7 days agoMinnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) could possibly return for Saturday's contest versus the St. Louis Blues. The veteran pivot has missed the past four games after getting injured against the Arizona Coyotes on March 12. He skated on Friday, but his participation was limited after he skated on his own prior to the main practice. "If Ek for some reason did not go tomorrow, I would anticipate after those four [off] days [against the San Jose Sharks on March 28], it's a possibility," Wild bench boss John Hynes said on Friday. The 27-year-old is in the midst of a career year offensively, racking up a career-high 29 goals and sits just one point shy of matching his career-high of 61 points set just last season.Source: NHL.com
7 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder James Wood has been reassigned to minor league camp on Friday. He'll be joined by fellow top prospects Dylan Crews and Robert Hassell III as the Nats continue to shrink their roster. There was a low chance that Wood was going to make the team as he's only played as high as Double-A. This spring, Wood hit .341 with four home runs and seven RBI in 41 at-bats. The expectation is that he's going to start the season in Triple-A and then contribute to the big league roster at some point in 2024.Source: Mark Zuckerman
7 days agoPortland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (elbow) is a late addition to the injury report and was listed as questionable with left elbow tendinitis. He wasn't on the injury report at all until the team's official account announced he was added right before the 4:30 PM reports came out. Since the team isn't competing for much and with how late this injury addition was, it doesn't seem very likely that he's going to suit up in this game. Ayton is should be started if he does play, but if he watches from the sidelines, Duop Reath would take over in the starting five while Moses Brown gets some added minutes off of the bench.Source: Trail Blazers PR
7 days agoBoston Bruins left winger James van Riemsdyk (illness) practiced on Friday and could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran has missed the past two games. "We haven't made final decisions," Montgomery said. "He's feeling better but we'll see how he feels tomorrow." The 34-year-old is in his first season with the Bruins and has tallied 11 goals and 38 points across 64 games, adding 135 shots, 12 power-play points, and a plus-10 rating as part of his 13:40 of average ice time per game. The Bruins enter Saturday's contest with the Flyers sitting atop the NHL standings with a 41-15-15 record, one point ahead of the New York Rangers in the Presidents' Trophy race.Source: NHL.com
7 days agoThe Buffalo Bills are signing veteran center Will Clapp, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The 2018 seventh-round pick out of LSU began his career with the New Orleans Saints before spending two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. He has 65 games of NFL experience (21 starts). The Bills recently released Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse, so Clapp will add depth to the position. Connor McGovern is likely the favorite to start at center in Josh Allen's offense this year, but Clapp could make a push for extra reps during training camp.Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
7 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) picked up another questionable tag on Friday and his status will be updated closer to tip-off against the Philadelphia 76ers. The King has been on the injury report more often than not, especially with the ankle issues that he's been dealing with for a while now. If he's able to play, a big night should be in store against the short-handed Sixers who could also be without Tobias Harris (ankle). If James has to watch from the sidelines, however, Rui Hachimura would be the best streaming option even though Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince would see some added opportunities as well.Source: NBA Injury Report
7 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil looked fairly strong on the mound versus the New York Mets on Friday. The right-hander allowed two earned runs while striking out five batters over four innings of work. The strikeout numbers are good for Gil who has four punchouts or more in three straight appearances. The 25-year-old was once a high level prospect with the organization but injuries have set him back. There's a chance that Gil is still able to secure the fifth spot in the rotation.Source: MLB.com
7 days agoThe Los Angeles Rams are re-signing defensive lineman Larrell Murchison to a one-year deal, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd team. Murchison was a fifth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans out of N.C. State, but he was released by the organization midway through the 2022 season. L.A. claimed him off waivers, and he went on to record two sacks in his team debut against the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day. Overall, the 26-year-old has totaled 37 tackles, two sacks, and seven run stuffs through his first 44 NFL games. Following the retirement of Aaron Donald, the Rams keep depth on the defensive line with this move.Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
