6 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins. Happ was removed from Friday's game in the seventh inning due to left hamstring tightness. He also did not play on Saturday. Happ is reportedly available to pinch hit today if necessary and is hopeful he will return soon. Fantasy managers can consider Happ day-to-day for now and should check to see if he draws back into the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Houston Astros. In his absence,
Alexander Canario will start in left field and bat ninth on Sunday. Canario is not a recommended option in any fantasy format.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Tony Andracki
6 days agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (illness) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Reds second baseman
Jonathan India is also sick and out of the lineup. Both players should be considered day-to-day while they recover.
Nick Martini will start in right field and bat cleanup in Fraley's absence while
Santiago Espinal starts at second base and bats eighth. Martini offers modest DFS appeal for Sunday's slate due to his lineup placement and 13 RBI so far this season.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Mark Sheldon
6 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Cristian Javier (neck) was scratched from Sunday's start earlier in the day and now will be placed on the 15-day injured list. The move to the injured list was made to "give him time," according to manager Joe Espada. It is unclear when this problem arose for Javier and hopefully it is not a long-term issue. The 27-year-old has been a bright spot for a battered Astros rotation to start the season. He has gone 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 18/11 K/BB across his first four starts. More information about the injury will surely come out over the next few days. Javier should obviously be stashed in all fantasy formats while he is sidelined.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Byron Kerr
6 days agoHouston Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown is being moved up to start on Sunday against the Washington Nationals after the team scratched right-hander
Cristian Javier (neck) from his scheduled start due to neck discomfort. Brown was previously scheduled to make his next start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. The 25-year-old will be on a typical four days of rest, so he shouldn't have any limitations on Sunday against the Nats. Brown has an ugly 10.54 ERA (6.67 FIP) and 2.78 WHIP with 10 walks and 11 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings in his four starts for Houston, but he did have his first quality start in his last outing against the Atlanta Braves, when he gave up two runs with three walks and three K's in six innings on April 16. Brown will be hoping to make it two straight strong outings on Sunday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
6 days agoBoston Red Sox right-hander
Nick Pivetta (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Saturday. Pivetta will next throw an up-and-down session on Thursday in Cleveland and then throw live batting practice as he works his way back from an elbow injury that landed him on the injured list. The 31-year-old will then probably need to go on a short minor-league rehab assignment before returning to Boston's starting rotation. The former fourth-round pick of the Washington Nationals in 2013 out of New Mexico Junior College looked great in his first two starts for the Red Sox this year, allowing just one earned run on eight hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out 13 in 11 innings pitched. Fantasy managers that are stashing him right now can only hope he'll be just as effective once he returns from his elbow ailment.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Julian McWilliams
6 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (knee) had an MRI exam on Thursday morning that showed a bone bruise and no structural damage in his left knee, which he tweaked making a play on defense in Tuesday's loss. He sat out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but manager Alex Cora told reporters on Saturday that the team is aiming for Devers to return on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians. The Red Sox have a scheduled off day on Monday, so the club is hoping the 27-year-old will be feeling better by Tuesday. If he's not, he could join first baseman
Triston Casas (rib) on the injured list, which would really put the team's infield in a bind. With both Devers and Casas hurt,
Bobby Dalbec is going to see regular playing time, making him worth a short-term pickup in AL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds second baseman
Jonathan India (illness) remains out of the starting lineup on Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. India was removed from Saturday's 7-5 win over the Halos due to illness and he's apparently still not feeling well enough to
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6 days agoThe St. Louis Cardinals optioned outfielder
Victor Scott II and right-hander
Andre Pallante to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday and recalled catcher
Pedro Pages and right-hander
Nick Robertson from Memphis in corresponding moves. Scott, the club's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, went 0-for-3 in the 12-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday and hasn't reached base since April 12. The 23-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2022 out of West Virginia made the team's Opening Day roster due to injuries to
Tommy Edman (wrist),
Dylan Carlson (shoulder) and
