4 days agoBaltimore Orioles catcher
Adley Rutschman went yard twice in Monday's extra-inning loss to the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, accounting for all of the team's offense in the defeat. Rutschman tagged Blue Jays right-hander
Jose Berrios for two solo shots on Monday, with the first coming in the fourth inning and the second on his next at-bat in the sixth. The 26-year-old former No. 1 overall pick continues establishing himself as a fantasy force at the catcher position, hitting safely in 20 of his last 22 games with a .333 average, seven homers, 18 RBI, and one stolen base during this stretch. Rutschman gets two more cracks at the Jays in this series, and fantasy managers should be looking forward to them. In 31 games versus the Jays in his career, Rutschman is now batting a superb .341 (42-for-123) with seven taters, 10 doubles, 22 RBI, and 22 runs scored.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoTampa Bay Rays second baseman
Brandon Lowe (oblique) is still feeling "something" in his oblique and is seeing a specialist on Tuesday, and the club will know more after that visit. Despite going deep during Sunday's minor-league assignment with Triple-A Durham while playing the whole game at second base, Lowe is still dealing with discomfort in his strained right oblique. It puts his return timetable suddenly in a state of uncertainty, as the infielder appeared to be poised for a return to the major-league roster sometime this week. Before going down, Lowe hit just 5-for-27 (.185) with one home run, one double, and four RBI through eight games and doesn't need to be stashed outside of deeper fantasy leagues.
Amed Rosario and
Richie Palacios are handling the bulk of the reps at the keystone for now, with the former being the preferred option from a fantasy perspective.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin - Tampa Bay Times
4 days agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Cody Bradford (back, rib) threw on flat ground on Monday. Bradford is progressing from both a lower-back strain as well as a stress fracture on his rib, but he still has several hurdles to clear in his throwing program before rejoining Texas' injury-riddled rotation. There's still a chance at a return before the end of May for Bradford, but he'll likely require at least one minor-league rehab appearance before doing so. The 26-year-old upstart left-hander was returning first-round fantasy value before hitting the injured list, garnering a 1.40 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, and 17:2 K:BB with wins in each of his three starts (19 1/3 innings) this year, so he's well worth a stash in all leagues. Top prospect
Jack Leiter is one of the names filling in for the Rangers at the moment, but he's given up 11 runs in 7 2/3 innings (two starts) and will be hard to trust in Tuesday's home start versus the Cleveland Guardians.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Wilson - RangersToday.com
4 days agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique) is set to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday. Crawford has been participating in full pregame workouts, and the rehab assignment will be the final step in his recovery from a strained right oblique. Barring any setbacks, he'll likely be activated when the club begins a road trip starting on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. After hitting just .196 (13-for-86) with two home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs scored as Seattle's primary leadoff hitter this season, the 29-year-old on-base machine will only be a viable fantasy option in deep mixed and AL-only leagues when he returns. Utility man
Josh Rojas has taken over as the preferred leadoff man against right-handed pitching, slashing a potent .385/.439/.596 with five extra-base hits, four RBI, and three stolen bases over his last 15 games (52 at-bats), and he's worth holding until Crawford is cleared.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Shannon Drayer - Seattle Sports 710 AM
4 days agoChicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said on Monday outfielder
Luis Robert (hip) will hopefully start playing games in Arizona by the end of this week. Sidelined by a right hip flexor strain, Robert could soon get into rookie-level outings before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte sometime shortly thereafter. It puts the speedy 26-year-old slugger on track to rejoin Chicago's outfield in late May if all continues to go well in his recovery. Robert went 6-for-28 with two home runs, four RBI, and one stolen base in seven games before going down. In the meantime, veteran
Tommy Pham is batting .293 with two homers, eight RBI, nine runs scored, and one steal over 58 at-bats this year for the ChiSox and is a serviceable stopgap solution for Robert's fantasy managers.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: James Fegan - SoxMachine.com
4 days agoMilwaukee Brewers first baseman
Rhys Hoskins left Monday's game versus the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates after sustaining an apparent lower-body injury while running to first base in the second inning. General manager Matt Arnold says that Hoskins is being evaluated by the training staff after the infielder pulled up lame and was replaced by
Blake Perkins, but his injury appears to be a hamstring issue and not his knee. The Brewers should have an official diagnosis sometime following the game, but it's fair to expect Hoskins to at least get the day off for the second game of the series against Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Consider him day-to-day until more is known. The 31-year-old slugger is enjoying a strong comeback season after missing all of last year with a torn ACL, slashing .233/.340/.474 with nine home runs, five doubles, and 27 RBI through 133 at-bats.
