5 days agoToronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever
Chad Green (shoulder) said he felt good during a nine-pitch minor-league rehab outing on Sunday for Triple-A Buffalo. Green will throw another inning for the Bisons on Wednesday, and the Blue Jays are hoping he'll be ready to return from the injured list after that. The 32-year-old veteran tossed a scoreless inning on Sunday and struck out one. He landed on the injured list in the middle of April after straining his right shoulder, but Green appears to be healthy now and ready to rejoin Toronto's bullpen as a late-inning setup man in front of closer
Jordan Romano. When Romano opened the 2024 season on the injured list himself, Green filled in as the Jays' primary ninth-inning man. Green is a handcuff option for Romano and can also be useful in holds leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
5 days agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates recalled infielder/outfielder
Ji Hwan Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday and optioned right-hander
Ryder Ryan to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. Bae has earned the call-up to Pittsburgh by dominating Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .367/.479/.551 slash line with a 1.030 OPS, four home runs, 15 RBI, seven stolen bases and 23 runs scored in 27 games on the farm. The 24-year-old South Korean will essentially serve as a super-utility player for the Pirates, as he played center field, left field and second base for Indianapolis. Bae made his major-league debut for the Bucs in 2022 and has played in 121 games the previous two years, hitting .240 (88-for-367) with two homers, 38 RBI and 27 stolen bases. His speed will mainly be attractive for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
5 days agoNew York Mets third baseman
Brett Baty, who opened the year as the team's starting third baseman, has already seen his playing time cut because of a timeshare with
Mark Vientos. It's unclear how long the Mets plan to continue the platoon at third, but it's not a roster construction designed for the long haul. At some point, the Mets will need to make a decision. In four games since rejoining the Mets, Vientos is 4-for-14 with two doubles, while Baty is 2-for-10 with a double. Over the last month since April 20, Baty is 13-for-77 (.169) with a 30.2% strikeout rate. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Baty has given the team strong defense at third, but they need more from him at the plate from a position that's known for providing much more offense. If the 24-year-old Baty doesn't pick things up soon at the plate, he could start losing even more playing time to Vientos.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Daniel Hudson locked down Monday's win over the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, striking out two batters in a clean ninth inning for his third save. Hudson needed 20 pitches to retire the side in order and stymie Arizona's late comeback attempt, but he got the job done in Monday's save situation. The 37-year-old veteran right-hander has flourished out of LA's bullpen this season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP while fanning 22 and walking only one with three saves over 20 innings of work. While save opportunities have been few and far between for the Dodgers as of late, Hudson should be viewed as the temporary favorite for ninth-inning work until star closer
Evan Phillips (hamstring) returns from his minor-league rehab assignment.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
5 days agoLos Angeles Angels closer
Carlos Estevez hung on for his seventh save of the year in Monday's win over the division-rival Houston Astros, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning. It was another shaky outing for Estevez, who allowed the potential game-winning run to get to the plate in the form of Astros third baseman
Alex Bregman before putting out the fire. Although the 31-year-old veteran right-hander was an All-Star in 2023, he's blown three saves to go with a 5.17 ERA (3.85 FIP) over 15 2/3 innings in 2024. Estevez and his expiring contract should make him a trade candidate for the Halos later this summer, but his 17:2 K:BB and closer's role in Anaheim means he needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues at the moment. It probably wouldn't hurt fantasy managers to field some sell-high trade offers, though.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
5 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Marcus Stroman took a tough-luck no-decision in Monday's defeat to the visiting Seattle Mariners, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings.
