5 days agoOakland Athletics right-hander
Ross Stripling (elbow) is scheduled to begin a throwing program on Tuesday, June 11, and he will gradually increase his throwing distance until the A's determine that he's ready to throw off a mound. Stripling has been shut down from throwing since May 29 due to a right elbow flexor strain, but the team feels he's finally ready to start building his arm back up. Given how long Stripling has been out, it seems unlikely that he'll be able to come off the injured list to rejoin Oakland's starting rotation before the All-Star break in mid-July. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues should have better options at this point. Before landing on the shelf, Stripling went 1-9 with a 5.82 ERA (4.00 FIP) and 1.59 WHIP with only 35 strikeouts and 12 walks in 55 2/3 innings over his 11 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoOakland Athletics left-hander
Kyle Muller (shoulder) started a throwing program last Thursday, and the next step in his rehab process from left-shoulder tendonitis is to throw off a mound, although there is no timetable for when that will happen at this time. Muller was solid for the A's in a relief role this year before his injury, as he has allowed 16 runs (13 earned) on 33 hits (five home runs) while walking only seven and striking out 24 in 33 2/3 innings in his 13 appearances out of the A's bullpen. If the 26-year-old southpaw avoids a setback with his shoulder, he should be able to return to the big-league bullpen before the end of June. Before the 2024 campaign, 24 of Muller's 33 MLB appearances with the Atlanta Braves and A's came in a starting role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoOakland Athletics right-handed reliever
Lucas Erceg (forearm) felt healthy after a 20-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and is expected to be activated from the injured list at some point during the team's road trip through San Diego and Minnesota that begins on Monday. Erceg is eligible to come off the IL on Wednesday. The 29-year-old has been a great setup man for the A's in front of electric closer
Mason Miller this year, posting a 2.86 ERA in 21 relief appearances while striking out 27 in 22 innings of work. Erceg also has the first two saves of his career in his second season in the big leagues. Miller is the team's unquestioned closer, but he'll be a popular trade candidate this summer, and if Miller is dealt or gets injured, Erceg could be first in line for saves in Oakland.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoThe Minnesota Twins will call up right-hander
Louie Varland from the minors to make a spot start on Tuesday against the visiting Colorado Rockies. Right-handed reliever
Diego Castillo will be optioned to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. The spot start for Varland is intended to give the regular rotation some extra rest during a long stretch without off days. It will be a middling matchup against the Rockies, who rank 17th in all of baseball with a .686 OPS, although they also have the fifth-most strikeouts (617). Still, Varland will be a shaky fantasy streamer in deeper leagues. The 26-year-old hasn't looked good in his four starts in the majors in 2024, going 0-4 with a 9.18 ERA and 2.16 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings pitched. He wasn't that great at St. Paul, either, going 2-5 with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP with 44 K's and 14 walks in eight starts (40 2/3 frames).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
5 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies are promoting shortstop prospect
Aidan Miller to High-A Jersey Shore. Miller is the 47th-ranked prospect in baseball per MLB.com's Top Prospects list and the Phillies' top offensive prospect (second overall). Miller is slashing .275/.401/.483 with five home runs and 10 stolen bases but had been hitting .309 through the end of May until a cold streak befell him in June. Nevertheless, it was only a matter of time until he was promoted, but the 2023 first-round draft pick won't see the majors for a couple of years. Still, the power-speed combo makes him an intriguing player for dynasty managers to consider.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB Central
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Bobby Miller (shoulder) made his third minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday and allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out two in four innings of work. Miller came out of the outing feeling healthy and is getting closer to a return from right-shoulder inflammation. Manager Dave Roberts said he's unsure what's next for Miller, but the Dodgers could be leaning towards Miller making one more rehab start before he rejoins the Dodgers' rotation. With 13 games in a row coming up for LA, though, Miller could slot back in soon. The 25-year-old hasn't been exactly great during his rehab assignment, posting a 6.97 ERA and 1.74 WHIP with six K's and five walks in 10 1/3 innings, but his return to the big leagues isn't far off, and Miller should be rostered in all fantasy leagues due to his high-strikeout upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoThere was initially a belief that Colorado Rockies outfielder
Nolan Jones (back, knee) could rejoin the team ahead of Monday's series opener in Minnesota against the Twins, but the club is not pushing that timeline after talking with Jones. Working his way back from a strained lower back and an injury to his left knee, Jones now carries an uncertain timeline for a return to the major-league roster with the Rockies allowing him more time to find his swing. The 26-year-old left fielder has gone 6-for-23 with three extra-base hits and five RBI in his last six rehab games with Triple-A Albuquerque, however, and Colorado still figures to reinstate him from the injured list sometime during a 10-game homestand that begins on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fantasy managers should hang tight in the interim and keep Jones stashed for his five-category potential at the hitter-friendly Coors Field when healthy.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Harding - MLB.com
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) said on Sunday that he hopes to return to the lineup within a week. After working out over the weekend during the London Series with the division-rival New York Mets, Turner will ramp up his rehab from a strained left hamstring again starting on Tuesday ahead of the series opener against the hosting Boston Red Sox. Turner is unlikely to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before the Phillies activate him from the injured list as well, according to manager Rob Thomson, so he should be back with Philly sometime in mid-June. In the meantime,
Edmundo Sosa is batting a strong .294 (32-for-109) with 14 extra-base hits, 18 RBI, 21 runs scored, and two stolen bases over 36 games this year and remains worth rostering in all fantasy leagues in Turner's stead for the next week or so.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Todd Zolecki - MLB.com
5 days agoKansas City Royals outfielder
Hunter Renfroe (toe) exited Monday's game against the visiting New York Yankees in the fifth inning with a fracture in his left big toe.
