5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Sonny Gray generated a solid outing in Wednesday's victory over the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, posting a quality start in his eighth win of the season. Gray fanned nine Pirates over seven innings of one-run ball on Wednesday, and it was the second time he lasted at least seven frames this year. The 34-year-old star right-hander has been his usual reliable self during his debut season in St. Louis, taking a 3.01 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 91:20 K:BB over 68 2/3 innings for the Cardinals into his next scheduled start on the road against the last-place Miami Marlins on Monday. Fantasy managers who got a bit of an injury discount back when he was hurt during draft season have to be loving the returns during the first half of the year, with Gray striking out batters at the highest clip of his career while keeping his control intact.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) ran the bases before Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox, which is one of the last major hurdles in his rehab program. Turner still needs to test out a few other aspects of baserunning, which he will do over the next few days. When asked if Turner is targeting a return during the club's upcoming homestand, manager Rob Thomson said: "I think so, yeah. And if it's sooner than that, that's great." This narrows down Turner's return timeline from a strained left hamstring, as it sounds like he'll either be ready as early as this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles or early next week when the Phillies return home for Monday's series opener against the San Diego Padres. The 30-year-old two-time All-star was returning early-round fantasy numbers before going down, batting .343 (47-for-137) with two home runs, nine RBI, 27 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases over 33 games.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb - The Athletic
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Cade Povich bounced back in a big way in Wednesday's win over the visiting Atlanta Braves, throwing six scoreless innings with six strikeouts without factoring into the decision. After busting for fantasy managers with six runs allowed in his first big-league start on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays, Povich looked more the part of a top prospect with Wednesday's effort against a struggling, but still dangerous lineup. With the O's seemingly running with a six-man rotation at the moment, the 24-year-old left-hander tentatively projects to toe the rubber during next Wednesday's showdown on the road against the division-rival New York Yankees. Despite the bounce-back showing, Povich would still be hard to trust in the Bronx.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies pitching prospect
Jean Cabrera struck out 14 batters for High-A Jersey Shore on Wednesday. The righty went six-and-a-third innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and one walk but took the loss despite the bloated strikeout total. Through 11 starts, the 22-year-old has a respectable 3.54 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 69:18 K:BB over 61 IP. Cabrera isn't in the Phillies' Top 30 prospects but an outing like this will certainly garner attention. For now though, he's just a name to know as far as fantasy is concerned.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Cody Bellinger came up clutch in Wednesday's win over the hosting Tampa Bay Rays, blasting his ninth home run of the season. For a Cubs team that was just 5-15 over the last 20 games, Bellinger gave them a lift after crushing a go-ahead three-run homer off Rays left-hander
Garrett Cleavinger to right-center field to give the team a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning. The 28-year-old star slugger is starting to look like his 2023 self over the past month or so, hitting .293 with three homers, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 32 games since returning from the injured list on May 7. Settled in as Chicago's everyday No. 3 batter, Bellinger sports five-category fantasy upside in this formidable lineup.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Yankees second baseman
Gleyber Torres launched his sixth home run of the season in Wednesday's win over the hosting Kansas City Royals, tallying three RBI in the lopsided victory. Torres hit a three-run homer off Royals left-hander
Daniel Lynch IV to left field, extending the Yankees' lead to 11-2 in the seventh inning. It hasn't been an easy year for Torres, but the 27-year-old former top prospect is batting a respectable .267 with five long balls, 18 RBI, and 17 runs scored in his last 29 games over the past month since May 12. Torres isn't going to lead off for the Yankees anytime soon with the way
Anthony Volpe is performing, but he still remains worth rostering in all fantasy leagues for his power upside at the keystone even in the lower part of New York's potent lineup.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers pitching prospect
Jacob Misiorowski allowed six earned runs for Double-A Biloxi on Wednesday. The Brewers' top prospect gave up six hits and two walks while striking out just one. Three of the hits he allowed were home runs, which has not been an issue for him this season as he had allowed just one home run in 11 prior starts. Although he only walked two in this one, command has been an issue all season, having posted an unsightly 16.1% BB% thus far. While the 3.88 ERA on the year isn't terrible, the 1.49 WHIP is concerning. With a 70-grade fastball and slider, the former second-round draft pick should probably get a taste of Triple-A at some point this season despite the control issues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5
days
agoCincinnati
Reds
third
baseman
Jeimer
Candelario
played
the
role
of
hero
in
Wednesday's
win
over
the
crosstown-rival
Cleveland
Guardians,
smashing
his
10th
and
11th
home
runs
of
the
year
with
four
RBI.
