5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks second base prospect
Jean Walters is currently riding a three-game hitting streak thanks to knocking his first triple of the season on Friday evening. This triple in the bottom of the tenth brought in the winning run. On the season, the 22-year-old has a .250/.289/.333 line through ten games at High-A this season. He has only gone hitless in three games. Walters got a small taste of High-A ball last season after moving up from the Rookie League. The switch-hitter should see time in the Double-A later this summer and could become a name to monitor in deeper dynasty leagues if he can continue to stay hot at the plate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher
Michael King threw seven scoreless innings in Friday's 2-1 victory over the Dodgers, striking out 11 but did not factor into the decision. King allowed just two hits and also walked three in the outing. It's the righty's second consecutive start where he did not allow a run, pitching six scoreless against the Diamondbacks his last time out. This is more what fantasy managers were looking for when they drafted the pitcher after posting a low ERA, low WHIP, and a strong K-BB% last season for the Yankees. Over his first seven starts in 2024, the 28-year-old posted a 5.00 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 11.7% K-BB%, and 2.50 HR/9, including two outings in which he allowed a total of seven home runs and one outing where he walked seven batters. Hopefully these last two have got him back on track, and he'll look to keep rolling his next time out at home against a struggling Rockies team who strike out third-most in the majors.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays second baseman
Brandon Lowe (oblique) exited Friday's game for Triple-A Durham after one at-bat. The team says the move was precautionary, but there was no indication as to why he was removed from the game. Lowe is working his way back from an oblique injury suffered earlier in the regular season. The 29-year-old began the rehab assignment on Tuesday and had collected two hits (a double and a grand slam) in five at-bats. The left-handed hitter had also collected three walks. Lowe was expected to rejoin the big-league club within the next week or so, but it's unclear whether or not this latest issue will delay his return.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte hit his third home run in his last six games, a 400-foot boomer to right center field in the third inning of Friday's 4-2 loss against the Baltimore Orioles. Marte's homer, his eighth of the season, cut the deficit 2-1 and proved to be his only hit of the night in five at-bats. He continues to be a more effective hitter when playing under the lights as Marte, who started as the team's designated hitter on Friday, is hitting .321/.370/.519 (.889 OPS) at night compared to hitting just .244 during the day, albeit with a stellar .556 slugging percentage and an OPS of .859. DFS players should consider adding Marte to their lineups when he gets the chance to play after dark. Overall, Marte is off to a great start this season, slashing .295/.345/.538 with eight home runs, 19 RBI, 28 runs, and a stolen base over 174 plate appearances.--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies outfielder
Nick Castellanos hit his third homer of the season to help Philadelphia to an 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday. Since April 20, Castellanos has hit .275/.333/.478 to help boost his batting average to .207, a 54-point jump in batting average since he ended the April 19 loss to the White Sox batting .153. All three of his homers have come in that span as the Phillies, who have won eight of their last 10, are banking that Castellanos can continue to keep his bat perking up. Castellanos is slashing .207/.268/.571 with three home runs, 13 RBI, 16 runs, and a stolen base over 157 plate appearances in 2024.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: Ben Silver, Main Line Today
5 days agoCincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain (shoulder) has been cleared to resume throwing and running. McLain might be able to start swinging a bat in six weeks, which he said would help determine a clearer timeline for his rehab. Both McLain and manager David Bell have also reaffirmed that the goal is for the infielder to return this season. The 24-year-old former top prospect is recuperating from left shoulder surgery and isn't expected to be available until August at the earliest, and whether or not he's worth stashing in redraft fantasy leagues probably hinges on where you're sitting in the standings as we near the quarter mark of the campaign. Keep an eye on
Jonathan India, Cincy's everyday second baseman in McLain's absence, but the former National League Rookie of the Year is slashing a weak .210/.321/.303 with two home runs, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 140 trips to the plate (33 games) this season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSan Francisco Giants designated hitter
Jorge Soler (shoulder) began a hitting progression on Friday. Soler said that he was feeling "extremely well" and had no pain in his strained right shoulder on Wednesday. The fact that Soler didn't face a shutdown from baseball activities and is already hitting means he has a great chance of being activated from the 10-day injured list on May 15, when he's first eligible for reinstatement. Although the 32-year-old slugger was slashing a disappointing .202/.294/.361 with five home runs, four doubles, and eight RBI across 136 plate appearances (34 games) as San Fran's everyday DH before going down, he's worth stashing for fantasy managers in need of power stats. With Soler sidelined, veteran Wilmer Flores should continue operating the Giants' primary DH.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) took batting practice on the field prior to Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox after doing so for the first time in his rehab on Tuesday at Nationals Park. Thomas has continued to run and throw as well, so the next step for him is to run the bases. Working his way back from a left MCL sprain that put him on the injured list on April 24, the 28-year-old outfielder still has a chance to return before the end of the month if he can begin a minor-league rehab assignment sometime in late May. Thomas is slashing a lackluster .184/.250/.253 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 87 at-bats (22 games) as Washington's primary right fielder this season, but his 11 stolen bases make him a must-stash asset in the majority of fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Blanco - MASN Sports
