5 days agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (side) remains sidelined for Friday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres.
Zack Short will make yet another start at the hot corner in Atlanta and will hit in the nine-hole versus Padres right-hander
Matt Waldron. Riley is missing his fourth straight game after being pulled from Sunday's game early against the New York Mets with a left-side issue. The 27-year-old's MRI exam earlier this week showed only inflammation, so there's still hope he can avoid a trip to the injured list. Still, if Riley cannot play at all in the weekend series against the Padres, things could change. Since joining the Braves, Short has gone 4-for-10 with two doubles and two RBI in just four games, but he's hitting .192 (5-for-26) on the year as a whole and is a career .175 hitter in 193 big-league games. Avoid him in DFS.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays infielder
Jose Caballero is taking the day off on Friday for the start of a series in Toronto against the Blue Jays. With Caballero starting on the bench,
Amed Rosario will start at shortstop and hit seventh against Blue Jays right-hander
Chris Bassitt. This will only be Caballero's fifth game on the bench to start a game for Tampa this year, as he's been the team's primary shortstop in 2024 in the wake of
Wander Franco's off-the-field issues. The 27-year-old from Panama doesn't have much power and is hitting just .252/.309/.360 in 139 at-bats, but he's useful in fantasy leagues for his speed (17 steals in his first 40 games with the Rays). Rosario isn't in an ideal lineup spot for those in DFS, but he is sporting a .300 average (42-for-140) on the year with two homers, 18 RBI, five stolen bases and 12 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
5 days agoNew York Mets outfielder
Brandon Nimmo (illness) remains out of the starting lineup on Friday for the start of a series in Miami against the Marlins. Nimmo was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies due to a stomach bug and clearly is still not feeling well a day later. The 31-year-old should be considered day-to-day. Check back on Saturday to see if he's back in the Mets' lineup.
Tyrone Taylor will make another start in left field and will head leadoff against Marlins left-hander
Jesus Luzardo. Taylor has two hits and two RBI in just three career at-bats against Luzardo. However, Taylor is also hitting just .191 (4-for-21) with no homers and seven strikeouts in his 10 games played in May. Because he's hitting out of the leadoff spot, he'll have slightly more appeal as a DFS sleeper.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoToronto Blue Jays designated hitter
Justin Turner (illness) is back in the lineup on Friday, serving as the DH and batting cleanup against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander
Tyler Alexander. Turner missed a few games this week while feeling under the weather, but he's back in there for the start of a series against the Rays. The 39-year-old veteran should be returned to starting fantasy lineups in redraft leagues. He's gone hitless in his last 16 plate appearances over four games but does have two home runs and five RBI in five career at-bats against Alexander. On the year, Turner has slashed .246/.317/.405 with four home runs, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored in 126 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Cedric Mullins remains out of the starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander
Bryce Miller. It's the third time in the last five games that Mullins has started on the bench for the Orioles. Rookie
Colton Cowser is in center field and is hitting sixth on Friday, while
Kyle Stowers is starting in left field and batting eighth against Miller. Mullins' fantasy stock is obviously down with his loss of playing time coming due to his .183/.234/.349 slash line on the year with six home runs, 18 RBI and six stolen bases in 126 at-bats. Since April 22, Mullins has gone 5-for-59 (.085) with a home run, three RBI, two stolen bases, four walks and 19 strikeouts in 63 plate appearances over 18 games played. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues need to keep Mullins on their bench until he starts producing again.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: BaltimoreBaseball.com - Rich Dubroff
5 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Jacob Young is not in the team's starting lineup on Friday against the Phillies in Philadelphia.
