5 days agoSan Francisco Giants designated hitter
Jorge Soler (shoulder) began a hitting progression on Friday. Soler said that he was feeling "extremely well" and had no pain in his strained right shoulder on Wednesday. The fact that Soler didn't face a shutdown from baseball activities and is already hitting means he has a great chance of being activated from the 10-day injured list on May 15, when he's first eligible for reinstatement. Although the 32-year-old slugger was slashing a disappointing .202/.294/.361 with five home runs, four doubles, and eight RBI across 136 plate appearances (34 games) as San Fran's everyday DH before going down, he's worth stashing for fantasy managers in need of power stats. With Soler sidelined, veteran Wilmer Flores should continue operating the Giants' primary DH.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) took batting practice on the field prior to Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox after doing so for the first time in his rehab on Tuesday at Nationals Park. Thomas has continued to run and throw as well, so the next step for him is to run the bases. Working his way back from a left MCL sprain that put him on the injured list on April 24, the 28-year-old outfielder still has a chance to return before the end of the month if he can begin a minor-league rehab assignment sometime in late May. Thomas is slashing a lackluster .184/.250/.253 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 87 at-bats (22 games) as Washington's primary right fielder this season, but his 11 stolen bases make him a must-stash asset in the majority of fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Blanco - MASN Sports
5 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Friday. Manager
Carlos Mendoza said that Senga is trying to get himself right mechanically, and that if the hurler continues to feel better, he could throw another bullpen session, throw live batting practice, or begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Even if Senga's next step is indeed a rehab start, he's still not likely to re-enter New York's rotation until early-to-mid June as he slowly works his way back from a right posterior shoulder capsule strain. With that said, the 31-year-old right-hander doesn't figure to be a fantasy factor for roughly another month. Until Senga returns, right-handers
Jose Butto and rookie
Christian Scott will continue vying to maintain spots in the rotation.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (elbow) has rejoined the team and is likely to be reinstated from the injured list on Saturday to start against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. After throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts for Single-A Jupiter on Sunday, Luzardo is all set to return to Miami's rotation following a recovery from tightness in his left elbow. The 26-year-old left-hander will likely take the rotation spot of
Edward Cabrera (shoulder), who just went on the injured list earlier in the week. Fantasy managers shouldn't be in a hurry to activate Luzardo for Saturday's rigid assignment against the Phillies, considering the southpaw has struggled to a 6.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 27:13 K:BB through 26 innings (five starts) for the Marlins this season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw long toss prior to Friday's game against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays and is expected to throw a full bullpen session on Saturday morning. Manager Aaron Boone said the plan is to have Cole ramp up his baseball activities, but an exact timetable for his return to the mound has not yet been set. If the 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner can begin a minor-league rehab assignment in late May, he should be able to rejoin New York's rotation in the middle of June. Right-handers
Luis Gil and
Clarke Schmidt are both throwing well for the Yankees right now and are high-end streaming options in fantasy in favorable matchups.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Scott Butherus- MLB.com
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Robert Gasser twirled a scoreless gem in his major-league debut during Friday's victory over the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts. You couldn't ask for a better showing in Gasser's first taste of big-league action, and the hurler got plenty of run support to record the win on Friday. The 24-year-old left-hander is Milwaukee's No. 5 prospect for 2024, according to MLB Pipeline, and he will almost certainly get another turn in the Brewers' banged-up rotation following this promising performance. Unfortunately, that next appearance lines up for a more difficult task in the form of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park next Friday. Gasser is worth a speculative add for fantasy managers needing pitching help, but he'll be best suited on benches against Houston on the road.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates second baseman
Nick Gonzales hit fifth in his season debut during Friday's loss to the division-rival Chicago Cubs, driving in two runs in the loss. In his first big-league at-bat of 2024, Gonzales hit a two-run single to plate
Andrew McCutchen and
Oneil Cruz to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead in the first inning before the advantage later evaporated. The 24-year-old former No. 7 overall pick was Pittsburgh's No. 5 prospect for 2023, per MLB Pipeline, and he figures to have a chance at carving out a consistent role in the Pirates' infield moving ahead. It's not like starting second baseman
Jared Triolo has done much this year, so fantasy managers should get Gonzales on watch lists after the young infielder's encouraging effort on Friday. Gonzales struggled in his MLB debut in 2023, hitting .209 (24-for-115) with two homers and 13 RBI in 35 games.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Yennier Cano notched his second save of the season in Friday's 4-2 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing a scoreless ninth inning on one hit with a strikeout. The O's are searching for answers when it comes to
