5 days agoOakland Athletics designated hitter
Brent Rooker went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-1 win over the Mariners, extending his hitting streak to five games. It was his fifth multi-hit performance in his last eight games. Rooker is scorching in May, going 15-for-34 (.441) with three doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, and a 6:7 BB:K. The 29-year-old's .284 average may not stick, but coming off a 30-homer campaign in 2023 and with a 17.2% Barrel% in 2024, he looks to be well on his way to 30 again.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoOakland Athletics second baseman
Abraham Toro went 2-for-5 in Saturday's 8-1 win over the Mariners, and now has eight multi-hit efforts in his last 11 games. Since April 26, the 27-year-old is 23-for-57 (.404) with six doubles, a home run, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored. After a hot spring that earned him a spot on the roster, Toro has been able to continue that success in the regular season. It was thought maybe the signing of
J.D. Davis would limit his playing time, but between Davis having an IL stint and Toro's ability to play second base (14 games), third base (10), designated hitter (9), and first base (3), the A's have been able to keep his bat in the lineup. The former fifth-round draft pick's hot hitting and multi-position eligibility (2B, 3B) has made him a popular waiver wire addition.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers left fielder
Teoscar Hernandez hit a grand slam in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Padres. The sixth-inning blast was his 11th home run of the season, one off the league lead of 12, and gave the Dodgers some breathing room after leading just 1-0 to that point in the game. The 31-year-old is having a strong month of May, hitting five home runs already after collecting just three the entire month of April. With 33 RBI, 27 runs scored, and three stolen bases on the season, the veteran has been one of the top fantasy producers so far in 2024. The former All-Star has a 14.3% Barrel% thus far so there's no reason to think the power output will fall off going forward.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoChicago White Sox right-hander
John Brebbia tossed a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. He needed just 14 pitches to retire all three batters he faced en route to his first save of the year. It was Brebbia's first save since 2018.
Michael Kopech is Chicago's primary closer and had racked up back-to-back saves on Wednesday and Thursday. Despite having Friday off, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol opted to go with Brebbia over Kopech to protect a two-run lead in Saturday's game. Brebbia owns a 4.38 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 16:2 K: BB across 12 1/3 innings in 2024. Fantasy managers searching for saves can add Brebbia as a speculative add in deep-league formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
5 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Leody Taveras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored, and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies. He took
Jake Bird deep in the seventh inning to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead. His home run traveled 389 feet with an exit velocity of 98.7 mph. It was his Taveras's third long ball of the season. The 25-year-old has been swinging a hot bat in May, hitting .333 (12-for-36) with two home runs, six RBI, 12 runs, and two stolen bases over 10 games. Overall, Taveras is slashing .256/.329/.395 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 20 runs, and four stolen bases over 38 games in 2024. Fantasy managers can use Taveras as a streamer in most leagues while he's wielding a hot bat.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom
Paul Skenes allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven across four innings in Saturday's 10-9 win over the Chicago Cubs. He did not factor into the decision. The 21-year-old threw 84 pitches, landing 54 for strikes. He did get into some trouble in the second inning by loading the bases but was able to escape the jam by retiring the next two batters he faced. The early jam brought his pitch count up, which prompted Pirates manager Derek Shelton for the fifth-inning removal. Skenes was electric in his debut, hitting 100 mph or more 17 times per MLB Pipeline. Skenes is here to stay and should be a crucial part of Pittsburgh's starting rotation. The rookie phenom's next scheduled start will be Friday against the Cubs.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
5 days agoDetroit Tigers outfielder
Kerry Carpenter went 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Houston Astros. Carpenter belted a two-run shot off
Cristian Javier in the bottom of the third inning for his first homer of the game. He later took
Hunter Brown deep in the bottom of the fourth inning for his second long ball of the night. Entering Saturday's game, Carpenter had gone 18 games without a home run. The 26-year-old is slashing .275/.333/.523 with five home runs, 18 RBI, and 12 runs over 37 games in 2024. Carpenter will look to build off Saturday's massive performance in the season finale against the Astros on Sunday and should be started in most league formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Randy Arozarena went 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBI, a walk, and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-2 win over the New York Yankees. Arozarena blasted a three-run shot off
