6 days agoAtlanta Braves infield prospect
E.J. Exposito is a former 16th-round pick who played college ball at Long Island University. He has decent contact and power skills, continuing to spray the ball to all parts of the field and showing legitimate pop. Defensively, he offers the Braves versatility in the infield. While he'll likely play second base long-term, he's already seen plenty of action at first base, third base, and shortstop, too. Last week was huge for Exposito as he ultimately hit 11-for-23 (.478) with three home runs and five RBI. He also contributed plenty of value on the basepaths by stealing five bases on five attempts last week. The 23-year-old's biggest weakness is his tendency to strike out (3.0 K/BB last week), which he'll need to address before any potential promotion.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles pitching prospect
Chayce McDermott, dealt from Houston to Baltimore in the
Trey Mancini trade, is a former fourth-round pick who gets good velocity behind his fastball, slider, and curveball. The jury is still out on whether McDermott will be a starter or reliever in Baltimore, but he can help his case by developing a fourth offering (changeup) and drastically improving his control. Pitching last Friday, McDermott went 6.2 innings, allowing zero runs, zero hits, and just two walks. He also attacked the strike zone, finishing his outing with a whopping 11 strikeouts, good for an average of 1.65 per inning.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
6 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Robert Hassell III is a former first-round pick who was flipped to Washington during the trade that made
Juan Soto a Padre. The talented left-hander gets good speed behind each of his swings while
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6 days agoLos Angeles Angels closer
Carlos Estevez nailed down his sixth save of the season in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, slamming the door with two strikeouts in a clean ninth inning. Working on back-to-back days, Estevez continued his encouraging start to the month of May with another scoreless appearance after yielding seven runs with two blown saves across 7 2/3 innings during a rough April. The 31-year-old right-hander owns a dodgy 5.06 ERA through 10 2/3 frames on the season as a whole, but he's remarkably walked zero while striking out 13 over 11 appearances. Estevez is an unrestricted free agent next year, so the 14-23 Halos could opt to move the veteran reliever at the trade deadline later this summer. He'll be an obvious sell-high candidate in fantasy as we get closer to July.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoChicago White Sox closer
Michael Kopech locked down Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, firing a scoreless ninth inning to secure the victory. Kopech got
Randy Arozarena to fly out before giving up a single to
Harold Ramirez, but the hurler managed to induce a game-ending double play out of
Isaac Paredes. It's been a mixed bag from the hard-throwing 28-year-old right-hander as a reliever for the last-place ChiSox this season, but he does have three saves as well as a serviceable 3.93 ERA and 1.25 WHIP while fanning 25 and walking 10 over 18 1/3 frames as Chicago's preferred ninth-inning weapon. Rookie righty
Jordan Leasure and veteran
John Brebbia are also in the mix for save opportunities on the South Side, making Kopech a fringe hold in fantasy leagues for saves desperados.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Chris Bassitt delivered an outstanding performance in Wednesday's 5-3 victory on the road over the Philadelphia Phillies, striking out six and allowing just two runs on three hits and two walks for his third win of the season. That's back-to-back quality starts now for Bassitt, who was hammered for seven runs at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in his prior appearance on April 26. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander still has work to do to enhance his 5.06 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 40:20 K:BB through 42 2/3 frames (eight starts) for the Jays this season, but he's certainly trending in the right direction. Tuesday's scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards unfortunately looks like a nightmarish spot for Bassitt, who went 0-2 and gave up 12 runs across nine innings (two starts) against Baltimore a year ago.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoKansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. stayed hot in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a double while scoring three runs. After doubling in the first inning, Witt greeted Brewers right-hander
Joel Payamps with a solo shot to deep left center in the eighth frame. The 23-year-old former top prospect has been spectacular all year long, but over his last 15 games since April 23, he's batting .377 with the aforementioned homer, 12 RBI, 16 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. A four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim starting on Thursday is on tap for Witt. In nine games against the Angels in his career, Witt is surprisingly hitting just .237 with three taters, 10 RBI, three runs scored, and zero steals.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Whitlock (oblique) is scheduled to throw live batting practice ahead of Friday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals. If all goes well, Whitlock could make a minor-league rehab start five days later on May 15 and potentially be back with the Red Sox by May 20. Before suffering a strained left oblique, the 27-year-old right-hander registered an outstanding 1.96 ERA (3.31 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP while striking out 17 and walking seven in four starts (18 1/3 innings) out of Boston's rotation this season, and he remains a strong stash in all fantasy leagues. Swingman
Cooper Criswell has filled in well during Whitlock's absence, compiling a 1.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 16:4 K:BB through 20 2/3 frames (four starts), and he'll be a prime streaming candidate for Sunday's series finale against a middling Nats lineup.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jones & Mego with Arcand - WEEI
6 days agoThe hope is that Colorado Rockies outfielder
