5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte has been scratched from Saturday's lineup and will miss Arizona's contest against the San Diego Padres. Marte said that his lower back is just a little stiff and he expects to be back in the lineup on Sunday. The switch-hitter tweaked his back after a swing in the top of the ninth on Friday but it appears that the stiffness isn't too serious right now and Marte should be considered day-to-day.
Blaze Alexander will be starting at second base in Marte's place and will be hitting sixth. Fantasy managers don't need to take any action but DFS managers may want to consider sneaking Alexander into their lineup as the 24-year-old is hitting for an .880 OPS over the last seven days.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Steve Gilbert
5 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers was placed on the 15-day IL with a left index finger strain, the club announced on Saturday. Weathers was removed from Friday night's game in the top of the third inning after his finger was noticeably irritating him. The lefty had started to turn his season around after a somewhat rough start, notching a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts. With Miami being well out of the playoff race, it's likely that the Marlins will want Weathers to take his time in his recovery so he can come back right. Fantasy managers looking to replace the lefty on their roster will want to look towards
Roddery Munoz who was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday and will start Saturday night against the Cleveland Guardians.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Miami Marlins
5 days agoChicago Cubs second baseman
Nico Hoerner has been diagnosed with a small fracture in his hand according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Doctors have noted that they are comfortable with him playing if the pain and swelling subsides. The Cubs will make a decision in the coming days about whether or not the 27-year-old should hit the IL. As of now Hoerner should be considered day-to-day. Hoerner has hit for a league average 100 OPS+ in 2024, though his bat has been rather cold since May. Fantasy managers looking for a short term replacement for Hoerner should target
David Bote, who has now started at second base for the Cubs two games in a row.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Maddie Lee
5 days agoSeattle Mariners first baseman
Ty France (undisclosed) has been scratched from Saturday's starting lineup against the hosting Kansas City Royals. The 29-year-old went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk, an RBI, a run scored, and a hit-by-pitch in Friday's loss to the Royals but seemingly felt some discomfort while doing infield drills prior to Saturday afternoon's contest. It's been a nice season so far for France, who is hitting .251 with seven homers and a .732 OPS across 61 appearances, production that grades out 16% above the league average, as per his 116 wRC+. It's also worth noting that France has increased his walk rate to 8% this season (versus his 6.5% career average), but his 23.6% strikeout rate sits well above his 18.2% career mark. He remains a bubble first baseman given his lack of power at a corner-infield spot.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Divish
5 days agoThe Colorado Rockies are promoting infield prospect
Adael Amador to the big leagues on Saturday. The 21-year-old is being summoned from Double-A Hartford without a Triple-A game under his belt. The No. 32-ranked prospect in baseball, as per MLB Pipeline, has had a solid, yet unspectacular year with the Yard Goats. Amador is hitting just .194 with seven homers across 46 games but also has swiped 22 bases and has walked at a hefty 15.8% clip, a figure well beyond his years considering the wealth of top pitching at the Double-A level. Amador doesn't appear to be in the club's starting lineup for Saturday's afternoon contest with the St. Louis Cardinals but dynasty league managers will surely be intrigued by his promotion as he likely gets into the lineup on a daily basis moving forward.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Francys Romero
5 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (knee) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the hosting Chicago White Sox. O'Neill exited Friday's 7-2 loss early with right-knee discomfort just two days after returning from the injured list with a knee issue that had sidelined him since May 25. While O'Neill expressed optimism after Friday's game, both he and fantasy managers alike are frustrated by his knee issues given what was a fantastic start to his 2024 campaign. The former Cardinal has hit .250 with 11 home runs, one stolen base, and an .854 OPS across 44 games, production that grades out 33% above the league average, as per his 133 wRC+. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the 28-year-old's status in the coming days, as his knee issues may not be quite behind him.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs second baseman
Nico Hoerner (hand) will again be absent from the starting lineup on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 27-year-old was plunked by a pitch on his hand in Thursday's series opener with the Reds and did not start Friday's 3-2 loss, although he did appear as a pinch-runner. It's a difficult blow for the club if Hoerner misses some time as he has been solid on both ends of the ball this season, hitting .252 with a pair of homers, seven stolen bases, and a 10% BB% that exceeds his excellent 9.5% K%. His offensive production grades out 5% above the league average, as per his 105 wRC%, while his defensive metrics are also above average.
