6 days agoAtlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that catcher
Sean Murphy (oblique) has advanced to hitting in the batting cages after hitting off a tee twice last week. Murphy is inching closer to a return from the Grade 1 left-oblique strain that he suffered in the season opener. The 29-year-old is going to need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he returns to the Braves, too, so fantasy baseball managers are going to need to wait a little longer before they get the catcher back. The former third-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2016 out of Wright State was a first-time All-Star in 2023 in his first season with the Braves and should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues as one of the better offensive catchers in baseball when healthy. Veteran
Travis d'Arnaud will continue to serve as the team's starter behind the plate until Murphy returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday, his first time throwing off a mound since landing on the 15-day injured list last week with right-shoulder inflammation. Rodriguez mixed in all of his pitches on Wednesday and felt good after the session. It remains to be seen if the Orioles will send the 24-year-old out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but in any case, it's looking like he won't have to miss much time. It's great news for his fantasy baseball managers. The former 11th overall pick in 2018 should remain rostered in all fantasy formats. Rodriguez has started the season going 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA (3.56 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP while walking 12 and striking out 37 in 34 innings over his six starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
6 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays reinstated right-hander
Taj Bradley (pectoral) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, and he'll take the rotation spot of fellow right-hander
Ryan Pepiot, who was placed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday with a left lower-leg contusion. Bradley is expected to make his season debut for the Rays on Friday at home against the division-rival New York Yankees after looking strong during his minor-league rehab assignment. The 23-year-old initially suffered his pectoral injury while pitching in spring training. Bradley, one of the team's former top prospects, was inconsistent in his major-league debut in 2023 with a 5.59 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, but he also walked just 39 and struck out 129 in 104 2/3 innings over 23 appearances (21 starts). He needs to be rostered in most mixed fantasy leagues now that he's about to make his 2024 debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications
6 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays officially placed right-hander
Ryan Pepiot (leg) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 6) on Wednesday with a left lower-leg contusion. Pepiot, who took a line drive off his leg in his last outing on Sunday against the New York Mets, will be eligible to come off the injured list on May 21. Because the 26-year-old isn't dealing with an arm injury of any kind, there's a good chance he'll return for fantasy baseball managers when he's eligible. The former third-round selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 out of Butler has a 3-2 record, a solid 3.68 ERA (3.66 FIP) and 0.93 WHIP with 11 walks and 41 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings over his first seven starts in 2024. Pepiot is a solid asset in all fantasy leagues, but be mindful of the fact that he's never gone over 42 innings pitched in his two major-league seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Paul Skenes, the top prospect in all of baseball after going first overall in last year's draft out of LSU, will finally make his major-league debut this Saturday at PNC Park against the visiting Chicago Cubs. The 21-year-old really didn't have anything left to prove at Triple-A Indianapolis after posting a 0.99 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with eight walks and 45 strikeouts in just 27 1/3 innings over seven starts, but the Pirates were intent on getting him properly built up for his eventual promotion to the big leagues. Skenes might not be as dominant right away in the majors for Pittsburgh, but he should at least be immediately serviceable in all fantasy formats because of his strikeout upside. He has been considered the best pitching prospect in baseball since
Stephen Strasburg. Pick Skenes up ASAP if he's somehow available on your waiver wire.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Jason Mackey
6 days agoCincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that a new fracture was revealed in first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand's right hand, and he'll miss a month to six weeks as he heals. Encarnacion-Strand was hit by a pitch on his right hand at the end of April, but initial tests didn't reveal the fracture. Not only is the 24-year-old now out for the foreseeable future, but he has started the 2024 season ice-cold at the plate, slashing just .190/.220/.293 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 116 at-bats. Despite the disappointing start to his sophomore season, CES should stay rostered in the majority of mixed fantasy leagues.