Nolan Jones (back) will start defensive practice and resuming hitting in the cage this weekend. As he prepares to ramp up his baseball activities, Jones will "more than likely" need a brief minor-league rehab assignment before returning from a strained lower back. Following a 2023 breakout campaign, the 26-year-old left-handed hitter was slashing an icy .170/.243/.277 with one home run, five doubles, seven RBI, and two stolen bases through 94 at-bats (26 games) as Colorado's primary left fielder but remains a recommended stash with a mid-May return still a possibility. Top prospect
Jordan Beck should continue receiving the lion's share of the reps in left field until Jones is ready to return, but he's hitting an empty .125 (3-for-24) over seven outings during his first stint in the major leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Luke Zahlmann - Denver Gazette
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays closer
Pete Fairbanks (arm) is set to make another minor-league rehab appearance on Thursday. After throwing a scoreless inning for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Fairbanks is scheduled for another outing in the minors before returning from a nerve-related issue and rejoining Tampa Bay's bullpen. Barring any setbacks, the Rays could activate the hard-throwing 30-year-old right-hander from the injured list following that assignment. Although he's given up seven earned runs and walked eight over seven innings this year, Fairbanks has three saves as well as a respectable 3.72 FIP and should reclaim the closing gig upon his return. Until then,
Jason Adam should remain the favorite for saves and is worth holding in the majority of fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees right-handed reliever
Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) started a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday with Single-A Tampa. Kahnle has yet to make his debut in 2024 with the Yankees due to a right-shoulder injury that he's been dealing with late last year. Because of the long layoff, the 34-year-old is likely to have a lengthy rehab stint in the minors before the Yankees consider adding him back to their bullpen mix. The former fifth-round pick in 2010 out of Lynn University is a veteran of nine MLB seasons and had a strong 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, a career-high-tying two saves, 19 walks and 48 strikeouts in 40 2/3 relief innings in 2023 in his return to the Bronx. If healthy, Kahnle can give New York's bullpen a big boost when he's able to return.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Yankees PR Department
6 days agoOakland Athletics top prospect
Jacob Wilson has been promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas after hitting .455/.473/.705 with an absurd 1.178 OPS, 16 extra-base hits (three home runs), 19 RBI, two stolen bases and 18 runs scored in 22 games for Double-A Midland. The 22-year-old former sixth overall pick last year out of Grand Canyon University has risen up the A's minor-league system quickly and is now just one step away from making his big-league debut. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is the son of former big-league shortstop Jack Wilson. What he lacks in power and exit velocities, Wilson makes up for with his elite contact skills and low strikeout rates. For now, he should be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues, but he could become a waiver-wire pickup later in the year in single-year leagues if he's called up to Oakland.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
6 days agoOakland Athletics infielders
Aledmys Diaz (calf) and
Zack Gelof (oblique) will both join Triple-A Las Vegas this weekend to begin their respective minor-league rehab assignments. Diaz was cleared for a rehab assignment after successfully running the bases on Wednesday. The 33-year-old veteran utilityman is on the 60-day injured list and has yet to play in 2024. He won't be eligible to return until late May, so he'll take his time on his rehab assignment. When he's back from the injured list, he won't be guaranteed to see regular playing time for the A's. Gelof, who was the team's starter at second before his injury, is the more attractive fantasy asset in deeper leagues despite starting the year with a .196/.260/.337 slash line with three home runs, seven RBI and four stolen bases in his first 92 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
6 days agoHouston Astros right-handed reliever
Ryan Pressly (back), who hasn't pitched since last Friday, is dealing with soreness in his lower back, according to manager Joe Espada. Pressly played catch on Wednesday, and Espada said he "felt OK" and termed it "nothing worrisome right now." For now, the 35-year-old will remain with the team, but it remains to be seen if he'll be available out of the team's bullpen on Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Pressly's back issues could have contributed to his slow start in 2024, as he's currently sporting a 5.27 ERA and 1.68 WHIP while walking five and striking out 21 in 13 2/3 innings of relief. However, he hasn't allowed a run in his last five innings while walking one and striking out nine and will remain a key late-inning setup man in front of closer
Josh Hader if he's healthy enough to pitch.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
6 days agoHouston Astros outfielder
Chas McCormick (hamstring) could start a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend. McCormick has recovered quickly after landing on the injured list with hamstring soreness last week. If the 29-year-old gets out of a short rehab assignment without any setbacks, he could return to the Astros early next week.
Mauricio Dubon has seen more playing time in Houston's outfield since McCormick landed on the shelf. McCormick is going to need to do more with the bat when he returns to assure himself regular playing time. In 21 games before his hamstring injury, he was hitting .236/.325/.278 with no home runs, eight RBI, two stolen bases and six runs scored in 83 plate appearances. He's coming off his best season as a pro in 2023, when he hit .273 with 22 homers, 70 RBI and 19 swipes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
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