4 days agoTampa Bay Rays relief pitcher
Pete Fairbanks was activated on Saturday from the 15-day injured list and tossed a scoreless frame in his return. Fairbanks entered the game in the ninth inning with a 7-2 lead and proceeded to retire three consecutive batters with one strikeout. This is an excellent sign for his fantasy value as he looks to have a clear hold on ninth inning duties. Before suffering a nerve issue in his right arm, the 30-year-old had a high 9.00 ERA and 2.29 WHIP through seven innings. However, he has done very well in limiting hard contact with a 15.0% hard-hit rate and a perfect 0.0% barrel rate, which is a good sign for Fairbanks going forward. He remains a top option for saves on a Rays team that hopes to compete this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoKansas City Royals first baseman
Vinnie Pasquantino will be receiving the day off on Sunday as the Royals look to clinch a series victory in a four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels. After getting off to a slow start to the season, the 26-year-old has been turning things around the past few weeks with a .350/.370/.600 line since April 30. As a result,
Salvador Perez will shift to first base, which opens catching duties for
Freddy Fermin, who will bat in the five-hole. Fermin has posted an excellent 11.1% K rate and a modest .241/.302/.328 line with one long ball through 20 games. He could be worth consideration in DFS as he faces southpaw
Patrick Sandoval, who enters Sunday with a 4.85 ERA and 1.49 WHIP.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoColorado Rockies starting pitcher
Kyle Freeland (elbow) was seen playing catch for the third straight day on May 11 but manager Bud Black expressed that the team is being very patient with him. Freeland has yet to step on the mound since going on the 15-day injured list on April 19 and remains at least a week away from doing so. The 30-year-old southpaw has not faced any setbacks in the first steps of his recovery but does not seem remotely close to a rehab assignment. Black did state how Freeland may travel with the team on their upcoming road trip to continue doing team workouts. Through four starts this season, Freeland has a 13.21 ERA and 2.55 WHIP. The 30-year-old may not return to a major league game until mid-June, which makes him not worth rostering in any fantasy format.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Kris Bryant (back) was seen taking batting practice multiple times and running the bases this week. This suggests that he is quickly approaching his rehab assignment, which is tentatively scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 14. Manager Bud Black said that the plan is for Bryant to rejoin the major league roster next weekend when they travel to San Francisco for a three-game set opening on Friday. Bryant struggled at the plate at the beginning of the season with a poor .149/.273/.255 line through 13 games. Last season, in 80 games, he also disappointed with a .233/.313/.367 line. The 32-year-old has been battling injuries for the past few seasons and should remain on your waiver wire for the time being.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoColorado Rockies starting pitcher
Peter Lambert is being removed from the starting rotation per manager Bud Black. Southpaw Ty Blanch is slated to replace him. Lambert has posted a hefty 7.61 ERA and 1.69 WHIP through 23 ⅔ innings this season with 20 total strikeouts. Lamber has started just three games this season with a 16.39 ERA and 2.46 WHIP. Blanch has typically been in a bullpen role throughout the majority of this season but has started one game. In his one start on April 24, he tossed five innings of four-run ball against the San Diego Padres. Blanch should be left on your waiver wire and should only be deployed in NL-only formats in favorable matchups.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
James Outman is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres. Outman had started five of the Dodgers last six games. The 26-year-old was a surprising source of offense last season, but he is batting a dismal .114 with one home run across his last 15 contests.
Enrique Hernandez will start in left field and bat seventh in Outman's absence. Hernandez has also struggled at the plate this season and is 1-for-8 in his career against Padres starter
Yu Darvish. He is not a recommended DFS play for Sunday's slate.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
4 days agoSan Francisco Giants outfield prospect
Luis Matos is likely being called up to the majors after he was pulled from his game at Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday night. Reports have also noted that Matos is in the Giants clubhouse on Sunday.
