoPortland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (elbow) is a late addition to the injury report and was listed as questionable with left elbow tendinitis. He wasn't on the injury report at all until the team's official account announced he was added right before the 4:30 PM reports came out. Since the team isn't competing for much and with how late this injury addition was, it doesn't seem very likely that he's going to suit up in this game. Ayton is should be started if he does play, but if he watches from the sidelines, Duop Reath would take over in the starting five while Moses Brown gets some added minutes off of the bench.Source: Trail Blazers PR
6 days agoBoston Bruins left winger James van Riemsdyk (illness) practiced on Friday and could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran has missed the past two games. "We haven't made final decisions," Montgomery said. "He's feeling better but we'll see how he feels tomorrow." The 34-year-old is in his first season with the Bruins and has tallied 11 goals and 38 points across 64 games, adding 135 shots, 12 power-play points, and a plus-10 rating as part of his 13:40 of average ice time per game. The Bruins enter Saturday's contest with the Flyers sitting atop the NHL standings with a 41-15-15 record, one point ahead of the New York Rangers in the Presidents' Trophy race.Source: NHL.com
6 days agoThe Buffalo Bills are signing veteran center Will Clapp, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The 2018 seventh-round pick out of LSU began his career with the New Orleans Saints before spending two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. He has 65 games of NFL experience (21 starts). The Bills recently released Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse, so Clapp will add depth to the position. Connor McGovern is likely the favorite to start at center in Josh Allen's offense this year, but Clapp could make a push for extra reps during training camp.Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
6 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) picked up another questionable tag on Friday and his status will be updated closer to tip-off against the Philadelphia 76ers. The King has been on the injury report more often than not, especially with the ankle issues that he's been dealing with for a while now. If he's able to play, a big night should be in store against the short-handed Sixers who could also be without Tobias Harris (ankle). If James has to watch from the sidelines, however, Rui Hachimura would be the best streaming option even though Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince would see some added opportunities as well.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil looked fairly strong on the mound versus the New York Mets on Friday. The right-hander allowed two earned runs while striking out five batters over four innings of work. The strikeout numbers are good for Gil who has four punchouts or more in three straight appearances. The 25-year-old was once a high level prospect with the organization but injuries have set him back. There's a chance that Gil is still able to secure the fifth spot in the rotation.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoThe Los Angeles Rams are re-signing defensive lineman Larrell Murchison to a one-year deal, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd team. Murchison was a fifth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans out of N.C. State, but he was released by the organization midway through the 2022 season. L.A. claimed him off waivers, and he went on to record two sacks in his team debut against the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day. Overall, the 26-year-old has totaled 37 tackles, two sacks, and seven run stuffs through his first 44 NFL games. Following the retirement of Aaron Donald, the Rams keep depth on the defensive line with this move.Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
6 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (Achilles) has been listed as probable for Friday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Even though he's been a mainstay on the injury report, Davis hasn't been forced to miss a game since the end of January. He'll take on a short-handed Sixers squad that is very vulnerable down low since Joel Embiid (knee) hasn't been on the court. Davis is in line for a big night, especially if LeBron James (ankle) doesn't get upgraded from questionable. As long as Davis remains healthy, he should never be on the bench in any fantasy format.Source: NBA Injury Report