7 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (Achilles) has been listed as probable for Friday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Even though he's been a mainstay on the injury report, Davis hasn't been forced to miss a game since the end of January. He'll take on a short-handed Sixers squad that is very vulnerable down low since Joel Embiid (knee) hasn't been on the court. Davis is in line for a big night, especially if LeBron James (ankle) doesn't get upgraded from questionable. As long as Davis remains healthy, he should never be on the bench in any fantasy format.Source: NBA Injury Report
7 days agoBoston Bruins forward Brad Marchand is likely to suit up for Saturday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran didn't skate on Friday in what was called a maintenance day. "Most likely [going to play]," Bruins bench boss Jim Montgomery said. "I'm not going to say 100 percent. But most likely." The Bruins star has taken a step back offensively by his standards, tallying 27 goals and 62 points on 187 shots across 71 games. He fell below a point per game for the first time in six seasons last year and is set to do so again this season. He had added 91 hits, 64 penalty minutes, 24 power-play points, and a plus-five rating on the season, giving fantasy managers excellent production across the board.Source: NHL.com
7 days agoPortland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (knee) has been listed as probable on Friday and should suit up against the Los Angeles Clippers. After missing the first couple of months of the season, Simons has luckily been quite healthy the rest of the way. He's only missed six games since early December and he should get plenty of opportunities on Friday with most of the roster still injured at the moment. He'll be starting alongside Scoot Henderson in the backcourt, while Dalano Banton shifts back to the bench and should be the first reserve guard in the game.Source: NBA Injury Report
7 days agoFree-agent defensive lineman Austin Johnson is visiting with the Arizona Cardinals on Friday after wrapping up a visit with the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old was a 2016 second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans and has also spent time with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers. Through his first 116 NFL games, Johnson has accumulated 241 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, ten passes defended, and 15.5 run stuffs. He's far from a star at the position, but he will bring depth to wherever he ends up signing.Source: Adam Schefter
7 days agoWashington Capitals forwards T.J. Oshie and Aliaksei Protas will both remain sidelined for Friday's game against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. Both players skated on Friday morning but will both once again sit out as they did for Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The oft-injured Oshie has once again dealt with injuries this season, skating in just 43 games with 11 goals and 19 points on 81 shots on goal in that time. The veteran has played in 58 games or fewer in four straight seasons. Protas, 23, has recorded five goals and 28 points across 65 games as part of his 13:24 of average ice time per game. He has added 90 shots on goal and has a minus-three rating on the campaign.Source: NHL.com
7 days agoPortland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (hamstring) still isn't up to the standard of health that the team would like to see and he's listed as doubtful for their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. This is going to be Grant's sixth consecutive game missed and his 16th missed game of the season. He's on pace to log his fourth consecutive season where he failed to reach 65 or more appearances. Especially for tanking sake, the Blazers aren't likely to push anyone back on the court this year. While he's sidelined, Kris Murray and Toumani Camara both remain the best streaming options.Source: NBA Injury Report
7 days agoGolden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (back) is considered probable for Friday night against the Indiana Pacers. The veteran has been able to play in each one of the last three games and he'll extend that streak to four. All of the starters should be healthy for this matchup and the Warriors have a lot of ground to make up if they want to avoid the play-in tournament. Green hasn't been much of a help in the scoring department lately, but over the last three games he's averaging 10.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He remains a must-start in average or bigger fantasy leagues,Source: NBA Injury Report
7 days agoToronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (back) has unexpectedly popped up on the injury report on Friday afternoon and is now considered questionable for their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's listed with lower back stiffness and the Raptors are only competing for the number-one pick in the NBA Draft, so they're not going to force Trent to play if he's not 100% healthy. If he's downgraded to out, which seems more likely with this late of an injury report, that would mean all five starters are out for this game. Jahmi'us Ramsey would likely move into the starting five along with Bruce Brown and Gradey Dick. All three could be considered streaming options, but they'll have an uphill battle against a playoff contending Thunder team.Source: Aaron Rose
