6 days agoThe San Francisco Giants placed outfielder
Jorge Soler (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right-shoulder strain and recalled outfielder
Heliot Ramos from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Soler missed the team's last three games with his shoulder injury and will now be forced to miss at least another week. The 32-year-old right-handed slugger boasts elite power but has gone just 24-for-119 (.202) with five home runs, eight RBI and 14 runs scored in his first 34 games in San Francisco. Ramos, 24, is serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday night and is hitting seventh in the batting order. He has yet to make an impact at the big-league level for the Giants but was swinging a hot bat in the minors and will be worth a look off the waiver wire in NL-only leagues now that he could see some playing time over the next week for the Gigantes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Maria I. Guardado
6 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Jose Urquidy (forearm) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land this weekend. The right-hander has been sidelined since spring training due to inflammation in his forearm. The expectation is that Urquidy is going to need a few rehab starts before rejoining the Astros rotation. Possibly, Urquidy is able to rejoin the Astros rotation by the end of May. Fantasy managers will have to stay tuned for more updates over the next week or two.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Matt Kawahara
6 days agoOakland Athletics catcher
Shea Langeliers was a force at the plate during Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers. The young catcher went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in the victory during Game 1 of their doubleheader. Langeliers blasted a two-run home run off
Michael Lorenzen in the second inning before adding a two-run double in the fourth inning. The assumption is that Langeliers should be back in the lineup ahead of Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader. The 26-year-old has struggled throughout most of the season but maybe this will get him back on track.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez was a one-man wrecking crew during Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in the win. He opened the first frame with an RBI single and blasted a two-run homer in the sixth inning. It was the only three runs the Dodgers scored in this game but it was enough to win them the contest. Hernandez has 10 home runs this season and has four long balls over his last six games.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Daniel Hudson was called upon to close out Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. The right-hander tossed on scoreless inning on only 12 pitches to record his second save of the season. Hudson blew a save on Friday but redeemed himself during this outing. The expectation is that the Dodgers are planning to use closer-by-committee until
Evan Phillips (hamstring) is able to return.
Blake Treinen and
Alex Vesia should also be in the mix alongside Hudson.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Gavin Stone made easy work of the Miami Marlins lineup on Wednesday. The right-hander threw seven strong innings while allowing only one run in the win. Stone gave up a solo blast to
Bryan De La Cruz in the fourth inning, but he was excellent outside of that. The 25-year-old holds a 3.55 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 27/13 K/BB ratio across 38 innings this season. He'll get a tougher matchup versus the San Francisco Giants during his next start.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher
Dylan Cease was impressive on the mound during Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. The 28-year-old struck out a season-high 12 batters over seven shutout innings during the win. Cease only allowed one hit and a pair of walks during Wednesday's outing. He holds a 2.19 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 60/16 K/BB ratio across 49 1/3 innings this season. He'll get a favorable matchup against the Colorado Rockies during his next start.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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
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