6 days agoHouston Astros outfielder
Kyle Tucker (shin) is "making progress," but third baseman
Alex Bregman (hand) is in a "better spot" to return for Friday's series opener on the road against the Los Angeles Angels, according to manager Joe Espada. Tucker fouled a ball off his right shin on Monday and has missed the last two games, while Bregman was hit by a pitch on his hand on Tuesday and was scratched from Wednesday's lineup. Neither player's injury is serious, but Tucker might require another day off on Friday despite having a scheduled off day on Thursday. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Tucker is back in there. The former fifth overall pick in 2015 is a must-start every time he's in the lineup. Tucker has hits in all three games he's played in so far in June and already has 19 long balls, 40 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 262 plate appearances in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
6 days agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher
Jack Flaherty (back) expressed optimism that he'll be able to make his next scheduled start against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. The right-hander was pulled during Tuesday's outing after only 60 pitches due to back stiffness. It's worth noting that the 28-year-old is still dealing with stiffness on Wednesday but says his back has improved since Tuesday. It's encouraging to see that Flaherty hasn't been placed on the injured list yet, so maybe he won't be forced to miss any time. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see how Flaherty progresses over the next few days.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Evan Petziod
6 days agoDetroit Tigers relief pitcher
Alex Faedo (hip) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. This is tough news for the Tigers as Faedo has been a viable option out of the bullpen for the Tigers this season. The right-hander holds a 3.38 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 29/13 K/BB ratio over 21 appearances. The hope is that it's a minimal stint on the injured list but the team hasn't given a clear timetable for his return. In a corresponding move, right-hander
Mason Englert has been recalled to fill the void in the bullpen.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Tigers PR
6 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Sean Bouchard (ankle) was forced to exit early during Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 28-year-old appeared to have twisted his ankle or foot during the eighth inning of Wednesday's game. The Rockies decided to take the cautious approach and pull Bouchard from the contest. The expectation is that Bouchard will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. For the moment, fantasy managers should consider Bouchard as day-to-day. If he misses time,
Kris Bryant and
Jake Cave could see more time in the outfield.
UPDATE: Bouchard is dealing with a right high-ankle sprain, which is likely to result in a trip to the injured list. In that case, it would open up some playing time for Jake Cave in Colorado's outfield.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Luke Zahlmann
6 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
Ryan Helsley was called upon to hold a two-run lead against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. The right-hander struck out two batters while tossing a perfect ninth inning to record his league-leading 20th save of the season. Helsley holds a 2.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 29/6 K/BB ratio through 27 appearances this season. He has converted 20 of 21 saves this season and should be rostered in all fantasy formats where relief pitchers matter.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
6 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers displayed his power at the plate during Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. The slugging corner infielder went 2-for-3 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI in the blowout victory. Devers is 6-for-15 at the plate with three homers and six RBI to begin the month of June. If this wasn't already obvious, Devers is a must-start player in all fantasy formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
6 days agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta was outstanding on the mound during Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander allowed only one hit over seven innings of work during the 9-0 victory. Pivetta struck out nine batters while walking only two in what ended up being his longest outing of the season. For the most part, Pivetta has been a viable option in the rotation this season. Fantasy managers in need of pitching help should see if Pivetta is available on the waiver wire.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
6 days agoThe contest between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday has been postponed due to inclement weather in Cleveland and will be rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Monday, Aug. 26, starting at 1:10 pm CT. Right-hander Brad Singer was scheduled to start for the Royals and be opposed by right-handed opener
Nick Sandlin for Cleveland, with lefty
Logan Allen most likely working behind him as a bulk reliever. Singer missed his previous start due to an illness and will now have his next start pushed back a day for the series finale against Cleveland on Thursday. In Allen's case, there's a chance he's skipped entirely in the rotation now that Wednesday's game has been postponed. Fantasy managers obviously need to remove any players from their lineups that were scheduled to play in this game.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cleveland Guardians
6 days agoOakland Athletics left-handed relief pitcher
