6 days agoToronto Blue Jays relief pitcher
Chad Green (shoulder) was unavailable during Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the division-rival New York Yankees due to shoulder soreness he felt following Monday's appearance against the Yankees. Manager John Schneider hopes Green is good to go by Friday for the start of a three-game weekend set on the road against the San Diego Padres. The 32-year-old right-hander picked up two saves and helped bridge the gap until
Jordan Romano and
Erik Swanson were able to rejoin Toronto's bullpen on Tuesday, and he has a strong 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out seven batters and walking two over 7 2/3 innings during the 2024 regular season. With that said, Green doesn't hold a whole lot of fantasy appeal at the moment outside of leagues that weigh holds.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson - MLB.com
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Josue De Paula went 0-for-4 on Tuesday for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, bringing his season average down to .176. While he started the season with a six-game hit streak, none were multi-hit efforts and he's yet to hit his first home run of the 2024 campaign. De Paula had a solid 2023 in which he finished with a .284 average, stole 14 bases, and had a strong 13.5% BB%, but it hasn't carried over to 2024 thus far. At just 18 years old, he's the Dodgers' fourth-ranked prospect and 95th overall per MLB.com. The lefty has had some lofty comparisons so hopefully he can get going. For dynasty purposes, if he lives up to his comps then managers are sitting on a gold mine, although it will be some time till we see him in L.A.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoThe Los Angeles Angels announced on Wednesday that relief pitcher
Robert Stephenson (shoulder, elbow) will miss the rest of the 2024 season due to an elbow injury, and they'll have more details on his setback on Thursday. Working his way back from discomfort in his right shoulder, Stephenson was removed from his first rehab minor-league appearance on Sunday after facing just one hitter and feeling something in his right elbow. The hard-throwing 31-year-old right-hander signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Halos after notching a 2.35 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, and 60:8 K:BB over 38 1/3 innings with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023, and it's worth noting he dealt with inflammation in his right elbow in 2023.
Carlos Estevez will be leaned on for ninth-inning work in Anaheim's bullpen for the remainder of the year, and he's converted three of his first four saves while giving up only two runs with a 5:0 K:BB in six innings.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher - The Orange County Register
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies third base prospect
Aidan Miller had four hits for Single-A Clearwater on Wednesday. It was his fourth multi-hit game in his last six, and he's now batting .359 with four doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, eleven runs scored, and five stolen bases. At just 19 years old, he's the Phillies' top-ranked offensive prospect and ranks 56th overall per MLB.com. He's not going to see the inside of Citizens Bank Park this season, but for dynasty managers he offers big-time power and clearly has the speed to steal some bases.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfield prospect
Owen Caissie hit his first home run of 2024 as part of a two-hit day on Wednesday for Triple-A Iowa. He also walked once. Caissie got off to a hot start with six hits in his first two games but has cooled considerably since, going 6-for-41 (.146) through Sunday. Over the last two games he's 3-for-6 with a triple, a home run, an RBI, three runs scored, and three walks. It may take an injury or trade though to get the call to the big league club, as the Cubs already called up fellow outfield prospect
Alexander Canario this week as a right-handed platoon bat instead of Caissie's left-handed bat. The Cubs also have their top-ranked prospect in the minors as well in Pete-Crow Armstrong, so there's a logjam in the outfield. Should Caissie get the call he'd likely at least hold his own, as he posted a strong .333-2-11-9-2 line in spring training for the Cubs this year.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays infield prospect
Orelvis Martinez launched a 469-foot grand slam on Wednesday for Triple-A Buffalo. It was the only hit he had in the game, but it was a big one as it put the Bisons ahead in extra-innings and extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The 22-year-old is making his best case for a promotion, hitting .296 with six doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, and 13 runs scored over 14 games in 2024.
