5 days agoBaltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said prior to Tuesday's game against the division-rival Boston Red Sox that starting pitcher
Dean Kremer (triceps) is continuing to improve. Kremer isn't experiencing as much soreness as he recovers from a strained right triceps, and he's expected to play catch "soon." The 28-year-old right-hander is a streaming option in fantasy when healthy, as evidenced by his serviceable 4.32 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 49:18 K:BB, and a career-best .204 average against over nine starts (50 innings) in 2024, but that doesn't mean he's a must-stash player. Veterans
Albert Suarez and
Cole Irvin will help plug up Baltimore's banged-up rotation in the meantime, and both hurlers will be worth streaming during the upcoming weekend set at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jake Rill - MLB.com
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Bobby Miller's (shoulder) next minor-league rehab start will come either on Friday or Saturday. Miller will throw four innings during that outing, and then the Dodgers will evaluate where he's at his in his recovery from inflammation in his right shoulder. After throwing 55 pitches and allowing three runs over three innings in his first rehab start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Miller will likely need at least one more outing in the minors following this weekend's appearance before he re-enters LA's rotation. Although the 25-year-old fire-balling right-hander has given up seven runs over 11 2/3 innings this season, his 18:6 K:BB and top-notch strikeout upside makes him a must-stash fantasy asset with a mid-June return appearing likely. 2023 top prospect
Gavin Stone will remain worth streaming in favorable matchups until Miller is back in the mix.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jack Harris - Los Angeles Times
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Josh Lowe (oblique) resumed all baseball activities prior to Tuesday's game against the visiting Oakland Athletics, going through a full workout on the field and a full program in the batting cage. Both Lowe and the Rays are pleased with his progress as he works his way through a strained right oblique, and the outfielder said he will now ramp up his activity every day. Lowe still has to hit against a high-velocity pitching machine and throw to bases at game speed, but he expects to be ready to return to Tampa Bay's outfield by the time he's first eligible to return, which would be during the first week of June. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger got a late start to the season due to injury, slashing a mediocre .240/.296/.440 with two home runs, three RBI, and five runs scored through just 50 at-bats (14 games), but his five-category fantasy upside in the top-third of Tampa's lineup makes him a must-stash player in all leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin - Tampa Bay Times
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Zach Eflin (back) played catch again ahead of Tuesday's contest against the visiting Oakland Athletics. The plan is for Eflin to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, which would mark his first activity from the mound since the Rays placed the hurler on the injured list on May 20 due to inflammation in his lower back. It's not yet known if Eflin will require a brief minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Tampa Bay's rotation, but he's on course to return sometime in early-to-mid June if all continues to go smoothly in his throwing progression. While the big 30-year-old right-hander owns a disappointing 4.12 ERA over 59 innings in 2024 following a career season in 2023, his 44:4 K:BB across 10 starts means Eflin needs to be stashed in fantasy leagues of all shapes and sizes.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoKansas City Royals first baseman
Vinnie Pasquantino (leg) exited Tuesday's game against the division-rival Minnesota Twins with an apparent injury to his foot or lower leg. Pasquantino collided with Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton, who was trying to beat out an infield single in the third inning, and he gingerly walked off the field.
Freddy Fermin came into catch, with
Salvador Perez shifting over to first base to replace Pasquantino. The Royals will further evaluate Pasquantino and provide an official diagnosis sometime either during or after Tuesday's contest. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger has put together an up-and-down season, slashing a pedestrian .224/.307/.388 with five home runs, 33 RBI, and 25 runs scored over 53 games (183 at-bats) as KC's everyday No. 3 batter.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Nightengale - Minneapolis Star Tribune
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles catching prospect
Creed Willems has been showcasing his elite raw power once again this season at High-A and could be joining Double-A in the coming months. Through the first 38 games, the 20-year-old is riding a .227/.299/.500 with nine long balls and seven doubles. He is on pace to smash his previous season-high of 17 home runs he set across Single and High-A last summer. While his power is worth paying attention to, he still needs to continue to lower his strikeout rate if he wants to reach Double-A this summer. Last season, he posted a hefty 27.7% K rate at High-A, and this season, it has dropped slightly to a 21.0% K rate. Nonetheless, the young backstop is still several seasons away from a major league debut and should remain on all waiver wires for the foreseeable future.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets outfield prospect
Alex Ramirez is on pace to smash his previous career-high in stolen bases this season. Currently, through 39 games with Double-A, the 21-year-old has already stolen 19 bases. His previous season-high was 21 swiped bags in 2022. In the batter's box he has posted a solid .247/.318/.351 line with two long balls and 22 RBI. MLB Pipeline ranks the outfielder as the number 16 prospect in Queens and projects him to reach the majors sometime next season. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor Ramirez as he is developing into one of the best base stealers in the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitching prospect Spencer Giesting has been nearly unhittable at High-A this season and is nearing a promotion to Double-A. In seven starts (41 innings), he has posted a 0.66 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and 10:46 BB:K ratio. This is a significant improvement over his 4.00 ERA and 1.46 WHIP he held across 117 innings at High-A last summer. In his most recent outing, the 22-year-old tallied a season-high 13 punchouts across seven shutout innings. Giesting should be left on all waiver wires for now, but he could be worth stashing towards the end of the summer in dynasty leagues if he carries this momentum into Double-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoCleveland Guardians pitching prospect
