6 days agoFlorida Panthers center Sam Bennett (hand) is expected to return to action for the team's second-round series against either the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs, according to head coach Paul Maurice. Bennett appeared to suffer a hand injury after being hit by teammate Brandon Montour's point shot during Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. "That's a very real possibility," Maurice said on Wednesday. "He will skate tomorrow for the first time and then I will give you an update before the next series starts." The 27-year-old notched 20 goals and 41 points in 69 regular-season games but added plenty of physicality in the form of 173 hits and 100 penalty minutes. He tallied a goal and an assist before departing Game 2 against the Lightning.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoNew York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox did not skate for the second day in a row on Thursday due to what is being described as maintenance. His status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Carolina Hurricanes is unclear. "When our players return to the ice, they return to the ice," Rangers bench boss Peter Laviolette said on Thursday. "So, if he's cleared for practice he's cleared for practice." It's worth noting that Fox took a knee-on-knee hit from Capitals blueliner Nick Jensen in Sunday's series-clinching victory. The 26-year-old tallied 17 goals and 73 points in 72 regular-season games but was limited to just a pair of assists across the four-game, first-round series with the Caps.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl (wrist) and left-handed reliever
Alex Young (back) are heading out on minor-league rehab assignments on Thursday with Triple-A Louisville. Manager David Bell said the rehab assignment will be like spring training for Friedl, who had his spring training cut short due to a small fracture in his right wrist in mid-March. It means that the 28-year-old will likely be in the minors for the maximum amount of time, especially given how crowded Cincy's outfield rotation already is. Once he's back with the Reds, Friedl will battle for playing time against right-handed pitching. Young, who is on the 60-day injured list while recovering from low-back disc degeneration, won't be eligible to return until late May.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
6 days agoNashville Predators defenseman Luke Schenn is hopeful to play in Game 6 of the team's first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks after missing Game 5 with an illness. "Much better today," Schenn said on Thursday. "It seemed like it was more of a 24-hour thing, now just kind of recovering. It's actually a blessing in disguise having two days between games here." Schenn said his illness kicked in after waking up from his pregame nap on Tuesday. The veteran appeared in 63 regular-season games, notching a goal and seven points in that time while providing his usual physicality in the form of 202 hits and 43 penalty minutes. The Preds need a win on Friday to avoid elimination.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoHouston Texans running back
Dameon Pierce had a notable rookie campaign after being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In just 13 games before being sidelined with injuries, he racked up 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries
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6 days agoToronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (illness) will not be in the lineup for Game 6 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday. The star pivot missed Game 5 due to an illness, and it appears the issue will keep the 26-year-old out again on Thursday. Matthews notched a goal and two assists in a Game 2 win but has otherwise been held off the scoresheet in his other three games played in the series. The Maple Leafs need another win in Game 6 to avoid elimination, as the Bruins lead 3-2 in the series. If Toronto manages to win, Game 7 would be on Saturday in Boston.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
6 days agoTexas Rangers right-hander
Nathan Eovaldi (groin) left his start early on Thursday against the visiting Washington Nationals with right-groin tightness. It's obviously bad news for a pitcher with a pretty lengthy injury history, but at least it's not an injury to his pitching arm. The silver lining on Thursday is that the 34-year-old threw 5 1/3 shutout innings against the Nats before leaving, allowing only two hits while walking two and striking out eight to drop his season ERA to 2.61. The severity of Eovaldi's groin injury is not known yet, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he needs to take a couple weeks off. Coming into his start on Thursday afternoon, Eovaldi had a 1-2 record, 3.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 36 innings over six starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
6 days agoThe Indianapolis Colts have exercised the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Kwity Paye, the team announced on X on Thursday. The former No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Michigan hasn't been an elite rusher since entering the league, but he posted a career-high 8.5 sacks in 2023. Over his first 43 NFL games, he's racked up 129 tackles (79 solo), 18.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 18 run stuffs, and one pass deflection. He's played well enough to warrant another year under contract, so he won't hit free agency until at least the 2026 offseason.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Indianapolis Colts on X
6 days agoBoston Red Sox right-hander