7 days agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell will pitch in a minor-league game in camp on Sunday, according to manager Bob Melvin. The next steps for Snell after that outing are to be determined. The Giants signed the 2023 National League Cy Young winner to a two-year deal last weekend, and the 31-year-old southpaw threw his first bullpen session in spring training on Thursday. Snell is not injured, but the fact that he signed so late in camp means that he will not be ready to be a part of the team's Opening Day rotation, starting next Thursday, March 28, when the Gigantes face his old team, the San Diego Padres. Snell has all kinds of strikeout upside, but he also led the league in walks in 2023, making him more of a No. 2 fantasy starter than an ace.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
7 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (back) got seven at-bats on a back field in camp on Friday, hitting an opposite-field home run while also beating out an infield single. Harper was happy to see some velocity and is hoping to play first base on Saturday in a Grapefruit League game versus the New York Yankees. The 31-year-old former MVP has been out of action for the last week in spring training due to some back stiffness, but he looks to be healthy now and should be ready to go for Opening Day on March 28. Now a full-time first baseman for the Phillies, Harper is ranked as the No. 2 fantasy first baseman at RotoBaller after slashing .293/.401/.499 with a .900 OPS, 21 home runs, 72 RBI and 11 stolen bases in just 126 games in 2023 in his fifth season with the Phillies.Source: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
7 days agoArizona Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) has a left-lat strain and is going to be shut down from throwing, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Rodriguez will open the regular season next week on the injured list. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw left his Cactus League outing early on Tuesday with the lat injury and will now unsurprisingly not be ready for Opening Day next Thursday. E-Rod put up some career-best numbers in his final season with the Detroit Tigers in 2023 but was pretty fortunate to do so. The Venezuelan hurler has thrown over 160 innings just once in his eight major-league seasons, so fantasy managers shouldn't be super surprised that he's already injured to begin the 2024 campaign. At best, he's a stash candidate in deep-mixed leagues for rotation depth, but Rodriguez's durability issues aren't going away.Source: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
7 days agoOakland A's reliever Trevor Gott (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a full torn UCL in his right elbow. The 31-year-old will miss all of the 2024 season and likely a good chunk of the 2025 campaign, as well. Gott split the 2023 season between the Mets and Mariners, working to a 4.14 ERA and a 16.5% K-BB% across 64 appearances, also posting a 3.77 SIERA while limiting home runs to just 0.62 HR/9 in that time. He also posted a 3.34 SIERA in the 2022 season across 45 outings with the Brewers. He was unlikely to be in the mix for saves in the 2023 season but was a holds candidate prior to Friday's news.Source: Martin
7 days agoDetroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (elbow) has made the team's starting rotation after fellow righty Matt Manning was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Friday. Mize, Manning, and Reese Olson were in competition for the final two rotation spots with the Tigers. Additionally, Mize is unlikely to face restrictions to begin the season, although the team is going to monitor his innings as the season goes along in his return from Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old hasn't been on a big-league mound since April 14 of 2022 but has returned with a strong 2.45 ERA with 14 strikeouts and nine walks across 15 1/3 innings in spring training. He has been hitting 97 mph on his four-seam fastball and stated he has never been more confident to use that pitch as a weapon.Source: Cody Stavenhagen
7 days agoNew York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (lat) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League contest against the New York Mets due to lat tightness. Manager Aaron Boone said during the game that Rizzo came to him 20 minutes before the game and said he wanted to come out and be cautious as it's something he deals with in the regular season. The 34-year-old has been enjoying a big spring, hitting .412 with two home runs and seven walks against five strikeouts across 41 trips to the plate, good for a 1.188 OPS. The veteran endured a down 2023 season, hitting .244 with 12 home runs in an injury-shortened 99 games after suffering a concussion in a May collision with Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr.Source: Bryan Hoch
7 days agoThe Baltimore Ravens signed free-agent cornerback Ka'Dar Hollman to an undisclosed deal on Friday. Hollman spent the 2023 season with the Houston Texans and had 10 tackles (six solo) and a fumble recovery in 17 regular-season games (one start). The 29-year-old defensive back was drafted in the sixth round in 2019 by the Green Bay Packers out of Toledo. In his first two NFL seasons with Green Bay, Hollman had seven solo tackles and three passes defended in 18 games played (one start). He primarily has operated on special teams in his career and is expected to have a similar role for the Ravens in 2024.Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