5 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Friday. Manager
Carlos Mendoza said that Senga is trying to get himself right mechanically, and that if the hurler continues to feel better, he could throw another bullpen session, throw live batting practice, or begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Even if Senga's next step is indeed a rehab start, he's still not likely to re-enter New York's rotation until early-to-mid June as he slowly works his way back from a right posterior shoulder capsule strain. With that said, the 31-year-old right-hander doesn't figure to be a fantasy factor for roughly another month. Until Senga returns, right-handers
Jose Butto and rookie
Christian Scott will continue vying to maintain spots in the rotation.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (elbow) has rejoined the team and is likely to be reinstated from the injured list on Saturday to start against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. After throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts for Single-A Jupiter on Sunday, Luzardo is all set to return to Miami's rotation following a recovery from tightness in his left elbow. The 26-year-old left-hander will likely take the rotation spot of
Edward Cabrera (shoulder), who just went on the injured list earlier in the week. Fantasy managers shouldn't be in a hurry to activate Luzardo for Saturday's rigid assignment against the Phillies, considering the southpaw has struggled to a 6.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 27:13 K:BB through 26 innings (five starts) for the Marlins this season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw long toss prior to Friday's game against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays and is expected to throw a full bullpen session on Saturday morning. Manager Aaron Boone said the plan is to have Cole ramp up his baseball activities, but an exact timetable for his return to the mound has not yet been set. If the 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner can begin a minor-league rehab assignment in late May, he should be able to rejoin New York's rotation in the middle of June. Right-handers
Luis Gil and
Clarke Schmidt are both throwing well for the Yankees right now and are high-end streaming options in fantasy in favorable matchups.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Scott Butherus- MLB.com
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Robert Gasser twirled a scoreless gem in his major-league debut during Friday's victory over the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts. You couldn't ask for a better showing in Gasser's first taste of big-league action, and the hurler got plenty of run support to record the win on Friday. The 24-year-old left-hander is Milwaukee's No. 5 prospect for 2024, according to MLB Pipeline, and he will almost certainly get another turn in the Brewers' banged-up rotation following this promising performance. Unfortunately, that next appearance lines up for a more difficult task in the form of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park next Friday. Gasser is worth a speculative add for fantasy managers needing pitching help, but he'll be best suited on benches against Houston on the road.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates second baseman
Nick Gonzales hit fifth in his season debut during Friday's loss to the division-rival Chicago Cubs, driving in two runs in the loss. In his first big-league at-bat of 2024, Gonzales hit a two-run single to plate
Andrew McCutchen and
Oneil Cruz to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead in the first inning before the advantage later evaporated. The 24-year-old former No. 7 overall pick was Pittsburgh's No. 5 prospect for 2023, per MLB Pipeline, and he figures to have a chance at carving out a consistent role in the Pirates' infield moving ahead. It's not like starting second baseman
Jared Triolo has done much this year, so fantasy managers should get Gonzales on watch lists after the young infielder's encouraging effort on Friday. Gonzales struggled in his MLB debut in 2023, hitting .209 (24-for-115) with two homers and 13 RBI in 35 games.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Yennier Cano notched his second save of the season in Friday's 4-2 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing a scoreless ninth inning on one hit with a strikeout. The O's are searching for answers when it comes to
read more...
6 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Charlie Morton tossed seven strong innings in Friday's victory over the division-rival New York Mets, giving up one run on three hits (one home run) and one walk with seven strikeouts. Besides the seven punchouts, Morton's highlight of the night came when he escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second inning by striking out Mets third baseman
Brett Baty to end the frame. The 40-year-old right-hander remains a dependable fantasy starter at this stage of his career, featuring a rock-solid 3.14 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 40:14 K:BB through 43 frames (seven starts) during the fourth season of his second stint in Atlanta this year. Morton is slated to take the hill in Wednesday's series finale at home against the Chicago Cubs. In four starts against the Cubs since 2021, Morton has a dicey 6.16 ERA and 20:11 K:BB over 19 innings.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
RADIO
