5 days agoNew York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez will return to the lineup and hit fourth on Monday against the Chicago Cubs. After coming off the bench in Sunday's 4-2 extra-innings win and flying out in a pinch-hit at-bat in the ninth inning, the veteran will start in the Mets' series opener. Martinez got a late start to the season after signing with New York in late March and dealing with a back issue a couple of weeks ago. However, he officially made his season debut on Friday, where he went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one double. Expect the 36-year-old to take some days off here and there over the next few weeks since he didn't have a spring training. Nonetheless, he's a player whom fantasy managers should be looking to pick up in fantasy, given his potential to hit 25-30 home runs atop the Mets' lineup.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Nolan Jones (back) is likely headed to the 10-day injured list, according to Luke Zahlmann of the Denver Gazette. Jones has been dealing with a back issue for a couple of days now but played through it on Saturday and Sunday in Mexico City. However, the 25-year-old exited Sunday's game early due to back stiffness and appears to be headed to the IL. The young outfielder is off to a rough start in 2024, hitting just .170 at the plate with one home run, seven RBI, and two stolen bases. In his place, the Rockies are expected to call up their No. 4 prospect, outfielder
Jordan Beck.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Luke Zahlmann
5 days agoSan Francisco Giants designated hitter
Jorge Soler had a rough go Sunday in the 3-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Soler couldn't connect at the plate, striking out all three times. He continues to struggle at the plate, hitting .171 (6-for-35) with four runs, three RBI, two homers, three walks, and 13 strikeouts in his last 10 games. He's slashing .216/.314/.402 with four doubles, 14 RBI, 14 runs, five homers, 14 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 29 games this season. Fantasy managers should continue to bench Soler until he can turn things around at the plate.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoAccording to Luke Zahlmann of the Denver Gazette, the Colorado Rockies could call up outfielder
Jordan Beck, the team's No. 4 prospect on MLB Pipeline, ahead of their three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. The expectation is that the young outfielder would replace
Nolan Jones (back) -- who could be headed to the injured list with a back issue -- on the active roster. Beck has gotten off to a hot start at Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting .307 with five home runs and 28 RBI through 25 games. His promotion would be his MLB debut after being drafted 38th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft. If he officially gets called up on Tuesday, the outfielder would be someone to keep an eye on in fantasy due to his quick ascension to the majors.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Luke Zahlmann
5 days agoThe New York Yankees placed outfielder
Alex Verdugo on the paternity list ahead of their four-game set against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Verdugo will now miss between one to three games as he welcomes a new baby into the world. That means the latest we can expect the left-handed slugger back is Thursday in the team's series finale. The Yankees will surely miss his bat in the lineup for the next couple of days, considering he is hitting .267 with four home runs, 13 RBI, and six doubles through 29 games this year. But he should be back later this week for your fantasy teams. In his place, New York called up catcher
Carlos Narvaez.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: New York Yankees
5 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton was a part of the scoring action Sunday in the 11-5 win against the Los Angeles Angels. Buxton went 1-for-4 with three runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. He has now connected with at least one hit in eight games out of his last 10. Buxton is hitting .244 (21-for-86) on the season with seven doubles, one triple, one homer, 10 runs, 11 RBI, two walks, and 31 strikeouts across 92 plate appearances in 2024. The strikeouts have been a concern for Buxton but his overall consistency at the plate makes him a solid starter for fantasy managers. The Twins will face the Chicago White Sox to start the week with a three-game series for the 30-year-old outfielder.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays second baseman
Jose Caballero is slashing .264/.292/.407 with five doubles, one triple, two homers, 12 RBI, 12 runs, one walk, nine stolen bases, and 23 strikeouts across 26 games in 2024. The 27-year-old has elite speed, and his nine steals are sixth in the majors. Before getting the day off on Sunday against the White Sox, he started the previous 12 games and hit .217 (10-for-46) with two doubles, one triple, six RBI, five runs, one homer, one walk, and 13 strikeouts. He remains a solid starter for fantasy managers as he continues to find ways to get on base, but the strikeouts compared to his walks may be something to monitor throughout the season. Caballero will look to continue his solid production on Monday in a tough matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: MLB.Com
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays shortstop
