6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Zac Gallen (hamstring) left his start early on Friday against the Seattle Mariners with hamstring tightness, but after the game, both manager Torey Lovullo and Gallen were optimistic that it was just a cramp or spasm. Gallen thinks he might even be able to make his next start. "I didn't feel like it was really too severe, honestly," Gallen said. His next test will come Monday, when he's scheduled to throw his between-starts bullpen session. It's good news that both Gallen and the team don't think his injury are very serious, but it doesn't mean he won't eventually land on the injured list. The 28-year-old gave up three earned runs in five-plus innings on Friday and now has a 3.38 ERA in six starts. If he does make his next scheduled start next Wednesday against the Dodgers, he'll be extra risky in fantasy in a tough matchup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
6 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (knee) has returned to third base on Saturday against the visiting Chicago Cubs, which has allowed outfielder
Masataka Yoshida to return to the lineup as the designated hitter against right-hander
Ben Brown. Devers is hitting in the two-hole, while Tanaka is batting sixth for the BoSox. Devers missed five games with a knee injury recently but has been hot at the plate since returning, going 7-for-13 with a homer, double, two RBI and three runs scored in three games. He's a must-start anytime he's active. Tanaka, meanwhile, returns to the fold after missing the last four games, although he has appeared as a pinch-hitter. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter has essentially become a DH only for Boston and is hitting .233 (17-for-73) with two homers and 10 RBI to start the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WEEI - Rob Bradford
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
George Springer and utility man
Isiah Kiner-Falefa are both out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. This will be Springer's first off day since April 19. The 34-year-old veteran has gone 7-for-28 with a home run since then to drop his season line to .228/.322/.356 with three home runs, five RBI, three stolen bases and 11 runs scored in 101 at-bats. With Springer sitting on Saturday, rookie
Addison Barger will make just his third major-league start, playing in right field and batting ninth against Dodgers right-hander
Tyler Glasnow. Barger, the former sixth-round pick in 2018, has yet to get a hit in his first eight MLB at-bats and won't be a recommended DFS option in the nine-hole in a tough matchup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy, shortstop
Gavin Lux and outfielder Josh Outman, who all hit left-handed, are out of Saturday's lineup against left-hander
Yusei Kikuchi and the Toronto Blue Jays.
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6 days agoSan Francisco Giants catcher
Patrick Bailey blasted his third home run of the year in Friday's 3-0 win over the Pirates. It was Bailey's only hit in the game but it came at the right time. In a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the ninth, Pirates closer
David Bednar walked the first batter he saw, then gave up a single, bringing Bailey to the plate. The 24-year-old deposited a four-seam fastball over the right field wall for the 3-0 walk-off win. Bailey is having a solid season at the plate thus far, slashing .297/.365/.516 with five doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base in 75 plate appearances. For fantasy, however, those numbers don't really move the needle and he can be left to the waiver wire for now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Mitch Haniger smacked a grand slam in Friday's 6-1 win over the Diamondbacks. It was his lone hit on the day, but it was a big one that broke the game open. It came after starter
Zac Gallen left the game and with Mariners up just 2-1. It was the 33-year-old's fourth home run of the year and he's now up to 18 RBI, although the batting average sits at just .244. There was hope the veteran would return to some semblance of his 2021 form with a return to Seattle but it hasn't come to fruition to this point. The good thing is it's a long season and so far he's still healthy. Regardless, until he shows signs of a breakout he's probably only worth a roster spot in deeper leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers third baseman
Joey Ortiz hit his first career home run in Friday's 7-6 victory over the Yankees, and also drove in the winning run with a walk-off single in the 11th inning. It was all part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate that included a sacrifice fly and four runs batted in. The 25-year-old is now batting .264 on the year with a double, a triple, a HR, seven RBI, and a solid .355 OBP thanks to his eight walks (ten strikeouts). Still, he's probably best left to the waiver wire but can be an interesting value play in DFS depending on the matchup.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect
Jake Eder tallied eight strikeouts across six innings of two-run ball on Friday. Eder allowed just four hits and two free passes. This was the 25-year-old best performance of the season, lowering his ERA to 5.12 and WHIP to 1.66. The southpaw is once again averaging over a strikeout per inning this with 24 in 19 ⅓ innings, as he has done every season of his professional career. Eder struggled in Double-A last season and the early part of this year, but it looks like he is beginning to turn the corner after a strong showing on Friday. The tenth-ranked prospect in the Chicago system will have to continue to post outings like this to reach Triple-A this summer. If he can do so, he could be in contention to reach the major leagues towards the end of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder threw six innings, allowed one unearned run, three hits, one free pass, and struck out nine on Friday. The 22-year-old has been one of the best pitchers in the minor leagues this season, and Friday was just another example of that. The number two prospect in the Reds system has posted a dominant 1.86 ERA,0.98 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 19 ⅓ innings. The 31st overall prospect in baseball should be in Double-A very soon and could push for a late-season call-up to the majors to join the Reds for the stretch run. Lowder should be rostered in all dynasty leagues and could be worth looking at in redraft formats if he reaches Double and Triple-A soon.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs pitcher
Shota Imanaga picked up his fourth win of the season in Friday's 7-1 victory over the Red Sox. The lefty looked fantastic again, going six-and-a-third innings allowing five hits, walking one, and striking out seven batters. A solo home run to
Tyler O'Neill was the only real blemish in the outing. He's now got a sparkling 0.98 ERA through five starts with a 0.80 WHIP and has struck out 28 batters to just three walks in 27 2/3 IP. The southpaw's next start lines up with the Mets next Wednesday at Citi Field.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoCincinnati Reds shortstop prospect
Carlos Jorge went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBI on Friday. This game improves Jorge's slash line to a solid .242/.296/.455. The 20-year-old got things started for Dayton in the first inning with a one-run double. Then in the sixth, Jorge laced a two-run double, further extending the Dayton lead. The eighth overall prospect in the Cincinnati system capped the game off with a solo shot in the seventh. Jorge could be promoted to Double-A later this summer and could even make a push to Triple-A. However, it is unlikely that he will see time in the majors this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith went 4-for-5 in Friday's 12-2 victory over the Blue Jays, with two of his four hits going for extra bases, including a double and his second home run of the season. The 2023 All-Star also drove in three runs and scored three times. This was the second straight game Smith has recorded four hits, raising his season slash line to .376/.413/.527 and putting himself in position as the third-highest-scoring backstop for fantasy thus far. The Dodgers face Jays left-hander
Yusei Kikuchi on Saturday night. Smith is hitting a scorching .520/.581/.680 against lefties so far this season and is 1-for-3 off Kikuchi in his career.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoSeattle Mariners outfield prospect
Lazaro Montes went 3-for-5 at the plate on Friday and brought in five RBI, including the game-winner. Montes first opened the scoring for Modesto with a one-run single. Then in the third, Montes laced an RBI double to center field to even the score. The 19-year-old capped off the evening with a walk-off three-run shot in the bottom of the 10th to seal the victory. Montes is sporting a solid .269/.390/.433 slash line with two home runs and 18 RBI. Montes showed excellent power potential last season, when he hit seven home runs in 33 games at Single-A, and he is picking up where he left off in 2024. Montes should be closely monitored in dynasty leagues, as he should climb the ranks fairly quickly this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge has been swinging for power to begin the young season. The 19-year-old launched his second home run in eight games on Friday evening and is riding a strong. 533 SLG. Five of his seven hits have gone for extra bases. Last season at Single-A, the former first-round pick only logged one round-tripper across 15 games. This is a good sign, as Eldridge will look to continue the power surge over the summer. He is still a few years away from the major leagues but could see time in High-A later this summer. He is worth keeping an eye on in dynasty leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitching prospect
Thomas White set a new career-high nine strikeouts on Friday evening. The 19-year-old southpaw threw five innings of one-run ball, allowed four hits, one free pass, and struck out nine. This was a big step for the number two prospect in the Miami system, as he has never gone five innings yet this season. This start lowers his ERA to 4.60 and WHIP to 1.91 across 15 ⅔ innings. White is still several years away from the majors, but he is worth keeping an eye on in dynasty leagues as he has the potential to become one of the top arms in the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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