6 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge launched his fourth home run of the 2024 regular season in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the visiting Oakland Athletics, adding a single in the fourth inning. Judge's blast was a 394-foot shot to deep right center that scored fellow slugging superstar
Juan Soto, giving New York an early 2-0 advantage. The 31-year-old former American League MVP is still off to a sluggish start at the dish after being slowed by injury during spring training, slashing .191/.319/.383 with four homers, six doubles, 13 RBI, and one stolen base in 25 games. Following Thursday's series finale against Oakland, Judge will get the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game weekend set on the road starting on Friday. In six games versus the Brewers since 2022, Judge is batting .409 (9-for-22) with two long balls, four RBI, and six runs scored.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs second baseman prospect
James Triantos went 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs on Tuesday for Double-A Tennessee, extending his mini-hit streak to four games. He also drove in three and scored three times in the contest. That brings his season line to .296-3-10-11-4. Triantos spent most of 2023 at High-A but played three games at Double-A at the end of the regular season. He had a phenomenal showing in the 2023 Arizona Fall League in which he batted .417 with the second-most hits during the campaign at 35, while also stealing nine bases in 22 games. A good spring that extends into summer should get him to Triple-A this year, but Gold Glove second baseman
Nico Hoerner currently blocks his path to the majors. Regardless, he'll likely make it there sometime in 2025, so dynasty managers should be keeping tabs on him.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoBoston Red Sox shortstop prospect
Marcelo Mayer hit his second home run of the season on Wednesday for Double-A Portland. It was part of a three-hit day, going 3-for-4 including a double, a home run, a walk, an RBI, and three runs scored. After recording a hit in his first 10 games of the season, Mayer went into a mini-slump, going 1-for-15 over his next three games, but busted out in a big way Wednesday. The 21-year-old is now slashing .317/.344/.500 with two home runs, eight RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The walk rate could use some improvement, with a 3.4% BB% and 3:16 BB:K, but 2024 has been a success so far after hitting just .189 in 43 games at Double-A a year ago. The former first-round draft pick should be on the radar of all dynasty managers and will likely get some MLB at-bats at some point this season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoTexas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (shin) was hit by a pitch on the left shin in the seventh inning on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners and was removed as a precaution after staying in to run the bases. Before hitting the showers early, Seager was 0-for-2 at the plate with a walk and the hit-by-pitch. He was replaced in the field by
Davis Wendzel. The 29-year-old's injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but fantasy managers should be prepared to be without him for the day game on Thursday in the series finale against the M's. Seager came into Wednesday's contest hitting .262 (22-for-84) with only one home run and six RBI in his first 21 games, but he's hit just .192 in his last seven games, so he could probably use the day off on Thursday anyway.
UPDATE: Seager was diagnosed with a left-shin contusion.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers pitching prospect
Jacob Misiorowski finally looked like the pitcher we were expecting to see when the season opened up, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-hit ball for Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday. The 22-year-old did not allow a run while walking one batter and striking out seven. The righty had walked 11 batters over his first three starts, so it was good to see his command get back on track. He now has 22 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings on the young season and figures to see some Triple-A action sooner rather than later if he can string together a couple more good starts. The Brewers' top pitching prospect has the ability to be a front-of-the-rotation piece if he can keep the walks to a minimum, but at 6-foot-7 and with a fastball that can touch 100 mph, he could also be a closer. Either way, dynasty managers should keep a close eye on his ascent.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu (foot), who was pulled from a minor-league rehab game early on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, still has swelling in his injured right foot. He will be shut down from baseball activities for the next seven days and then be re-evaluated. LeMahieu was set to play fewer than five rehab games in the minors before being activated from the injured list for his 2024 debut with the Yankees, but that's not going to happen now. The 35-year-old veteran is struggling to return from a fractured right foot and will now need to rest some more before trying to restart his rehab assignment. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see LeMahieu now until around mid-May.
Oswaldo Cabrera has benefitted from a regular role at third base in the Bronx as a result and was hitting .278 (20-for-72) with three homers, 14 RBI and 11 runs heading into Wednesday's contest.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Erik Boland
6 days agoOakland Athletics infielder
Zack Gelof (oblique) has been diagnosed with a left-oblique strain and is likely to land on the injured list. Gelof was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the New York Yankees due to abdominal soreness, but further tests revealed that the 24-year-old is dealing with a strained oblique and he will need at least 10 days off. The former second-round pick in 2021 out of Virginia has gotten off to a slow start in 2024 in his second year in the big leagues by going 18-for-92 (.196) with three home runs, seven RBI and four stolen bases in 24 games after slashing .267/.337/.504 with an .840 OPS, 14 home runs, 32 RBI and 14 steals in his first 69 big-league games in 2024.
