6 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto had a monster day on Saturday in the Yankees' 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. Soto blasted two home runs, both solo shots off White Sox starter
Brad Keller, and tallied three RBI in the midst of going 4-4 with a walk. The lefty's big day raised his OPS to a team high .975, just a couple ticks above teammate
Aaron Judge. After coming over in a trade from the San Diego Padres in the offseason, Soto is proving the trade package was worth the cost. The 25-year-old stated on Thursday that he would be open to contract talks with the Yankees during the season if they approached his agent Scott Boras. It would likely be a smart decision for the Yankees to do so. Soto will look to continue his MVP-caliber season on Sunday against scheduled White Sox starter
Chris Flexen.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Luis Gil struck out 14 batters in six innings and picked up the win in the Yankees 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. The 14 strikeouts are a career high for Gil, who had struck out 16 batters in his last three starts combined. After giving up just one earned run, the righty lowered his ERA to 2.39 on the season and improved his record to 5-1. Gil has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees this season, giving the Yankees a much needed boost in their rotation with
Gerrit Cole being sidelined. Gil will look to continue his hot start with a great chance to rack up more strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners in his next scheduled start on Thursday.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher
Seth Lugo will look to notch his fifth straight quality start on Saturday when the leads the Royals at home against the Oakland A's. Lugo has been one of the bigger surprises this season, posting up a miniscule 1.66 ERA. In his last outing he struck out a career high 12 batters in eight innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Lugo may not be able to replicate that against the Oakland A's, though, as current A's batters have hit him for a .379 wOBA in 25 PA, though they are striking out against him at a 24% clip. Fantasy managers should keep Lugo in their lineups and DFS managers should look to target Lugo against the A's, who are hitting for just a .573 OPS over the last seven days.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
6 days agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Bailey Ober will look to notch back-to-back quality starts when he faces off with the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. This will be Ober's first start against the Guardians in 2024. In 2023 Ober faced Cleveland twice and notched two quality starts, holding them scoreless through 13 IP. Ober has held current Guardians to just a .244 wOBA with a .283 xwOBA in 37 PA. Fantasy managers should aim to have Ober in their lineups on Saturday and DFS managers may want to consider sneaking the 28-year-old into their lineup.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks designated hitter
Joc Pederson is back in Arizona's lineup on Saturday after being scratched yesterday. Pederson has generally been used as a platoon hitter and yesterday's late decision was likely due to the fact the Tigers were facing left-hander
Tarik Skubal. With right-hander
Jack Flaherty on the mound the matchup for Pederson is certainly more favorable. Fantasy managers will want to ensure the lefty slugger is in their lineup as Pederson has posted a .530 wOBA in 14 AB against Flaherty in his career. DFS managers should look to find a way to fit Pederson into their lineups as well.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers shortstop
Mookie Betts is getting the night off for Saturday's tilt against the Cincinnati Reds. This marks the first day off for Betts in the 2024 season.
Miguel Rojas will be starting at shortstop in Betts' place with
Gavin Lux starting at second.
Shohei Ohtani will move up one spot in the lineup and hit leadoff against Reds' starting pitcher
Graham Ashcraft. Betts has been playing phenomenally yet again this season and continues to be at the lead of the NL MVP race. Fantasy managers should not be concerned about Betts' absence today as this just appears to be a day of rest and comes after Betts mentioned how tough it is to play shortstop at a major league level. Expect the 31-year-old back in the lineup on Sunday against Reds starter
Hunter Greene.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) has paused his throwing program and is not close to returning, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Cobb has been placed on the 60-day injured list since April 20 and has been shut down numerous times in his recovery process. Manager Bob Melvin emphasized that the 36-year-old pitcher still feels discomfort in his shoulder. This is not a good sign, as Cobb could be activated from the injured list later this month. This timetable looks unrealistic, and his absence could extend close to the All-Star Break. Cobb made 28 starts last season and showed excellent command with a 5.7% walk rate and a stellar 57.8% ground-ball rate. Cobb should remain on the waiver wire in all leagues but is worth keeping on an injured reserve spot in NL-only formats if you have room.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Alex Pavlovic
6 days agoColorado Rockies backstop
Elias Diaz (hand) remains out of the starting lineup on Saturday. The 33-year-old has been dealing with left-hand soreness and is now sitting in his third straight game. As a result,
Hunter Goodman will serve as the catcher for
Ty Blach and bat in the eight-hole. Goodman enters Saturday with a .095/.208/.381 slash line and two home runs through his first nine games of the season. The 24-year-old is best to fade in DFS as he will face southpaw
Kyle Harrison, who has posted a stellar 1.57 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 21:12 K:BB ratio in his previous four starts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle is not in Saturday's lineup as the Orioles will play the second game of a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners. Mountcastle has only been idle from the Baltimore starting lineup three times this season. As a result, Ryan O'Hearn will start at first base, which opens the designated hitter spot for
Anthony Santander. This then allows
Austin Hays to slot in at left field. O'Hearn has been a lineup lock against right-handed pitchers this season, and today is no different as he will face
Luis Castillo. Hays has recently returned from a calf injury and is making his first start since April 20. Both Hays and O'Hearn are best to fade in DFS as
Luis Castillo enters Saturday's match with a 3.31 ERA and 1.12 WHIP and is striking out opposing batters at an elite 29.0% mark.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Mets third baseman
Brett Baty is idle from the starting lineup on Saturday as the Mets will face southpaw
Braxton Garrett.
