6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder
Joey Ortiz (foot) is back at third base and is batting fifth against Miami Marlins left-hander
Trevor Rogers on Tuesday. Ortiz was hit by a pitch on his foot in Monday's loss to the Fish but had X-rays come back clean after the game, allowing him to return to the lineup the very next day. The former fourth-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of New Mexico State has gotten hot since the end of April and is now slashing .290/.398/.533 with a .931 OPS, five home runs, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 107 at-bats. He has never faced Rogers in his career but has hit just .148 (4-for-27) with one of his five home runs against left-handed pitching in 2024. In the last 14 days, Ortiz has gone 13-for-39 (.333) with four of his five long balls on the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Brewers
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) hit on the field on Tuesday and ran at 80 percent intensity. The Phillies are encouraged by his progress but continue to say that Turner will not be rushed. The 30-year-old All-Star has not reported any soreness in recent days as he has increased his baseball activities, which is another great sign. Turner is making excellent progress from a left-hamstring injury that was initially expected to keep him out for around six weeks. If he keeps progressing at this rate, though, it might be hard for the Phillies to keep him from coming back well before that mark. Before getting hurt, Turner was hitting an inflated .343 (47-for-137) with two home runs, nine RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Edmundo Sosa has filled in nicely at the 6 in his stead, but Turner is the unquestioned starter at short in Philly when he's healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Edmundo Sosa is taking a day off on Tuesday against the visiting Texas Rangers. With
Trea Turner (hamstring) currently on the injured list with a hammy strain, Sosa has become the club's regular shortstop. With Sosa on the bench Tuesday,
Bryson Stott will slide over to the 6 while
Kody Clemens starts at second base and bats seventh against Rangers right-hander
Jon Gray. Sosa has been a great fill-in on the infield for the Phillies, as he's hitting .296 (16-for-54) on the year, albeit with just one home run and eight RBI. Expect the 28-year-old to return to the lineup on Wednesday. Clemens has never faced Gray in his career. Despite going 9-for-28 (.321) this year with three home runs, Clemens will be a low-upside DFS play on Tuesday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoHouston Astros infield prospect
Jesus Bastidas has been off to a hot start with Triple-A Sugar Land and was named Pacific Coast Triple-A Player of the Week. Over his past six games, the 25-year-old has posted an incredible .542/.571/.1.292 slash line with four home runs, one stolen base, and a 3:3 BB:K ratio. Through 40 total games this season, Bastidas has a .307/.383/.620 slash line with 11 total home runs. He is on pace to set a career-high in almost every statistic. The 25-year-old could see an opportunity in the major leagues later this summer but is worth monitoring nonetheless in dynasty leagues as it looks like he has finally been able to put all of the pieces together.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter will take a seat on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies with a left-hander on the mound in
Ranger Suarez. Carter, who is still only 21 years old, has hit just .205/.293/.394 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 23 runs scored in 40 games in 2024 in his first full season in the big leagues. Against left-handers, he has just three hits in 27 at-bats with one walk and 10 strikeouts. If Carter continues to struggle offensively for the reigning World Series champions, he could find himself on the bench more often than not when a lefty is on the mound.
Ezequiel Duran is in left field and is hitting fifth against Suarez on Tuesday. Duran is hitting a strong .286 (24-for-84) on the year but has just four RBI and has yet to clear the fences. He's never faced Suarez in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia (forearm) remains out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Derek Hill was called up from Triple-A Round Rock and will get the start in right field on Tuesday while batting eighth against Phillies left-hander
Ranger Suarez. Garcia was scratched from Sunday's lineup with right-forearm discomfort after colliding with second baseman
Marcus Semien on Saturday. The good news is that the 31-year-old right-handed slugger isn't suffering from a serious injury and could be back in the lineup as early as Wednesday's contest in Philly. When healthy and in the lineup, Garcia is a must-start in all fantasy formats, despite the fact he's hit just .188 (13-for-69) with three homers and 10 RBI in 17 games in May. Overall, he's batting .251 with 11 long balls, 35 RBI and four steals in 175 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
6 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Zach Logue was named International League Triple-A Pitcher Of The Week after tossing a one-hit seven-inning gem. He allowed no runs, no walks, and struck out eight batters. Logue has performed well with Triple-A this season with a solid 2.43 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. Logue has only seen a few opportunities in the majors, but due to his strong start to the season, he could be given a longer leash this time around. The 28-year-old could become a name to monitor and might be worth adding in NL-only redraft leagues when he is promoted to the major league roster, as he will either be used as a spot starter or given opportunities to tally holds behind a strong Braves team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Gwinnett Stripers
6 days agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl (thumb) is hoping to start swinging off a tee sometime this week. Friedl fractured his left thumb over a week ago but apparently is already getting close to swinging a bat again. It's remarkable progress for the 28-year-old, but the Reds could still choose to slow-play his rehab, and there's no current timetable for a return. When healthy, the former undrafted free agent is a regular in Cincy's lineup against right-handed pitching while batting from the left side. He's been extremely unfortunate with injuries in 2024, already fracturing his thumb and wrist, which has limited him to just 22 at-bats. Friedl has just four hits (no homers) in those 22 at-bats with two RBI and two stolen bases. He hit .279 with 18 homers, 66 RBI and 27 steals in 138 games in 2023, making him stash-worthy in at least deep-mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
