6 days agoThe Chicago White Sox acquired outfielder
Corey Julks from the Houston Astros on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander
Luis Rodriguez. The White Sox then optioned Julks to Triple-A Charlotte, recalled outfielder
Dominic Fletcher from Charlotte and designated outfielder
Rafael Ortega for assignment. While Julks will head to the minors, he's now in a better situation in Chicago to have a shot at playing time at the big-league level later this year. The 28-year-old former eighth-round pick by the Astros in 2017 out of the University of Houston made his major-league debut in 2023 and went 73-for-298 (.245) with six home runs, 33 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 93 games. In 31 games for Triple-A Sugar Land before the trade, he was hitting .266/.358/.444 with an .802 OPS, five homers, 15 RBI and six steals. If he surfaces with Chicago this summer, he'll be worth grabbing in AL-only leagues for his speed.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
6 days agoThe plan is for New York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu (foot) to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday or Friday with Double-A Somerset. LeMahieu will need a decent amount of games in the minors since he hasn't played in nearly two months. However, he did get some more live at-bats at the team's spring training complex on Wednesday. The 35-year-old veteran has yet to play in 2024 due to an injured right foot that just hasn't healed completely. LeMahieu had already started a rehab assignment late in April before playing in just one game before he was shut down. But he's ramped up his baseball activities of late and could finally be on the cusp of making his season debut with the Bombers. When LeMahieu finally returns, he'll likely be eased into playing time at third base in the Bronx. The three-time All-Star will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2023 season in which he hit only .243 (121-for-497) with 15 home runs and 44 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
6 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) is doing some baserunning on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a Grade 2 sprain of his left MCL three weeks ago. Thomas isn't running at 100 percent yet, but it didn't look like he was at much less than full speed on Wednesday. It sounds as though Thomas is getting very close to embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment, although the Nationals could want to see him play in at least a handful of games given his long layoff. Still, the 28-year-old could return from the injured list before the end of May, barring any setbacks. Thomas was hitting just .184 (16-for-87) with two homers and 10 RBI before his injury, but he also contributed 11 stolen bases in just 22 games and was a 20-20 player in 2023. He should not be floating around on the waiver wire in any fantasy league.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
6 days agoHouston Astros right-hander
Ronel Blanco will not appeal his automatic 10-day suspension, according to general manager Dana Brown. Blanco will begin serving his suspension on Wednesday and will miss his next scheduled start after his glove was confiscated during his start on Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics when umpires found a foreign substance on his leather. The 30-year-old was ejected after three shutout innings against the A's and now won't be eligible to pitch again until May 26. An already beat-up Astros pitching staff will now be even more thinned out over the next 10 days, although right-hander
Jose Urquidy (forearm) is nearing his return. Blanco has been a revelation this year for Houston and fantasy managers, already throwing a no-hitter while sporting a 2.09 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 21 walks and 45 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings over his eight starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
6 days agoSan Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) threw a light bullpen session on Monday, marking the first time he'd done so since he was placed on the 15-day injured list after his May 1 start due to right-elbow inflammation. Musgrove is scheduled for another bullpen on Wednesday, with manager Mike Shildt noting that if all goes well, Musgrove is trending toward making his return during the team's series from May 17-20 in Atlanta against the Braves. Musgrove has had a tough season to this point, sporting a 6.37 ERA in eight starts, but his most recent outing was his sharpest, when he gave up just two runs and struck out nine in six innings of work against the Cincinnati Reds. The 31-year-old veteran still has time to turn things around and should be plucked off the waiver wire if he's available in your league, although starting him this weekend if he returns to face the Braves would be a risky proposition.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (groin) was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left-groin strain on Wednesday. Lodolo last pitched on Saturday in a loss to the San Francisco Giants, when he allowed four earned runs on five hits in six innings. He felt the injury following a side bullpen session before that appearance. Over six starts in 2024, Lodolo has gone 3-2 with a solid 3.34 ERA and 0.94 WHIP while striking out 43 with nine walks in 35 innings. It's not considered a major injury, but the Reds wanted to put him on the IL as a precaution, especially since he made just seven starts in 2023 with a stress fracture in his left tibia. Fantasy managers should keep the former first-rounder stashed in all fantasy formats for his high-strikeout upside. The Reds haven't named a replacement for Lodolo's start on Thursday against the Dodgers, but swingman
