6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) saw his first action of the season in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Reds. Sewald was activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day after recovering from an oblique strain. He pitched the bottom of the ninth inning up by five and allowed a solo home run with a strikeout. The result wasn't great, but the encouraging thing is that Sewald is now a fantasy-relevant closer once again. He accumulated 34 saves last season with a 32.1% strikeout rate, so he should be slotted right back into fantasy manager's lineups.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Zac Gallen continued his strong season in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Reds. Gallen pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and three walks with six strikeouts. The 28-year-old has looked like a fantasy ace, going 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA and a 9.71 K/9 rate in seven starts and 38 IP. His next scheduled start will be a test at the Orioles, but Gallen is a must-start fantasy option at this point.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll had a stellar night at the plate in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Reds. Carroll went 2-for-5 out of the leadoff spot with a single, a three-run home run, five RBI, and a strikeout. The power display was a nice sight, as the 23-year-old has slashed just .211/.300/.278 with two HR, 12 RBI, and eight stolen bases in 150 plate appearances. Hopefully, he can start to get things back on track for fantasy managers.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoDetroit Tigers infielder
Andy Ibanez went yard twice in Tuesday's 11-7 win over the division-rival Cleveland Guardians, piling up four hits and four RBI in the high-scoring affair. Ibanez took Guardians left-hander Logan Allen deep to open the game, tagging the southpaw for another long ball to score three more runs in the second frame. The 31-year-old utility man raised his average by nearly 100 points with the four-hit attack, now batting .364 (12-for-33) with two big flies, one double, seven RBI, and seven runs scored across 13 games. With top prospect
Colt Keith scuffling at the plate to begin his major-league career, Ibanez could push for more playing time at the keystone with continued hot hitting. Ibanez gets another date with Cleveland on Wednesday. In 17 career games versus the Guardians, Ibanez is now hitting a ridiculous .441 (26-for-59) with nine extra-base hits and 15 RBI.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Rayner Arias (wrist) is dealing with a left-wrist sprain after diving for a ball in the outfield recently while playing for the team's rookie-ball affiliate in the Arizona Complex League. It's an injury worth watching after the young outfielder broke the same wrist on a similar play in 2023. Arias is only 18 years old but has looked impressive in back-to-back spring training appearances. If the team's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, can get past his recent wrist injury before the ACL season ends in July, he could be promoted to Single-A San Jose to finish out the 2024 campaign. In the long term, Arias profiles as a big, physical corner outfielder with heart-of-the-order power potential. But he's still at least several years from being a candidate for the major-league roster, and he's going to need to stay healthy to realize his potential.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs - Eric Longenhagen and Travis Ice
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays infielder
Junior Caminero is slashing a gaudy .324/.378/.662 with six home runs, five doubles, 16 RBI, and 12 runs scored over 68 at-bats (17 games) with Triple-A Durham this season, but Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times believes it's unlikely that Caminero will get called up anytime soon, barring an injury to a key player. The Rays want to make sure Caminero is ready physically, with both the bat and glove, and that he fits somewhere on the current team before promoting him. They also don't want a repeat of young top prospects with other teams who have struggled this season, including
Jackson Holliday,
Jackson Chourio, and
Wyatt Langford. The 20-year-old Caminero is MLB Pipeline's No. 4 prospect for 2024, and RotoBaller's Eric Cross still ranks Caminero as the top prospect to stash in redraft fantasy leagues and expects Tampa to elevate him in May.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin - Tampa Bay Times
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers right-hander
Jakob Junis (head, shoulder) was moved to the 60-day injured list on Monday, meaning he won't be eligible to come back until June 2 now, at the earliest. Junis' comeback from a right-shoulder injury in early April was interrupted when he was stretchered off the field on April 22 after being hit in the neck by a batting practice ball. He was alert and responsive when he was sent to a local hospital and was able to resume playing catch by April 26. It's a tough break for the 31-year-old veteran, who allowed just one earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out four in a four-inning no-decision in his lone start of the year on April 2 against the Minnesota Twins. When healthy, Junis should be a candidate to return to Milwaukee's starting rotation next month.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher
Dylan Cease is enjoying an excellent start to his 2024 regular season, and he'll try to keep the good times rolling in Wednesday's scheduled start on the road against the Chicago Cubs. Through seven starts this year, Cease boasts a 2.55 ERA (2.50 FIP) and 0.80 WHIP while striking out 48, walking 14, and leading MLB with just 4.3 hits per nine innings over 42 1/3 frames. After spending the first five years of his major-league career with the Chicago White Sox on the South Side, Cease has plenty of experience dealing with the Cubs. In four appearances against the Cubs since 2021, the hard-throwing 28-year-old right-hander is 3-0 with an outstanding 1.50 ERA and 33:11 K:BB across 24 innings. Chicago's current roster is batting just 4-for-46 (.087) versus Cease, who looks like a great fantasy play across the board on Wednesday.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Savant
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Ryan Pepiot (leg) is likely to go on the injured list, manager Kevin Cash says, but a CT scan was negative. Pepiot departed Sunday's series finale against the visiting New York Mets after taking a 107.5-mph comebacker off his left leg, which resulted in a contusion, and the Rays are preparing the take a cautious approach with the 26-year-old upstart right-hander. It doesn't sound like it'll be a long stint on the IL at the moment for Pepiot, who owns an excellent 3.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 41:11 K:BB through 36 2/3 innings (seven starts) as Tampa's ace this season. Look for
