5 days agoHouston Astros relief pitcher
Ryan Pressly (back) made his first appearance since last Friday in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the New York Yankees, giving up a home run and one walk with one strikeout while recording two outs. Making his first appearance in six days after experiencing soreness in his lower back, Pressly wasn't sharp in the eighth inning while throwing just 10 of his 22 pitches for strikes and serving up a monstrous home run to
Aaron Judge late on Wednesday. While the 35-year-old veteran reliever has taken a backseat to All-Star closer
Josh Hader in the saves department, he's not helping his cause with a poor 5.65 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 22:6 K:BB, and two blown saves over 14 1/3 innings out of Houston's bullpen this year. Even in fantasy leagues that count holds, Pressly is barely worth hanging onto right now.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoHouston Astros closer
Josh Hader secured Thursday's save, recording four outs with one strikeout for his fourth save of the season in the 4-3 win over the New York Yankees. Hader relieved
Ryan Pressly in the eighth inning and got lefty-hitter
Anthony Rizzo to pop out to end the frame.
Gleyber Torres lined a single to get the tying run aboard in the ninth, but Hader managed to sit down the next three hitters in order. It was awful start to the year for Hader in his Astros debut season, but he's gotten back on track with a 2.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while striking out 14, walking three, and converting each of his three save opportunities over his last seven appearances (8 1/3 innings). It looks like the 30-year-old three-time National League Reliever of the Year's buy-low window in fantasy has closed for the time being.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoCleveland Guardians outfielder
Chase DeLauter (foot) doesn't need surgery on his broken left foot, and the medical team is working through the next steps for him. DeLauter reported pain in his left foot on April 25, which is the same foot that he had surgically repaired last year, and the team announced on Sunday that a CT scan revealed a fracture in his fifth metatarsal bone. The 22-year-old former first-round pick is Cleveland's No. 1 prospect for 2024, per MLB Pipeline, and his indefinite absence could delay his major-league debut that wasn't likely to arrive until 2025 to begin with. It's a big hit to his fantasy stock for dynasty managers. DeLauter was already struggling with Double-A Akron this season, slashing .197/.296/.295 with one home run, three doubles, three RBI, and one stolen base over 71 plate appearances (16 games) after crushing four homers in 25 Cactus League at-bats with the Guardians in spring training.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Tom Withers - Associated Press
5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder
Tommy Edman (wrist) is continuing tee work with increased intensity. After being transferred to the 60-day injured list on Sunday, Edman has still yet to fully go through baseball activities after undergoing wrist surgery in October. Although the speedy 29-year-old switch-hitter still has a chance to return in late May when first eligible for reinstatement, he still needs to go through what will likely be a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment after missing all of spring training. In the interim, top prospect
Masyn Winn is functioning as St. Louis' primary shortstop. Winn is slashing only .265/.333/.357 with seven extra-base hits, seven RBI, 10 runs scored, and five stolen bases through 98 at-bats (33 games) this season, however, and he isn't worth rostering in the majority of fantasy leagues at the moment.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Jones - Belleville News-Democrat
5 days agoChicago White Sox outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. (hip) has resumed hitting after suffering a minor setback with his right hip flexor strain while rehabbing in Arizona. Manager Pedro Grifol says Robert is back up to running at 70 percent intensity, and the center fielder will continue to ramp up his activity. Robert is about a week away from taking the next step in his recovery, which could be a minor-league rehab assignment, and he'll play some backfield games before doing so. While the dynamic 26-year-old slugger could get into rehab games in mid-May, barring any setbacks, fantasy managers should be prepared to be without Robert until late May with the last-place ChiSox likely in no hurry to rush him back. Veteran
Tommy Pham is working as Chicago's primary center fielder and worth considering in AL-only leagues, slashing a serviceable .295/.326/.477 with two home runs, two doubles, six RBI, and four runs scored in 44 at-bats (11 games) this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: James Fegan
5 days agoMinnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis (quad) saw doctors again for another checkup on Wednesday, and his latest MRI still showed some inflammation in his strained right quad. Lewis started sprinting on Wednesday alongside up to 80 swings in the batting cage a day, jogging on the warning track, and taking fielding drills hit directly to him, but there's still a lack of a concrete timeline for him to be cleared to ramp up his baseball activities. With the Twins exercising ample levels of caution with the 24-year-old former No. 1 overall pick, Lewis' return to the major-league roster is not expected to arrive before June. In the meantime, super-utility man and switch-hitter
Willi Castro is bouncing around the diamond to help fill in for Minnesota and worth rostering in most fantasy leagues. In 21 games since April 17, Castro is batting .363 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored, and five stolen bases.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Dan Hayes - The Athletic
5 days agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect
Chase Petty tossed five innings of two-run ball with six punchouts en route to his second victory of the season on Wednesday. Petty posted a five-inning shutout performance in his last start and followed that up with another solid performance. The 21-year-old got off to a rough start to the season as he had a 9.56 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in his first four starts in just 16 innings. The fifth-ranked prospect in the Reds system is starting to look like his previous self where he posted an excellent 1.95 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 60 innings at High-A last season. The former first-round selection could see time in Triple-A later in the summer if he can continue to progress at Double-A, which could set him up to make his major league debut next season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets third base prospect
Nolan McLean went 3-for-5 at the plate on Wednesday and hit his fourth home run of the season. McLean has posted a strong .280/.321/.660 slash line through his first 18 games at High-A. The 22-year-old only appeared in five games at Single-A last year, but the Mets decided that he should begin this season immediately in High-A. However, even though McLean has found success at the plate, he is striking out at a very high rate with a 26:3 K:BB. McLean will have to lower this immensely before he has the opportunity to reach Double-A this summer. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy is projected to reach the major leagues in 2026 and could become a name to monitor in dynasty leagues down the road.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoChicago White Sox shortstop prospect
Jacob Gonzalez went 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run on Wednesday and is now riding a strong five-game hitting streak. The 21-year-old has an overall .298/.402/.452 slash line with three long balls and five stolen bases through his first 27 games at High-A. The seventh-ranked prospect in the White Sox's system struggled at Single-A last season with a .207/.328/.261 line, so it is a positive sign to see him putting those struggles behind him. The former Ole Miss Rebel should see time in Double-A later this summer, which could open the door for a potential 2025 major-league debut.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoBaltimore Orioles infield prospect
Jackson Holliday hit his first home run since returning to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. This was his third home of the season at Triple-A, and is riding a solid .309/.482/.531 line through 21 games. After tallying just two hits in ten major league games in April, Baltimore decided that it was best for their top prospect to build more confidence and return to Triple-A for the time being. Since returning, the 20-year-old has gone hitless in just five of his eleven games and looks to be comfortable at the plate again. However, fantasy managers may need to wait a bit longer to see Holliday back in the major leagues due to the crowded infield the Orioles currently have and the several other budding stars in their system who are vying for playing time.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitching prospect
Owen Murphy has been one of the best pitchers in all of the minor leagues this season, and he posted another dominant outing on Wednesday. Murphy tossed five innings of two-run ball with three hits, two walks, and struck out eight. This start brings the 20-year-old to a 1.82 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 49 punchouts across 34 ⅔ innings. Murphy has yet to allow more than two earned runs in his six starts this season and is making a case for a promotion to Double-A. Even though Murphy is still a couple of years away from his major league debut, dynasty managers should pay close attention to him as he is developing into an elite strikeout pitcher and could be promoted to Double-A fairly soon.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates infielder
Nick Gonzales is expected to be recalled from the minors on Friday. The 24-year-old is hitting .358 with four home runs over 30 games in the minors this season. He played in 35 games with the Pirates last season, but will hopefully get a longer stint this time around. Fantasy managers might want to use a wait-and-see approach here, but Gonzalez has all the skills to be a reliable hitter at the highest level.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Destin
5 days agoColorado Rockies starting pitching prospect
Chase Dollander struck out 10 batters on Thursday and allowed just two runs across five innings in a no-decision. Dollander has been showcasing his elite strikeout potential all season, and Thursday was no different. On the season, the 22-year-old has 43 strikeouts in just 24 1/3 innings at Double-A. He has a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and has offered only 10 free passes. Dollander is considered the second-best prospect in the Rockies pipeline and the 46th-best overall prospect on MLB Pipeline. The former ninth overall selection in the 2023 MLB draft is still several years away from his major-league debut but is worth monitoring in dynasty leagues, as he has the potential to develop into one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
5 days agoSan Francisco Giants shortstop
Nick Ahmed (wrist) was forced to exit early during Thursday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The veteran infielder left the game after an awkward swing early during the contest. The hope is that it's a minor injury and Ahmed won't require a trip to the injured list. If he misses time, former top prospect
Marco Luciano could be recalled to take his spot on the roster. Fantasy managers will need to stay tuned for another update on Ahmed.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Shayna Rubin
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers rookie outfielder
Jackson Chourio (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. This appears to be a routine rest day for the rookie outfielder. Chourio has looked better lately, going 6-for-19 over the last week. In his absence,
Christian Yelich,
Sal Frelick, and
Jake Bauers will cover the outfield during Thursday's game against Cardinals right-hander
Sonny Gray.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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