David Bote will start at second base on Saturday and hit seventh against Reds left-hander
Andrew Abbott.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (side) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's tilt against the rival Cincinnati Reds. The 29-year-old said after Friday's game that he asked to be removed from the game in the sixth inning due to some tightness in his oblique, and it appears the club will give him at least another day to iron out the issue. Of course, the team will proceed with caution, especially since Suzuki already spent some time this year on the injured list with an oblique injury. Suzuki is hitting .261 with seven homers, three stolen bases, and a .784 OPS across 39 appearances on the season. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his situation given that this is the second time Suzuki has dealt with an oblique injury in a short period of time.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitchers
Chris Sale and
Reynaldo Lopez will get some extra rest as the club will start right-hander
Hurston Waldrep for his big-league debut in Sunday's series finale with the Washington Nationals, even though the club has an off day on Monday. Sale made just 20 starts in the 2023 season after battling back from a series of injuries, while Lopez has been utilized as a starter this season after tossing 66 innings as a reliever a season ago. Prior to the 2024 campaign, Lopez had made just one start since the beginning of the 2022 season. Both hurlers have enjoyed very nice seasons, with Sale working to a 3.01 ERA alongside a dynamite 27.4% K-BB%, while Lopez has earned himself a sterling 1.85 ERA through 11 starts. The extra time off is an effort on the Braves' part to keep both pitchers healthy throughout the season while considering their limited innings count in recent seasons.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Mark Bowman
5 days agoDetroit Tigers infielder/outfielder
Wenceel Perez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander
Freddy Peralta. The rookie went 0-for-3 with a walk in Friday's series opener but will yield right-field duties to
Akil Baddoo on Saturday afternoon. Perez has showcased his abilities since his early-season promotion, even if he has cooled off of late. The 24-year-old is hitting .248 with three homers, four stolen bases, and a .731 OPS across 166 trips to the plate on the season but has also added six doubles and a hefty five triples to his ledger, the latter of which sits fifth in baseball this season. The Tigers will look to rebound from a 10-0 drubbing at the hands of the Crew on Saturday.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers starting pitching prospect
Carlos Rodriguez will make his major league debut on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rodriguez posted a 5.17 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 29:66 BB:K ratio in 62 ⅔ innings through his first extended look at Triple-A this season. However, in his past two starts, the 22-year-old has looked quite sharp with a 1.69 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, and 4:14 BB:K ratio. Rodriguez could have an opportunity to stick in the starting rotation due to
Robert Gasser (elbow) and
Joe Ross (back), who are both currently on the 15-day injured list. MLB Pipeline ranks Rodriguez as the number six prospect in the Milwaukee system and is worth adding in all standard formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Curt Hogg
5 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitching prospect
Hurston Waldrep will be promoted and make his major league debut on Sunday against the Washington Nationals. As a result,
Max Fried's scheduled start will get pushed back to Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles. Waldrep was recently promoted to Triple-A on June 1 and only logged one outing at that level. In this start, he tossed six innings of three-run ball with eleven punchouts, five hits, and one free pass. The 22-year-old began the season with Double-A Mississippi and held a strong 2.292 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 17:48 BB:K ratio across 49 ⅓ innings. Waldrep is ranked as the 72nd overall prospect and 2nd in the Atlanta system on MLB Pipeline and is worth adding in all formats as he provides elite strikeout upside and he could remain in the starting rotation for the foreseeable future.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Bowman
5 days agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Jon Gray (groin) was activated off the 15-day injured list on Saturday. In a corresponding move,
Gerson Garabito was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reported that manager Bruce Bochy stated that there is a "pretty good chance" that Gray pitches in a relief outing before making his next start. The 32-year-old was performing quite well before being sidelined with a 2.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 57 innings. He held a 17:56 BB:K ratio. With Gray returning,
Jose Urena is likely to lose his spot, but he may make occasional starts as a sixth man. Gray is worth looking into all leagues if available, as he should continue to provide solid ratios, tally just around a strikeout per inning, and be in line to receive several wins behind a competing Rangers team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Kennedi Landry
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Bobby Miller (shoulder) tossed four innings of two-run ball (one earned) in his potential final rehab outing. He allowed four hits two walks, and struck out two on 85 total pitches. This is a good sign, as the right-hander threw 65 pitches in his previous rehab start. While nothing is official yet, the Louisville product should be expected to rejoin the major league roster next week after being sidelined since April 13. Miller performed very well in his rookie campaign last summer with a 3.76 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 32:119 BB:K ratio. He got off to a slow start early this season with an inflated 5,40 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. However, once activated from the injured list, he should be viewed as a must-start pitcher going forward.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford is not in Saturday's lineup as they continue a three-game rematch of the 2010 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. The rookie has started in nine straight games since returning from the injured list with a hamstring injury. During this span, the former Florida Gator has tallied eight hits and an overall .235/.257/.324 line. As a result,
Travis Jankowski will serve as the starting left fielder Saturday afternoon. Jankowski will bat in the seven-hole and is worth a look in DFS as he will face
Spencer Howard, who has logged just eight ⅔ innings this season and holds a 2.08 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
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