Taj Bradley's (pectoral) next start to come in the major leagues to take Pepiot's spot in the rotation, with Bradley's 2024 regular-season debut likely arriving on Saturday at home against the division-rival New York Yankees.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Tricia Whitaker
6 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (shoulder) will throw another bullpen session in the coming days, followed by possibly another live batting practice before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Senga took extra time between live BP sessions and will now require the additional bullpen, plus perhaps another live BP before the Mets send him on a rehab assignment. Despite being eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on May 27, Senga's absence with a right posterior shoulder capsule strain will almost certainly extend into at least early June. Last year, the 31-year-old ace recorded a strong 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while striking out 202 and walking 77 in 166 1/3 innings (29 starts) for the Mets and still needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. Right-hander
Jose Butto and top prospect
Christian Scott will continue competing to lock down spots in New York's rotation until Senga is cleared to return.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Anthony DiComo - MLB.com
6 days agoTexas Rangers second baseman
Marcus Semien collected a season-high five RBI in Tuesday's 15-8 win over the division-rival Oakland Athletics, also smacking a solo home run in the victory. It was a massive day at the plate for Semien, who went 4-for-5 with an RBI single plus a two-run double as part of a 10-run blitz in the second frame by the Rangers, and he added another run-scoring single in the fourth for good measure. The 33-year-old All-Star infielder is now slashing a solid .266/.314/.449 with six homers, nine doubles, 27 RBI, and 27 runs scored in 158 at-bats as Texas' everyday leadoff man. Before a tasty three-game weekend set against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field begins on Friday, Semien gets two more cracks at his former Athletics team in Wednesday's doubleheader. In 18 games versus Oakland since 2023, Semien is batting .329 with four long balls, 15 RBI, and three stolen bases.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins relief pitcher
A.J. Puk (shoulder) tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for the Florida Complex League Marlins on Monday. Puk went back-to-back with an outing for Single-A Jupiter on Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits in the fifth inning. The 29-year-old left-hander is expected to make his return from fatigue in his left shoulder as a reliever, and he could be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point during Miami's next homestand that begins with Friday's series opener versus the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Working mainly as a high-leverage arm last season, Puk posted a 3.97 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 78 and walking only 13, but he converted just 15 of his 24 save opportunities with two holds across 56 2/3 innings. Even so, he'll eventually be a threat for ninth-inning work with closer
Tanner Scott's expiring contract making him a potential trade candidate.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Fish on First
6 days agoDetroit Tigers third baseman
Gio Urshela (hamstring) ran the bases and took batting practice ahead of Tuesday's game against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians, and he will do so again on Wednesday. If all goes well, Urshela could begin a minor-league rehab assignment sometime soon after the Tigers return home on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Houston Astros. Although the 32-year-old defensive-minded infielder was hitting .298 (17-for-57) before going on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right hamstring, he has only six RBI, two extra-base hits, and four runs scored through 18 games (57 at-bats) as Detroit's primary third baseman and doesn't need to be stashed in most fantasy leagues.
Matt Vierling is worth a look in AL-only formats in the meantime, however, slashing .286/.321/.510 with two home runs, one double, two triples, and seven RBI over his last 49 ABs (15 games).
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Evan Petzold - Detroit Free Press
6 days agoColorado Rockies infielder/outfielder
Kris Bryant (back) has been increasing his baseball activities, according to manager Bud Black. Despite the positive news, there is still not a clear timetable for Bryant's return from a strained lower back. Before hitting the injured list, the 32-year-old former All-Star was slashing a weak .149/.273/.255 with one home run, two doubles, six RBI, and three runs scored through 55 plate appearances (13 games) while splitting work at first base and in right field for the Rockies. He's not a recommended stash in shallow fantasy leagues at this point. With Bryant sidelined, veteran
Charlie Blackmon is spending more time in right field while
Elehuris Montero functions as Colorado's primary first baseman. Both players have a sub-.600 OPS and aren't worth streaming at this time.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Lyons
6 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (arm) has been diagnosed with a fractured left arm after exiting Tuesday's game against the visiting New York Mets in the second inning. Contreras was writhing in pain after getting hit on a swing by
J.D. Martinez, and he immediately came out of the game. It's a massive blow to a Cardinals offense already struggling to produce runs as well as Contreras, who will face some kind of lengthy absence following the setback. Through 128 plate appearances (31 games) for St. Louis this year, the 31-year-old star backstop was slashing a robust .280/.398/.551 with six home runs, 11 doubles, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored, and two stolen bases.
Ivan Herrera stepped in on Tuesday and figures to get all the action he can handle behind the dish in Contreras' stead, slashing just .215/.264/.369 with three homers and 11 RBI over 65 at-bats. Fantasy managers can find better replacements on waiver wires.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Cardinals on X
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