Lars Nootbaar, but he recorded hits in just five of his first 65 trips to the plate in the big leagues with two walks and 15 strikeouts. Scott is worth stashing in dynasty/keeper leagues, but it's clear he needs some more minor-league seasoning.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Cardinals
6 days agoCleveland Guardians third baseman
Jose Ramirez is out of the team's starting lineup on Sunday as they take on the visiting Oakland Athletics. In Ramirez's absence,
Gabriel Arias will start at the hot corner and bat eighth in the batting order against A's right-hander
Ross Stripling. Ramirez, a five-time All-Star, has gotten off to a bit of a slow start by his standards this year, going 22-for-92 (.239) with three home runs, 18 RBI, one stolen base and 15 runs scored in his first 21 games played and 95 trips to the plate. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried, though, and he should be back in action on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox after a scheduled off day on Monday. Arias is hitting .302 (13-for-43) with a homer, seven RBI and a steal in the early going, but he's never faced Stripling in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoHouston Astros right-hander
Cristian Javier (neck) has been scratched from his start on Sunday versus the Washington Nationals with "neck discomfort." Right-hander
Hunter Brown will start in his place. Fantasy managers will obviously want to move Javier to their benches for Sunday's action. The Astros have an off day on Monday, but it's unclear when the 27-year-old Javier will be able to make his next start. Fantasy baseball managers will want to check back later on Sunday or Monday for more details on the severity of Javier's neck injury. The Dominican hurler has been excellent in his first four starts in 2024, going 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA (3.66 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP while walking 11 and striking out 18 batters in 23 1/3 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
6 days agoThe Boston Red Sox announced on Sunday that they have placed first baseman
Triston Casas (rib) on the 10-day injured list with a left-rib strain and recalled catcher
Tyler Heineman from the minors in a corresponding move. Casas will be out now until May after injuring his rib in Saturday's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger could be out beyond the 10 days, too, but fantasy managers in most formats should keep Casas stashed in an IL spot, as he has hit .244 (19-for-78) with six home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in his first 22 games of the 2024 season.
Bobby Dalbec is the most likely candidate to see most of the playing time at first base for the BoSox with Casas sidelined, but he has just one hit in his first 26 at-bats so far this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder
Jackson Chourio went 2-for-3 with a single, home run, and two walks in Saturday's 12-5 victory over the Cardinals. Chourio also drove in two runs, scored three times, and stole a base in the contest. After hitting safely in 11 of his first 13 MLB games, Chourio had gone 0-for-11 over his last three games before Saturday's outburst. On the season, the 20-year-old now has a .235-4-13-10-4 line. He's held his own so far, and even though it hasn't been a fantasy bonanza, his combination of power and speed make him a must-own and probably start in most cases.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoChicago Cubs closer
Adbert Alzolay blew his fourth save of the season and took the loss on Saturday in a 3-2 defeat by the Marlins in Game 1 of their doubleheader. Alzolay allowed a single to
Luis Arraez and then a two-run go-ahead home run to
Bryan De La Cruz before retiring the final two batters in the inning. It has been a rollercoaster ride for the 29-year-old, as he's collected three saves to along with the four he's blown, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out nine over 10 IP. The righty's ERA now stands at 4.50 and WHIP at 1.40. Fellow reliever
Hector Neris recorded the save in Game 2 and could earn more opportunities if Alzolay continues to falter, although Neris' numbers so far this season don't exactly inspire confidence either, with a 3.86 ERA and a whopping 1.86 WHIP in seven innings pitched.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Jose Berrios threw six innings of shutout ball in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Padres, picking up his league-leading fourth win of the season. The outing was also his fifth straight quality start to begin the year and third straight in which he hasn't allowed a run. The 29-year-old is off to a great start, going 4-0 with a 0.85 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 27:9 K:BB. With a career ERA of 4.06 and 1.24 WHIP, however, he could be a good sell-high candidate. Either way, his next start lines up with what could be a pitchers' duel next Thursday against
Cole Ragans and the Royals.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays closer
Jordan Romano nailed down his second save since coming off the IL in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Padres. Romano needed just eleven pitches to dispense all three batters he faced, striking out one and not allowing a hit or a walk. The 31-year-old looks like he's sliding right back into the closer role for the Jays and doesn't have any real competition for the job, as set-up man
Erik Swanson has allowed four earned runs on six hits in his inning-and-a-third since coming off the IL as well. Romano tallied 36 saves for the Jays last season. Toronto closes out the series with San Diego on Sunday before traveling to Kansas City for a four-game set with the Royals starting on Monday.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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