MJ Melendez entered the game in left field, and
Dairon Blanco moved to right after Renfroe fouled two balls off his foot in the third inning. It seemed encouraging that Renfroe was able to remain in the contest for two frames before departing, but he now appears set for an extended absence following this diagnosis. The big-armed 32-year-old right fielder had been getting hot at the plate lately, batting .306 with three home runs, seven doubles, and 11 RBI over his prior 19 outings to Monday's action, so it's a tough break for him. Fantasy managers should consider Renfroe out indefinitely until the Royals provide a concrete timetable.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals on X
5 days agoHouston Astros outfielder
Kyle Tucker (shin) said prior to Monday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants that he's still hopeful to return to the lineup when first eligible to come off the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener against the Detroit Tigers. Tucker still has swelling in his ankle and hasn't resumed baseball activities while he recuperates from a right shin contusion, but he is able to move around without crutches now. It doesn't sound like a brief minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Astros will be necessary for the 27-year-old fantasy superstar, who's slashing a prolific .266/.395/.584 with 19 home runs, 41 RBI, 42 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases through 262 plate appearances as a five-category sensation this season. Houston just recalled
Joey Loperfido from the minor leagues this past weekend, but it doesn't sound like the top prospect's stay will be very long.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
5 days agoColorado Rockies catcher
Elias Diaz (calf) left Monday's series opener against the hosting Minnesota Twins due to tightness in his left calf. Diaz suffered the injury while running out a ground ball, and veteran
Jacob Stallings replaced him at catcher in the first inning. It sounds like a day-to-day issue for the time being, but Diaz will presumably be further evaluated to determine a more concrete diagnosis. The 33-year-old contact-hitting backstop has been a dependable option for fantasy managers and the Rockies this season, slashing .303/.352/.439 with five home runs, 12 doubles, and 28 RBI over 198 at-bats. Stallings is batting .287 (25-for-87) with three homers and 15 RBI across 99 plate appearances and would be worth a look in two-catcher leagues if Diaz were to miss more action.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoThe Seattle Mariners placed infielder/outfielder
Dylan Moore on the paternity list on Monday and recalled infielder
Leo Rivas from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. With Moore scratched from Monday's lineup against the Chicago White Sox, rookie
Ryan Bliss will now get the start at second base and will hit ninth for the M's against White Sox right-hander
Erick Fedde. The 31-year-old Moore will now be away from the team for up to three games this week. In his place, Bliss or Rivas could see some more starts at the keystone in Seattle. Moore is a decent infield/outfield bench option in AL-only leagues for his modest power/speed combination. The former seventh-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2015 out of Central Florida is batting .213/.325/.408 on the year with six home runs, 22 RBI, nine steals and 23 runs scored in 169 at-bats for Seattle.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Mariners PR
5
days
agoHouston
Astros
catcher
Yainer
Diaz
(finger)
is
sore
and
has
limited
range
of
motion
in
his
right
index
finger
after
taking
a
foul
tip
in
Sunday's
loss
to
the
Los
Angeles
Angels,
according
to
manager
Joe
Espada.
Diaz
will
be
available
off
the
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5 days agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that infielder
Wilmer Flores' knee is a little sore after two straight series playing on turf, but he will be available off the bench for Monday's series opener against the Houston Astros. With Flores starting on the bench on Monday,
Trenton Brooks will start at first base for San Francisco and will hit eighth against Astros rookie right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti. The 32-year-old Flores is mainly an option for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues with his .220/.290/.341 slash line in 2024. The Venezuelan infielder has added only four home runs, 21 RBI and 16 runs scored for the Gigantes in 164 at-bats. Three of his four long balls on the year have come in the last four games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
5 days agoSan Francisco Giants right-hander
Tristan Beck (arm) was cleared to resume full baseball activity after a follow-up appointment with Dr. Jason Lee on May 11 and he's currently throwing out to 120 feet. The 27-year-old felt his hand go cold after throwing some bullpen sessions early in spring training, so he was sent back to San Francisco to be evaluated by team doctors on Feb. 27. An aneurysm was the source of the numbness, and Beck was moved to the 60-day injured list on March 3 and had surgery at Stanford the next day to address an abnormal bulge in the wall of a blood vessel in his right arm. The Giants aren't rushing Beck back by any means, but barring a setbacks as he builds his arm back up, he should be an option for the team's starting rotation in the second half of the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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