5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals left-hander
Steven Matz (back) will make another minor-league rehab start for Double-A Springfield on Sunday, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Matz, who has already made two rehab starts, will throw roughly 50 pitches on Sunday. The Cardinals want him to get up to 75 to 80 pitches before reinstating him from the injured list. The 33-year-old southpaw allowed five unearned runs on three hits while walking one and striking out three in just 1 2/3 innings in his last rehab start on Tuesday for Springfield. Given the severity of Matz's back injury, it's no surprise that he'll need at least several more starts in the minors before he'll be an option again for the big-league rotation. Don't expect Matz to return before the All-Star break, and when he does, he'll be a shaky fantasy option after going 1-2 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with only 17 K's in six starts before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (oblique) continues to do "rotational work" and could begin swinging a bat this weekend. Nootbaar won't jump right back in to hitting off live pitching or a batting machine, but instead will start with soft toss or tee work in the batting cages. The 26-year-old has been on the shelf since May 31 due to a left-oblique strain and still has a ways to go before he's once again an option for St. Louis' outfield. A lengthy minor-league rehab assignment will be last up for Nootbaar, who may not be able to return until the second half of the season. The former eight-round pick in 2018 out of USC has teased his potential before, but injuries continue to get in the way. He's played in only 39 games so far in 2024 and has gone 33-for-141 (.234) with five homers, 19 RBI and three stolen bases.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that catcher
Willson Contreras (forearm) is taking bull batting practice in the cage on Thursday. Contreras is hoping to start a minor-league rehab assignment around June 18 despite being just five weeks into a projected 10-week timetable after having surgery to fix a fractured left forearm that he suffered when Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez hit his arm on a swing. It's good to see the 32-year-old All-Star backstop making good progress, but the Cardinals could slow him down eventually or require a lengthy rehab assignment from him. In addition to taking BP, Contreras has been catching bullpen sessions and could be on track to return before the All-Star break in mid-July. Until he's able to return as St. Louis' primary backstop,
Ivan Herrera will continue to see most of the starts behind the dish for the Cards.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
5 days agoFollowing Wednesday's contest, the Cincinnati Reds optioned outfield prospect
Blake Dunn to Triple-A Louisville. Dunn got called up to the big leagues for the first time on June 4 but managed only one hit in his 10 at-bats with a walk and two strikeouts in seven games played and will now head back to the minors. The club's No. 11 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, will now return to Louisville, where he was hitting only .223 (33-for-148) with four home runs, 22 RBI and nine stolen bases in 44 games for the Bats before his big-league promotion. The former 15th-round pick in 2021 out of Western Michigan could be back up with the Reds later this year, but it will most likely just be in a depth role in the outfield again and not as an everyday player.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks third base prospect
Deyvison De Los Santos extended his hitting streak to 12 games on Wednesday with his 18th home run of the season. De Los Santos has posted an impressive .396/.442/.771 slash line with four home runs during this stretch. The 20-year-old opened the season with Double-A but earned a promotion to Triple-A on May 21. Through his first 20 games at Triple-A, De Los Santos has looked very comfortable and should push for a major league debut later this summer. If he continues this success at Triple-A, the young infielder could carve out a full-time role in the major leagues, especially due to the offensive struggles Arizona has had at the hot corner through the early part of this season. He is worth adding if available in dynasty leagues and could become a popular stash candidate in redraft leagues later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers third base prospect
Jeral Perez has performed well through 56 games at Single-A over the past two seasons and is approaching his High-A debut. In 49 games this season with Single-A Rancho, the 19-year-old has posted a strong .286/.410/.476 slash line with eight long balls, 28 RBI, four stolen bases, and a 37:54 BB:K ratio. Perez is in the midst of a power surge as he launched his second home run in the past eight games on Wednesday. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the number 17 prospect in the Dodger system and projects Perez to reach the majors in 2027, but that ETA could shift if he carries this success into High-A. Dynasty managers should leave Perez on the waiver wire for the time being but should monitor his progress as he could earn a promotion in the coming months.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5
days
agoThe
Seattle
Mariners
have
called
up
right-hander
Emerson
Hancock
from
Triple-A
Tacoma
to
make
the
start
in
the
series
finale
against
the
visiting
Chicago
White
Sox
on
Thursday,
which
has
bumped
right-hander
Luis
Castillo's
next
start
read more...
