5 days agoThe Chicago Cubs placed right-hander
Colten Brewer (back) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a lower-back injury and recalled right-handed pitcher
Porter Hodge from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Brewer last pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Sunday. In a middle-relief role for the Cubs this year, the 31-year-old has been solid for the team, posting a 3.09 ERA (3.20 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. In six years in the big leagues, Brewer has a 4.78 ERA (5.06 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP with a very mediocre 20.2% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate. Hodge, 23, was a 13th-round pick by the Cubs in 2019 and will be making his big-league debut when he enters a game out of the Cubs' bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
5 days agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Miguel Andujar (knee) went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI while serving as the designated hitter in his first minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday evening. Andujar didn't play the entire game, but it was a good first test for the 29-year-old as he attempts to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him all year to this point. Andujar was swinging the bat well in spring training with the A's before injuring his knee, so it looks like he picked up where he left off. Because of the long layoff, the A's are going to make sure he gets enough at-bats in the minors before he makes his 2024 debut. Andujar's role with the A's is to be determined, but he could at least be worth considering in AL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
5 days agoThe Houston Astros are calling up left-hander
Parker Mushinski from the minors before Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a source.
Shawn Dubin threw three innings on Thursday, so he's the most likely candidate to be optioned down to the farm in a corresponding move. Mushinski, 28, will give the Astros a fresh arm out of their bullpen but is not at all on the fantasy radar. The former seventh-round pick in 2017 out of Texas Tech has allowed seven runs (five earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out two in his four relief innings in the big leagues so far this year. In his three years in the majors, Mushinski has a 5.88 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while walking 10 and striking out 25 in 26 innings out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
5 days agoThe Detroit Tigers currently have no plans to bench struggling shortstop
Javier Baez. "He's going to play, a lot," manager A.J. Hinch said. The two-time All-Star in his prime, Baez is hitting just .167 with a homer, five walks and 27 strikeouts in
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5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Michael Taylor will take a seat on the bench on Friday for the start of a series at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Taylor will retreat to the bench after starting the last four games while going 2-for-13 with a double, two runs scored and five strikeouts to drop his season slash line to a weak .222/.271/.287. The 33-year-old veteran outfielder has added only one home run, eight RBI, three stolen bases and 12 runs scored for the Bucs through a month and a half of the season.
Jack Suwinski is getting the start in center field and is batting sixth, while
Connor Joe will be in right field while hitting cleanup against Cubs right-hander
Kyle Hendricks. Both Joe and Suwinski are worth a look as DFS sleepers in the outfield on Friday against a pitcher who currently holds an 0-3 record and 10.04 ERA.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
5 days agoChicago Cubs shortstop
Dansby Swanson (knee) is taking live batting practice against left-handers
Drew Smyly (hip) and
Jordan Wicks (forearm) on Friday. Swanson is ramping up his baseball activities this week after being put on the 10-day injured list last week with a right-knee injury. The 30-year-old's injury isn't believed to be all that serious, so he certainly has a chance to come off the IL when he's eligible on Saturday. The Cubs could really use him back, as middle infielder
Nico Hoerner (hamstring) is missing his fourth straight game on Friday versus the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates with a left-hamstring ailment. Until one of Swanson or Hoerner can return,
Miles Mastrobuoni will continue manning the 6 in Chicago. Swanson's fantasy managers will be hoping he can pick things up when he returns, as he was hitting just .209 (27-for-129) with four homers, 12 RBI and four steals before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Ryan Herrera
5 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki is being rested on Friday and will start Friday's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on the bench. It appears to be a regular day of rest for Suzuki, who recently came back from a stint on the injured list due to an oblique injury. The 29-year-old has gone just 6-for-26 since coming back, but he was able to go deep in the team's last game on Wednesday against the Braves. Even after the rough stretch at the plate in May, the Japanese outfielder is still slashing a strong .282/.344/.482 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 85 at-bats for the Cubbies in 2024. Suzuki is a must-start in fantasy when he's in the lineup. With Suzuki out,
Cody Bellinger is in right field and is batting second, while rookie
Pete Crow-Armstrong will start in center field and bat eighth against Pirates rookie right-hander
Paul Skenes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs middle infielder
Nico Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Miles Mastrobuoni will get another start at the 6 and will hit sixth, with
Nick Madrigal once again manning the keystone and hitting seventh against baseball's top prospect in right-hander
Paul Skenes.
