6 days agoMiami Marlins catching prospect
Joe Mack has enjoyed a power surge over the past week. In his past seven games, he has launched three long balls and seven total hits with a .655 SLG. Mack opened the season with High-A but logged only 13 games before moving up to make his Double-A debut. In his first 37 games with Double-A Pensacola, the backstop holds a .233/.294/.425 line with five total home runs and 24 RBI. The 21-year-old is on pace to set a new career high in home runs, which is an impressive feat because he has spent the majority of the season in a new level of the minor leagues. MLB Pipeline ranks Mack as the 26th overall prospect in the Miami system and projects him to reach the major leagues sometime in 2026. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor Mack's power output throughout the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoChicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said on Thursday that third baseman
Yoan Moncada (thigh) is on a slow-paced rehab plan, but a return after the All-Star break in mid-July is still possible. The switch-hitting Moncada resumed baseball activities in mid-May and was swinging from both sides of the plate. Much like the rehabbing
Eloy Jimenez (hamstring), the White Sox are not going to rush the oft-injured Moncada back into the fold. The 29-year-old Cuban infielder has had his share of lower-body injuries in his career, but it sounds as though the team is expecting him back int he second half of the season, and he should return to regular duties at the hot corner when that happens. Before his injury, Moncada went 11-for-39 (.282) with no homers, three doubles and a steal for the Pale Hose.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Vinnie Duber
6 days agoLos Angeles Angels shortstop prospect
Denzer Guzman has been on an impressive run at Double-A in the past two weeks. In his past 13 games, the 20-year-old is riding a .327/.389/.551 line with three long balls, 10 RBI, and one stolen base. Before this run, he was holding a poor .133 AVG in the previous 10 games. Overall, through his first 26 games at Double-A, the young infielder has posted a .250/.320/.402 line. Guzman began the season with High-A but was moved up to Double-A in the middle of May. This is a great sign, as after starting off slow in Double-A, he has begun to find his footing and is posting strong numbers. Guzman is not expected to reach the majors until 2026, but with his recent hot surge, he could find his way to Triple-A early next year, which opens the door for a major league debut in 2025.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers starting pitching prospect
Carlos Rodriguez tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball on Wednesday and allowed just one hit, two walks, and struck out seven. This was a nice bounce-back performance for the right-hander, as he held a 3.86 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over his previous three starts. This is the 22-year-old's first extended look at Triple-A ball after logging just one start at this level last summer. Through 62 2/3 innings with Triple-A Nashville this season, the former sixth-round pick holds a 5.17 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. However, Wednesday's start was a big step in the right direction, and he is beginning to turn the corner on what has been a rough start to the season. MLB Pipeline ranks Rodriguez as the No. 6 prospect in the Milwaukee system and projects him to make his major-league debut sometime this summer. He is an interesting stash candidate in dynasty leagues if he begins to post solid outings and could be worth an add in NL-only formats when he's promoted to the big leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoChicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that outfielder/designated hitter
Eloy Jimenez (hamstring) is expected to go on a minor-league rehab assignment next week. Jimenez is almost ready to start playing in games down on the farm after he was put on the injured list back on May 22 with a left-hamstring strain. Given the 27-year-old's history with lower-body injuries, the White Sox aren't going to rush him back by any means, but barring any setbacks on his rehab assignment, Jimenez has a good shot to rejoin the big-league lineup before the All-Star break in mid-July. The Dominican outfielder teased his ceiling back in 2019 in his rookie year with 31 home runs and 79 RBI, but he has never been able to replicate that showing, and injuries haven't helped. Before getting hurt this year, he had gone 31-for-134 (.231) with five homers, 12 RBI and 26 strikeouts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Vinnie Duber
6 days agoSeattle Mariners right-handed reliever
Gregory Santos (lat) threw from the mound again on Thursday before the team's series-finale victory over the division-rival Oakland Athletics. Santos was up to 95 mph in his last bullpen session on Tuesday, but there remains no timetable for his return. A right-lat strain has kept the hard-throwing 24-year-old reliever out of action all year in his first year with the M's. At this point, it's unlikely that he'll return before the All-Star break in the middle of July. But when Santos is ready to make his 2024 debut, he should slot in as a key late-inning relief arm for the Mariners as a bridge to closer
Andres Munoz. The Dominican hurler had a 3.39 ERA (2.65 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP, his first five career saves and a 66:17 K:BB in 66 1/3 innings for the Chicago White Sox in his third year in the big leagues in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer
6 days agoSeattle Mariners closer
Andres Munoz (back) played catch under the watch of a trainer before the team's win on Thursday against the Oakland Athletics. Munoz has been dealing with a back injury of late and was pulled from his save opportunity on Tuesday in Oakland after a collision at home plate with the runner on a wild pitch when he was covering home. The 25-year-old is optimistic that he can avoid a trip to the injured list, though, and was seen giving fist bumps to teammates after throwing on Thursday. It's an indication that he could be available out of the bullpen as soon as this weekend's series against the Kansas City Royals. Lefty Tyler Saucedo picked up his second save of the year in relief of Munoz, while righty