Victor Robles will take over for the Nationals in center field and will hit ninth against Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler. Young had started in eight of the team's last nine games, with six of them coming out of the leadoff spot. The 24-year-old has held his own with a .257 average (54-for-210) in his first 67 major-league games, dating back to his debut in 2023, but he's still searching for his first home run while driving in 20 and stealing 27 bases. The former seventh-round pick in 2021 out of Florida should continue to be valuable for his speed in all fantasy formats, especially if he continues to hit atop the order. Robles has very little DFS upside at the bottom of the order in a tough matchup on Friday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs right-hander
Yency Almonte (shoulder) is shut down from throwing and is in a strengthening program. However, the hope is that his strengthening program will be relatively short and he can start throwing again next week. The 29-year-old reliever was placed on the 15-day injured last week with a right-shoulder strain but he shouldn't be out for too much longer, barring a setback. The former 17th-round selection by the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 was 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA (3.31 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP, one save, eight walks and 20 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen this year before going on the IL. Almonte isn't really on the fantasy radar in any formats and holds a career 4.44 ERA (4.41 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with three saves in 223 innings out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Ryan Herrera
5 days agoThe Washington Nationals reinstated first baseman/outfielder designated hitter
Joey Gallo (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned rookie infielder
Trey Lipscomb to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. It remains to be seen if Gallo will be included in Friday's starting lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander
Zack Wheeler. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger has recovered from a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and should play mostly in right field or as the DH on most days against right-handed pitching for the Nats, at least until
Lane Thomas (knee) returns from his injury. Gallo has elite power but struggles to make consistent contact at the plate. He's returning to a .122/.286/.311 slash line with three homers and five RBI in the 23 games he's played in this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Washington Nationals
5 days agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers acquired left-hander
Anthony Banda from the Cleveland Guardians on Friday in exchange for cash considerations. Banda will head to the Dodgers after posting a 2.12 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with six walks and 25 strikeouts in 17 relief innings for Triple-A Columbus this year. The 30-year-old southpaw will likely report to Triple-A Oklahoma City now and will operate as left-handed relief depth for the Dodgers moving forward. Banda was originally a 10th-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012 out of San Jacinto College. He made his big-league debut back in 2017 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and has pitched in the majors with seven different teams since then. Overall, he has a 5.69 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with one save, a weak 19.9% strikeout rate and an 8.9% walk rate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider
5 days agoOakland Athletics right-hander
Mitch Spence will make the start for Friday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals. Spence last pitched on Monday against the Houston Astros, giving up two runs on two hits (one homer) while walking one and fanning one in just two-thirds of an inning. The 26-year-old former Rule 5 pick will be making his first major-league start on Friday in a tough matchup, so we would recommend avoiding him as a streamer in deeper fantasy leagues. The former 10th-round selection of the New York Yankees in 2019 out of South Carolina Aiken has allowed 13 runs (12 earned) on 21 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 22 in 25 1/3 relief innings so far in his rookie season. Spence will essentially be an opener for the A's on Friday, with
Kyle Muller likely being the bulk reliever out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
5 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto said on Thursday that he would give his blessing to contract talks during the season if the Yankees want to approach his agent, Scott Boras, about a long-term contract. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said he'd consider such a tactic for the three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, who is just 25 years old. "We'd like to see him here for the rest of his career. I don't think there's any doubt in that," Steinbrenner said. Soto is currently hitting a strong .302 with nine homers, 34 RBI and a .920 OPS in his first 45 games in pinstripes. Neither Steinbrenner nor Boras typically do in-season contract extensions, but the Yankees are willing to make an exception with such a special player. If the two sides don't reach an extension before free agency this winter, Soto will be a highly sought-after free agent.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
5 days agoChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-handed reliever
Julian Merryweather (ribs, shoulder) will start throwing in Arizona on Monday. Merryweather still has a long ways to go to get up to speed, but it's a good sign that he's ready to resume throwing. The 32-year-old veteran was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his ribs in early April and is currently on the 60-day injured list, meaning he's not eligible to return until early June. Given the severity of his injury and the fact that he's starting his throwing program next week, Merryweather is unlikely to be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible. The former fifth-round pick by Cleveland in 2014 out of Oklahoma Baptist has a 3.29 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, two saves and 104 K's in 76 2/3 relief innings for the Cubs the last two years and will be a useful high-leverage arm out of their bullpen when he's ready to come back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Daily Herald - Mike McGraw
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) will resume baseball activities on Monday, according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomcyzk. The plan is for Hayes to play catch and field ground balls on Monday and then swing the bat on Tuesday. The 27-year-old landed on the injured list with a back injury that doesn't sound too serious, so as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, Hayes could be back with the Pirates before the calendar flips to June. Until Hayes is able to return, expect the Pirates to continue to lean on
Jared Triolo at the hot corner. Triolo is hitting ninth for the Bucs on Friday against Chicago Cubs veteran right-hander
Kyle Hendricks. Before his injury, Hayes was hitting a modest .240/.322/.318 with only one home run and 11 RBI in 34 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
5 days agoThe Chicago Cubs placed right-hander
Colten Brewer (back) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a lower-back injury and recalled right-handed pitcher
Porter Hodge from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Brewer last pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Sunday. In a middle-relief role for the Cubs this year, the 31-year-old has been solid for the team, posting a 3.09 ERA (3.20 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. In six years in the big leagues, Brewer has a 4.78 ERA (5.06 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP with a very mediocre 20.2% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate. Hodge, 23, was a 13th-round pick by the Cubs in 2019 and will be making his big-league debut when he enters a game out of the Cubs' bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
5 days agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Miguel Andujar (knee) went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI while serving as the designated hitter in his first minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday evening. Andujar didn't play the entire game, but it was a good first test for the 29-year-old as he attempts to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him all year to this point. Andujar was swinging the bat well in spring training with the A's before injuring his knee, so it looks like he picked up where he left off. Because of the long layoff, the A's are going to make sure he gets enough at-bats in the minors before he makes his 2024 debut. Andujar's role with the A's is to be determined, but he could at least be worth considering in AL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
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