Nick Martinez is expected to get "significant innings" on Thursday, according to manager David Bell.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Brandon Pfaadt made easy work of the Cincinnati Reds during Wednesday's game. The 25-year-old recorded nine strikeouts, allowing two hits, and only one run in a no-decision. The only damage was a solo shot by
Santiago Espinal in the fifth inning. Pfaadt will carry a 4.17 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 51/10 K/BB ratio across nine starts into his next outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Crochet has looked sharp on the mound over his last few starts. On Wednesday, Crochet recorded six strikeouts over five scoreless innings during the win over the Washington Nationals. He held the Nats hitters to three hits and three walks during this game. Crochet has now posted four straight solid outings after a couple of bad starts to open the season. He'll take a 4.18 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 70/12 K/BB ratio into his next start against the Toronto Blue Jays.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles catcher
Adley Rutschman came up clutch for his team during Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The switch-hitting smacked a two-run walkoff home run in the ninth to give the O's the win. This marked his second career walkoff blast and his third home run in his last four games. Rutschman continues to prove why he's arguably the best catcher in baseball right now. His OPS has jumped from .781 to .859 over the last three games.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins outfielder
Bryan De La Cruz has been one of the few bright spots for this team early in the season. On Wednesday, De La Cruz blasted a two-run home run off right-hander
Casey Mize during the opening frame. The homer from De La Cruz was enough for the Marlins as they won the game 2-0. De La Cruz now has nine home runs, 24 RBI, and one steal this season. He has put together a nice breakout campaign early in the season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Trevor Rogers posted a solid outing during Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers. The southpaw threw five shutout innings, allowing three hits, and a pair of walks in the win. Rogers has struggled throughout most of the season, but hopefully this performance will help him get back on track. He recorded six strikeouts in this game, which is his most since early April. Rogers will take a 5.79 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, and 37/19 K/BB ratio into his next start against the Milwaukee Brewers.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers catcher
William Contreras has quickly become one of the best options behind the plate in baseball. The 26-year-old continued his hot stretch of play during Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Contreras went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in the blowout win. He blasted a three-run shot off southpaw
Martin Perez in the third inning. The Brewers were hammering the ball all game long with five home runs during this game. Contreras has become a top tier option at catcher in both the MLB and in fantasy leagues.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoTexas Rangers right-hander
Max Scherzer (elbow, neck, triceps) said he has had MRI exams on his elbow, neck and triceps and all of the imaging has come back clean. Scherzer is going to attempt to play light catch on Wednesday and will learn to manage his neck issue. The 39-year-old three-time Cy Young winner had surgery on Dec. 15 to fix a disc issue in his back and was hoping to return in May, but he was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday and now won't be eligible to return before May 27. A recent thumb injury caused him to be shut down, which essentially assured that he wouldn't make his season debut for the defending champions until June. For now, there's no timeline on Scherzer's return, although his Hall of Fame resume makes him deserving of being stashed in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) went through agility drills on Wednesday less than two weeks after suffering a left-hamstring strain. He also took ground balls. "There is no timeline," according to manager Rob Thomson. However, The Athletic's Matt Gelb writes that Turner doesn't look like a player that will miss another four weeks. It's a good sign for Turner's fantasy managers, but the Phillies could still slow-play the All-Star shortstop to make sure he doesn't aggravate his hammy when he returns. The 30-year-old needs to be stashed in an injured-list spot in all fantasy formats. In the meantime,
Edmundo Sosa should continue to see most of the action at the 6 in Philadelphia. Before his injury, Turner was hitting a cool .343/.392/.460 with an .852 OPS, two home runs, nine RBI and 10 stolen bases in 137 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
6 days agoThe Oakland Athletics placed left-hander
Alex Wood (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 13) with left rotator-cuff tendonitis and also optioned left-hander
Brady Basso to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday. In corresponding moves, right-hander
Aaron Brooks' contract was selected from the minors and left-hander
Hogan Harris was recalled from Vegas. Infielder Darrell Hernaiz (ankle) was also moved to the 60-day IL. The 33-year-old Wood is eligible to return on May 28, but it's unlikely the veteran will make it back by then. His left shoulder was bothering him in his last start on Sunday against the Mariners, but Wood hasn't been very good in his nine starts in 2024, going 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with 33 K's in 39 1/3 frames. It's unclear who will take his rotation spot, but Brooks is coming up for a spot start on Wednesday versus the Houston Astros.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Oakland A's Communications
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