6 days agoBoston Red Sox starting pitching prospect
Zach Penrod was recently named Eastern League Pitcher Of The Week. Penrod has been outstanding this season with Double-A Portland as he has pitched 30 innings to the tune of a 2.10 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a solid 44:12 K:BB ratio. This past week, the southpaw tallied ten punchouts in consecutive outings for the first time in his career. Penrod has looked quite solid after recovering from Tommy John surgery the past few seasons. Last year, he held a 2.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 20:11 K:BB ratio through 20 ⅔ innings with High-A. Penrod should be a name to monitor this summer, as he has looked quite strong since the end of his recovery and could become a name to target in dynasty leagues down the road.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Portland Sea Dogs
6 days agoCincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (groin) has a long bullpen session scheduled for the next day or two, according to manager David Bell. The next steps/return plan will be revealed after Lodolo throws his bullpen this week. Lodolo was placed on the 15-day injured list with a groin injury and will be eligible to return on May 27. The 26-year-old southpaw has been optimistic that he'll be back in Cincy's rotation when eligible, but we'll have to see if that comes to fruition. In order for that to happen, Lodolo might have to skip a minor-league rehab assignment. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU pitched in only seven games in 2023 due to a stress fracture in his leg. In six starts so far this year, he has a career-best 3.34 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with nine walks and 43 strikeouts in 35 innings. For his strikeout upside alone, Lodolo deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
6 days agoMinnesota Twins starting pitching prospect
Andrew Morris was promoted to Double-A on Tuesday, May 21. Morris has been excellent this season and was recently named the High-A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week on May 19 due to his stellar outing on May 15, in which he tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit and tallying six punchouts. Through 37 ⅔ innings at High-A this season, the 22-year-old has a 2.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 43:7 K:BB ratio. The former fourth-round selection is considered the number 18 prospect in Minnesota on MLB Pipeline, but that could change over the summer as Morris settles in at Double-A. He should be monitored closely by dynasty managers as he could push for a late-season promotion to Triple-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks third base prospect
Deyvison De Los Santos was promoted to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, May 21. The number 14 prospect in the Arizona pipeline has been off to a scorching start of the season at the plate with Double-A and was rewarded for this by moving up to the final stop in the minor leagues. Through 38 games this season with Double-A Amarillo, the 20-year-old posted an incredible .372/.426/.696 slash line with 14 home runs, 37 RBI, and a 12:36 BB:K ratio. De Los Santos spent all of last season with Double-A but posted a mediocre .254/.297/.431 line with 20 home runs. This recent promotion now opens the door for a late-season major league debut, especially due to his impressive start. The 20-year-old should be rostered in most dynasty leagues and could become a popular stash candidate if he can carry this momentum into his taste of Triple-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB Central
6 days agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
Spencer Steer (ankle) is sitting out of the starting lineup again on Tuesday against the visiting San Diego Padres. Steer didn't play on Sunday and remains sidelined despite the Reds having a scheduled day off on Monday. The 26-year-old was able to make a pinch-hitting appearance on Sunday, though, and says he's available off the bench once again on Tuesday. It means that Steer is unlikely to land on the injured list, and fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. In his absence on Tuesday, rookie
Jacob Hurtubise is starting in left field and batting leadoff against Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove, who is making his first start off the injured list. Hurtubise has DFS sleeper upside in the leadoff spot and has gone 2-for-8 with a walk and a strikeout in his first six big-league games this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSan Diego Padres second baseman
Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) is out of the starting lineup on Tuesday for the series opener in Cincinnati against the Reds. Bogaerts hurt his left shoulder diving for a ball on Monday early on in the first game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves and was kept out of Game 2, so this will be his second straight missed game.
Luis Arraez will once again start at second base and hit leadoff, while
Donovan Solano is the designated hitter and is batting sixth against Reds left-hander
Andrew Abbott. Tests on Bogaerts' shoulder on Monday came back negative, so he's currently considered day-to-day. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Wednesday to see if he's back in action. Bogaerts has been a disappointment so far in 2024 with a .219 average, four homers, 14 RBI and four steals, but he just snapped a six-game hitting streak on Monday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSan Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) has officially been reinstated from the 15-day injured list and is returning to start on Tuesday on the road in Cincinnati against the Reds. Musgrove is returning from a bout with right-elbow inflammation that has sidelined him since May 1. The 31-year-old has been hit around a bit so far in 2024 and has been leaving the ball up often, but he did look a lot better against these same Reds in San Diego his last time out on May 1, when he went six innings with two runs allowed and a season-high nine strikeouts. It's a very favorable matchup, as the Reds rank 28th out of 30 teams with a .652 OPS, but Musgrove will still be a shaky option for fantasy lineups because of the fact that he didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning. He enters the day 3-3 with a bloated 6.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 36 K's in 41 innings over eight starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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