6 days agoCleveland Guardians first baseman
Josh Naylor continued to produce at the plate in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the White Sox. Naylor went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks. The 26-year-old is now slashing .314/.395/.543 with two HR, six runs scored, and seven RBI in 43 plate appearances. He may not be the most exciting first-base name for fantasy, but Naylor is on track to provide consistent production once again in 2024.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies All-Star catcher
J.T. Realmuto (neck, throat) was forced to leave Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals early in the seventh inning after taking a bouncing pitch in the dirt from right-hander
Zack Wheeler to the neck/throat area. Realmuto was in a lot of pain after the ball went under his mask. He was replaced by
Garrett Stubbs in the contest, and we'll bring you any updates on his condition later Tuesday night or Wednesday morning when they get passed along. Before leaving, Realmuto went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts to drop his season average to .273, so it was a rough game all around for the 33-year-old veteran. Even if Realmuto's injury isn't too serious, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to play in the series finale against the Cards on Wednesday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Yusei Kikuchi aims to put his awful spring training further in the rear-view mirror during Wednesday's home start versus the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander
Logan Gilbert. Kikuchi coughed up 14 runs in 7 2/3 innings of Grapefruit League play, but he's turned things around for a 2.79 ERA (3.80 FIP) and 11 strikeouts through his first 9 2/3 regular-season frames. He hurled 5 1/3 scoreless innings with seven punchouts to help the Jays shut out the division-rival New York Yankees last Friday, and the 32-year-old Japanese left-hander now gets a Seattle team that he's thrown 11 1/3 scoreless frames with 14 K's against since 2022. The M's are the only American League club Kikuchi has not allowed a run to in his career, making the southpaw a convincing fantasy play on Wednesday. Gilbert, on the other hand, is 0-2 with a 6.95 ERA in 22 career innings against Toronto.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Aaron Nola looks to jump-start his season when he squares off with the St. Louis Cardinals and veteran right-hander
Lance Lynn in Wednesday's road start. After getting knocked around for 11 hits and six earned runs in his first start of the year versus the vaunted Atlanta Braves offense, Nola launched 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball for a win during his last time out against the division-rival Washington Nationals. The 30-year-old All-Star right-hander has enjoyed plenty of success against St. Louis in the past, as his 2.50 ERA and 0.80 WHIP over 11 career starts versus the Cards both represent his best marks against any National League team. Most recently, Nola is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 34 strikeouts in five appearances (23 2/3 IP) against the Redbirds since 2021. Start him with confidence on Wednesday.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoColorado Rockies relief pitcher
Daniel Bard (knee) was expected to throw off a mound on Tuesday. The Rockies have been careful with Bard, whose platelet-rich plasma shots in his right forearm are a bigger concern than the cleanup operation on his left knee in February. Bard didn't participate in spring training, so he won't be available for the Rocks until May at the earliest. Even though the 38-year-old right-hander struggled to a 4.56 ERA (6.13 FIP), 1.70 WHIP, and an unfathomable 47:49 K:BB through 49 1/3 innings last season, he still might end up receiving the bulk of the save chances when he returns to the mound later this year.
Justin Lawrence (9.82 ERA) and
Tyler Kinley (13.50 ERA) remain the nominal favorites for saves out of Colorado's bullpen right now, but neither of the two right-handers have separated much in terms of seizing the closing gig to this point.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Taijuan Walker (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment on Thursday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Manager Rob Thomson said they want to see Walker reach 100-plus pitches during his rehab assignment before the right-hander rejoins the Phillies' rotation, per MLB.com. Walker will be limited to approximately 60 pitches in his first rehab appearance, so he'll likely need a handful of minor-league starts before getting activated from the injured list. It puts him on course for an early-May return from a right shoulder impingement that limited him to 4 2/3 innings of spring training, but the soft-throwing 31-year-old righty is not the most appealing fantasy stash after generating a 4.38 ERA (4.53 FIP), 1.30 WHIP, and 138:71 K:BB across 172 2/3 frames a season ago.
