5 days agoTampa Bay Rays right-hander
Taj Bradley (pectoral) fanned seven New York Yankees in his 2024 debut on Friday but took the loss in the team's 2-0 defeat at Tropicana Field. Reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, the 23-year-old allowed one earned run on four hits over his six innings while also walking a pair of batters. Bradley tossed 93 pitches, with 59 crossing home plate for strikes. Bradley's fastball topped out at 99.2 mph. He is projected to remain in the Rays rotation and will make his next start this Wednesday when the Rays visit the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: Official Tampa Bay Rays Website
5 days agoThe Houston Astros activated infielder
Grae Kessinger (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder
Jacob Amaya to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Kessinger spent the minimum time on the injured list with right-shoulder discomfort and will now return to the Astros as infield depth. The 26-year-old played in only seven games (one start) with Houston this year before getting hurt, going hitless in 10 plate appearances with no walks and four strikeouts. The former second-rounder in 2019 out of Mississippi played in his first 26 big-league games in 2023 and hit .200/.289/.325 with a homer and an RBI before joining the 'Stros in the postseason as a bench player. Kessinger shouldn't be rostered outside of very deep AL-only and dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
5 days agoNew York Mets left-hander
Brooks Raley (elbow) is "not close" to throwing, according to manager
Carlos Mendoza. Raley is going to see another doctor this week in hopes that he can be cleared to throw. It's obviously bad news for a pitcher that was originally placed on the 15-day injured list on April 21, especially since he was expected to return from the IL when he was first eligible. The 35-year-old southpaw reliever probably won't return until at least June now, depending on how things go when he's cleared to resume throwing. The former sixth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2009 out of Texas A&M was a key weapon out of the Mets' bullpen in 2023 with three saves, a 2.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Raley hadn't allowed a run in seven innings with nine K's in eight appearances this year before getting hurt.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Tim Britton
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that left-hander
Bailey Falter will start on Sunday at home against the visiting division-rival Chicago Cubs. Shelton added that the team will decide on what they will do with their starting rotation moving forward after the weekend series against Chicago. Now that top prospect
Paul Skenes has entered the rotation and is set to make his major-league debut on Saturday, Falter may need to pitch well in the series finale in order to convince the coaching staff to keep him around. The 27-year-old southpaw has so far gone 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA (4.93 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with nine walks and 26 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings over seven starts in 2024. It will likely be either Falter or
Quinn Priester who get bumped from the rotation now that Skenes is here.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Noah Hiles
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles infield prospect
Connor Norby (wrist) was pulled from Friday's game at Triple-A Norfolk early as a precaution with a left-wrist injury. Norby, the team's No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will probably undergo testing on his wrist, but as of right now, he should be considered day-to-day down on the farm. The 23-year-old entered Friday's contest with Norfolk hitting .275/.361/.497 with an .857 OPS, eight home runs, nine doubles, 26 RBI, four stolen bases and 29 runs scored in his first 172 plate appearances and 35 games. Norby is an average defender at both second base and left field and may find it hard to carve out regular playing time with Baltimore if he's called up to the majors at some point in 2024. For now, Norby is just a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
5 days agoNew York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu (foot) started hitting in the batting cages last Saturday and started taking ground balls in the infield on Tuesday. He took batting practice on the field at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. There isn't yet a timetable for LeMahieu's return from the injured list, but he will travel with the Yankees on their upcoming road trip to play the Rays from Friday through Sunday so that he can take live at-bats and do infield work at the team's minor-league complex. After that, LeMahieu could start a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 35-year-old hasn't played in a big-league game after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his right foot on March 16 in spring training. He was shut down after starting a rehab assignment in late April due to more soreness in his foot. When LeMahieu returns, he should be the regular third baseman in the Bronx.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Yusei Kikuchi had a very strong outing on Friday night but picked up the loss as the Blue Jays fell to the Minnesota Twins 3-2. Kikuchi threw eight innings and gave up just two earned runs while striking out three. Kikuchi has been the Blue Jays' best pitcher this season, now having a 2.64 ERA. Kikuchi has shown significant improvement year-over-year by slightly reducing his BB% and has greatly reduced his HR/9 rate also. Fantasy managers should snag Kikuchi off the waiver wire if available. The lefty will look to continue his dominant season next Wednesday in a tough matchup against the Baltimore Orioles.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Joe Ryan posted up a strong outing on Friday, striking out seven and giving up just one earned run while picking up the win in the Twins 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan's only blemish was giving up a solo home run to