Mark Vientos will get the nod at third base instead. Vientos was promoted from Triple-A Syracuse earlier this week and looks to have claimed the short side of a platoon role with Baty at the hot corner. Vientos has already begun to make an impact since his recent promotion, tallying two hits, including one double on May 15. The 24-year-old could be a value play in DFS as Braxton Garrett struggled in his first start of the season on May 12 and enters Saturday with an 8.44 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Josh Lowe is not in Saturday's lineup as the Rays continue a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays. Lowe made his season debut on May 6 after suffering an oblique strain and a hamstring issue this offseason. Through his first ten games of the season, the 26-year-old has a .263/.333/.526 slash line with two long balls. As a result,
Jonny DeLuca will get the starting nod in right field and bat in the five-hole. DeLuca has been swinging a hot bat over his past six games with a .364/.462/.455 slash line. However, the right-handed bat does face
Kevin Gausman today and is best to fade in DFS. Even though Gausman has struggled with a 4.95 ERA this season, he has been dominant against right-handed batters with a 23:4 K:BB ratio, suggesting that DeLuca may have a difficult task awaiting him this afternoon.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs second baseman/shortstop
Nico Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of the Cubs starting lineup on Saturday for the fifth consecutive game. The Cubs are hopeful that their gold glove infielder will not have to spend a stint on the injured list; however, manager Craig Counsell expressed on Friday that he may have to do so if this injury continues to linger. As a result, infielder
Miles Mastrobuoni will make his fifth consecutive start at the keystone this afternoon as the Cubs continue a four-game set with their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates and will bat in the eight-hole. The 28-year-old has posted a poor .133/.278/.133 slash line during this stretch, and is best to fade in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Mets outfielder
Brandon Nimmo (illness) is back in the Mets lineup on Saturday after not starting the previous two games with a stomach bug. Nimmo will bat in the three-hole for the first time this season, as he has always served as the lead-off man in Queens. The Mets have only won one game out of their past five, so manager
Carlos Mendoza could be looking to spark up the offense. As a result, shortstop
Francisco Lindor will bat at the top of the order, and first baseman
Pete Alonso will bat in the two-hole. Designated hitter
J.D. Martinez will slot in the cleanup spot behind Nimmo. DFS players should consider stacking their lineup with Mets this afternoon as they will face southpaw
Braxton Garrett, who allowed five earned runs, five hits, and two free passes in his season debut on May 12.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring relief pitcher
Richard Lovelady from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for relief pitcher
Jeff Belge. Lovelady posted a hefty 7.94 ERA and 1.94 WHIP through 5 ⅔ innings with the Cubs. Belge, who has yet to make his major league debut, has posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 15 innings at Double-A. The 26-year-old should be expected to remain in Double-A as he joins the Cubs system. Lovelady is the only healthy southpaw currently in the Rays bullpen with
Colin Poche (back) on the 15-day injured list. Lovelady should remain on all waiver wires but could tally the occasional hold pitching for a strong Rays team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Rays Communications
6 days agoChicago Cubs pitcher
Drew Smyly (hip) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week with High-A South Bend, per manager Craig Counsell. The 34-year-old journeyman was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 23 with a right hip impingement and is nearing the final step in his recovery process. Smyly has operated exclusively out of the bullpen this season with a hefty 4.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 5:11 BB:K ratio. The southpaw started 23 games for the Cubs last season but looks to be stuck in a long relief role this season. When Smyly returns to major league action, he should be left on all waiver wires, but he could be worth streaming in NL-only formats if he were to make spot starts throughout the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mike McGraw
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