5 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) is taking full batting practice on the field on Tuesday for the first time since going on the injured list with a left MCL sprain two weeks ago. It's good progress for Thomas, but he still has other boxes to check before the club clears him to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment. Barring a setback with his knee, the 28-year-old should be able to return to Washington's lineup before the end of May. In his absence, the left-handed-hitting
Jesse Winker has seen more run in the Nationals' outfield. When he's healthy, Thomas will return to everyday duties for the team despite hitting .184 in his first 87 at-bats. He had added two home runs, 10 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Thomas' 20-20 potential makes him stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
5 days agoChicago White Sox shortstop prospect
Colson Montgomery launched another home run on Tuesday, his second in the past two days. After not tallying a long ball in his first 11 games of the season, the 22-year-old now has six in his last 19 games at Triple-A. He has an overall .230/.360/.434 line. While Montgomery seems to be settling in from a power standpoint, he is still striking out at a very high rate. The top prospect in the Chicago system has struck out 42 total times, which is on pace to become a new career-high. Montgomery should be expected to be promoted to the major league roster sometime this summer but could be called up even sooner if he can continue to showcase his raw power and drop his strikeout rate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoThe Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder
Victor Robles (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder
Alex Call to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. Robles will return to the big leagues after missing more than a month due to a strained left hamstring. The 26-year-old went 7-for-20 with a stolen base in six minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Rochester, but he was not immediately back in the big-league lineup for the Nats on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles. The Dominican speedster has been a disappointment in his seven years in D.C., so regular playing time will not be guaranteed now that he's back, especially since
Jacob Young has played well in his absence.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Washington Nationals
5 days agoOakland Athletics shortstop prospect
Jacob Wilson went 4-for-4 with a walk in Tuesday's victory over the Tulsa Drillers. Wilson tallied two runs and two RBI as well. The 22-year-old wasted no time by lacing an RBI double in the opening frame, and then came around to score off a
Cooper Bowman groundout. Later in the third, Wilson knocked a single and then scored his second run courtesy of Bowman again, this time off a double. Then in the sixth, he tallied his first RBI of the game off a walk and brought in his second run in the eighth off an RBI single. The former sixth overall pick is riding an incredible .455/.473/.705 slash line through 22 games at Double-A. Wilson should be rostered in all dynasty leagues and could even make a late-season push to the major leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs left-handers
Drew Smyly (hip) and
Jordan Wicks (forearm) were both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday. Wicks went on the injured list over a week ago with a strained left forearm but is already good to throw off a mound, so it sounds as though his injury isn't very serious. However, the 24-year-old southpaw could need a minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs feel comfortable returning him to their starting rotation. Smyly, 34, is recovering from a right-hip impingement and has already missed several weeks. Because Smyly is a reliever, he may not need as lengthy of a rehab assignment before rejoining Chicago's bullpen. In a starting role, Wicks is more attractive in fantasy in deeper leagues. He had a 4.70 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and 28 K's in five starts before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Andy Martinez
5 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. Suzuki has been away from the team for almost three weeks due to a right-oblique strain, but barring a setback in the minors this week, the 29-year-old outfielder could come off the 10-day injured list and return to Chicago's lineup this weekend. When he's back, Suzuki will return to an everyday role in the Cubbies' outfield, potentially pushing rookie
Pete Crow-Armstrong back to the minor leagues now that
Cody Bellinger (ribs) is also back. The Japanese right-handed hitter was batting a strong .305 (18-for-59) with three home runs, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored in his first 15 games for the Cubs before injuring his oblique. Hopefully, he can pick up where he left off when he returns to Chicago.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Andy Martinez
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) said his right shoulder feels much better. He's been playing catch and is hoping to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list when he's eligible to return on May 15. The move to place Rodriguez on the IL was more of a precautionary move since he had been battling through shoulder inflammation recently, so the 24-year-old might not need a lengthy stay on the sidelines. It's great news for the O's and fantasy managers. As long as he avoids any setbacks, Rodriguez may only be required to make one minor-league rehab start before returning to Baltimore. Before his injury, he had gone 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA in his six starts. Rodriguez deserves to be kept in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues while he rehabs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
5 days agoCleveland Guardians catching prospect
Ralphy Velazquez has been settling in quite nicely in his first taste of Single-A ball. The 18-year-old has posted a .264/.343/.505 line with six long balls and 21 RBI through 22 games this season. He has also stolen one base and has an 11:21 BB:K ratio. The former first-round pick is showing elite power and could make a case to see time in High-A later this summer. Velazquez is ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the Cleveland system on MLB Pipeline and is worth monitoring in dynasty leagues as he has the potential to emerge as not only the top prospect in his team's system but in all of baseball.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw another bullpen session on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone said the plan is for Cole to travel with the team to Tampa and throw another bullpen session this weekend. Cole threw off a mound for the first time last Saturday and continues to progress from a right-elbow injury that landed him on the injured list to begin the 2024 season. The 33-year-old still has a ways to go before he's able to make his season debut, but he's making progress and is currently on track to return to the Yankees' starting rotation in mid-June. Fantasy baseball managers must remain patient, though, as the Yankees aren't going to rush last year's American League Cy Young winner back too soon. Keep him stashed everywhere.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
5 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Jasson Dominguez (elbow) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment in mid-to-late May. The 21-year-old continues recovering from last year's Tommy John surgery. The hope is that Dominguez can rejoin the outfield mix at some point next month. The top prospect did well with the team during his first taste of big league action last season. He should be an impact player once he's back to full health.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Max Goodman
5 days agoUpdating a previous report, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher
Gabriel Moreno (illness) is under the weather and is getting the day off on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The hope is that Moreno will be back in the lineup on Wednesday. He's available off the bench on Tuesday, Lovullo said. It's the second straight day that Moreno will be on the bench, as he was also given the day off in the series finale on Sunday against the San Diego Padres.
Tucker Barnhart got the start behind the dish and is hitting eighth in the order against Reds right-hander
Frankie Montas, who is making his first start since coming off the injured list. The 24-year-old Moreno is hitting .241 (21-for-87) with 14 RBI, but he has yet to clear the fences in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
5 days agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique) was able to take swings in the batting cage on Tuesday. Manager Scott Servais mentioned that Crawford should be able to start swinging on the field this weekend. If he's 100 percent this weekend then Crawford should be able to go on a rehab assignment next week. Crawford has been out of the lineup since late April due to an oblique injury.
Dylan Moore will cover shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander
Bailey Ober on Tuesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Divish
5 days agoSeattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The switch-hitting backstop will get a day off after going 2-for-15 over his last four games. To be fair, Raleigh did have two home runs during that span which is what he's known for doing.
Seby Zavala will be behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander
Bailey Ober.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Cristian Javier (neck) is scheduled to make his return to the mound this weekend. The 27-year-old appears to be ready to pitch after making a rehab start in Double-A on Saturday. This is good news for the Astros who have a banged up rotation right now. Javier will get a favorable matchup against the Detroit Tigers. There shouldn't be any restrictions on Javier, so fantasy managers should feel safe plugging him right back into their lineups.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Robert Flores
5 days agoSan Diego Padres second baseman
Luis Arraez (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. This appears to be a routine rest day for Arraez against tough left-hander
Shota Imanaga. The 27-year-old infielder was acquired by the Padres over the weekend. He has five hits and one RBI since joining the team. In his absence,
Xander Bogaerts will cover second base and bat fifth on Tuesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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