Bo Bichette has him blocked at shortstop though, so he'd have to play third or second base. Wherever he ends up, he'll bring plenty of pop with his 60-grade power.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins outfield prospect
Victor Mesa Jr. had his second straight three-hit game and second straight game with a home run for Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday. After starting the season 4-for-22 (.181) with no home runs, the 22-year-old has gone 10-for-21 (.476) with three home runs over his last five games. Last season the lefty hit just .242 in 123 games at Double-A but he belted 18 home runs as a 21-year-old. In 2024, the Marlins' top-ranked offensive prospect is hitting .387 with three doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, and six runs scored. Per MLB.com, Mesa Jr. has an ETA of 2025, however, if the Marlins continue on their current path of futility it could make sense to get him some big league at-bats this season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho belted two home runs in Wednesday's game versus the division-rival New York Yankees, but it wasn't enough as his team fell 6-4. Varsho's first homer was a two-run shot that went 373 feet to right center field to score
Davis Schneider in the second inning, and his second blast traveled 392 feet to give the Jays a temporary 3-1 lead during the seventh frame. The 27-year-old converted catcher had a strong spring training, and he's offering plenty of power with four round-trippers and eight RBI in 55 at-bats to begin the 2024 season. Even so, he's only batting .218 across 19 outings and will likely need to pick it up in the speed department (one stolen base) to overcome hitting in the lower part of Toronto's order. Varsho has a three-game series against the San Diego Padres starting on Friday, and in 21 games against San Diego since 2022, Varsho is batting just .147 with three bombs.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Esteury Ruiz went yard in his first start from the leadoff spot since March in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, smashing a two-run jack in the third inning and also stealing a base. Ruiz's homer was a 412-foot two-run shot that brought
Max Schuemann around to score. The A's surprisingly sent the American League's 2023 stolen base leader to the minor leagues following only three games to start the 2024 season, but Ruiz is swiftly demanding the attention of fantasy managers after tearing it up in the minors. The speedy 25-year-old center fielder is now batting .357 (5-for-14) with two taters, four RBI, five runs scored, and two swipes in just six outings in the major leagues. He'll look to stay hot during a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians beginning on Friday. Across nine career games against Cleveland, Ruiz is hitting .333 (10-for-30) with five extra-base hits, six RBI, and four pilfers.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoOakland Athletics closer
Mason Miller continued to solidify himself as the team's go-to ninth-inning option in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, picking up his fourth save of the season to protect the victory. Miller allowed a leadoff walk to
Ivan Herrera but quickly settled in to retire the next three batters, striking out two. After giving up two runs in his first appearance of the 2024 campaign, the fire-balling 25-year-old right-hander has rattled off eight consecutive scoreless frames in the month of April and now owns a 2.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 17 punchouts over nine innings overall (seven appearances). The A's aren't going to win very many games this season, but Miller's current pace suggests there is a pathway to the neighborhood of 25-30 saves if he maintains a grip on Oakland's closing job and doesn't get shifted back to the starting rotation.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto enjoyed a massive day at the dish in Wednesday's 6-4 comeback win over the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBI, and two walks. Soto collected seven total bases on Wednesday, doubling during the fifth inning to bring home
Oswaldo Cabrera and get the Yankees on the board before going deep in the eighth frame. The 25-year-old four-time Silver Slugger just can't stop hitting following a scorching-hot spring training, now slashing a robust .352/.478/.577 with four dingers, four doubles, 17 RBI, 12 runs scored, and one stolen base in 90 plate appearances (19 games) in the 2024 regular season. Soto's next act will come on Friday at home for the start of a three-game weekend set versus the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. He went hitless in eight at-bats against the Rays a season ago, so fantasy managers hope Soto isn't due to cool off.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. finally got on the board in the home run department during Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Houston Astros, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Fantasy managers who spent the No. 1 overall pick on the reigning National League MVP this spring will certainly be relieved to hear that following his 16-game homerless drought to begin the 2024 season, as Acuna launched one 422 feet to center field to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. The 26-year-old is still doing just fine from a fantasy perspective, hitting .294 (20-for-68) with a .797 OPS, six RBI, 17 runs scored, and eight stolen bases to go with the aforementioned long ball atop Atlanta's potent lineup. Acuna now gets set for a marquee three-game weekend set at home versus the defending-champion Texas Rangers beginning on Friday. He hit a big fly in each of his three games against Texas in 2023.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoKansas City Royals second baseman
Michael Massey (back), who was placed on the injured list back on Opening Day due to lower back tightness, is closing in on returning to the major-league lineup and making his 2024 debut. Entering Wednesday's action, Massey is batting .407 (11-for-27) with six extra-base hits and eight RBI over six games on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. He could rejoin the Royals as early as Friday for the start of a three-game weekend set versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles. The 26-year-old lefty-hitting infielder should serve as the club's everyday second baseman upon his imminent activation, with neither
Adam Frazier nor
Nick Loftin doing much to stand out at the keystone in the early stages of the season. With KC's lineup hitting well to begin the campaign, Massey is a name to watch for fantasy managers in AL-only or deep mixed leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday. It's a significant step forward for Senga, who is recovering from a right posterior shoulder capsule strain. With the Mets having him pitch every six days instead of every five however, Senga's ramp-up process could extend a bit longer than expected. The 31-year-old All-Star right-hander is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on May 27, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be available until early June at best based on the way the team is handling their ace's recovery. Right-hander
Jose Butto is helping fill in New York's rotation for the time being, allowing just one run with 15 strikeouts over 12 innings (two starts) to begin the 2024 season. Butto should be an adequate streamer in favorable situations, but Saturday's scheduled start on the road against a vaunted Los Angeles Dodgers lineup is not one of them.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) is playing catch again on Wednesday in New York, which is his first time doing so on back-to-back days after increasing his throwing distance to 75 feet on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone said there is no set date for Cole to get on a mound, though. The Yankees will continue to take things slowly with the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, who is building his stamina back up. If all continues to go well in his recovery from discomfort in his right elbow, Cole has a chance to return to New York's rotation when he's first eligible to come off the 60-day injured list in early June. Right-handers
Clarke Schmidt and
Luis Gil should continue making starts for the Yanks through the month of May at least, but the two hurlers are only low-end fantasy streamers under the appropriate circumstances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
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