Dominic Canzone took Stroman deep in the eighth inning, but the hurler posted his second straight quality start despite witnessing closer
Clay Holmes implode for a blown save in the ninth. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star will take an improved 3.05 WHIP, 1.30 WHIP, and 48:26 K:BB over 56 innings (10 starts) for the Yankees into his next scheduled start against the San Diego Padres on Saturday at Petco Park. Despite the tough matchup on paper, Stroman is 3-0 with a microscopic 0.47 ERA and 21:8 K:BB in three appearances versus the Padres since 2021.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto tallied his fifth win of the year in Monday's victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, tossing 6 1/3 strong innings of two-run ball on seven hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. Yamamoto rebounded after allowing four runs in his last start, turning in the fifth quality start in his last six appearances on Monday, and he hasn't lost since the Seoul Series with the division-rival San Diego Padres back in late March. The 25-year-old Japanese import has lived up to the hype during his first year in the major leagues, submitting a 3.17 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a superb 61:11 K:BB through 10 starts (54 innings) for the Dodgers this season. Yamamoto will look to keep the good times rolling in Sunday's scheduled start against the Cincinnati Reds, but it will come at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
5 days agoSan Diego Padres closer
Robert Suarez picked up his 13th save of the season in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader with the Atlanta Braves, throwing a clean ninth inning on just seven pitches. The Padres came from behind to win the opener of Monday's twin bill, scoring four runs in the eighth inning to provide Suarez with the chance to convert his first save since May 8. The 33-year-old right-hander has excelled as San Diego's go-to ninth-inning man this season, going a perfect 13-for-13 on save opportunities while surrendering a lone run with an 18:4 K:BB across 20 1/3 innings. As long as he continues throwing this well, Suarez should remain the Friars' clear-cut stopper going forward.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
5 days agoAtlanta Braves designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna launched two home runs during Monday's doubleheader with the San Diego Padres, clubbing two solo shots across the two outings. Ozuna clobbered a
Dylan Cease slider in the third inning of Game 1, later tagging Padres right-hander
Randy Vasquez for another solo jack in the fifth inning of Game 2. Well on his way to the third All-Star nod of his career, the 33-year-old veteran slugger is slashing a prolific .327/.405./642 with 14 long balls, nine doubles, 43 RBI, and 27 runs scored through 185 plate appearances (44 games) as Atlanta's everyday DH in the heart of their lineup. Next up for Ozuna is a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, and he's batting .333 (9-for-27) with one round-tripper and five RBI in his last eight games against the Cubs on the road.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
5 days agoWashington Nationals pitching prospect
Cade Cavalli (elbow) began his rehab assignment on Monday in the Florida Complex League and performed well. The right-hander threw in a competitive game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023 and tossed 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. He also allowed one hit, one walk and recorded five strikeouts. Cavalli threw 44 pitches in the contest and will continue to build his arm up. The 25-year-old is scheduled for another start in five days, and it is likely that he will continue to build up through the minor leagues before any talk of a big-league promotion at the moment. Cavalli was once the top prospect for the Nationals and still remains one of their better pitching prospects, but fantasy managers in all formats will want to monitor his recovery before making a move, as he is unlikely to make much of an impact in fantasy circles this season.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports
5 days agoThe Atlanta Braves have recalled No. 14 prospect, pitcher
Darius Vines. Vines will replace starting pitcher
Bryce Elder on the roster, but it has not been confirmed if Vines will operate as a long-relief option or step into Elder's spot in the rotation. Vines has been up and down between the big-league club and Triple-A Gwinnett this season. For Gwinnett, Vines has made six starts and is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA to go along with an unimpressive 1.25 WHIP. In his two starts at the big-league level this season. Vines has allowed five runs in 9 2/3 innings with four of those runs coming in one start. With an unknown role and Vines likely to continue being elevated up and down from the farm to the Braves, he can be avoided for now in most formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
5 days agoThe Chicago White Sox have promoted infielder
Jacob Gonzalez from High-A Winston Salem to Double-A Birmingham. Gonzalez, 21, was the teams first-round pick in 2023 and hit .273 with three homers, 15 RBI and seven stolen bases over his first 36 games for Winston-Salem this season. The White Sox feel he has outplayed High-A pitching and Gonzalez will now try his bat against better pitching. Gonzalez has very good plate discipline, which is very important in any prospect and he has shown good power potential. He is still a couple seasons away from making the show and remains an option in dynasty leagues only.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Chase Ford
5 days agoMinnesota Twins outfield prospect
Walker Jenkins (hamstring) returned to the Twins rookie-level complex facility on Monday as a designated hitter to begin his return to action. Jenkins, 19, is the Twins No.1 prospect and he has been sidelined all season with a left hamstring strain. The outfielder has dealt with a flurry of injuries since being selected with the fifth overall pick in 2023, but he offers plenty to be excited about when he is healthy. Swinging from the left side, Jenkins has very quick bat speed and he makes a lot of hard contact. His power should also continue to improve as his body is still maturing. Jenkins is likely to open his season in Single-A, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him reach High-A before the season is over with an eye on Double-A next season. Jenkins is still a few years away from a potential big-league promotion, but he is worth a look in dynasty leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Nightengale
5 days agoMinnesota Twins shortstop prospect
Brooks Lee (back) has returned to action at the Twins rookie-level complex facility in Fort Meyers, Florida and suited up at shortstop on Monday. Lee, 23, had a nice spring training in the Grapefruit League and had a chance to break camp with the team, but he suffered what would eventually be a herniated disc that had sidelined him since. When healthy, Lee has shown he has good plate discipline and makes good contact at the plate. He also can play defensively around the diamond, which adds to his future value and could bring him to the big leagues sooner than later. Lee still has a lot of work to get through with his recovery, but he could make his debut in the show this summer, if he proves to be fully healthy. The switch-hitter is worth monitoring in all formats, but his true value in 2024 should be focused in dynasty leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Nightengale
6 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (3-2) had a night to forget Monday, allowing eight runs on 10 hits while recording just three strikeouts with one walk in a 9-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Every starting pitcher, even the best ones, is
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