6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler registered his seventh quality start of the season in Friday's victory over the division-rival Washington Nationals, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six over 7 1/3 innings for his fifth win of the campaign. After being tagged for six runs in his last start against the last-place Miami Marlins, Wheeler bounced back and looked to be at his best on Friday. Through 10 starts, the 33-year-old All-Star right-hander is up to an excellent 2.52 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 71 punchouts and 19 walks over 60 2/3 innings of work this year. Wheeler has a tough assignment on deck in the form of the defending-champion Texas Rangers during his next start at home that's scheduled for Thursday, but he's a matchup-proof fantasy bet when it comes to lineup decisions.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (forearm) arrived in the clubhouse ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox without a cast. Contreras is doing conditioning work, and he is hopeful that doctors will soon let him swing a bat with his right hand. It's a pretty remarkable turnaround for Contreras, who fractured his left forearm on May 7, and he noted that he's hopeful of returning to the Cardinals before the All-Star break in mid-July. In 31 games before going down, the 32-year-old star backstop was slashing .280/.398/.551 with six home runs, 11 doubles, 12 RBI, and two stolen bases across 128 plate appearances as St. Louis' primary backstop, and he should be stashed in the majority of fantasy leagues. Backup
Ivan Herrera is worth a look in two-catcher settings for now, batting .448 (13-for-29) with five RBI during his current eight-game hitting streak.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: John Denton - MLB.com
6 days agoCleveland Guardians outfielder
Steven Kwan (hamstring) took batting practice ahead of Friday's game against the division-rival Minnesota Twins. It's Kwan's first baseball activity since suffering a strained left hamstring, which is a positive step forward in his road to recovery. Manager
Stephen Vogt said that Kwan has also been running relatively pain-free, but the team doesn't have a specific timetable for his return just yet. As it stands, fantasy managers can anticipate the 26-year-old contact-hitting left fielder rejoining the Guardians' outfield sometime in early June. Before heading to the injured list, Kwan was batting a sizzling .353 (47-for-133) with three home runs, 11 RBI, 23 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 32 games as Cleveland's everyday leadoff hitter, and he needs to be stashed in all leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Tom Withers - Associated Press
6 days agoTexas Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung (wrist) still has not resumed swinging a bat and is at least six weeks from returning to the Rangers' starting lineup. Given the complex nature of his wrist fracture, Jung's recovery has been delayed, but he needs to remain stashed in all fantasy formats for his power upside in a strong Rangers lineup when he's back in the fold. The 26-year-old former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech has developed a bit of a reputation for being injury-prone early in his career, missing time with an injury in 2023 while also injuring his calf in spring training this year. Jung had surgery for his fractured right wrist on April 2 but resumed playing catch this week. Fantasy managers must remain patient. As a first-time All-Star in 2023, Jung hit .266 with 23 homers and 70 RBI in 122 games, and he already had two homers in his first four games this year before fracturing his wrist.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
6 days agoAtlanta Braves catcher
Travis d'Arnaud was removed from Friday night's 3-1 loss to the visiting San Diego Padres early due to dizziness. The 35-year-old veteran took a foul ball off his facemask in the fifth inning and was removed before the sixth frame. It's worth noting that d'Arnaud has already had several documented concussions in his career, so this matter will not be taken lightly. The Braves will assuredly put him through the league's concussion protocols, which could result in a trip to the seven-day concussion list. At the very least, d'Arnaud is unlikely to play in the second game of the series on Saturday.
Sean Murphy (oblique) has been out since straining his oblique on Opening Day. He's getting closer to a return, but if d'Arnaud is forced to miss time, third-string catcher
Chadwick Tromp could be forced into starting duties behind the dish until Murphy is reinstated from the injured list.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
6 days agoAtlanta Braves relief pitcher
Pierce Johnson (elbow) is expected to be activated off the 15-day Injured List on Saturday. Johnson had been dealing with elbow inflammation and was placed on the 15-day IL on May 4th. The 33-year-old threw a bullpen session on Wednesday that went well and the Braves will be ecstatic to have him back. Johnson had been performing at his dominant norms, showing off a 32.0% K% and a 1.25 WHIP, before dealing with elbow inflammation. The Braves have a stretch of 17 games over 17 games so Atlanta will need the bullpen arms to get through that stretch. Fantasy managers should be ready to have Johnson active in their lineups. If he happens to be available on the waiver wire then fantasy managers should snatch him up immediately.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: David O'Brien
6 days agoChicago White Sox third baseman
Danny Mendick (back) was reinstated from the 10-day Injured List on Friday. Mendick was subsequently in the lineup for the White Sox on Friday and went 0-4 in Chicago's 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees. Mendick had been performing at a league-average pace with a .703 OPS in 41 PA before being placed on the 10-day IL with lower back tightness. With
Bryan Ramos being placed on the 10-day IL with a quad strain, Mendick should be expected to get the majority of starts at third base for the White Sox. Fantasy managers that need a bench option should look at snagging Mendick, though he will likely only provide value in deeper leagues.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
6 days agoChicago White Sox third baseman
Bryan Ramos (quadriceps) was placed on the 10-day injured list with a quad strain on Friday. Ramos was removed during the seventh inning of the first game of Chicago's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Ramos had been performing decently for the White Sox, though most of his value to the team had been driven by his defense. No timetable has been set for Ramos to return, but White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said on Friday that "He wasn't 100 percent. He wasn't close to it," before stating he was probably closer to 70 percent.
