5 days agoWashington Nationals starting pitcher
Josiah Gray (elbow) felt good after throwing a bullpen on Saturday, according to manager Dave Martinez. He threw around 30-35 pitches and will be throwing another bullpen on Tuesday or Wednesday. There currently isn't a timetable set for Gray's return or when to expect him to begin rehab starts, but this is a positive sign for the 26-year-old. Gray had a very rocky start to the 2024 season, giving up 13 runs in just over eight innings across two starts. With Gray out, the Nationals starters have posted a 4.40 ERA, though three of their starters have posted an ERA below 3.50. They will have to hold down the fort until Gray comes back.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Golden
5 days agoThe San Francisco Giants announced Saturday that they have placed catcher
Patrick Bailey on the 7-day concussion injured list and have recalled catcher
Blake Sabol from Triple-A Sacramento. Bailey was removed from Friday night's game after a foul tip on a 95 mph fastball hit off his mask in the bottom of the first inning.
Tom Murphy will be starting in Bailey's place on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies. Murphy is hitting for a .121 average and a .458 OPS. Sabol put up much better numbers in 2023, hitting for a .695 OPS in 344 plate appearances. While both catchers should be expected to split time while Bailey's out, Sabol should be the higher priority for the next week with the expectation that he will be more productive than Murphy. Both should make for good streaming options next week as the Giants open up a series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Giants
5 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies announced Saturday that shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) will be put on the 10-day injured list with a left-hamstring strain. The shortstop was quoted as saying he expects to miss six weeks and that it would "be a win" if he returned any earlier than that. Turner was pulled after the bottom of the fourth inning in Friday night's game. Turner had been having a fantastic season, slashing .343/.392/.460 with 10 stolen bases and 27 runs.
Edmundo Sosa is starting Saturday night against the San Francisco Giants in Turner's place. Sosa should be expected to be the starter for the next six weeks. Sosa is hitting for an .824 OPS in 21 at-bats this season, above his career norms, and should be on all fantasy managers' radars as a waiver-wire pickup while Turner recovers from injury.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb
5 days agoLos Angeles Angels second baseman
Luis Rengifo (illness) is out of the lineup on Saturday with an illness.
Brandon Drury will be hitting fifth starting at third base and
Ehire Adrianza will be hitting second and starting at second base against the Cleveland Guardians. Adrianza has been getting extra playing time when Rengifo or Drury are out. Rengifo should be considered day-to-day. Rengifo has been having a solid season, hitting for an .839 OPS after a slow start to the season. As long as Rengifo is feeling better on Sunday, he should be expected to be back in the lineup against Guardians starter
Carlos Carrasco.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
5 days agoCleveland Guardians first baseman
Josh Naylor is getting a day off on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander
Reid Detmers. The 26-year-old has enjoyed a big start to his season and has actually fared quite well against left-handed pitching. Naylor has hit .263 with seven homers, two steals, and an .857 OPS across 132 trips to the plate on the season and has hit .300 with two homers and a 1.016 OPS across 34 plate appearances versus same-handed pitching on the season. He has also struck out in just 12.9% of his plate appearances while drawing walks at a nice 9.8% clip on the campaign.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto is hitting out of the two-hole for the first time this season on Saturday against the visiting San Francisco Giants and right-hander
Keaton Winn. The two-hole has largely belonged to
Trea Turner this season but Realmuto takes over the spot after Turner was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday due to a hamstring issue. It's been a subpar start to the season for the veteran backstop who is hitting just .239 with five homers, one steal, and a .692 OPS across 28 games and 118 trips to the plate. He has also walked in just 5.9% of his plate appearances while sporting a bloated 28.8% K% to this point in 2024.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoToronto Blue Jays right-hander
Alek Manoah (shoulder) is slated to make his season debut on Sunday afternoon against the Washington Nationals. The 26-year-old threw a side session on Friday after he was rocked for a 6.50 ERA across four starts with Triple-A Buffalo to begin his season. It's been tough sledding for Manoah since he was named a Cy Young finalist in the 2022 season as he posted a 5.87 ERA alongside a monster 14.2% BB% across 19 big-league starts. He was also optioned to the team's Florida spring training complex and refused an assignment to Buffalo after he scuffled in his big-league return. He will take on a Nationals offense that entered Saturday's action ranked 18th with a .303 wOBA on the season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson
5 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) could be activated off the injured list in the coming week, according to skipper Craig Counsell. The 29-year-old hasn't appeared since April 15 due to a right oblique strain after a fantastic start to his season. Suzuki hit .305 with three homers, 13 RBI, and an .893 OPS across his first 68 trips to the plate this season, production that graded out 52% above the league average, as per his 152 wRC+. Suzuki has been as advertised for the Cubs after signing a five-year deal prior to the 2022 season, hitting .277 with 37 homers, 15 stolen bases, and an .816 OPS across 264 games and 1,097 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status over the next several days.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Mooney
5 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Cody Bellinger (ribs) could be activated within the next week, according to manager Craig Counsell. The 28-year-old is doing some hitting and defensive drills on Saturday as he works his way back from a right rib fracture. Bellinger suffered his injury on April 23 when he crashed into the outfield fence trying to make a catch. It's been a solid start to the season for Bellinger who is hitting .226 with five home runs, an 11.3% BB%, and a .760 OPS across 97 plate appearances. Additionally, he has struck out in just 15.5% of his plate appearances to this point after posting a career-best 15.6% K% in a rebound campaign with the Cubs in 2023.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Mooney
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured prior to Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants with a left hamstring strain. The Phillies promoted infielder
Kody Clemens from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot in a corresponding move. Turner was off to another dominant season, posting a .343/.392/.460 line with two long balls and ten stolen bases across 33 games. As a result, the Phillies will look to
Edmundo Sosa to play shortstop, as he is the next man on the depth chart for the time being.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates catcher
Yasmani Grandal is making his first start of the season and will bat in the six-hole against Colorado Rockies southpaw
Austin Gomber. Grandal was activated from the injured list on Friday after recovering from plantar fasciitis, a move that also sent
Henry Davis down to Triple-A. The 35-year-old catcher posted a .234/.309/.339 stat line with eight long balls last season and should be expected to split duties behind the dish with
Joey Bart for the time being. Grandal could emerge as an option in NL-only leagues if he can produce at the plate, especially from a power standpoint. Grandal is worth consideration as a sneaky pay in DFS as Austin Gomber enters Saturday with a hefty 4.50 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
Kevin Kiermaier (hip) has been activated from the 10-day injured list and will start in Saturday's lineup as the Blue Jays continue a three-game set against right-handed pitcher
Jake Irvin and the Washington Nationals. Kiermaier only stayed on the injured list for a minimum of ten days and should be expected to return to his everyday role in center field. The 34-year-old struggled at the plate to open the season with a .193/.246/.228 line but put up a solid .265/.322/.419 line last season, so fantasy managers should expect a nice turnaround. He swiped 14 bags last season and already stole two before being placed on the injured list and remains on pace to smash his 2023 total. Kiermaier remains an AL-only option but could be deployed in a good matchup in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
5 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Alex Kirilloff is not in Saturday's lineup as the Twins are slated to face Boston southpaw
Brennan Bernardino. Kirilloff has yet to make a start this season against a left-handed pitcher, and Saturday will be no different. As a result,
Willi Castro will play left field, which opens the hot corner for
Jose Miranda. Kirilloff has put up a solid .247/.310/.449 slash line with three home runs this season. The 26-year-old should be expected to return to the Twins lineup on Sunday, as they are scheduled to face right-hander
Cooper Criswell. Both Castro and Miranda are sneaky plays in DFS on Saturday, as they are batting in the two- and three-holes, respectively, and should see plenty of RBI and scoring opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs infielder
Miles Mastrobuoni was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday in a corresponding move that sent Cubs first base prospect
Matt Mervis back down to the minor leagues. Mervis disappointed fantasy managers in his second major league stint and will most likely not receive another chance until later in the summer. Mervis posted a .115/.148/.154 line in nine games with the Cubs this season, which is not too different from his .167/.242/.289 line he had across 27 games last year. Mastrobuoni played in 61 games last season with the Cubs and put up a modest .241/.308/.301 stat line. The 28-year-old should be expected to reclaim his utility role once again this season after starting games at second base, third base, and in the outfield last season. He is nothing more than a desperation play in DFS when he is in the Cubs lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Mooney
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder
Joey Wiemer (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with left knee discomfort. Infielder
Andruw Monasterio was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Wiemer was removed from Friday's game after injuring
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