Jeimer Candelario should slide over to first base the majority of time Encarnacion-Strand is out, allowing
Santiago Espinal to see more playing time at third base.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
6 days agoThe Boston Red Sox reinstated right-hander
Nick Pivetta (elbow) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned right-hander
Naoyuki Uwasawa to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. The Red Sox also reinstated infielder/outfielder
Romy Gonzalez (wrist) from the 10-day IL and designated infielder
Zack Short for assignment. Pivetta will immediately return to Boston's starting rotation and will toe the rubber on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves. The 31-year-old has been out since April 9 due to a right-elbow flexor strain. Pivetta threw only 62 pitches in his only minor-league rehab start and should be considered a poor streaming option in his first game back against the potent Braves lineup. It doesn't mean he shouldn't be rostered everywhere after starting with a 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with 13 K's in his first two starts in 2024, though.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
6 days agoLos Angeles Angels infielder
Brandon Drury (hamstring) left Wednesday's win against the Pittsburgh Pirates early with left-hamstring tightness. Drury was replaced after six inning at first base by
Nolan Schanuel. The 31-year-old went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in the eventual 5-4 win. Drury also missed several games last month with a hamstring injury, so it should be a pretty big concern that he might have to go on the injured list with his latest hamstring issue. Coming into Wednesday's game, Drury had been cold at the plate all year with a .158 average (16-for-101) with just one home run and five RBI. If Drury is forced to miss additional time with his hamstring injury,
Ehire Adrianza and
Cole Tucker could continue to find themselves in the lineup for the Halos on the infield.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
6 days agoTexas Rangers general manager
Chris Young said that right-hander
Max Scherzer (back, thumb) has been shut down from throwing for a few days while still dealing with a right- thumb/forearm issue. Scherzer doesn't have a timetable to resume throwing, but Young said he won't throw again until any tightness/discomfort is gone. The Rangers aren't going to take any chances with the 39-year-old veteran, who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since having surgery on Dec. 15 to fix a herniated disc in his back. Scherzer's thumb became a problem after his first minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on April 24. Originally hoping to return to Texas' starting rotation in May, Scherzer could now be pushed back until June, depending on when he resumes throwing. With
Dane Dunning (shoulder) now in the injured list,
Jose Urena should stay locked into the rotation for at least a bit longer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
6 days agoThe Texas Rangers placed right-hander
Dane Dunning (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with a right rotator-cuff strain. In additional moves, the Rangers outfielder
Robbie Grossman was added to the active roster after being acquired in
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6 days agoThe game between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday has been postponed due to inclement weather at Busch Stadium. The contest will be made up on Monday, Aug. 5, at 4:15 pm central time. Left-handed veteran
Jose Quintana was set to start for the Mets on Wednesday and be opposed by right-hander
Sonny Gray of the Cardinals. Quintana should now be expected to start Friday's series opener against the Atlanta Braves, while Gray will likely pitch in the series opener on Thursday in Milwaukee against the Brewers. Fantasy baseball managers obviously need to remove any players from their starting lineups that are on these two teams.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rob Rains
6 days agoThe Miami Marlins reinstated left-hander
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and placed right-hander
Edward Cabrera (shoulder) on the 15-day IL in a corresponding move with a right-shoulder impingement. Garrett, who hasn't pitch in the big leagues yet in 2024, is expected to make his first start of the year on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The 26-year-old has returned from a shoulder impingement of his own. Even though Sunday's matchup against the Phils isn't the best he could have for his first start back, Garrett is worth rostering in most mixed leagues now that he's healthy. Garrett looked good on his minor-league rehab assignment and went 9-7 last year with a 3.66 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a career-high 156 K's in 159 2/3 innings over 31 outings (30 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Miami Marlins
6 days agoThe Miami Marlins placed right-hander
Edward Cabrera (shoulder) on the injured list on Wednesday with a right-shoulder impingement. Cabrera was pulled from his outing early on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers after allowing a grand slam in just two innings of work, and now he'll be forced to miss at least several weeks. It's the second time he's gone on the IL in the last three months, and walks have also continued to be a major issue for the 26-year-old. In his five starts this year, Cabrera has a rough 7.17 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 1.59 WHIP with 14 walks and 31 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings pitched. The strikeout upside is evident, but until Cabrera can stay healthy and show a better command of his pitches, fantasy managers in mixed leagues should look for better options. The good news for the Marlins is that left-hander
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) has been activated and is ready to make his 2024 debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sports Grid - Craig Mish
6 days agoThe Cincinnati Reds placed infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right ulnar styloid fracture and signed infielder
Mike Ford to a one-year major-league contract in a corresponding move. Left-hander
Brandon Williamson (shoulder) was also moved to the 60-day injured list. Encarnacion-Strand fractured his right hand when he was hit by a pitch late last month and missed four games as a result. With the 24-year-old out for at least the next 10 days, Ford and
Jeimer Candelario should be options to fill in at first base for the Reds moving forward. Candelario is getting the start at the cold corner on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with
Santiago Espinal at third base. In addition to his injury, it's been a bad start for CES, as he's hitting just .190 (22-for-116) with two homers and 16 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
6 days agoDetroit Tigers second base/third base prospect
Jace Jung went 3-for-4 at the plate and hit his sixth home run of the 2024 campaign. Jung has posted an overall .280/.397/.525 slash line in 33 games this season in his first taste of Triple-A ball. Jung is expected to reach the major leagues this summer but is making a case to be promoted much earlier than anticipated. The fourth overall prospect in the Tigers pipeline has yet to face any major setbacks at any level of the majors and is worth stashing in deeper redraft leagues, as it looks like he could make an immediate impact when promoted.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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