Danny Mendick, who the White Sox activated off the injured list in conjunction with Ramos' injury, should be expected to get the bulk of playing time while Ramos heals up.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
6 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) could be ready to start his rehab assignment this week, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. Thomas suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain on April 23 and has been mixing in some running over the past week. If all goes well in Thomas' rehab stint, he could return to the Nationals' lineup by the end of May. The 28-year-old was performing well below his norms before his MCL sprain, hitting for just a .503 OPS in 96 plate appearances. Based off his expected stats, he should regress positively and perform closer to his norms once he returns, with a good amount of his value coming from stolen bases (11 on the season). Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status, though he may be best as a bench option rather than a starter.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Mark Zuckerman
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Felix Bautista (elbow) began playing catch on Friday. This marks the first time that Bautista has thrown since having Tommy John surgery in October and an additional surgery in February. Bautista injured his elbow in a relief appearance against the Colorado Rockies last August. As of now a return in the 2024 season has not been ruled out, though it's highly unlikely the 28-year-old will return this year. Bautista was one of the Orioles' most effective relievers in 2023, posting a 1.48 ERA in 61 innings in 2023. Fantasy managers need not worry about his status this season and instead focus on his return in the 2025 season.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Danielle Allentuck
6 days agoWashington Nationals starting pitcher
Cade Cavalli (elbow) is ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League. Cavalli has been recovering from Tommy John surgery that was performed in March 2023 and has been progressing after throwing multiple bullpen sessions over the past few weeks. Once Cavalli makes his first start, then that will start his 30-day rehab block. Only dynasty managers should be concerned with Cavalli's status as he works to return to the big leagues.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Mark Zuckerman
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles first base prospect
Angel Tejada has begun to settle in at Single-A and has been swinging a hot bat through May. This month, Tejada has slashed a .362/.367/.596 line with two home runs, eleven RBI, and eight stolen bases. On the season, the 20-year-old has posted a .283/.313/.425 line with 19 swiped bags. Tejada just had his best performance of the season on Thursday as he went 3-3 at the dish with a long ball and two RBI. Tejada played 85 games at the Single-A level last season and is beginning to make a case to be promoted to High-A. The young first baseman remains a name to monitor in dynasty leagues especially if he can carry this momentum into High-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds outfield prospect
Yerlin Confidan has been on fire throughout the first half of May with a dominant .317/.396/.610 slash line with three long balls, one swiped bag, nine RBI, and a 5:6 BB:K. Overall, through 27 total games with Single-A Daytona this season, the 21-year-old has posted a .235/.327/.429 line with four home runs. Confidan has logged 123 games at the Single-A level, but with his recent hot stretch, he could finally have earned the opportunity to move up to High-A. Confidan should remain on your waiver wire in dynasty leagues for the foreseeable future, as he seems to be several seasons away from a major-league debut. However, it does look like the 21-year-old is beginning to find his footing in the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Emmanuel Rodriguez broke out of a 19-game home run drought on Thursday evening. Through his first 28 games at Double-A this season, the 21-year-old has posted a strong .271/.466/.563 slash line with five home runs, nine stolen bases, and a 34:39 BB:K ratio. Last season, Rodriguez posted a pedestrian .240/.400/.463 line with 16 home runs. This is a great sign, as the number three prospect in the Minnesota system has been performing better against tougher competition. MLB Pipeline projects him to reach the major leagues sometime next season. However, as the 33rd-best prospect in all of baseball, he is worth paying close attention to and could even be worth stashing once he is prompted to Triple-A later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins outfield prospect
Jakob Marsee posted his first three-hit game of the season on Thursday evening as he tallied one double and two singles to lead Double-A Pensacola to a victory. Since being traded to Miami as part of the
Luis Arraez package, Marsee has posted a strong .259/.500/.444 slash line with one long ball and a 12:6 BB:K ratio. This is a significant improvement as he posted a mere .176/.336/.318 line through 24 games with Double-A San Antonio to open the season. Marsee could push for a promotion to Triple-A if he continues this hot stretch, which could open the door for a late-season major league debut. For now, he should remain on your waiver wire in dynasty leagues, but is worth monitoring as the season progresses.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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