5 days agoSan Diego Padres outfielder
Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-4 with a walk in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Tatis went 1-for-12 with one homer, two walks, and three strikeouts against the Blue Jays over the weekend. The 25-year-old is slashing .261/.343/.478 with six homers, 15 RBI, 16 runs, and three stole bases over 105 plate appearances in 2024. With a four-game series starting Monday versus the Colorado Rockies, each game has a favorable matchup rating for the Padres outfielder. Despite struggling against the Jays this past weekend, fantasy managers should continue to start Tatis in all league formats.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 days agoNew York Mets first baseman
Pete Alonso was one of seven players to get a hit against Los Angeles starter
Tyler Glasnow in the team's 10-0 loss on Sunday. Alonso flew out his first time and struck out his second time before hitting a single to right field in his third at-bat of the game. It's been a bit of a slow start for the first baseman through the first 21 games of the season, as he is slashing .241/.323/.482 with six home runs, 11 RBI, and two doubles at the plate. Despite his low average, the 29-year-old will continue being a fantasy starter moving forward, given his power numbers.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two strikeouts in the team's 6-4 loss against the Texas Rangers on Sunday night. Riley was off to a poor at the plate on Sunday before bringing in
Ronald Acuna Jr. on an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning. The third baseman is now slashing .259/.323/.447 with two home runs, 13 RBI, and six doubles atop the Braves' lineup through 20 games to start the season. He has also totaled at least one hit in 12 of the last 14 games. The 27-year-old will continue to be a must-start player in fantasy.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies placed first baseman
Bryce Harper on the paternity list on Monday before their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. In a corresponding move, the team recalled infielder
Kody Clemens from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Harper will miss between one and three games for the Phillies this week, which makes him tough to roll with in weekly fantasy leagues. The most likely scenario is that we see the 31-year-old former All-Star back in action for the series finale in Cincinnati on Thursday. The seven-time All-Star has started off the 2024 campaign by hitting .241/.330/.443 with four home runs, four doubles, 14 RBI, one stolen base and 10 runs scored in his first 21 games. Be prepared to be without him for the next couple of days.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
5 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle (chest) looks to be OK after suffering a chest bruise in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday. As a precaution, the Rockies scratched Doyle from the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Seattle Mariners. The 25-year-old is expected to be fine for the upcoming series against the San Diego Padres, which starts on Monday, so fantasy managers will want to check back later to see if he's back in the lineup. Even if Doyle takes another game off on Monday, he should be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. The former fourth-round pick in 2019 out of Shepherd University has looked good in his second MLB season so far, going 22-for-76 (.289) with three home runs, seven RBI and two stolen bases in 21 games. Get Doyle back into your lineups if he returns on Monday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Denver Gazette - Luke Zahlmann
5 days agoThe Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander
Darius Vines to Triple-A Gwinnett after Sunday's loss to the Texas Rangers. In a corresponding move, the Braves called up right-hander
Bryce Elder, who will start the series opener versus the Miami Marlins on Monday. Vines took the loss against Texas on Sunday, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out just two in five innings of work. The 25-year-old got off to a good start on Sunday before falling apart. Vines gave up one earned run with three walks and four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings for a no-decision against the Astros in his first start of the year on April 15. He'll go back to the minors for now, but we could definitely see Vines back in the majors making a spot start for the Braves at some point this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
5 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. This will bring his hit streak to four games now. Abreu is slashing .280/.390/.440 with a home run, seven RBI, nine runs, and four stolen bases over 18 games in 2024. The Red Sox are off Monday, and he will look to continue his hitting streak in Tuesday's matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. Abreu is a speculative add in most fantasy leagues. He will be a strong streaming candidate while swinging a hot bat.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 days agoWashington Nationals catcher
Keibert Ruiz (illness) has finally moved past the worst of his case of influenza, which first began afflicting him 13 days ago and eventually forced him to the 10-day injured list. He described himself as "90 percent" better now and has been able to start some baseball activities -- hitting off a pitching machine, participating in some defensive drills and doing some light weight lifting. He was set to begin running before Sunday's game against the Houston Astros. The 25-year-old lost 18-20 pounds. Ruiz could be activated before Tuesday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the team seems inclined to have him go on a short minor-league rehab assignment first, likely with Double-A Harrisburg. Ruiz was hitting just .194 (6-for-31) with a homer and three RBI before getting sick.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
5 days agoMinnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa (intercostal) won't be ready to return from a right-intercostal strain when he's eligible to come off the injured list on Tuesday, but he's close to resuming baseball activities. According to head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta, "his symptoms are improving dramatically." The Twins are being somewhat cautious to avoid a months-long absence with Correa given the setback-prone nature of his injury. The 29-year-old landed on the IL on April 13 with a mild intercostal strain. While there currently isn't a timetable for a return, he looks to be on the mend and could return in early May.