After
hitting
a
solo
homer
off
Guardians
right-hander
read more...
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Chris Newell is a former 13th-round pick who has developed into a promising power hitter. The left-hander is capable of putting a charge into any pitch thrown his way, and he's even shown some improvement in terms of hitting to all parts of the field. He also lets his power-happy approach lead to swings and misses, and while that's okay to some extent, he simply strikes out too much. Defensively, Newell has decent speed but below-average arm strength, keeping him in center or left field for the foreseeable future. Last week was a memorable one for Newell as he went he went 8-for-18 with three homers, six RBI, six walks, and five strikeouts. He was also a threat on the basepaths, stealing five bags on five attempts. Newell's upside is undeniable as long as he can keep his strikeout rate in check.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitching prospect Carlson Reed is a former collegiate closer who has shown real potential as a starter in the lower levels of affiliated ball. He throws a mid-90s fastball while also deploying an incredibly effective changeup that sits in the mid-80s. He rounds out his repertoire with a mid-80s slider. The right-hander's advanced repertoire helps mask some of his control issues, which are the biggest stain on his profile to this point. Reed did look quite effective once again last Thursday, striking out nine batters over five shutout innings. He limited damage along the way, surrendering just two hits and one walk. The lefty is still far from making his MLB debut, but he's a promising pitcher to keep tabs on nonetheless.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5
days
agoHouston
Astros
shortstop
prospect
Brice
Matthews
was
the
club's
first-round
pick
last
year.
Houston
selected
him
out
of
Nebraska
and
he
has
wasted
no
time
making
an
impact,
already
climbing
to
No.
3
on
MLB
Pipeline's
ranking
of
top
Astros
prospects.
The
22-year-old
read more...
5 days agoBoston Red Sox pitching prospect Noah Dean is a former fifth-round pick out of Old Dominion. He's an athletic southpaw with a mid-90s fastball, low-80s curveball, and mid-80s changeup. He's had trouble locating the breaking ball at times, allowing his changeup to emerge as his best secondary offering even though he didn't throw it consistently in college. Control remains a concern with the 23-year-old, but there's some optimism in Dean given that he still has some more development and hasn't nearly reached his ceiling. Fans got a glimpse into the type of pitcher Dean could be last Sunday. He spun five shutout innings in Single-A, allowing just one walk and zero hits along the way. He also struck out eight batters. Dean has now allowed just one run over his last 12 innings, showing comfort as both a starter and reliever.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoChicago White Sox catching prospect
Edgar Quero was acquired from the Angels during Los Angeles' brief window of aggressive buying last July. He's one of the best defensive catchers in the minors and should have no trouble staying (and contributing) behind the dish long-term. He frames pitches well and is capable of throwing out plenty of baserunners. Offensively, he hits well enough to maintain a decent average and produce respectable power. Fielding is his top skill, but an average (or slightly above average) hit tool rounds out his game. Quero was terrific at the plate last week, going 13-for-21 with three homers, five RBI, five walks, and just three strikeouts. He showed advanced vision with the bat in his hands, creating some optimism about the impact he could have with his bat and glove down the road. All signs point to Quero being a starting catcher with All-Star potential.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoTrenton Thunder first baseman Rintaro Sasaki hit a home run in his debut in the MLB Draft League on Tuesday, going 2-for-5 with a walk, three RBI, and two runs scored. The power-hitting Japanese prospect followed that up with a 1-for-4 day with two RBI on Wednesday. All three of the teenager's hits have had an exit velocity of 97.4 or more. He'll look to continue his hot start on Thursday against the Frederick Keys in hopes of building upon his potential draft stock.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB Pipeline
5 days agoChicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros hit his eighth home run of the season on Wednesday for Double-A Tennessee. The blast came off the Brewers' top prospect
Jacob Misiorowski and Ballesteros leads the team in home runs as well as RBI, but at just 20 years of age. Last season he hit 14 home runs as a 19-year-old across three levels of the Cubs' system. The backstop also hits for average, collecting hits in 12 of his last 14 games and posting a .289 BA with an .835 OPS on the season. After moving into MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list a month ago (91st overall), Ballesteros could see Triple-A before season's end and needs to be on the radar of dynasty managers.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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