Brayan Bello (lat) will make a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Portland on Tuesday. Bello has been out the last two weeks with right-lat tightness, but he threw a bullpen session this week and has now been cleared for live game action. If the 24-year-old looks good during his rehab start next week, he could be cleared for activation from the injured list when he's eligible on May 12 to make a start against the Washington Nationals. The Dominican starter was a popular breakout candidate coming into the 2024 season and was looking good before his lat injury, going 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA (4.04 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with seven walks and 26 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings of work in his first five starts. Bello should remain stashed in all fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
6 days agoVeteran free-agent kicker
Joey Slye signed with the New England Patriots on Thursday, according to NFL.com. The 28-year-old signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the start of free agency on March 18 but was released just over a month later after the team drafted former Arkansas kicker
Cam Little in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Since entering the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, Slye has spent time with the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Jaguars. In 75 career games, he has connected on 121 of his 147 field goal attempts and 138 of his 156 extra-point tries. He will likely compete with
Chad Ryland for the starting place-kicking duties for New England this offseason.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
6 days agoBoston Red Sox middle infielder
Vaughn Grissom (hamstring, illness) is feeling a lot better and is excited to travel with the team to Minnesota for a three-game series against the Twins that starts on Friday. Grissom said if the Red Sox needed him to pinch hit on Thursday, he would have been ready. All signs are pointing to the 23-year-old being activated from the injured list to make his Red Sox debut on Friday. He was initially expected to return this Tuesday, but an illness caused his return to be pushed back. Grissom, who has 15-15 capabilities, even after a late start to the season, will operate as the team's regular second baseman and should be picked up in fantasy leagues if he's available on the waiver wire. Boston acquired Grissom from the Braves as part of the
Chris Sale trade in the offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
6 days agoThe Boston Red Sox's medical staff is still gathering information on outfielder/designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida's (hand) injury, and surgery isn't being ruled out. Yoshida jammed his left thumb in Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs and landed on the injured list on Wednesday with a left-thumb sprain. If surgery is needed, he'll obviously need to miss extended time, but a specific timetable probably won't be known until after he goes under the knife. Until Yoshida is able to return, the newly acquired
Garrett Cooper figures to serve as Boston's primary designated hitter. The 30-year-old Tanaka continues to make plenty of contact and is currently hitting .275 (22-for-80) with a nice .348 on-base percentage, but he only has two home runs and has driven in 11.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
6 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers have officially declined the fifth-year option on quarterback
Justin Fields. This is not a surprise, as the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has been disappointing to start his career and was recently dealt from the Chicago Bears to the Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick. The expectation is that
Russell Wilson will be the Week 1 start for Pittsburgh in 2024, but Fields could be waiting in the wings if he struggles like he did in Denver. It will be interesting to see how much of a chance Fields gets to show what he can do with a change of scenery. If he plays in at least a handful of games and exceeds expectations, he could improve his market value and hit free agency next offseason.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Paul Skenes, the top prospect in baseball, will make another start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, has been knocking on the door for his first big-league promotion for a while, but the Pirates have patiently held off. The 21-year-old made it through six innings (75 pitches) in his sixth start for Indianapolis on Tuesday and didn't allow a run while allowing four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. At this point, he doesn't have much left to prove in the minors, but the Pirates don't want to rush him to the big leagues before he's sufficiently built up. In his six starts for Indy, Skenes has been downright dominant with a 0.39 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP with six walks and 41 K's in 23 innings. His MLB promotion is coming soon, so he needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Indianapolis Indians
6 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers are declining running back
Najee Harris' fifth-year option, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. This is somewhat of a surprise, but the 2021 first-round selection has not lived up to the hype as a prospect or matched his rookie-year production. In 51 games over three seasons, Harris has rushed 834 times for 3,269 yards (3.9 YPC) and 22 touchdowns to go along with 144 receptions for 866 yards and six scores through the air. Picking up the option would've cost the Steelers just $6.79 million, but he is now set to potentially become a free agent next offseason. This could put
