1 week agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher Drew Thorpe was unable to find much success at all during Monday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The right-hander allowed six straight hits to start the game which resulted in a six-run inning for Cleveland. Thorpe lasted 2 2/3 innings allowing 10 hits and eight earned runs on Monday. The 23-year-old was acquired in the trade that sent Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres. The hope was that Thorpe could possibly be on the Opening Day roster. However, it's tough to imagine that happening if he continues to struggle like he did on Monday.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martin Perez continued his impressive spring during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-hander struck out eight batters over five innings of work during Monday's victory. It's worth noting that Perez never struck out eight hitters during a single start last season. His velocity was down during this game and he was still extremely effective. Perez has allowed one earned run in 12 innings this season. Perez probably won't be a reliable 12-team fantasy option, but could still be worth a look in deep leagues.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly continued his stellar spring during Monday's game against the Oakland Athletics. The right-hander threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out seven batters. The 35-year-old hasn't allowed a run in two of his first three outings this spring. The hope is that these outings carry over into the regular season. Kelly should continue to climb up draft boards if he keeps pitching like he has lately.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz continued his impressive power display during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He went 3-for-6 with two home runs and six RBI during Monday's blowout victory. Cruz is now tied for the spring lead with seven home runs already. Fantasy managers who were lucky enough to draft him before the hype train should be excited. Now, fantasy managers will have to pay the price to get Cruz, but he looks like he's the real deal. It feels like a 30-HR and 30-SB season could be a real possibility for him.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoThe San Francisco Giants are saying that catcher Patrick Bailey (hand) will be back in a Cactus League game in the next day or two. Bailey hasn't played in a week at spring training since taking a foul tip off his hand, but he appears to be fine now and will return to game action before the end of spring games early next week. The 24-year-old switch-hitting backstop hit .233/.285/.359 with seven home runs, 48 RBI and 29 runs scored in 353 plate appearances over 97 games in his rookie season for the Gigantes in 2023. Bailey caught fire early on after his big-league promotion but struggled in the second half. While he should see most of the playing time behind the plate in San Fran because of his defensive prowess, he's not really relevant in single-catcher fantasy leagues.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
1 week agoAccording to MASN's Roch Kubatko, Baltimore Orioles infield prospect Coby Mayo's chances of making the Opening Day roster out of spring training this year lessen if No. 1 overall prospect Jackson Holliday makes the team. Mayo has focused on third base and some first base in camp, but he's likely to require some more time at Triple-A Norfolk, especially since Gunnar Henderson will be fine for Opening Day after dealing with an oblique injury early in camp. The Orioles' No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .267/.393/.512 at Triple-A Norfolk last year in 62 games. The 22-year-old has impressive power from the right side and also raised his walk rate and dropped his strikeout rate in the minors in 2023. If he sticks in Baltimore's system, his best path to playing time long term will probably be at first base.Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
1 week agoNew York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) has "a pretty significant bone bruise" on his right foot, according to manager Aaron Boone, and the skipper isn't sure if LeMahieu will have enough time to get ready for Opening Day on March 28 in Houston against the Astros. LeMahieu fouled a ball off his foot in a Grapefruit League game on Saturday, but X-rays came back negative. Still, the 35-year-old veteran, who is projected to be the team's regular third baseman in 2024, may not be ready to go for the start of the 2024 regular season. The season hasn't even started yet and the Yankees are dealing with injuries to Gerrit Cole (elbow), Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) and LeMahieu. If LeMahieu opens the year on the injured list, Oswaldo Cabrera should see a boost in playing time at the hot corner.Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
1 week agoHouston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) has been diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain, according to manager Joe Espada. Urquidy is not throwing for now in camp and will not open the 2024 regular season in the team's starting rotation. The 28-year-old pulledread more...