Andrew Walters is moving up to Triple-A after logging just 20 innings with Double-A. This was his first season in the minor leagues, and he is already fast approaching his major league debut. Walters operated exclusively as a relief pitcher for Double-A Akron this season, posting a stellar 1.35 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 8:38 BB:K ratio, and tallied two saves. The 2023 draft pick allowed just three earned runs this season and posted 15 shutout innings. Walters is ranked as the number 24 prospect in the Cleveland system on MLB Pipeline and could eventually grow into a closer role in the major leagues down the road.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Leah Doherty
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitching prospect Brandon Young was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. Young performed well in his third stint at Double-A this season and will now look to carry the momentum into his Triple-A debut. This season, Young made six starts and logged a 4.09 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a stellar 4:36 BB:K ratio. The 25-year-old has made significant strides in improving his walk rate over the course of the previous two seasons. In 2021, he posted a 15:54 BB:K ratio at Single-A and even a 6:23 ratio last summer at Double-A. He posted a career-best K-BB% of 36.4% at Double-A through the first month of the season and looks to have taken a large step forward. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor him to see if he continues to show strong command with Norfolk.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bowie Baysox
5 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays reinstated right-hander
Chad Green (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned right-hander
Erik Swanson to Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Green will be available out of the bullpen for Toronto for Tuesday night's game in Chicago against the White Sox for the first time since being put on the injured list in mid-April with a right-shoulder strain. The 33-year-old veteran tossed three scoreless innings on a minor-league rehab start with Buffalo and should be ready to immediately jump into his late-inning setup role in front of closer
Jordan Romano. Green is valuable in holds leagues and as a handcuff to Romano. Swanson has come apart in 2024 and will look for answers on the farm. The 30-year-old has allowed 14 earned runs on 20 hits (five homers) while walking four and fanning 10 in 13 2/3 relief innings in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander
Merrill Kelly (shoulder) is expected to start his throwing program next week. It's positive news for Kelly, but he still has a ways to go while recovering from a right-shoulder strain and may not make it back to Arizona's starting rotation until around the All-Star break in mid-July. Before going on a minor-league rehab assignment, the 35-year-old veteran needs to build his arm back up and throw off the mound at least a handful of times. Based on the way Kelly had looked early in 2024 before going on the shelf, he should be stashed in most fantasy leagues until he returns to fully healthy. Kelly is currently 2-0 this year with a 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over his four starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that the team is planning to get shortstop
Geraldo Perdomo (knee) into live games "very, very shortly" as he continues his rehab process. Perdomo has taken live at-bats but hasn't run the bases yet. Once the 24-year-old shortstop is cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, he might not be far away from being reinstated from the injured list to rejoin Arizona's big-league roster. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to return until the calendar flips to June. When he's back in the desert, Perdomo should take over regular duties at the 6 for the D-backs. He was hitting .250 (6-for-24) with no homers and two RBI at the time of his injury in early April.
Kevin Newman and
Blaze Alexander have seen playing time at shortstop since Perdomo went down. Perdomo will first start playing in live games in the Arizona Complex League before likely going on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers right-hander
Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) was seen playing catch on Tuesday before the team's game against the visiting division-rival Chicago Cubs. Woodruff has already declared himself out for all of the 2024 season after he had surgery to fix the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, but it's good news to hear that he's already started a throwing program. Despite having surgery last fall, the Brewers signed the 31-year-old veteran to a two-year, $7.5 million deal. Barring a setback as he ramps up his throwing program, Woodruff should start throwing off a mound at some point this summer as he looks to be full-go for spring training next year. When healthy, Woodruff is a high-end fantasy starter in all formats. In 11 starts before he was shut down last year, he went 5-1 with a stingy 2.28 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with 15 walks and 74 K's in 11 starts (67 frames).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers first baseman
Rhys Hoskins (hamstring) was running on the field on Tuesday and has some more strides to make in that area literally and figuratively, but it's not out of the question that he is activated from the injured list in time for a return to Philadelphia next week to face the Phillies, according to manager Pat Murphy. The Brew Crew starts a three-game series in Philly next Monday night. The 31-year-old Hoskins will return to regular duties at first base for the Brewers when he's ready to return from a strained right hamstring that landed him on the injured list on May 14. The former fifth-round pick by the Phillies in 2014 out of Sacramento State missed all of last year due to a torn ACL that he suffered in spring training with the Phils. He was hitting .233/.340/.474 with an .813 OPS, nine home runs and 27 RBI in 133 at-bats before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
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