Spencer Turnbull has 11 scoreless innings under his belt so far and will be worth streaming in favorable matchups.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb - The Athletic
6 days agoChicago White Sox relief pitcher
John Brebbia (calf), who exited last Friday's loss to the division-rival Kansas City Royals after he suffered a strained right calf, is not anticipating a long-term absence. Brebbia said on Tuesday that he was planning on throwing a bullpen later that day. "I'm throwing today, and throwing hasn't been impeded whatsoever. I feel days away from being able to pitch in a game, at worst," Brebbia said. The 33-year-old right-hander also dealt with a strained right calf that held him to two innings of spring ball. Brebbia has thrown 2 2/3 scoreless innings so far during his first season on the South Side and will be an option to close games upon his return, which could arrive when he's first eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list on April 22. Former starter
Michael Kopech is the favorite for saves for the ChiSox at the moment.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees third baseman
DJ LeMahieu (foot) has taken on-field batting practice and said on Saturday that he was encouraged by his progress. LeMahieu has also been fielding ground balls hit directly at him, and he has been running with approximately 90% effort, per MLB.com. Manager Aaron Boone also said on Tuesday that LeMahieu has started taking side to side grounders. LeMahieu is trying to overcome a non-displaced fracture of his right foot, and he will need a brief minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Yankees. The 35-year-old contact-hitting infielder still has a chance to return before April's end, and he's a candidate to lead off in the Bronx after a strong 2023 second half saw him slash .273/.377/.432 with eight home runs, 17 RBI, and 27 runs scored over his final 220 at-bats of the year. In the interim,
Jon Berti and
Oswaldo Cabrera will share reps at the hot corner.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Gary Phillips - New York Daily News
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Taj Bradley (pectoral) had a "good" bullpen session recently, per manager Kevin Cash, but Cash said the right-hander is still not close to returning. Bradley has been working his way back from a strained right pectoral for almost a month now, and he remains on course in his throwing progression. If his recovery takes about six weeks as it was originally anticipated, he could return in early May. The 23-year-old hard-throwing righty only threw three innings during spring training, so he'll likely need a handful of minor-league rehab appearances before rejoining Tampa Bay's rotation. Bradley's strikeout upside (28.0% K rate in 2023) makes him an interesting stash in fantasy leagues, but his 5.59 ERA over 104 2/3 major-league innings last year left a lot to be desired after he served up 28 home runs.
Zack Littell and
Tyler Alexander will continue to function as starters until the Rays' staff gets healthier.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
Martin Perez twirled eight innings of one-run ball on six hits and no walks in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers, striking out seven hitters en route to a tough-luck no-decision. It looked like Perez was well on his way to earning a win on Tuesday, but closer
David Bednar couldn't shut the door in the ninth inning after Perez threw 100 pitches. While the 33-year-old crafty lefty isn't known for having dominant stuff, he's quietly off to a fast start during his first year in Pittsburgh, garnering a 1.89 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 15 strikeouts through 19 innings to begin the season. Next up for Perez is a scheduled start against the struggling New York Mets on Monday, when he'll be worth considering as a fantasy streamer. In three appearances against the Mets since 2022, Perez is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA and seven K's across 11 2/3 innings.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Corbin Burnes shut down the Boston Red Sox in Tuesday's 7-1 victory, throwing seven innings of one-run ball on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Red Sox outfielder
Tyler O'Neill, who is white-hot, took Burnes yard in the first inning, but it was all Burnes from that point on. He allowed one single and two free passes otherwise, tossing four perfect frames during the outing. The 29-year-old perennial Cy Young Award candidate is dealing to begin his O's career, notching a 1.93 ERA and 0.75 WHIP while fanning 20 batters across his first 18 2/3 innings of the campaign. Burnes' next start is lined up for Sunday at home in a matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers, the team that traded him away this past offseason. Although Milwaukee's offense is off to a hot start, Burnes is hard to dispute as a must-start fantasy player each time he takes the hill.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles are calling up infielder
Jackson Holliday, a source tells ESPN. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, Holliday is also the No. 1 prospect in baseball for 2024 and was not expected to spend much time in the minor leagues to begin the season. After slashing .311/.354/.600 with two home runs, six RBI, and two stolen bases in 45 at-bats with the O's during spring training, Holliday has proceeded to slash .333/.482/.595 with two homers, nine RBI, and one swipe across 42 ABs with Triple-A Norfolk this season. The 20-year-old lefty-hitting shortstop sports five-category upside that already sees him rostered in 76% of Yahoo leagues, but he'll need to be picked up immediately in any shallow redraft leagues where he may be available.
Gunnar Henderson figures to move primarily to third base to clear an everyday spot at short for Holliday, who should join Baltimore ahead of Wednesday's game against the division-rival Boston Red Sox.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan - ESPN
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Edward Olivares went yard twice in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers, belting his first home runs since Opening Day. Olivares first took Tigers right-hander
Casey Mize deep to left center in the second inning to tie the game at one run apiece, later tagging lefty
Tyler Holton for another big fly to deep left center during the sixth frame for what was thought to be an insurance run before closer
David Bednar blew the save. The Pirates acquired the 28-year-old Venezuelan right fielder this past offseason as outfield depth and a bench bat against left-handed pitching, but he's pushing for more playing time courtesy of .321 batting average (9-for-28) and 1.046 OPS with three long balls, seven RBI, and seven runs scored over his first 12 games. Olivares is worth consideration for fantasy managers in NL-only or deep mixed leagues to see if he can carve out a more consistent role in Pittsburgh.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates closer
David Bednar blew Tuesday's save in the 5-3 loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers, imploding for four runs on three hits and one walk while recording only one out. Summoned in the ninth inning to protect a 3-1 lead, Bednar spoiled
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6 days agoThe San Diego Padres optioned infielder
Graham Pauley to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday and recalled catcher
Brett Sullivan from El Paso in a corresponding move.
Tyler Wade has taken most of the
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