Jaylen Warren in the clear RB1 role in 2025, but surely, the team will add to the position if they move on from Harris.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Zac Gallen (hamstring) is penciled in to make his next start on Tuesday in Cincinnati against the Reds. Gallen left his last start last Friday with a minor hamstring injury. He was set to make his return on normal rest this Wednesday to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, but a long delay before Tuesday night's game caused lefty
Jordan Montgomery to be pushed back to Wednesday. It allowed the D-backs to give the 28-year-old a little more rest before his next start. It's a bummer for fantasy managers that Gallen isn't starting at all this week, but he'll also get a much better matchup in the Reds than the Dodgers. He shouldn't have any issues with his hammy and should be returned to starting lineups in all fantasy formats next Tuesday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Mets pitching prospect
Christian Scott will be promoted from Triple-A Syracuse to make his major-league debut on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays on the road, according to a source. Scott was ranked as the 99th prospect on ESPN's Kiley McDaniels' top-100 prospect list entering the spring and has dealt at Triple-A with 36 strikeouts, six walks and only 12 hits allowed in 25 1/3 innings pitched. Scott, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, also had a strong 2.57 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 107 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 87 2/3 innings in three minor-league stops in 2023. The 24-year-old will likely be given a chance to stick in New York's rotation moving forward, which makes him worth a gamble in all fantasy formats. The Mets drafted Scott in the fifth round in 2021 out of Florida.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel
6 days agoChicago Bulls guard
Alex Caruso was awarded the NBA's Hustle Award on Thursday afternoon. Always known for his effort and grit, the 30-year-old earned recognition for what he brings to the court consistently. For the season, Caruso averaged 10.1 points per game but made his biggest impact on the defensive end by averaging one block and 1.7 steals per game. He made the All-Defensive first team last season and now has been rewarded for his hustle in 2024. Finishing in second place in the voting was Toronto Raptors forward
Scottie Barnes, and Golden State Warriors guard
Brandin Podziemski came in third place.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (ribs) did not participate in practice on Thursday as the team prepares for a pivotal Game 6 versus the Orlando Magic. The 26-year-old did not play in Game 5 and continues to suffer from a nagging rib injury. This is not encouraging news for the starting center, as Allen has been a difference-maker all season long. In this series, he has averaged 17 points over four contests while hauling in over 13 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers will attempt to close out the Magic on Friday, and if Allen can't recover in time, the team will likely rely on
Marcus Morris Sr. and
Tristan Thompson to take on more minutes in the frontcourt.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Damian Lillard (Achilles) is considered questionable to play in Thursday's game versus the Indiana Pacers. The star guard was originally listed as doubtful to play on Wednesday's injury report, but the latest news is certainly an intriguing storyline. Lillard has not suited up since he hurt his right Achilles in Game 3 of the series. With the Bucks facing elimination, his return to the court would be a huge lift for Game 6 in Indiana. His status is worth monitoring as we get closer to tip-off on Thursday.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoBoston Red Sox infielder
Enmanuel Valdez has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester with
Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) likely to make his Red Sox debut on Friday against the Minnesota Twins. The 25-year-old struggled mightily at the plate to begin the season, hitting just .156 with two homers and just a 4.1% walk rate against a bloated 30.6% strikeout rate across 98 trips to the plate. His 18 wRC+ suggests his offensive production was a whopping 82% below the league average. Valdez was much better in his big-league debut last season, when he hit .266 with six homers, five stolen bases, and a 102 wRC+ across 49 games and 149 trips to the plate.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Tyler Milliken
6 days agoThe Los Angeles Chargers officially picked up left tackle Rashawn Slater's fifth-year option for the 2025 season on Thursday. Slater, who was taken with the 13th overall pick in 2021 out of Northwestern, was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season before playing in just three games in 2022 due to a torn biceps. The 25-year-old returned last year to start all 17 games for the Chargers while protecting quarterback
Justin Herbert's blind side. The Bolts added offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth overall pick in this year's draft, but he will shift over to right tackle as long as Slater remains healthy. If he returns to his rookie-year form and Alt lives up to his draft stock, LA's new run-first offense should be in excellent shape to begin the Jim Harbaugh era in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
6 days agoDetroit Tigers right-hander