Amed Rosario struggled in Sunday's 4-2 loss against the Chicago White Sox. Rosario went 1-for-4 with one strikeout and a hit-by-pitch to end a tough weekend series. The Rays shortstop went 2-for-12 (.167) with one RBI, one run, two walks, and three strikeouts in the three games against the White Sox. He has been a solid starter for fantasy managers this season, though, hitting .320 (31-for-97) with five doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, eight runs, two homers, 13 walks, and fourteen strikeouts in 26 starts. He'll kick the week off with a tough matchup versus Milwaukee, but his fantasy upside remains high and desirable for managers.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 days agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley showed signs of life at the plate on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Guardians with a 2-for-4 performance, including the game-winner in the bottom of the 10th inning. Riley also walked and struck out in the 4-3 win. Even with the two-hit performance as the hero on Sunday, Riley has gone 4-for-33 (.121) with no home runs, two RBI and 11 strikeouts in his last nine games to drop his season line to .234/.311/.383. The 27-year-old former first-rounder in 2015 has not gone deep for the Braves in 18 games. On the bright side, Riley continues to hit the ball well, he just hasn't had much to show for it. Fantasy managers should continue to stick with him, and hopefully his two-hit performance on Sunday will get him going.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
Leo Rivas recorded his first career hit Sunday in a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old was the 999th player to appear for the Mariners while getting a triple in his first plate appearance. Rivas also made history by being the first Mariner to do so since July 28, 2005, when Yuniesky Betancourt did it against Cleveland. He went 1-for-2 with one triple and one strikeout. He may receive more opportunities this season depending on
J.P. Crawford's (oblique) return from a Grade 1 oblique strain. Rivas is mainly a fantasy option in AL-Only Leagues, while Crawford is sidelined.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Times - Adam Jude
5 days agoWashington Nationals relief pitcher
Kyle Finnegan closed out the Miami Marlins on Sunday in a 12-9 victory to pick up his ninth save of the season. In his inning of work, Finnegan didn't allow a hit or a run while walking one and striking out one to lower his season ERA to 2.19.
Hunter Harvey pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in front of Finnegan with a walk and no strikeouts to earn his ninth hold of the year. It was the 32-year-old Finnegan's ninth save in 10 chances to start the 2024 season. He also owns a 0.97 WHIP and has fanned 11 batters in his 12 1/3 innings. Finnegan opened the year as a shaky closing option for fantasy managers, but he's held off Harvey to this point with April almost over.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Ryan Weathers had a tough outing on Sunday in the 12-9 loss to the visiting Washington Nationals, although he wasn't saddled with the loss. In just four innings of work, Weathers surrendered five hits (one home run) and six earned runs while walking three and striking out three to raise his season ERA to 4.55. In addition to the three free passes, the 24-year-old southpaw hit three batters but was given a no-decision thanks to the Fish going up in this contest 7-0. It was by far Weathers' worst outing of the season to this point and he's allowed nine earned runs now in his last 9 2/3 innings. The good news is he has the perfect bounce-back opportunity up next when he's scheduled to take on the Oakland Athletics next weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoThe Boston Red Sox designated infielder
Pablo Reyes for assignment on Monday to make room for recently acquired first baseman/designated hitter
Garrett Cooper on the active roster. Reyes wasn't able to carry over his strong performance at the plate from last season and was hitting just .183/.234/.217 with no home runs, five RBI, one stolen base and four runs scored in 60 at-bats with Boston early on in 2024. If the 30-year-old isn't claimed on waivers or traded, he could head to Triple-A Worcester and remain in the organization. With
Triston Casas (rib) on the 60-day injured list, the 33-year-old Cooper is expected to see plenty of playing time at first base for the BoSox, making him worth a waiver-wire pickup in deep fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
5 days agoThe Kansas City Royals recalled right-hander
Jonathan Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha and optioned right-hander
Will Klein to Omaha in a corresponding move on Monday. Bowland will be making his 2024 debut with Kansas City to start in the series opener on Monday against the Blue Jays in Toronto. This will be the 27-year-old's second career start after he made his big-league debut in 2023, going 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, no walks and three strikeouts in just three innings pitched. Bowlan will help cover the rotation spot of
Alec Marsh (elbow) for at least this turn through KC's rotation. In his 21 innings at Omaha this year, he has posted a 2.57 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with five walks and 21 strikeouts. Fantasy managers should consider him an extremely shaky streaming option in Toronto.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
5 days agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford recorded his first career homer Sunday in a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Langford showed off his power and speed with an inside-the-park home run in Sunday's victory. The 22-year-old has had a good start to his career, hitting .248 (25-for-101) with three doubles, one triple, one homer, 11 RBI, 13 runs with 11 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 27 games this season. The Rangers will have Monday off and start a new series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, giving Langford a favorable matchup in all three games. With the power and speed he brings to the plate, he'll remain a hot commodity to all fantasy managers.
--Shaun Evans - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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