Abraham Toro got the start at second for the A's on Wednesday and figures to see more playing time there moving forward with Gelof headed for the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
6 days agoKansas City Royals right-hander
Alec Marsh (elbow, forearm) left his start on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays after being hit on the right elbow/forearm area on a comebacker up the middle. It did not look good, and Marsh appeared to be in a significant amount of pain. Before leaving the game, Marsh threw 4 1/3 shutout innings with two hits allowed, two walks and only one strikeout in what would be a no-decision in the 3-2 loss. It's being called a right-forearm contusion for Marsh for now, but he's surely to undergo X-rays and is in danger of missing his next start or landing on the injured list. The 25-year-old's ERA is down to 2.70 on the season after shutting Toronto out for 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday. Check back for an update on his condition later on Wednesday or on Thursday morning.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
6 days agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (toe) ran the bases as part of his workout on Wednesday. He appears to still be moving around well and is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Friday. Albies is recovering from a fractured right big toe that he suffered on April 16 and continues to make good progress. There's a chance the 27-year-old is activated when eligible on Friday to rejoin the lineup for the start of a series against the Cleveland Guardians without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Albies has already been fielding ground balls and swinging a bat.
Luis Guillorme and
David Fletcher have been splitting time at the keystone for the Braves with Albies out. Fantasy managers will want to get Albies back into their starting lineups right away if he returns this weekend, as he was hitting .317 (20-for-63) with two homers, 14 RBI and two steals before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
6 days agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the division-rival Texas Rangers in Arlington due to soreness in his right oblique. There's no word from the M's on the severity of the injury, but it might be fair to expect Crawford to get another day off during the series finale on Thursday. The 29-year-old on-base machine's fantasy value has been more noticeable in leagues that count walks, as evidenced by his .198/.296/.302 triple-slash line with two home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs scored over 98 plate appearances (22 games) during the 2024 regular season. Super-utility player
Dylan Moore drew the start at short in Crawford's stead on Wednesday, and he can steal bases in bunches when given playing time. In fact, Moore already has four swipes across 15 games and is worth a speculative add for those in need of speed.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners Public Relations
6 days agoMiami Marlins left-hander
A.J. Puk (shoulder) will pitch out of the bullpen when he returns to the major-league roster, according to manager Skip Schumaker. The experiment as a starter in Miami's rotation was a failed one for Puk, who is nursing fatigue in his left shoulder following just four appearances and holds a dismal 9.22 ERA, 2.63 WHIP, and a 12:17 K:BB over 13 2/3 innings. Although Puk's return timetable from the issue remains unclear, this development is bad news for the rest-of-season outlook of closer
Tanner Scott, who is going to have some competition for ninth-inning work when Puk is eventually reinstated from the 15-day injured list. With Scott carrying a 3.38 ERA (5.88 FIP) and 1.68 WHIP while striking out 10 hitters and walking 12 through his first 10 2/3 frames of the 2024 regular season, it probably behooves fantasy managers to field some sell-high trade offers after Puk picked up 15 saves in 2023.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola - MLB.com
6 days agoUpdating a previous report, Oakland Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (abdomen) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx due to soreness in his left abdomen. Gelof, who was originally included in Oakland's starting lineup, was a late scratch and was on the bench for the first time in the 2024 regular season. It sounds like a minor issue that should leave Gelof day-to-day ahead of Thursday's series finale at Yankee Stadium. After a breakout rookie year in 2023, the 28-year-old former second-round pick has taken a step back in the early portion of this season while slashing .196/.260/.337 with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 92 at-bats (24 games). Gelof's fantasy value might continue to drop if he continues batting sixth in a poor A's lineup, which he's done in each of his past three appearances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos - MLB.com
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants second baseman
Thairo Estrada (hamstring) exited Wednesday's loss to the visiting New York Mets in the sixth inning due to tightness in his left hamstring after going hitless in two at-bats. Estrada wanted to stay in the game before
Jung Hoo Lee replaced him, so it doesn't seem like he's dealing with a significant injury at this time. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and perhaps San Fran's day off on Thursday will be enough to prevent Estrada from missing any additional time. The 28-year-old veteran infielder is batting only .232 (22-for-95) with nine extra-base hits, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, and zero stolen bases through 26 outings, and his fantasy value will remain diminished until he can climb his way up the Giants' batting order.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser - San Francisco Chronicle
6 days agoSan Diego Padres third baseman/designated hitter
Manny Machado is expected to return to the lineup on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Machado is currently on the paternity list while he and his wife expect the delivery of their first child, and manager Mike Shildt has confirmed the star infielder will not rejoin the club ahead of their series finale against the division-rival Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Before taking some time away, the 31-year-old six-time All-Star was slashing a modest .260/.324/.417 with four home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 105 plate appearances (24 games). In 16 games versus the Phillies since 2021, Machado is hitting .267 (16-for-60) with six homers, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, and one stolen base.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoThe Atlanta Braves are increasing the activity of catcher
Sean Murphy (oblique). Murphy has caught a bullpen session in each of the past two days, but he's still not swinging a bat yet and may be at least a week away from being cleared to do so. Working his way back from tightness in his left oblique, Murphy is probably not going to be available to the Braves or fantasy managers before the end of April based on the current progress in his recovery. The 29-year-old All-Star backstop will need a rehab assignment before he's reinstated to Atlanta's major-league roster as well, but an early-May return is still in the cards. Former All-Star
Travis d'Arnaud is surging after a slow start to the 2024 regular season, going 8-for-13 with five home runs and 11 RBI over his past five games, and he should be rostered in two-catcher leagues while he's hot.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Justin Toscano - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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