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
6 days agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Jordan Wicks (forearm) is scheduled to throw two more bullpen sessions before embarking on his rehab assignment, as per manager Craig Counsell. Wicks is making significant progress after only being placed on the 15-day injured list on April 28. The southpaw has already faced live hitters but the Cubs are leaning on the side of caution with their young starting pitcher. The 24-year-old made his major league debut late last season and posted a modest 4.41 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 34 ⅔ innings. This season, he has thrown only 23 innings with a 4.70 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. When Wicks is cleared to return, he should expected to operate as the fifth man in the Cubs rotation, making him only worth rostering in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mike McGraw
6 days agoChicago White Sox third base prospect
Bryan Ramos (quadriceps) is on the brink of joining Triple-A Charlotte for a rehab assignment. The 24-year-old was removed from Tuesday's game due to tightness and was officially placed on the ten-day injured list on Friday. This is excellent news, as the young infielder has a chance to return to the big leagues as early as possible next Saturday. The rookie was performing well in his small ten-game sample size in the majors this season with a .281/.294/.344 line. Ramos has always shown great contact skills while in the minor leagues, consistently posting strong batting averages with solid power. When cleared to return, Ramos should be expected to see the majority of starts at the hot corner on the Southside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Daryl Van Schouwen
6 days agoSan Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said he thinks that right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) is in "a great spot for Sunday" to return from the injured list to start in Atlanta against the Braves. The skipper said the team will continue to see how Musgrove recovers after playing catch on Friday and throwing a bullpen session the other day. The Padres put the 31-year-old veteran on the injured list on May 5 with right-elbow inflammation, and he's thrown two bullpen sessions already. It looks like he won't be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment, so fantasy managers would probably be wise to avoid Musgrove in Atlanta against a strong offensive squad, especially since he wasn't pitching all that well before hitting the IL. In 41 innings so far in 2024, Musgrove has an unsightly 6.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP, although he did fan nine hitters in six innings against the Reds his last time out on May 1.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 97.3 The Fan - Sammy Levitt
6 days agoThe expectation is that Major League Baseball will investigate Atlanta Braves infielder
David Fletcher's reported involvement in the gambling situation with Mathew Bowyer, the Southern California bookmaker who also took wagers from
Shohei Ohtani's long-time interpreter. Per ESPN, Fletcher placed bets on multiple sports but did not bet on baseball. MLB players are allowed to bet on other sports, but doing so through illegal bookmakers such as Bowyer is prohibited and could bring a suspension from the commissioner. The 29-year-old currently is playing in the minors at Triple-A Gwinnett. He was brought up briefly when
Ozzie Albies was on the injured list and went 2-for-8 with two RBI in five games played. Once the league's investigation is complete, which could take some time, Fletcher could be facing a suspension.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
6 days agoThe Minnesota Twins reinstated outfielder
Byron Buxton (knee) from the 15-day injured list on Saturday and optioned utility man
Austin Martin to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. It remains to be seen if Buxton will immediately return to the team's starting lineup on Saturday in Cleveland against the Guardians, but the Twins will be happy to have him back regardless. The 30-year-old oft-injured outfielder went on the shelf with right-knee inflammation in the same knee he's already had surgery on twice, and he went hitless in six at-bats on his two-game minor-league rehab assignment. Expect the Twins to ease Buxton back in at center field and potentially as the designated hitter. He was slashing .250/.300/.391 with a homer and 11 RBI in 92 at-bats before his injury.