Nestor Cortes in the third inning to give the Rays a 4-2 lead. His home run went 385 feet with an exit velocity of 102.5 mph. It was his seventh of the season. He later logged an RBI double, driving in four runs in Saturday's game. The 29-year-old is off to a slow start this season, slashing .154/.253/.329 with seven home runs, 17 RBI, 18 runs, and six stolen bases over 39 games. Arozarena will look to build off Saturday's performance and should remain in fantasy lineups despite the slow start.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (back) was removed from Saturday's game versus the San Diego Padres due to back tightness. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani's back tightened up. The concern level right now is "minimal," but the Dodgers are leaning toward giving Ohtani the day off on Sunday. They'll see how he feels in the morning. The 29-year-old went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored before exiting. Ohtani is off to a great start with the Dodgers this season, slashing .352/.423/.667 with 11 home runs, 27 RBI, 33 runs, and nine stolen bases over 40 games. Ohtani is considered day-to-day for now, and fantasy managers will have to check back on Sunday to see if he is in the lineup.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Jack Harris
5 days agoAtlanta Braves left-hander
Max Fried (3-1) allowed three walks while striking out five over seven scoreless and hitless innings in Saturday's 4-1 win over the New York Mets. The 30-year-old was removed after 109 pitches. Braves manager Brian Snitker pulled Fried from continuing to pursue the individual no-hitter and turned to the bullpen to close it out. The team's no-hitter was broken when
Raisel Iglesias surrendered a solo shot to
J.D. Martinez during the ninth inning. Fried has been dealing lately and has not allowed a run in three of his last four starts. Overall, he owns a 3.57 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 37:17 K: BB across 45 1/13 innings in 2024. Fried has been pitching well recently and should remain in all fantasy lineups for his next start Friday against the San Diego Padres.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
5 days agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Michael Conforto (hamstring) exited Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds due to a strained right hamstring. Conforto was removed for a pinch-runner after hitting a single in the fourth inning of Saturday's game. He went 1-for-2 with a strikeout before exiting. The 31-year-old is considered day-to-day. According to Giants manager Bob Melvin, Conforto's hamstring "feels mild." Conforto will undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine the severity of the injury.
Luis Matos was pulled after two at-bats from the Triple-A Sacramento game and would replace Conforto on the roster. Matos was slashing .221/.312/.361 with three home runs and three steals over 30 games for Triple-A Sacramento in 2024.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: John Shea
5 days agoChicago Cubs third baseman
Christopher Morel (knee) was removed from Saturday's game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning with right knee soreness. The 24-year-old appeared to have hurt his right knee while sliding into second base attempting a steal in the top of the third inning. He went 1-for-3 with a strikeout before exiting. Morel is considered day-to-day and will undergo further evaluation on his right knee after the game.
Nick Madrigal replaced Morel in Saturday's contest. Madrigal would see an uptick in playing time if Morel were to miss any games, but he is not on the fantasy radar in most league formats after hitting .208 (11-for-53) in 2024.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Meghan Montemurro
5 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter (back) was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Colorado Rockies due to lower-back stiffness. The 21-year-old has a history of lower back issues, and the Rangers are being cautious with their young outfielder. He is considered day-to-day for now, with his next chance to suit up being the series finale on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. Carter is slashing .216/.303/.416 with five home runs, 15 RBI, 23 runs, and two stolen bases over 142 plate appearances in 2024.
Travis Jankowski replaced Carter in Saturday's lineup and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the Rangers' 8-3 loss to the Rockies. Jankowski would see an uptick in playing time if Carter were to miss any games, but he is mainly a speculative add in AL-Only league formats after slashing .239/.286/.326 over 25 games in 2024.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Evan Grant
5 days agoSaturday was only one game, but long-suffering Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. managers received welcomed news in the form of a 4-for-5, three-RBI performance in the team's 10-8 win over the Minnesota Twins. Guerrero tied the score at 8-8 with a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to give him 19 RBI this season. However, all four of his hits were singles, and while his .272 batting average is acceptable, Guerrero's .391 slugging percentage continues to be a source of discontent. He has just one home run since April 12 and only 10 extra-base hits. Overall, Guerrero is slashing .272/.360/.391 with four home runs, 19 RBI, 14 runs, and a stolen base over 39 games in 2024. --Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 days agoDespite allowing a two-out double to Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler, Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano picked up his sixth save of the season in Saturday's 10-8 win at Rodgers Centre. Romano avoided allowing an earned run for the first time in three appearances in May, lowering his ERA to 4.15. An encouraging stat for fantasy managers is that Romano struck out two batters on Saturday, only the second time he has done so in 2024. His current 7.0 K/9 is light years from Romano's 11.0 K/9 last season. Despite the drop in K/9, Romano is a top-five fantasy closer with six saves, 4.15 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and an 8:2 K: BB across 8 2/3 innings in 2024. --Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
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