Willi Castro is serving as the team's primary shortstop for now. Correa will hope to pick up where he left off when he returns, as he's so far hit .306 (11-for-36) with a homer and four RBI in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
5 days agoMinnesota Twins right fielder
Max Kepler (knee) is on the verge of returning to the Twins' lineup after spending the past two weeks on the injured list with a right-knee contusion. Kepler played in games with Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, collecting four hits and three walks. He could be activated from the injured list as soon as Monday. At least against right-handed pitching, the 31-year-old left-handed hitter should be a regular in Minnesota's starting lineup once he returns in right field. Kepler's return could mean less playing time for
Trevor Larnach, although he could pick up at-bats as the team's designated hitter. Before his injury, Kepler had just one hit in his first 20 at-bats in 2024 with no home runs, RBI or runs scored for the Twins.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
5 days agoMinnesota Twins right-hander
Louie Varland is a candidate to be removed from the team's starting rotation after going just 2 2/3 innings while giving up four runs in a loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The loss dropped Varland to 0-4 on the year with a 9.18 ERA. He was pushed into the team's rotation to begin the year due to
Anthony DeSclafani's (elbow) injury, but he may not be around much longer. He's allowed six homers in just 16 2/3 innings. Manager Rocco Baldelli declined to commit to Varland taking his next scheduled turn through the rotation after Sunday's game. If the Twins do move Varland out of the rotation,
Simeon Woods Richardson, who pitched well in a spot start against Detroit on April 13, is the most logical choice to take Varland's spot next weekend against the Los Angeles Angels.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
5 days agoCincinnati Reds right-hander
Frankie Montas (forearm) left Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels early with a right-forearm bruise. X-rays on his arm showed no fracture after he was hit in the arm by a comebacker. It's good news that the 31-year-old doesn't have any kind of break in his arm, but Montas said that he's likely to miss his next start due to soreness and swelling. He recorded just two outs in Sunday's game before being hit in the arm, so he also may not be able to go very deep in his next start after taking at least one turn through the rotation off. The injured list is still a possibility if Montas isn't feeling great after missing one start. Montas has been up and down through his first five starts with the Reds in 2024, going 2-2 with a 4.19 ERA (5.33 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP with 10 walks and 14 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander
Merrill Kelly (shoulder) is experiencing some shoulder discomfort and went for an MRI exam on Sunday night. The 35-year-old veteran is still being evaluated after being scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday against the division-rival San Francisco Giants. The Diamondbacks are hoping Kelly can avoid a trip to the injured list, but that will depend on the results of his MRI, which we'll pass along once we have them.
Slade Cecconi was called up from the minors to start against the Giants on Sunday and he pitched well, giving up only two earned runs with no walks and three strikeouts over six innings in a win. Losing Kelly for any stretch of time would be a big blow for Arizona and fantasy managers, as he currently has a 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 21 K's in 24 2/3 frames over his first four starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies pitcher
Spencer Turnbull will head to the bullpen after Wednesday's start against the Cincinnati Reds. Turnbull has had a solid start to the season with an ERA of 1.23 in 22 innings pitched. He has allowed three runs through four games with 10 hits, 22 strikeouts, and seven walks. The return of
Taijuan Walker (shoulder) is expected to happen during this weekend's series against the San Diego Padres. This will allow the Phillies to monitor Turnball with his move to the bullpen. With having pitched less than 57 innings since 2019, the Phillies would like to keep their pitching rotation safe and healthy. Turnbull should be held onto in deep-leagues while adding Walker. He went 15-6 in 2023 with a 4.38 ERA in 31 starts, adding a nice depth to rosters.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMinnesota Twins infield prospect
Brooks Lee (back) has been diagnosed with a herniated disc. Lee was fighting for a roster spot with the Twins this spring, but was removed from a game with back spasms and later placed on the Triple-A injured list with lower back pain. The Twins have optimism that Lee could resume playing at some point this season, but no timeline has been established at this point. It is a shame as the Top-50 prospect was on the cusp on a big-league debut this season. For now, he can be ignored in redraft leagues and managers in dynasty leagues should keep tabs on his progress.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Gleeman
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