7 days agoBaltimore Orioles outfield prospect Kyle Stowers has been reassigned to minor-league camp alongside fellow prospects Jackson Holliday and Heston Kjerstad. The move comes after Stowers enjoyed a massive big-league camp in Grapefruit League action as the 26-year-old clubbed seven spring homers while driving in 14 runs alongside a 1.011 OPS across 45 trips to the plate. While he struggled in a small 33-plate-appearance sample with the Orioles in the 2023 season, he hit .245 with 17 home runs alongside a 14.1% BB% in 68 games with Triple-A Norfolk a season ago, good for an .875 OPS. Stowers is locked into a jam-packed battle for reps in the Orioles' outfield but a strong spring could leave him as the first option when an outfield injury occurs.Source: Roch Kubatko
7 days agoThe Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday with former Tennessee Titans free-agent cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring), according to sources. Apparently Fulton is healthy now after ending last year on Injured Reserve due to a hamstring injury. Hamstring and groin injuries kept Fulton out of six games with the Titans in 2023. Injuries plagued his four years in Tennessee, as he missed 23 games, and he finished last year without an interception and with only five passes defended. When healthy, the 25-year-old is a willing tackler against the run and has the versatility to play the nickel and outside cornerback spots. If he can stay healthy in 2024, he could put himself in line for a bigger payday in 2025.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
7 days agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad has been reassigned to minor-league camp as the Orioles also reassigned fellow top prospects Jackson Holliday and Kyle Stowers on Friday. The 25-year-old made his big-league debut in the 2023 season and hit .233 with two home runs alongside a .748 OPS across 13 games and 33 trips to the plate. He spent the bulk of his season between Double-A and Triple-A, combining to hit .303 with 21 home runs, five stolen bases, and a .904 OPS across 122 games and 543 trips to the plate. He will open the season at Triple-A Norfolk but a promotion to the big leagues shouldn't be far away.Source: Roch Kubatko
7 days agoFree-agent offensive tackle Matt Nelson agreed to an undisclosed deal with the New York Giants on Thursday, according to the team. Nelson spent the first five seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions, appearing in 43 games (14 starts) after latching on as an undrafted free agent in 2019 out of Iowa. Eleven of his 14 career starts came in 2021 in Detroit, but he also started two games at right tackle last September before landing on Injured Reserve due to an ankle injury. Nelson is going to serve as offensive-line depth in New York, but the Giants have made a concerted effort to upgrade their O-line from top to bottom this offseason after they were one of the worst and most injured groups in the NFL a season ago.Source: New York Post - Ryan Dunleavy
7 days agoFormer two-time UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas is set to face off against strawweight contender, Amanda Ribas. Namajunas is looking to avoid her first three-fight losing streak of her career. She has suffered back-to-back losses in her last two trips to the Octagon, losing the belt to Carla Esparza via split decision before, before a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Manon Fiorot in her flyweight debut. DraftKings sees Namajunas as the favorite with a salary of $9,200. Throughout her UFC career (14 bouts), she averages 72.5 fantasy points per contest.Source: UFC
7 days agoTexas Rangers outfield prospect Wyatt Langford has officially cracked the club's Opening Day roster after raking in Cactus League action. The 22-year-old has mashed six homers and hit .388 with 13 runs and 19 RBI across 56 plate appearances to this point in spring action. The 2023 fourth-overall pick, Langford has appeared in just 44 professional games across four levels, hitting .360 with 10 home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 1.157 OPS across an even 200 plate appearances in the 2023 season. He will likely see everyday reps in left field but could also man right field if the plan is for Adolis Garcia to move to center field to accommodate both Langford and fellow outfield prospect Evan Carter.Source: MLB
7 days agoThe Las Vegas Raiders re-signed safety Isaiah Pola-Mao to an undisclosed deal on Thursday. The Raiders are bringing Pola-Mao back after he spent the last two years in Sin City. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of USC. In his first two years in the NFL, the 24-year-old defensive back has only 40 tackles (28 solo), two sacks and an interception in 27 games played (zero starts). Pola-Mao has mostly been a special teams contributor in his first two NFL campaigns, although he did pick up his first career interception for the Raiders on defense last year. Don't expect him to suddenly become a big contributor at safety for Vegas in 2024.Source: Raiders PR