Lucas Erceg (forearm), who is dealing with a strained right forearm, has resumed playing catch and could throw a full bullpen session as early as this Sunday, according to manager Mark Kotsay. The A's put Erceg on the injured list last Friday, but from the looks of things, he's trending toward having a minimal stay on the IL. The 29-year-old southpaw's IL stint was backdated to May 26, so he'll be eligible to return to Oakland's bullpen next Monday. Erceg has been better in a late-inning, high-leverage role in the A's bullpen in his second year in the big leagues in 2024, and he even has picked up his first two career saves. He has value in deep holds leagues and has also struck out 27 with just eight walks in 22 relief innings as a setup man in front of fireballer
Mason Miller.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
6 days agoColorado Rockies first baseman/designated hitter
Kris Bryant (back) is still sore from running into the netting during the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend and was out of the starting lineup again on Wednesday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, according to manager Bud Black. "If there's not marked improvement by the end of the day, we could be making a move," Black said. The 32-year-old is out for the third straight day and just hasn't been able to stay on the field since joining the Rockies in 2022. And in 24 games for Colorado so far in 2024, the former MVP has gone 16-for-86 (.186) with only two home runs and 10 RBI. With another trip to the IL looking imminent, Bryant's fading fantasy value could take another hit.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Patrick Lyons
6 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (ribs) said on Wednesday that he's hoping to return to the big-league roster from the injured list around July 1. Casas said he's "feeling great" and said he "should be swinging a bat at the end of the week." The 24-year-old left-handed slugger was still experiencing some pain in his ribs when he rotated his core, but it's obviously not serious and he expects to be cleared to start swinging this week. Casas still has a ways to go as he ramps up his baseball activities and eventually starts playing in minor-league rehab game. We'll keep you updated as he checks all the boxes, but in the meantime, he needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. When healthy, Casas is the starting first baseman in Boston and has high-end power upside after hitting 24 homers in 132 games in his first full season in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NESN
6 days agoThe San Francisco Giants optioned outfielder
Luis Matos to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday and reinstated outfielder
Austin Slater (concussion) from the seven-day concussion injured list in a corresponding move. After the season-ending injury to
Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder), Matos was playing pretty much every day and went 19-for-85 (.224) with two home runs and 20 RBI in 21 games, but he's now the odd man out in San Francisco now that both Slater and
Michael Conforto are back from their injuries. In his last six games, Matos had just two hits in 22 at-bats, so he'll go back to the farm and work on his offensive approach with hopes of rejoining the big-league roster down the road in 2024. In his rookie season in 2023, Matos hit .250/.319/.342 with two homers, 14 RBI and three steals in 76 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Giants
6 days agoThe San Francisco Giants are saying that left-hander
Blake Snell's (groin) MRI exam showed only a mild left-groin strain, and they'll have a better idea of a return timetable on Thursday. It's obviously good news for Snell in a season where he hasn't had much good news. The 31-year-old southpaw has already been on the injured list twice and isn't pitching very well at all through the first third of the season after signing late in spring training with the Giants. Fantasy managers that spent an early draft pick on the former first-rounder and two-time Cy Young winner haven't been happy with Snell's 0-3 record, 9.51 ERA (4.61 FIP) and 1.94 WHIP in 23 2/3 innings over six starts, but his strikeout upside keeps you coming back. Snell has been a slow starter in his career, so fantasy managers can only hope that he'll be healthy and more productive in the second half in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies left-hander
Ranger Suarez (hand) played catch again on Wednesday and everything went well. Manager Rob Thomson said the plan for the London series this weekend against the division-rival New York Mets is for Suarez to go on Saturday and right-hander
Taijuan Walker on Sunday. The 28-year-old southpaw has no played catch two days in a row and looks to be fine to make his next scheduled start in a good matchup this weekend after he had to leave his last outing early on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds when he was hit by a comebacker on his left (throwing) hand. Suarez has been an elite fantasy starter in 2024 and beat the Mets the first time he faced them on May 15, going five innings while allowing two unearned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Paul Casella
6 days agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Jarred Kelenic (wrist) landed on his right wrist awkwardly while making a fantastic diving catch in the bottom of the sixth inning on Wednesday at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox and exited the game an inning later. The Braves also pulled third baseman
Austin Riley early in a blowout loss to Boston on the day, so it's possible Kelenic was merely pulled for precautionary reasons. Either way, we should find out soon with the Braves playing again on Thursday against the Washington Nationals. Before departing, Kelenic went 0-for-2 to drop his season average to .264 and his OPS to .708. The Braves can ill-afford another injury to an outfielder after already losing
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) for the year.
J.P. Martinez replaced Kelenic on Wednesday and could see added playing time if Kelenic misses more time going into the weekend.
UPDATE: Kelenic appears to be fine and should be back in there Thursday.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
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