5 days agoThe Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder/outfielder
Dylan Moore from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned infielder
Leo Rivas to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move after Wednesday's contest. Moore has been on the paternity list since Monday but will now return to the M's and will likely start at second base in Thursday's series finale against the visiting Chicago White Sox with
Jorge Polanco (hamstring) still on the injured list. The 31-year-old veteran has some speed to spare and is useful for his positional versatility in deeper leagues, but he has been cold offensively of late and is hitting just .213/.325/.408 on the year with six home runs, 22 RBI, nine stolen bases and 23 runs scored in 169 at-bats. So far in June, he's been worse, slashing .160/.233/.200 with two RBI and five runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Mariners PR
5 days agoNew York Yankees shortstop prospect
Roderick Arias went 2-for-5 at the plate on Wednesday with his fifth home run of the season and third since the start of June. After struggling through his first two months of Single-A ball, the 19-year-old has begun to find his footing. In his past 11 games, Arias has held a .300/.352/.600 line with 17 RBI and four stolen bass. Overall on the season, he sits with a .227/.326/.387 line that is inflated due to his poor start. The number four ranked prospect in the Yankee system on MLB Pipeline is several seasons away from his major league debut but could become a must-stash candidate in dynasty leagues if he carries this success into High-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoSeattle Mariners second baseman
Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is close to being sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Polanco will run the bases before Thursday's series finale against the Chicago White Sox at T-Mobile Park, and if that goes well, he'll join a minor-league affiliate for rehab games. The 30-year-old veteran will likely need at least a handful of rehab games before the Mariners reinstate him from the injured list. With Polanco out of action, rookie infielder
Ryan Bliss has been getting more opportunities at the keystone while hitting at the bottom of the batting order. When Polanco returns from his IL stint, he might need to show more offensively in order to stay in the lineup regularly, as he's currently hitting just .195 (31-for-159) with five homers and 14 RBI in his first year in Seattle.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer
5 days agoThe word on Seattle Mariners first baseman
Ty France (heel) is good, and he shouldn't require much more than the 10 days on the injured list. France has a good shot at being able to come off the IL when he's eligible next Tuesday. The 29-year-old veteran first baseman landed on the IL on Sunday due to a hairline fracture in his heel. When he's ready, France will return to starting duties at first base in Seattle. Fantasy managers would prefer that he hit for more power at the first base position, but he was hitting over .300 with a 1.013 OPS in 12 games before he landed on the injured list. Until France is able to return, rookie
Tyler Locklear and
Luke Raley should continue splitting work at the cold corner for the M's. In 211 at-bats on the year, France has slashed .251/.329/.403 with seven homers and 27 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles infield prospect Aron Estrada has been on an impressive run since the start of May. After posting a poor.155 AVG through his first taste of Single-A ball, the 19-year-old held a .330 AVG in May and has carried that into June with a similar .324 AVG. In addition, through the first half of June, the switch-hitter has already launched two home runs and stolen six bases. Estrada spent the past two seasons in the Rookie League and posted an impressive .317/.451/.503 line. While he is still several seasons away from the major leagues, he could become a name to monitor as he progresses through the lower levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoSeattle Mariners right-hander
Emerson Hancock is being called up to make the start on Thursday against the visiting Chicago White Sox. Hancock will return from Triple-A Tacoma in an excellent matchup that should have savvy fantasy managers looking for a streamer on Thursday pretty happy. With the Mariners in a stretch with just one off day in the next 14 days, the 25-year-old will offer Seattle's rotation a little reprieve, especially with
Bryan Woo (arm) uncertain for his next start. Right-hander
Luis Castillo will now be pushed back to the weekend against the division-rival Texas Rangers. Hancock last made a big-league start on May 7 and had a 5.24 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in his seven starts before being sent to Tacoma. Although he hasn't been special in the big leagues early in his career, the matchup is great and he had a 2.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in five starts down on the farm.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
5 days agoThe Minnesota Twins optioned first baseman/outfielder
Alex Kirilloff to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday and called up outfielder
Austin Martin in a corresponding move. After a recent cold spell at the plate, Kirilloff will go down to the farm to work on his swing after slashing .201/.270/.348 in his first 178 plate appearances of the 2024 season. With the 26-year-old off the major-league roster for now, both
Trevor Larnach and
Carlos Santana should see more playing time in left field and first base, respectively. Martin could see some playing time when the Twins face left-handed pitching, making him really only attractive in fantasy in AL-only leagues. Before his demotion to St. Paul, the 25-year-old was hitting just .224/.289/.355 in 30 games with the Twins.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Bobby Nightengale
5 days agoTexas Rangers infielder
Maximo Acosta went 3-for-5 on Wednesday with his first home run of the season. The 21-year-old has looked quite sharp since the start of May with a .296/.333/.426 slash line with 16 hits, three swiped bags, and a 1:7 BB:K. Overall, through his first look at Double-A this season, Acosta has held a solid .255/.319/.345 line through 39 games. Acosta joined the Rangers system back in 2021 and has moved up one level every year. Last season with High-A, he held a similar .260/.312/.390 line, which is a good sign that the young infielder has not regressed since facing harder competition. Currently, Acosta sits outside of MLB Pipeline's top-30 Rangers prospects, but that could change if he continues this hot stretch at Double-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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