Manuel Margot and
Willi Castro are likely to be the biggest losers in terms of playing time with Buxton back in the fold.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
6 days agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) could return to the team's bullpen during their series against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium from May 20-23, according to manager Aaron Boone. Kahnle pitched in his second minor-league rehab game for Double-A Somerset on Thursday, striking out the side for a second straight outing. He's made four rehab appearances overall after making two appearances for Single-A Tampa. The 34-year-old reliever is scheduled to pitch again for Somerset on Saturday, at which point he'll be re-evaluated. Right-shoulder inflammation ended Kahnle's 2023 early and delayed his winter throwing program until Dec. 12, so the Yankees have been slow-playing him. When healthy, Kahnle can be a key bullpen piece for the Yanks. In 42 relief appearances in 2023, he posted a 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, two saves, 19 walks and 48 K's in 40 2/3 frames.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu (foot) restarted a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Friday and might be ready to return to the Yankees' lineup during their nine-game West Coast road trip from May 24-June 2 against the Padres, Angels and Giants, according to manager Aaron Boone. "I think it's possible at some point on the trip, but I don't expect the start of it, certainly," Boone said. LeMahieu was expected to lay three to five innings in the field and take a few at-bats in his first rehab game, then take a day off and play again on Sunday. He'll continue to ramp up over the next week. The 35-year-old hasn't played since fracturing his foot on March 16 and experienced more soreness in his foot in his first rehab game back on April 23. When he's officially cleared to make his 2024 debut, LeMahieu should be eased back in to regular duties at the hot corner in the Bronx.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Blake Snell (groin) looked to be in midseason form in his minor-league rehab start on Friday night with Triple-A Sacramento, as he struck out 10 batters over five no-hit innings. In his first rehab start with Single-A San Jose last week, the 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young threw four perfect innings with seven strikeouts, so we think the Giants will feel comfortable activating Snell from the 15-day injured list to make his next outing in the big leagues. Snell signed with the Giants late and wasn't ready for the start of the 2024 season. And when he did debut, he didn't look good, posting an 11.57 ERA and 1.97 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings over his three starts. Now that Snell appears to be fully healthy, he could quickly bounce back for fantasy managers if he keeps the walks to a minimum. Snell needs to be rostered in all leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Maria I. Guardado
6 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles reinstated right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Saturday and designated right-hander
Mike Baumann for assignment in a corresponding move. Rodriguez will immediately re-enter the starting rotation to toe the rubber against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Saturday. The 24-year-old is back after going on the injured list on May 1 with right-shoulder inflammation. It wasn't a serious injury, though, and Rodriguez is returning to Baltimore's rotation without making a minor-league rehab start. That will make him a little more risky in fantasy lineups on Saturday, but he'll also be facing a Mariners offense that ranks 20th in baseball with a .675 OPS. Rodriguez could certainly be on a limited pitch count in his first start back. He'll be returning to a 4-1 record, 3.71 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 34 innings over his six starts in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays second baseman
Davis Schneider is starting at the keystone and hitting in the leadoff spot on Saturday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander
Zach Eflin. This will be the fourth time in the last seven games that Schneider has hit in the top spot for the Jays, with normal leadoff hitter
George Springer down in the six-hole. Between second base and a corner-outfield spot, Schneider has become a lineup regular for Toronto of late and is hitting .257 (9-for-35) with two homers, five RBI and two stolen bases in 11 games so far in May. Schneider has never faced Eflin in his career and is hitting .260/.370/.490 on the season with an .860 OPS, five long balls, 17 RBI and two steals in 100 at-bats. If Springer continues to struggle offensively, it looks like Schneider will benefit by hitting atop Toronto's batting order.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Alex Kirilloff hit his third home run of the season in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Guardians. The solo shot was his only hit in the contest and he also walked once. After a strong start to the season, it seemed Kirilloff might finally live up to his first-round draft pick pedigree, however, since April 29 the left-handed hitter is 3-for-37 (.081) which has resulted in a drop in batting average from .266 to .207. His Contact% is not good at 69.9%, but he does have a decent Barrel% of 8.0% and HardHit% of 42.0%, so maybe there's a chance he can still salvage his season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoHouston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena belted his fifth home run of the season on Friday in a 5-4 win over the Brewers. It was Pena's only hit of the ballgame, but it was a big one as it came off of Brewers starter
Freddy Peralta and put the Astros ahead 5-4, which would go on to be the final score. After a disappointing year in the power department where he tallied just 10 home runs, Pena's power stroke is back. So far on the season, the 26-year-old is slashing .326/.364/.459 with a .363 wOBA and 138 wRC+. The former third-round draft pick has also chipped in six stolen bases and is on pace to set a new career high.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays closer
Pete Fairbanks earned his fourth save of the season on Friday after tossing a scoreless ninth inning in a 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. Fairbanks needed just six pitches to dispatch of the heart of the Jays' order. Fantasy managers are surely delighted after the 30-year-old pitched the eighth inning Wednesday, recording a hold and losing out on a save opportunity in the ninth. There may still be some situational pitching going forward, however, where Fairbanks is used in higher-leverage situations and not necessarily the ninth inning. On the season, the righty has a 5.73 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and a 16.7% K-BB% to go along with his four saves.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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