6 days agoChicago Cubs outfield prospect
Owen Caissie continues to succeed at Triple-A and is making a case for a much earlier-than-anticipated major league promotion. Across 26 games with Triple-A Iowa, the 21-year-old has posted a .289/.418/.433 stat line with one home run and three stolen bases. Caissie has also tallied ten extra-base hits. Over the past seven days, the number three prospect in the Chicago system has logged a .389/.542/.444 line with an impressive 6:9 BB:K ratio. Caissie may join the major league roster later this summer and be given the opportunity quite soon as Cubs outfielders
Cody Bellinger (ribs) and
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) have sustained serious injuries and may miss an extended period. Caissie should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper formats and should be monitored in deeper redraft leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoThe Detroit Tigers reinstated infielder/outfielder
Andy Ibanez (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned infielder
Buddy Kennedy to Triple-A Toledo after Sunday's game in a corresponding move. Ibanez didn't play at all in the 2-1 loss on Tuesday to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of a doubleheader, but he's starting at second base and batting second in Game 2 against Cardinals left-hander
Steven Matz. The 31-year-old is back from a stint on the IL due to a strained left hamstring and should see starts against left-handed pitchers moving forward. The Cuban infielder returns to a .267/.235/.267 slash line with no home runs and three RBI in just 15 at-bats in 2024. Ibanez is only an option in AL-only leagues for middle-infield depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tigers PR
6 days agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect
Lyon Richardson delivered another strong outing on Tuesday, where he tossed five shutout innings with seven punchouts. Richardson has not allowed over two runs in his past three starts and has lowered his ERA to 2.74. The 24-year-old got a small taste of the majors last season but struggled with an 8.64 ERA and 1.92 WHIP across 16 ⅔ innings. However, Richardson has never performed this well at Triple-A, suggesting that he may have taken another step forward in his development. The former second-round selection should be given another opportunity in the majors later in the summer and may be worth adding in NL-only formats when he is promoted.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays placed right-handed rookie
Yariel Rodriguez (spine) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with thoracic-spine inflammation and recalled right-hander
Zach Pop from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Rodriguez began experiencing soreness in his back during his outing on Monday night against the Kansas City Royals in which he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out one in 3 2/3 innings. Given the nature of the injury, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the 27-year-old Cuban hurler misses more than the 15 days on the IL. Rodriguez hasn't been bad in his first four MLB starts, but he also hasn't gone past four innings pitched in any of his outings while sporting a 4.11 ERA and 1.76 WHIP with 16 K's in 15 1/3 frames. It's unclear who will take Rodriguez's spot in Toronto's rotation for at least the next two weeks.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
6 days agoThe Texas Rangers are pushing right-hander
Max Scherzer's (back, thumb) next minor-league rehab start with Double-A Frisco back a few days after he experienced some soreness in his thumb after his last outing at Triple-A Round Rock, according to general manager
Chris Young. Scherzer will hopefully make his next rehab start by the end of the week. The 39-year-old's surgically repaired back has apparently held up well, though, which is the main takeaway here for fantasy managers that have been stashing the three-time Cy Young winner. In his lone rehab start with Round Rock, Scherzer allowed three earned runs while walking none and striking out four in 2 1/3 innings, so he still has a ways to go to build up his arm before making his 2024 MLB debut. Barring setbacks, Scherzer should be back in Texas' rotation at some point next month.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
6 days agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect
Ky Bush has been off to an electric start to the 2024 season. The former second-round pick is sporting a 1.27 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 21 ⅓ innings at Double-A. He has struck out 26 batters. In addition, Bush has not allowed a run in his past 11 innings. It looks like the southpaw has begun to figure things out, as he posted a hefty 6.38 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 67 ⅔ innings at Double-A last season. The 18th-ranked prospect in the Chicago system is not expected to make his major league debut until 2025. However, he could become a name to monitor in dynasty leagues due to his elite strikeout potential, especially if he can reach Triple-A later in the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Blake Snell (groin) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to the team. Snell is recovering from a Grade 2 adductor strain that put him on the injured list last week. The 31-year-old left-hander is hoping to spend the minimum 15 days on the IL, but fantasy managers should probably expect him to be out a bit longer than that, especially considering he got a late start to the 2024 season because he signed with the Giants right before the season started. Already known as a slow starter, last year's National League Cy Young winner went 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.97 WHIP with five walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in his three starts before getting hurt. Snell shouldn't be on any waiver wires, though, and could easily rebound once he's healthy given his high-end strikeout upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
