6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies infielder
Alec Bohm (hip) was removed from Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants with right hip tightness. The Phillies announced that the move was precautionary. The 27-year-old went 1-for-1 with an RBI, an HBP, and two runs scored before being removed. He extended his hitting streak to 17 games. It's worth noting that the Phillies were up eight runs, and there were rainy conditions before
Whit Merrifield replaced Bohm in the bottom of the third inning. He is slashing .364/.435/.579 with four home runs, 32 RBI, 18 runs, and a stolen base over 34 games in 2024. Bohm is considered day-to-day. Merrifield would see an uptick in playing time if Bohm were to miss any games.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Alex Coffey
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander
Jared Jones pitched a gem on Saturday afternoon against the Colorado Rockies. Jones went seven strong innings, adding ten strikeouts, surrendering only one hit and zero walks. Unfortunately, the Pirates bats did not score a run until the bottom of the ninth, giving the win to closer
David Bednar instead of Jones. Jones continues to be electric with 62 strikeouts in 48 innings to go with two wins, a 2.63 ERA and a minuscule .78 WHIP. Those who gambled in drafting Jones look prescient at this point as he shows no signs of slowing down.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
6 days agoNew York Yankees closer
Clay Holmes earned his 11th save Saturday afternoon in a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Holmes got four outs, two via strikeout, and remained unscored upon in 2024. Holmes also has a win to go along with his 0.00 ERA and 0.92 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 16 innings. The save ties him for the MLB lead with the St. Louis Cardinals'
Ryan Helsley. Continue to deploy Holmes in all leagues that have a saves category, even if you do not get the high volume of strikeouts you may like in a closer.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: New York Yankees
6 days agoThe Minnesota Twins right-hander
Pablo Lopez earned his third win with six strong innings on Saturday afternoon over the Boston Red Sox. Lopez had eight strikeouts and a walk while surrendering one run, one walk, and five hits. Lopez lowered his ERA from 4.83 to 4.30 with the solid outing. Lopez now has 45 strikeouts in 38 innings this season. Many fantasy players drafted Lopez as their staff ace this spring. Lopez is right at his career norms with a 29.4K% and 5.6 BB%, so we can expect Lopez to continue to provide worry-free innings in 2024.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
6 days agoMinnesota Twins right-hander
Cole Sands earned his second save of the season on Saturday afternoon in a 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Sands pitched a spotless ninth and added a strikeout in relief of usual closer
Jhoan Duran, who was called upon to face the heart of the Red Sox order in the eighth inning. That left the save opportunity for Sands. With the usual setup men
Brock Stewart and
Justin Topa out with injuries, Sands could see himself in a higher leverage role in the short-term with lefty
Caleb Thielbar and should earn holds and the occasional vulture save.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder/infielder
Christopher Morel launched his seventh homer in a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Morel hit the home run off
Tobias Myers in the third inning. The third baseman is hitting .213 with the aforementioned seven home runs, 20 RBI, three stolen bases and 20 runs scored. Morel launched 26 round-trippers in 2023. Morel has been hitting in the cleanup spot for the Cubs. Continue to look for more pop in his bat, but be aware that could come with a batting average hit to your fantasy team.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs
6 days agoChicago Cubs relief pitcher
Hector Neris earned his sixth save of the season in a 6-5 win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon. Neris gave up two hits and an earned run with a walk and a strikeout to notch the save in the ninth inning. Neris has taken over the closer role for the ineffective
Adbert Alzolay. Despite some shaky peripherals, including a 20.8 walk rate and an xERA of 7.15, Neris continues to get the job done for the Cubs. He should remain in the role for the foreseeable future.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs
6 days agoSeattle Mariners outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter
Luke Raley will head to the bench on Saturday night with the Mariners facing Houston Astros' lefty
Framber Valdez. The left-handed hitting Raley is hitting .224 with no home runs, three RBI, and four runs scored in 60 plate appearances.