Reese Olson will take the bump to start Friday's series opener versus the New York Yankees. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a nice start to his season, tossing a 3.18 ERA across his first five starts and 28 1/3 innings of work, although his 4.09 SIERA suggests some regression may be on the horizon. Nonetheless, Olson has been one of the most unlucky pitchers in the game from a win/loss standpoint as he has allowed just four earned runs over his last three starts and has managed to take the loss in each of those outings. He worked seven innings of one-run ball while striking out eight in his last start against the Royals but failed to gain a single run of offensive support.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Mets reliever
Brooks Raley (elbow) will not return to the club when first eligible from the injured list on Sunday, according to skipper
Carlos Mendoza. Mendoza said, "We're going to take it slow," in regards to Raley's left-elbow inflammation. The southpaw has been excellent to begin the season, working seven scoreless innings across eight appearances thus far while punching out nine of the 25 batters he has faced in that time (36% strikeout rate). It's been a good start for the 35-year-old, who had a 2.80 ERA across 66 outings with the team last season and a 2.68 ERA across 60 outings with the Rays in the 2022 campaign.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Anthony DiComo
6 days agoHouston Astros right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti will be looking for some improvement when he takes the mound to take on the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. The 24-year-old has been rocked for 13 earned runs through three starts and 10 2/3 innings to begin his big-league career, good for a 10.97 ERA. While his 12.1% BB% leaves much to be desired, Arrighetti also sports a 4.14 xFIP, 4.06 SIERA, and a strong 25.9% K%, suggesting he hasn't been nearly as bad as his surface ERA indicates. The issues with the free passes and big-time strikeout numbers are a continuation from his minor-league career, however, giving fantasy managers a baseline of what to expect from the youngster.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoStarting next month, the New England Patriots could cut wide receiver
JuJu Smith-Schuster at a cost of $9.6 million in dead money and no salary cap relief, per Over the Cap, while releasing him before then would incur $2.6 million more in dead money and take a small chunk out of their league-leading $54 million cap room. If the Pats traded Smith-Schuster after June 1, they'd save almost $7 million in cap space and clear room for their young receivers to see more playing time. New England could prioritize playing time for rookies
Ja'Lynn Polk and
Javon Baker, plus 2023 sixth-rounder
Demario Douglas. It all means that Smith-Schuster may no longer be the team's No. 2 receiver, especially with
Kendrick Bourne and
K.J. Osborn also on the roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
6 days agoThe Los Angeles Angels have released outfielder
Aaron Hicks after he was designated for assignment just two days ago. Originally slated for every day playing duties, Hicks struggled mightily in his brief time with the club, hitting just .140 with a homer and a massive 36.5% K% across 63 trips to the plate. The ugly stint with the Angels is an unfortunate drop from what Hicks was able to do to revitalize his career after a move to the Orioles last season. Following a slow start with the Yankees, Hicks hit .275 with seven homers, six steals, and an .806 OPS across 65 games with the Orioles a season ago. He is now free to sign with any team.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB Transaction Tracker
6 days agoThe Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan suggests that quarterback
Bailey Zappe could be a trade candidate after the team added
Drake Maye and
Joe Milton III in this year's draft. Maye and veteran
Jacoby Brissett are locks for the Week 1 roster, making it a three-way fight for the No. 3 job between Zappe, Milton and
Nathan Rourke. Zappe would fetch the biggest return in a trade, especially if the Patriots wait until the summer when other QBs begin getting injured in training camp. If Milton isn't a complete disaster in spring practices and Rourke performs at a replacement level, Zappe could be out of town by Sept. 1. The 25-year-old Zappe appeared in 10 games (six starts) for New England in 2023 in his second season and threw for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
6 days agoThe Athletic's Kevin Fishbain wonders if running back
Khalil Herbert would be a trade candidate if the Chicago Bears bring in an undrafted rookie at the position and he impresses. Of course, this all depends on the development of
Roschon Johnson. Herbert is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
D'Andre Swift signed a three-year contract with the Bears this offseason, while Johnson has the same number of years remaining on his first contract after being drafted in the fourth round in 2023. Herbert is a solid back, but RBI is a position that changes often for teams. Chicago's coaching staff is high on Johnson, and the 26-year-old Herbert dealt with ankle and back injuries last year after leading the NFL with 5.7 yards per carry in 2022. The addition of Swift in this backfield obviously hurts Herbert's fantasy stock a great deal heading into the 2024 season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
6 days agoMinnesota Vikings tight end
T.J. Hockenson (knee) is ahead of scheduled in his rehab this offseason, but the Vikings are committed to ensuring he is fully healthy before he plays. Last year's contract cemented the team's belief that he is one of its
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