6 days agoUpdating a previous report, Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout (knee) has a torn meniscus in his left knee that will require surgery, according to general manager Perry Minasian. The procedure, which is believed to be scheduled for Friday, isn't considered season-ending. It's a silver lining for the 11-time All-Star, who has missed significant time the last several seasons due to injuries. A source familiar with Trout's injury said a four- to six-week timetable is a best-case scenario, but a true timetable won't be established until he goes under the knife later this week. The 32-year-old three-time MVP is currently tied for the major-league lead in home runs with 10, but he's also hitting just .220 (24-for-109) with 14 RBI and six stolen bases. Fantasy managers must keep him stashed in an injured-list spot for the time being. Former first overall pick
Mickey Moniak is expected to start regularly in center field for the Angels with Trout sidelined.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
6 days agoWashington Nationals outfield prospect
James Wood is currently riding a seven-game hit streak entering Tuesday. During this stretch, the 21-year-old has tallied three extra-base hits with a .467/.529/.600 stat line with two stolen bases. The number two prospect in the Washington system has been dominant during the young part of the season with an overall .330/.435/.495 line with two long balls and seven stolen bases. Wood is making quite the case for an early major league promotion and is a popular stash candidate in redraft formats. With his excellent power and speed combination, Wood should be expected to make a significant impact when he is given the call.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop
Oneil Cruz (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. This appears to be a routine rest day for the left-handed slugger. Cruz is slashing .094/.121/.094 against left-handed pitchers this season, so it makes sense that they'd give him the night off against southpaw
Alex Wood. It'll be
Alika Williams batting ninth and playing shortstop on Tuesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMinnesota Twins starting pitching prospect
David Festa struck 10 batters across five innings on Tuesday, which set a new season-high in punchouts. He allowed just three hits, one walk, and two runs. Across 20 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season, the 24-year-old is riding a solid 2.18 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 30 strikeouts. Last season, Festa posted a 4.39 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 80 innings at Double-A. The fifth-ranked prospect in Minnesota is progressing quickly and has shut down Triple-A bats quite well this season compared to his struggles last year. Festa is projected to make his major-league debut later this summer and is worth watching in deeper redraft formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson (wrist) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres. Stephenson will miss his third straight game due to a lingering wrist issue. The assumption is that Stephenson is day-to-day and should return later this week. It'll be
Luke Maile handling the catching duties versus right-hander
Yu Darvish on Tuesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres. The 24-year-old underwent an MRI which didn't reveal any significant damage. The hope is that Encarnacion-Strand can return at some point during the week. In the meantime,
Jeimer Candelario will cover first base and bat seventh versus right-hander
Yu Darvish.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher
Jack Flaherty put together a brilliant performance against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. The right-hander recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings during Tuesday's no-decision. Flaherty struck out seven straight batters to open up the contest. Sadly for Flaherty, the Tigers bullpen coughed up the lead in the ninth inning, which cost him his first victory of the season. He'll take a 4.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 50/5 K/BB into his next start against the Cleveland Guardians. Flaherty's strong start to the season has made him an attractive early-season waiver-wire pickup.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Craig Kimbrel (back) is uncertain for Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. The veteran reliever left Sunday's game due to back tightness. He is currently considered as day-to-day. Orioles' manager Brandon Hyde said he was unsure if Kimbrel would be available for Tuesday's game. The right-hander will likely throw pregame before the team decides on his availability. If he's out,
Yennier Cano figures to remain the closer in Baltimore for at least one more night.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Roch Kubatko
RADIO