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5 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Charlie Morton tossed seven strong innings in Friday's victory over the division-rival New York Mets, giving up one run on three hits (one home run) and one walk with seven strikeouts. Besides the seven punchouts, Morton's highlight of the night came when he escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second inning by striking out Mets third baseman
Brett Baty to end the frame. The 40-year-old right-hander remains a dependable fantasy starter at this stage of his career, featuring a rock-solid 3.14 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 40:14 K:BB through 43 frames (seven starts) during the fourth season of his second stint in Atlanta this year. Morton is slated to take the hill in Wednesday's series finale at home against the Chicago Cubs. In four starts against the Cubs since 2021, Morton has a dicey 6.16 ERA and 20:11 K:BB over 19 innings.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. crushed his third home run of the year in Friday's victory over the division-rival New York Mets. Acuna's homer was a 461-foot moonshot off Mets left-hander
Jose Quintana, getting the Braves on the board and catalyzing a four-run Atlanta third inning. The 26-year-old fantasy sensation's shortcomings in the power department during the early part of the season have been well-documented, as evidenced by his three bombs, six doubles, and nine RBI through 162 plate appearances, but Acuna's scored 32 runs and stolen 14 bases across 35 games atop this stacked lineup to make up for it in fantasy. Acuna gets two more shots at the Mets this weekend. In 35 games against New York since 2022, he's batting .321 with three round-trippers, 14 RBI, and 25 runs scored.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor belted his seventh home run of the season in Friday's loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves, continuing his recent rise from a sluggish start to the year. Lindor launched a solo homer to put the Mets on the board in the seventh inning. Over his last 14 games, the 30-year-old All-Star switch-hitter is batting a productive .278 with five long balls, four doubles, 15 RBI, and three stolen bases. Lindor has to deal with Braves pitching two more times during this series, and in 15 games against the Braves since 2023, he's hitting just .218 with three big flies, two doubles, and eight RBI. He does have five steals during this span, and fantasy managers should set and forget Lindor in all settings this weekend.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoAtlanta Braves closer
Raisel Iglesias finished off the division-rival New York Mets to preserve Friday's win, but he allowed one run on one hit and one walk before gaining the save in the ninth inning.
Starling Marte walked before
Pete Alonso singled him in later in the frame, and
J.D. Martinez just missed a game-tying home run that was fouled off during the final at-bat of the game before flying out. Despite Iglesias' shaky outing, he's been one of fantasy's most bankable closers with a 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while fanning 10, walking four, and converting 10 of his 12 save opportunities over 15 1/3 innings for the Braves this season. The 34-year-old right-hander should remain a reliable option for saves for the remainder of the season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Cody Bellinger tallied four hits during Friday's win on the road over the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, totaling nine bases in the victory. Bellinger opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field, crushing a
Jared Jones fastball and giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first inning, later doubling twice to add to a monster night. Over his last nine games, the 28-year-old All-Star slugger is hitting a sizzling .417 with five home runs, nine RBI, and eight runs scored. Bellinger gets two more dates with Pittsburgh this weekend, and in 12 games as a member of the Cubs versus the Pirates, he's batting .333 with two homers, eight doubles, and 14 RBI dating back to last season. Continue rolling with Bellinger in fantasy leagues as you normally would.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez authored yet another brilliant performance in Friday's victory over the division-rival Miami Marlins, throwing seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Suarez scattered only three hits and walked just two over 97 pitches, earning his seventh win of the campaign and his seventh in a row. The 28-year-old southpaw is enjoying a Cy Young-caliber start to the year, gathering a 1.50 ERA and 0.72 WHIP while punching out 55 and walking eight across 54 frames (eight starts) out of Philly's rotation thus far. Suarez will get the New York Mets next in a home start that's scheduled for Wednesday, when he'll be a locked-in fantasy start in all season-long leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoHouston Astros reliever
Josh Hader retired three of the four batters he faced on the way to his fifth save of the season in Friday's 5-2 win against the Detroit Tigers. Hader allowed one walk while striking out two as 10 of his 17 pitches went for strikes. Friday marked the fifth time in his last six outings that Hader did not allow a run, lowering his ERA to 5.29. He has struck out 11 batters in his last 7 1/3 innings, a sign that the free agent acquisition is returning to his All-Star form. Overall, Hader owns a 5.29 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 27:8 K: BB across 17 innings in 2024.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: Michael Schwab, The Juice Box Journal
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