Isiah Kiner-Falefa but gave up no other extra-base hits after that. The win moves Ryan's record on the year to 2-2 and reduced his ERA to 3.21. The Twins' right-hander will get his next shot to continue his dominant ways against the New York Yankees on Thursday.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Clarke Schmidt held the Rays scoreless while striking out six in the Yankees 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night. Schmidt threw six and two-thirds innings and gave up five hits, all singles, en route to picking up his fourth win of the season. The 28-year-old reduced his ERA to 2.95, the lowest ERA he's posted in any season. Fantasy managers looking for additional pitching depth should look to snag Schmidt if available as he'd make a great bench and streaming option. The right-hander will look to continue his hot run in his next scheduled start on Thursday against the red-hot Minnesota Twins.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Yankees first baseman
Anthony Rizzo had two hits, one a solo shot, and drove in the Yankees only other run in New York's 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Rizzo now has a hit in six of his last seven games and increased his OPS to .772 on the season. The lefty has been on a tear over the last two weeks, hitting for a .296 BA and a .926 OPS. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Rizzo if he's available on the waiver wire and snag him up if possible. DFS managers should continue to target Rizzo against righties as he's hitting them for an .878 OPS. Rizzo will look to continue his hot streak on Saturday against Rays right-hander Zach Littell.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez notched four strikeouts in seven innings and picked up the win in Houston's 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Valdez has now picked up two wins in three starts since coming back from elbow inflammation in his left elbow. The lefty needed to come back strong after a disappointing outing vs Seattle, where he gave up five earned runs, and he did so in a big way by helping the Astros win back-to-back games. Valdez will make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Oakland A's as he will look to improve to 3-1 on the season.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoHouston Astros outfielder
Kyle Tucker went 1-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run in the Astros' 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday. The solo shot marks his 12th home run of the season (most in the league) and his fourth in his last five games. The lefty has now raised his OPS to .965 on the season, leading the Astros as they work to make their way out of the cellar of the American League West. Tucker will have a tough matchup on Saturday night against Tigers ace and early AL Cy Young candidate
Tarik Skubal.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles third base prospect
Coby Mayo went 3-for-5 at the plate on Friday afternoon and launched his 12th home run of the campaign. Overall on the season, Mayo has posted an impressive .295/.366/.609 slash line with 36 RBI and three stolen bases. Mayo has been one of the best power hitters in the minor leagues this season and is on the verge of being promoted to the major-league roster. However, he does hold an ugly 16:49 BB:K, which could be a reason why Baltimore is hesitant to promote him. Nonetheless, Mayo should be stashed in all standard leagues, as he has the potential to be an impactful fantasy contributor as soon as he receives the call.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Keiner Delgado was promoted to Single-A earlier this week after opening the season in the Rookie league and has begun to showcase his elite raw power. In just three games Delgado has launched two long balls with an overall .231/.231/.692 line. The 20-year-old has not showcased this power consistently in his young professional career, as he tallied just eight home runs in 49 games at the Rookie League last year and three the year prior. The number 24 ranked prospect is still several years away from his major league debut, with an ETA of 2027. Nonetheless, dynasty managers should keep tabs on him to see if he can continue to show this power potential throughout the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs right-hander
Kyle Hendricks (back) threw another bullpen session in Pittsburgh on Friday, and manager Craig Counsell confirmed that he will make another minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. In his first rehab start with Iowa on Tuesday, Hendricks gave up one earned run while walking three and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings. If the 34-year-old veteran looks good again on Sunday for Iowa, there's a good chance his next outing will be back in the big leagues with the Cubbies. Chicago could need Hendricks back in their starting rotation by then if
Jameson Taillon (back) needs another stint on the injured list. Before being sidelined, Hendricks was getting lit up to the tune of a 12.00 ERA and 2.09 WHIP with just 16 strikeouts in 21 innings over five starts. It's no wonder the Cubs aren't rushing him back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
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