Jake Bauers is the next man up at the cold corner on Milwaukee's depth chart.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Sophia Minnaert - Bally Sports Wisconsin
4 days agoNew York Mets right-hander
Kodai Senga (shoulder) said that if his bullpen session on Wednesday goes well, he could be back in game action "sooner than later." Senga's progress was halted as he wants to work through mechanical issues before facing hitters for a third time. He doesn't want to aggravate his shoulder or create any other physical issues by going forward with mechanics that don't feel right to him, so he'll throw bullpen sessions this week until he feels more comfortable. It's not what fantasy managers wanted to hear, but the good news is the 31-year-old hasn't actually suffered a physical setback related to his shoulder strain. Senga is on the 60-day injured list and has yet to pitch in 2024, but he should be rostered in all fantasy formats. Don't expect Senga to make his debut this year until at least early June.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY
4 days agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Brent Rooker has been red-hot at the plate in May. Rooker is coming off winning the American League Player of the Week award and crushed a two-run home run on Sunday against the Seattle Mariners at an exit velocity of 113.4 mph, marking the hardest-hit ball of his career. He now has 10 home runs on the season after a two-hit day. In 10 games so far in May, Rooker has gone 17-for-38 (.447) with five home runs. He leads the majors with 14 RBI. "This is the maturation of Brent," manager Mark Kotsay said. "It's a follow-up of last year and the success he had. The at-bats he had off Castillo were great. He's seeing the ball really well and taking a great swing." Fantasy managers would be foolish to remove a hitter this hot from their starting lineups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
4 days agoOakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay revealed after Sunday's loss to the Seattle Mariners that left-hander
Alex Wood (shoulder) has been dealing with a shoulder issue for some time now, which appeared to worsen on Sunday. Wood's sinker averaged 88.6 mph, over two mph slower than his season average. He was pulled after just two innings in which the Mariners scored five runs and generated a ton of hard contact. Six of Seattle's 10 balls put in play against Wood registered an exit velocity of 100.2 mph or higher. Kotsay said the team will send Wood for further evaluations, and Wood is unsure if he will make his next scheduled start this weekend against the Kansas City Royals. If Wood were to miss time, the A's would likely turn to an in-house option with either
Kyle Muller or
Mitch Spence, both of whom are currently long relievers out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
4 days agoOakland Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (oblique) has joined the A's for their series in Houston against the Astros this week and could be activated for the series in Houston. Gelof could be activated from the 10-day injured list and return to the starting lineup for Tuesday's game, so fantasy managers should be ready to get Gelof back into their lineups in deeper leagues. The 24-year-old played in back-to-back minor-league rehab games for Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday and Sunday and apparently got the green light to return to the big leagues. When he's back, he should return to starting duties at the keystone for Oakland. A strained left oblique is what sent Gelof to the injured list. Fantasy managers that have Gelof rostered in deeper leagues will be hoping he can improve on his current .196/.260/.337 slash line through his first 92 at-bats in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
4 days agoThe Oakland Athletics placed right-hander
Paul Blackburn on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 11) on Monday with a stress reaction of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and recalled left-hander
Easton Lucas from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Blackburn will be in a walking boot for at least two weeks, so he's not going to be ready to return to the A's when he's eligible. Before injuring his foot, the 30-year-old Blackburn went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP with 13 walks and 36 strikeouts in 46 innings over his eight starts. With a career 6.9 K/9 in 399 big-league innings, Blackburn has a low fantasy ceiling when he's healthy, especially while pitching for the A's. His turn in the rotation, which comes up next on Thursday against the Houston Astros, could be taken by
Joey Estes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoIt's "possible" that Baltimore Orioles right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) returns from the injured list this weekend, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Pitcher
Cole Irvin is already scheduled to start on Wednesday, the first day that Rodriguez is eligible to return from the injured list, but the team's rotation after their scheduled off day on Thursday has yet to be announced. If the 24-year-old Rodriguez does return this weekend, his first start off the injured list would be a solid matchup against the Seattle Mariners. Rodriguez threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and didn't suffer any setbacks. He's been out since the start of May with right-shoulder inflammation, and it appears that the Orioles aren't going to send him on a minor-league rehab assignment before he returns. Rodriguez went 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 37 K's in 34 innings over his first six starts of the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
4 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles reinstated outfielder
Austin Hays (calf) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and designated outfielder
Ryan McKenna for assignment in a corresponding move. Despite being activated from the IL, Hays was not included in the
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4 days agoSan Francisco Giants catcher
Patrick Bailey (illness) will meet with a team doctor later on Monday, and the Giants are trying to figure out if he's just dealing with a cold or if his illness is related to his recent concussion. Manager Bob Melvin said the team is going to be very careful with Bailey, who is out of the starting lineup again on Monday against the visiting division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. For now, fantasy managers should consider the 24-year-old backstop as day-to-day and check back on Tuesday to see if he's back in the lineup.
Blake Sabol is doing the catching again on Monday and will hit seventh against Dodgers right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Bailey has been one of the Giants' better hitters this year, as he's currently slashing .280/.340/.451 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 82 at-bats. When he's healthy, he'll continue to see more of the starts at catcher over Sabol.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
4 days agoThe San Francisco Giants placed outfielder
Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a left-shoulder dislocation and recalled catcher
Jakson Reetz from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Lee dislocated his left shoulder when he crashed into the outfield wall in Sunday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds and will now miss at least the next 10 days. Given the severity of his injury, Lee should be expected to miss more than the 10 days on the IL. The 25-year-old Japanese outfielder has hit .262/.310/.331 with two home runs, eight RBI, two stolen bases and 15 runs scored in his first 145 major-league at-bats. So far, Lee has not been a great source of counting stats in fantasy leagues. In his absence, rookie
Luis Matos and
Tyler Fitzgerald are likely to platoon in center field, with Matos on the strong side while facing most right-handers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Giants
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