Michael Conforto (hamstring) strained his right hamstring in Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds and may require an IL stint once the results of his MRI come back. Matos is the likely replacement on the roster if Conforto misses time. Matos had some fantasy hype coming into the season but has had an underwhelming start to the year. He is slashing .218/.308/.355 with three homers, 17 RBI and three steals through 31 games in the minors.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Shayna Rubin
4 days agoChicago Cubs right-hander
Jameson Taillon (back) will likely make his next start on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. The 32-year-old was originally supposed to start this past Friday, but a stiff back prevented him from taking the mound. He was also potentially going to start Sunday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he needed a few more days to get right. Taillon has pitched great when healthy in 2024, as he owns a 3-0 record to go along with a sparkling 1.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through four starts. He is locked into a rotation spot for the Cubs and can be treated as a top-70 starting pitcher for the remainder of the season.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Maddie Lee
4 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) felt good after throwing a 30-pitch bullpen session on Sunday. The talented right-hander has been sidelined for a couple weeks with right-shoulder inflammation, but he is getting closer to a return. It is unclear what is next on the schedule for Rodriguez as the Orioles have not announced if a minor-league rehab start will be required. Nevertheless, the former first-round pick is eligible to return this upcoming Wednesday and he should be back around that time frame. Rodriguez should still be rostered in all formats as he owns a 4-1 record with a 3.71 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB through six starts this season.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Jake Rill
4 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The 21-year-old was scratched from Saturday's lineup with stiffness in his lower back and is still not ready to return. Carter has experienced some growing pains in his rookie season as he is slashing .216/.303/.416 with five home runs, 15 RBI, 23 runs scored and two steals.
Robbie Grossman will start in left field and bat sixth in Carter's absence. Grossman is an uninspiring DFS play on Sunday as he is batting .200 with no homers in 75 at-bats in 2024. He has also never recorded a hit at Coors Field in his career.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
4 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani (back) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres. Ohtani was removed from Saturday's game with back tightness and is likely getting the day off to recuperate. Ohtani has been unbelievable at the plate this season, slashing a robust .352/.423/.667 with 11 home runs, 27 RBI, 33 runs scored and nine steals. It does not seem to be a significant ailment for the 29-year-old superstar, so hopefully he is back in the lineup on Monday.
Will Smith will take over the DH duties against the Padres while
Austin Barnes starts behind the plate.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
4 days agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Cedric Mullins is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It is the second game in a row that Mullins has missed, which is likely due to his middling performance at the plate. The veteran speedster is slashing a disappointing .192/.244/.367 with a 33:8 K:BB, but he does have six home runs, 18 RBI and six steals. Managers in deeper leagues can hang onto Mullins a little longer, but he enters droppable territory if playing time becomes a significant concern.
Colton Cowser is starting in centerfield and batting seventh with Mullins out. Cowser is also trying to bust a slump as he is batting .149 with no homers across his last 15 games.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
4 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals pitcher
Matthew Liberatore will start Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Liberatore is primarily used as a reliever, but he has started one other game this season. He went 3 2/3 innings in that outing against the Chicago White Sox, giving up one run on three hits with five strikeouts. The 24-year-old was once a top pitching prospect in the Cardinals season and has a five-pitch mix. His leash may not be overly long in Monday's start, but he is an alright streaming option against a Trout-less Angels offense.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: John Denton
4 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado is getting his first day off of the season on Sunday in the series finale against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers. In the first 39 games of the season, Arenado, much like the rest of St. Louis' lineup, has struggled with a career-low .703 OPS. The 33-year-old eight-time All-Star is slashing .270/.331/.372 with two home runs, nine doubles, 20 RBI and 14 runs scored in 166 plate appearances. In the first three games of the series against the Brewers, had one hit in 12 at-bats with three strikeouts. Fantasy managers will be hoping Arenado's first day off of the year can get him going.
Brendan Donovan is starting at third base on Sunday and is hitting seventh against Brewers right-hander
Bryse Wilson. Donovan is hitting .429 with two RBI in seven career at-bats against Wilson.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
4 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto (knee) is getting a breather on Sunday in the series finale against the Marlins in Miami after manager Rob Thomson said that Realmuto came to the ballpark and said his knee is a little banged up. Thomson said he's not worried but wanted to give the veteran starter a rest day. With Realmuto out,
Garrett Stubbs will do the catching and will hit ninth of the Phils against Marlins left-hander
Braxton Garrett. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Monday for the series opener against the New York Mets to see if Realmuto is back in there. Those setting DFS lineups should probably ignore Stubbs as a deep sleeper at the catcher position. He's gone 3-for-22 (.136) in 2024 with no home runs and one stolen base.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
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