1 week agoHouston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) should face hitters "in the next day or two" in camp. Verlander came into spring training with right-shoulder issues, but he threw another bullpen session on Sunday and is ramping up with the start of the 2024 regular season right around the corner. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner is going to start the year on the injured list and might not make his 2024 debut until late April or early May. He became the first pitcher age 40 or older to win 12 games and post an ERA below 3.25 since 2013, so Verlander can clearly still be effective despite his age. However, injuries are a big concern, and his fantasy value has obviously dropped considerably in 2024 now that he could miss the first month of the season.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
1 week agoTexas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (hernia) took live batting practice in camp on Monday for the first time since having sports-hernia surgery on Jan. 30. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Seager could be in the lineup on March 25-26 for the team's exhibition games against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field. While Seager is making good progress in his rehab, he said himself that he's still unsure if he'll be ready to play on Opening Day on March 28. If the 29-year-old reigning World Series MVP is able to play in any Cactus League games in the next week or in the two exhibition games against Boston, there's a good bet that he'll be ready for Opening Day. In one of the best offenses in baseball and a great hitter's park in Texas, Seager is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 7 fantasy shortstop despite coming off offseason surgery.Source: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
1 week agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) is likely to play in four of the team's final six Grapefruit League games. Judge was also expected to resume taking batting practice last Friday and return to spring training action on Sunday or Monday, but that didn't happen. Although fans and fantasy managers may be getting worried about Judge's Opening Day availability, especially after he missed over 50 games due to hip and toe injuries in 2023, both the Yankees and Judge continue to downplay his injuries this spring. Unless the 31-year-old former MVP doesn't return to Grapefruit League action at all this week, fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about Judge's status for the start of the 2024 regular season. When healthy, he is an elite fantasy baseball commodity.Source: YES Network - Justin Shackil
1 week agoChicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet has been named the team's Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Detroit Tigers in Chicago. For lack of other options after trading Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres last week, Crochet is being moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation and will now kick off the 2024 regular season for the Pale Hose. The 24-year-old southpaw was the 11th overall pick in 2020 out of Tennessee and has made 72 big-league appearances in his three seasons with the White Sox, but his start on March 28 against Detroit will be his first. Crochet is also under two years removed from Tommy John surgery, so he's not really much of a fantasy option in mixed leagues. However, it's worth noting that he has struck out 12 and walked none in nine scoreless Cactus League innings this spring.Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen
1 week agoLos Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (back) was scratched from Monday's Cactus League game against the Milwaukee Brewers because of back tightness. Schanuel is being considered day-to-day, so it doesn't appear to be a very serious injury, but the young 22-year-old could be held out of action for a few more days this week. Last year's 11th overall pick made a quick rise to the big leagues and impressed in 29 games with the Halos, going 30-for-109 (.275) with a homer and six RBI in 132 trips to the plate. The left-handed-hitting first baseman will get every chance to see regular at-bats at first base for the Halos in his first full MLB season in 2024, and he has the plate discipline and contact skills to be a useful asset in AL-only leagues. However, his usefulness in mixed fantasy leagues is questionable with a limited power profile.Source: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
1 week agoMinnesota Twins right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (elbow/forearm) will begin the season on the injured list. He will visit Dr. Keith Meister to evaluate the next steps on his ailing right elbow. The right-hander was shut down by the team early in the spring but has recently thrown bullpen sessions. He has yet to appear in a Cactus League game to this point, however. The veteran was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners this offseason after tossing a 4.88 ERA across 19 outings (18 starts) with the Giants in the 2023 season. He was involved in a deal for Mariners left-hander Robbie Ray before being dealt to Minnesota in a trade that saw Jorge Polanco head to the Mariners.Source: Bobby Nightengale
1 week agoNew York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) is "still pretty sore" but is moving around better on Monday, according to manager Aaron Boone. The veteran left Saturday's Grapefruit League game early after fouling a ball off his foot and underwent imaging on the issue afterward. "I definitely think it's going to cost him some days here," Boone added. Likely to serve as the club's leadoff hitter and everyday third baseman, LeMahieu took a step back at the plate last season, hitting .243 with 15 home runs and a .717 OPS across 136 games and 562 trips to the plate. LeMahieu's best fantasy production is behind him but he could be a decent source of runs if he can remain atop the Yankees lineup this season.Source: Bryan Hoch