Dansby Swanson (knee) is on the injured list with knee soreness, so Chicago's middle infield is thinned out at this time. The 27-year-old Hoerner is day-to-day with left-hamstring tightness but has now missed his fourth straight game. If he's unable to rejoin the Cubs' lineup this weekend, he could join Swanson on the IL. DFS gamers can probably find better options at shortstop and second base than Mastrobuoni and Madrigal, who are both light-hitting utility infielders.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs starting pitching prospect
Cade Horton was recently promoted to Triple-A Iowa but has struggled since his call-up. Through three starts with Triple-A, the 22-year-old has an 8.25 ERA and, 1.67 WHIP with a mediocre 9:14 BB:K ratio. However, Horton began the season with Double-A Tennessee and dominated with a 1.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 2:18 BB:K ratio. Horton is considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and the second-best prospect in the Cubs system, only behind
Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is already in the major leagues. Horton should be expected to contend for a position on the major league roster later in the summer but first, he has to work through these struggles at Triple-A. He should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper leagues and will be worth stashing in redraft formats later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoAfter riding the bench for the past nine games, Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman
Chris Taylor drew the start on Thursday versus the Cincinnati Reds. Taylor picked up a single in his four at-bats, but he has struggled mightily this season with five hits in 60 at-bats to go along with five RBI and a stolen base. The veteran has had a brutal start to his 2024 season and the Dodgers will have a tough decision to make ahead of Friday's contest versus the Arizona Diamondbacks with outfielder
Jason Heyward (back) expected to return. Taylor has helped fantasy managers in the past, but in 2024, the versatile Taylor can be left on the waiver wire in all formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoCincinnati Reds outfield prospect
Jay Allen II hit his seventh home run of the season in Thursday's victory. After getting a small taste of High-A ball last season, Allen has found his fitting at this level and has posted an excellent .322/.443/.621 line with seven swiped bags through 24 games. In 25 games at this level last summer, he struggled with a .154/.260/.220 slash line with just one home run. The 21-year-old is expected to reach the major leagues sometime in 2026 but is worth keeping an eye on in dynasty as he is showing a stellar combination of both power and speed.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Tyler Glasnow tossed five innings in Thursday's loss versus the Cincinnati Reds. Glasnow struggled in the first inning with
Will Benson hitting his sixth homer of the season to open up the frame and then
Tyler Stephenson hitting a RBI double later in the inning. Glasnow's final line was six hits, four runs, one walk with eight strikeouts. The four runs were the most the right-hander has allowed this season and managers shouldn't worry about him have a rough outing. Glasnow will look ahead to Tuesday's start against the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks where he can look to get back on track. He remains a must-start in all matchups.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets first baseman
Pete Alonso went 1-for-4 with a walk, two runs and a solo home run in Thursday's extra innings victory against the Philadelphia Phillies. Alonso's homer would come off
Taijuan Walker in the top of the first inning and was his 10th of the season. Alonso has shown his power this season with 23 RBI to go along with his 10 homers, but he hasn't helped managers in the batting average department at .226 on the season. The upcoming free-agent continues to supply managers with plenty of strong power numbers and even with a low batting average, he offers managers plenty of value. Alonso will look to keep the power stroke going on Friday versus
Jesus Luzardo to kick off a three-game series with the Miami Marlins on the road.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Jack Hurley went 3-for-5 at the plate on Thursday with a home run. Hurley got off a slow start at High-A through April but has put all those doubts to rest this month. Through the start of May, the 22-year-old has posted a .298/.370/.638 slash line compared to his .185/.264/.277 line through April. Thursday was Hurley's fifth multi-hit game of the month, and he has tallied all four of his long balls during this month. MLB Pipeline projects Hurley to reach the major leagues in 2026, but dynasty managers should continue to monitor him, as he could see time in Double-A later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets starting pitching prospect
Blade Tidwell had another strong outing on Thursday as he tossed six innings of one-run ball and allowed just four hits, one free pass, and struck out six. This was a great bounce-back performance for the 22-year-old, as he had a season-high five earned runs in his previous start. Removing that one outlier performance, Tidwell has a 1.27 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and a 42:11 K:BB through 35 1/3 innings. Tidwell is ranked as the 11th-best prospect in the New York system on MLB Pipeline and is projected to reach the major leagues later this summer. All fantasy managers should monitor him, as he could be promoted to Triple-A fairly soon and is then just one step away from reaching the big leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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