Ryne Stanek had a perfect ninth inning to record his fourth save on Thursday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer
6 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (forearm), who has been out since May 7 with a fractured left forearm, was on the field at Busch Stadium on Thursday doing some throwing, catching and sprinting. Contreras even threw a ball from foul territory to the center field berm to show off his arm strength. The 32-year-old is doing baseball activities, but the true test for the veteran backstop will be swinging a bat. As such, he still has a ways to go before rejoining the Cardinals' starting lineup, and it might be a surprise if he's able to do so before the All-Star break in mid-July. Until he returns,
Ivan Herrera will continue to serve as the team's primary catcher. Before his painful injury, Contreras was off to a good start in his second year in St. Louis, hitting .280 (30-for-107) with six homer and 11 doubles. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues while he rehabs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
6 days agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair the torn ACL in his left knee. Everything reportedly went well with the procedure. Acuna will stay in Los Angeles for at least a month as he begins his rehabilitation process. It marks the second time the former MVP has gone under the knife for an ACL procedure. There is a chance that Acuna could be ready to return for the start of next season, barring any setbacks, but that is still months away. It will be interesting to see what Acuna looks like whenever he returns, given that speed is such a valuable part of his game.
Adam Duvall will continue to see the majority of playing time in right field for the rest of 2024.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Justin Toscano
6 days agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher
Bryan Woo continued his strong start to 2024 by tossing six scoreless innings during Thursday's 3-0 win over the Oakland Athletics. He allowed two hits and no walks while striking out six batters. The 24-year-old has produced four straight quality starts and has only given up four runs all season. He now owns a 3-0 record to go along with a minuscule 1.07 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 24:2 K:BB. Woo has benefited from facing off against some weaker lineups, but there is no denying the right-hander's results so far. He will take his stellar numbers into another forgiving matchup against the Chicago White Sox next week.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSan Diego Padres third baseman
Manny Machado (hip) is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The veteran slugger injured himself while trying to beat out a throw to first base in Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Padres manager Mike Shildt said the next few days and testing results will determine if Machado has to go on the injured list. Hopefully the 31-year-old can return to the lineup after a bit of rest.
Tyler Wade will get the start at third base and bat eighth in Machado's absence. He is nothing more than a dart throw in DFS formats for Thursday's slate.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Sammy Levitt
6 days agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) has been cleared to resume baseball activities. The 24-year-old has not played since May 7 due to a fracture in his right hand. The former top prospect will need multiple weeks to get back into the swing of things, but there is a chance he returns before the All-Star break. Encarnacion-Strand came into the season with serious breakout potential but struggled to the tune of a .190/.220/.293 slash line through his first 29 games. He should be stashed in most leagues due to his power upside, but it is unclear what the Reds plan to do with their lineup once both he and
Noelvi Marte (suspension) return.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Charlie Goldsmith
6 days agoKansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. continued to be a terror on the basepaths during Thursday's 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians. Witt went 1-for-4 at the plate with a walk and two more stolen bases. The electrifying 23-year-old is now up to 19 steals on the season to go along with a robust .317/.371/.560 slash line. He has also produced 11 homers, 46 RBI and 54 runs scored across 63 games. There is a case to be made that Witt is the most valuable fantasy asset in the league so far this season. Lock him into lineups for the rest of the year and throw away the key.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk during Thursday's 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Guerrero continues to hit the ball hard as both hits carried an exit velocity over 103 MPH. The talented 25-year-old endured a cold start to the season, but he has really turned things on as of late. Guerrero is slashing .362/.444/.509 over his past 30 games with four homers, 19 RBI and a 17:17 BB:K. While he only has seven home runs on the season, he is batting .295 with 30 RBI, 28 runs scored and two stolen bases. He should continue to provide considerable value for fantasy managers for the remainder of the campaign.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles catcher
Adley Rutschman was 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI during Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The slugging backstop hit a solo shot in the sixth inning and followed that up with a two-run blast in the eighth. Rutschman is off to a blistering start in June with 10 hits in his first 25 at-bats. Overall, the 26-year-old is slashing .307/.345/.490 with 12 homers, 43 RBI, 34 runs scored and one stolen base. The former first overall pick in 2019 is one of the best fantasy catchers in the game. He can be started with confidence whenever he is in the lineup.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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