Sam Haggerty gets the start in left field. Raley and Haggerty appear to be in a left-field platoon at this time. Raley will look to be the starter when the Mariners face right-handed pitching.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners
6 days agoInfielder
Luis Arraez, acquired by the San Diego Padres for prospects on Friday night from the Miami Marlins, is in the designated hitter slot and is batting leadoff on Saturday night. Arraez is hitting .299 with no home runs, five RBI, and 22 runs in 148 plate appearances this season. Arraez could also see time at first base and second base in San Diego. The Padres face off against right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, and Arraez should be in all starting fantasy lineup. Although he lacks power, the move to a more potent lineup in San Diego is a boost to his fantasy value everywhere.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Colton Cowser is out of the lineup for Saturday night's tilt against
Andrew Abbott and the Cincinnati Reds.
Ryan McKenna is starting in left field in Cowser's place. This shouldn't a cause for concern for fantasy owners as this appears to be Cowser being in a platoon situation. The lefty has only hit for a .348 OPS against southpaws in 2024. With Reds' lefty
Nick Lodolo on deck for Sunday's game, Cowser shouldn't be expected to be back in the lineup until Tuesday in Washington against Nationals right-hander
Trevor Williams.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
6 days agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher
Alec Marsh (elbow) is set for a rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday. Marsh is expect to throw between 60-65 pitches in the start. As of now it's unclear if Marsh will need multiple rehab starts before rejoining the Royals, so there is a chance that if all goes well then he will rejoin Kansas City when he can be activated off the IL on May 10th. Marsh had been having a solid season before getting drilled with a liner when facing the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander has posted up a 2.70 ERA and recorded three wins in five starts. Marsh may be a sneaky add that fantasy managers can stash on their bench until he returns.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Anne Rogers
6 days agoWashington Nationals starting pitcher
Josiah Gray (elbow) felt good after throwing a bullpen on Saturday, according to manager Dave Martinez. He threw around 30-35 pitches and will be throwing another bullpen on Tuesday or Wednesday. There currently isn't a timetable set for Gray's return or when to expect him to begin rehab starts, but this is a positive sign for the 26-year-old. Gray had a very rocky start to the 2024 season, giving up 13 runs in just over eight innings across two starts. With Gray out, the Nationals starters have posted a 4.40 ERA, though three of their starters have posted an ERA below 3.50. They will have to hold down the fort until Gray comes back.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Golden
6 days agoThe San Francisco Giants announced Saturday that they have placed catcher
Patrick Bailey on the 7-day concussion injured list and have recalled catcher
Blake Sabol from Triple-A Sacramento. Bailey was removed from Friday night's game after a foul tip on a 95 mph fastball hit off his mask in the bottom of the first inning.
Tom Murphy will be starting in Bailey's place on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies. Murphy is hitting for a .121 average and a .458 OPS. Sabol put up much better numbers in 2023, hitting for a .695 OPS in 344 plate appearances. While both catchers should be expected to split time while Bailey's out, Sabol should be the higher priority for the next week with the expectation that he will be more productive than Murphy. Both should make for good streaming options next week as the Giants open up a series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Giants
6 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies announced Saturday that shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) will be put on the 10-day injured list with a left-hamstring strain. The shortstop was quoted as saying he expects to miss six weeks and that it would "be a win" if he returned any earlier than that. Turner was pulled after the bottom of the fourth inning in Friday night's game. Turner had been having a fantastic season, slashing .343/.392/.460 with 10 stolen bases and 27 runs.
Edmundo Sosa is starting Saturday night against the San Francisco Giants in Turner's place. Sosa should be expected to be the starter for the next six weeks. Sosa is hitting for an .824 OPS in 21 at-bats this season, above his career norms, and should be on all fantasy managers' radars as a waiver-wire pickup while Turner recovers from injury.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb
6 days agoLos Angeles Angels second baseman
Luis Rengifo (illness) is out of the lineup on Saturday with an illness.
Brandon Drury will be hitting fifth starting at third base and
Ehire Adrianza will be hitting second and starting at second base against the Cleveland Guardians. Adrianza has been getting extra playing time when Rengifo or Drury are out. Rengifo should be considered day-to-day. Rengifo has been having a solid season, hitting for an .839 OPS after a slow start to the season. As long as Rengifo is feeling better on Sunday, he should be expected to be back in the lineup against Guardians starter
Carlos Carrasco.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
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