1 week agoCincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (shoulder) was scratched from Monday night's Cactus League game versus the San Francisco Giants for precautionary reasons with left-shoulder soreness. It doesn't sound like a serious injury, but it's something to watch after McLain also missed time earlier this spring due to an oblique injury that cut his rookie season short in 2023. Health issues aside, the 24-year-old earned the right to open the 2024 campaign as Cincy's starting second baseman after hitting .290/.357/.507 with an .864 OPS, 16 home runs, 50 RBI and 14 stolen bases in his first 89 major-league games a season ago. The former first-round pick in 2021 out of UCLA is RotoBaller's No. 7 ranked fantasy second baseman, but injuries are becoming a concern. If McLain is forced to open the year on the injured list, Jonathan India could fill in at the keystone.Source: Cincinnati Reds
1 week agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that closer Kenley Jansen (back) has just enough time to be ready for the start of the regular season on March 28, but there is no margin for any more injury setbacks. "We're running out of time," Cora said. Despite being scratched from his second Grapefruit League appearance on Monday with lower-back tightness, Jansen is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday and one more time in an exhibition game in Texas next week. The 36-year-old veteran reliever didn't make his first spring appearance until last Friday due to lat tightness, so Jansen has already dealt with two injuries this spring. While he could be ready for Opening Day, fantasy managers should be considering him a pretty shaky No. 2 closer in 2024. Chris Martin (groin) is also hurt and could open the year on the injured list, so the back end of Boston's bullpen is limping into Opening Day.Source: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
1 week agoMilwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that outfield prospect Jackson Chourio "is in the mix" to be on the team's Opening Day roster. Murphy also said that infielder Joey Ortiz "has a good shot to make the club."read more...
1 week agoHouston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez was removed from Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Miami Marlins early, but it wasn't due to injury, with manager Joe Espada saying it was planned all along for Alvarez to take only two at-bats. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger had an injury scare a few days ago in camp, too, but that turned out to be just an eye irritation. Alvarez has proven to be injury-prone so far in his career, but his offensive exploits in a stacked Astros lineup outweigh the potential health risks. The former American League Rookie of the Year in 2019 has made the All-Star team in each of the last two seasons and has exceeded 30 homers and 90 RBI in each of the last three seasons in Houston. He's ranked as the No. 15 overall fantasy player at RotoBaller and should be fine for Opening Day on March 28 against the New York Yankees.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
1 week agoTexas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is putting together an extremely impressive spring so far. In 16 games, Langford is slashing 378/.442/.756 with five home runs and a league-leading 17 RBI. On Monday, Langford went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the loss to the Seattle Mariners. Langford has certainly opened some eyes this spring and has a good shot at making the Opening Day roster if this type of play continues.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon looked sharp throughout Monday's outing against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-hander tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out five batters as well on Monday. He currently sits at a 2.93 ERA this spring with some better outings as of late. The biggest thing for Rodon is going to be staying healthy and getting on the mound every fifth day. There is certainly some risk with taking Rodon is fantasy drafts, but he could be worth it.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher Drew Thorpe was unable to find much success at all during Monday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The right-hander allowed six straight hits to start the game which resulted in a six-run inning for Cleveland. Thorpe lasted 2 2/3 innings allowing 10 hits and eight earned runs on Monday. The 23-year-old was acquired in the trade that sent Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres. The hope was that Thorpe could possibly be on the Opening Day roster. However, it's tough to imagine that happening if he continues to struggle like he did on Monday.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martin Perez continued his impressive spring during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-hander struck out eight batters over five innings of work during Monday's victory. It's worth noting that Perez never struck out eight hitters during a single start last season. His velocity was down during this game and he was still extremely effective. Perez has allowed one earned run in 12 innings this season. Perez probably won't be a reliable 12-team fantasy option, but could still be worth a look in deep leagues.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly continued his stellar spring during Monday's game against the Oakland Athletics. The right-hander threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out seven batters. The 35-year-old hasn't allowed a run in two of his first three outings this spring. The hope is that these outings carry over into the regular season. Kelly should continue to climb up draft boards if he keeps pitching like he has lately.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz continued his impressive power display during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He went 3-for-6 with two home runs and six RBI during Monday's blowout victory. Cruz is now tied for the spring lead with seven home runs already. Fantasy managers who were lucky enough to draft him before the hype train should be excited. Now, fantasy managers will have to pay the price to get Cruz, but he looks like he's the real deal. It feels like a 30-HR and 30-SB season could be a real possibility for him.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoThe San Francisco Giants are saying that catcher Patrick Bailey (hand) will be back in a Cactus League game in the next day or two. Bailey hasn't played in a week at spring training since taking a foul tip off his hand, but he appears to be fine now and will return to game action before the end of spring games early next week. The 24-year-old switch-hitting backstop hit .233/.285/.359 with seven home runs, 48 RBI and 29 runs scored in 353 plate appearances over 97 games in his rookie season for the Gigantes in 2023. Bailey caught fire early on after his big-league promotion but struggled in the second half. While he should see most of the playing time behind the plate in San Fran because of his defensive prowess, he's not really relevant in single-catcher fantasy leagues.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
1 week agoAccording to MASN's Roch Kubatko, Baltimore Orioles infield prospect Coby Mayo's chances of making the Opening Day roster out of spring training this year lessen if No. 1 overall prospect Jackson Holliday makes the team. Mayo has focused on third base and some first base in camp, but he's likely to require some more time at Triple-A Norfolk, especially since Gunnar Henderson will be fine for Opening Day after dealing with an oblique injury early in camp. The Orioles' No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .267/.393/.512 at Triple-A Norfolk last year in 62 games. The 22-year-old has impressive power from the right side and also raised his walk rate and dropped his strikeout rate in the minors in 2023. If he sticks in Baltimore's system, his best path to playing time long term will probably be at first base.Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
1 week agoNew York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) has "a pretty significant bone bruise" on his right foot, according to manager Aaron Boone, and the skipper isn't sure if LeMahieu will have enough time to get ready for Opening Day on March 28 in Houston against the Astros. LeMahieu fouled a ball off his foot in a Grapefruit League game on Saturday, but X-rays came back negative. Still, the 35-year-old veteran, who is projected to be the team's regular third baseman in 2024, may not be ready to go for the start of the 2024 regular season. The season hasn't even started yet and the Yankees are dealing with injuries to Gerrit Cole (elbow), Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) and LeMahieu. If LeMahieu opens the year on the injured list, Oswaldo Cabrera should see a boost in playing time at the hot corner.Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
1 week agoHouston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) has been diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain, according to manager Joe Espada. Urquidy is not throwing for now in camp and will not open the 2024 regular season in the team's starting rotation. The 28-year-old pulledread more...
1 week agoHouston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) should face hitters "in the next day or two" in camp. Verlander came into spring training with right-shoulder issues, but he threw another bullpen session on Sunday and is ramping up with the start of the 2024 regular season right around the corner. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner is going to start the year on the injured list and might not make his 2024 debut until late April or early May. He became the first pitcher age 40 or older to win 12 games and post an ERA below 3.25 since 2013, so Verlander can clearly still be effective despite his age. However, injuries are a big concern, and his fantasy value has obviously dropped considerably in 2024 now that he could miss the first month of the season.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome