7 days agoColorado Rockies relief pitcher
Daniel Bard (knee, elbow) had a setback rehabbing and will undergo season-ending right flexor tendon surgery. After recently throwing off a mound, the banged-up Bard's season suddenly ends before it even begins while also recovering from a cleanup procedure on his left knee. The 38-year-old veteran right-hander is a free agent following the 2024 campaign, and it's unlikely that he'll draw very much interest after walking more batters (49) than he struck out (47) a season ago. Bard spent seven years away from the major leagues before latching on with Colorado in 2020.
Justin Lawrence and
Tyler Kinley are the names to watch for fantasy purposes for saves-needy managers, but Lawrence has yielded seven runs across five appearances, and Kinley has given up eight runs over six innings thus far.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Harding - MLB.com
7 days agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Robbie Ray (elbow) threw a bullpen session in Arizona on Friday. Ray has been pleased with his progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he's still not likely to be a factor for the Giants until the second half of the 2024 season. After being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder
Mitch Haniger and right-hander
Anthony DeSclafani (forearm) this past offseason, the 32-year-old former American League Cy Young Award winner has enough strikeout upside alongside a pitcher-friendly ballpark to deserve being stashed for fantasy managers who can afford the roster spot. Former reliever
Jordan Hicks has allowed just two earned runs and three walks over 18 innings as a starter in San Fran's rotation to this point, and he's worth rostering in all mixed leagues right now.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitchers
Taj Bradley (pectoral) and
Shane Baz (elbow) recently threw a two-inning live batting practice session, manager Kevin Cash said on Friday. Sidelined for the past month due to a strained right pectoral, Bradley still has to go through the process of rebuilding his stamina and increasing his pitch count before he's ready to return. The 23-year-old right-hander fanned 129 batters across his 104 2/3 innings of work during his rookie year in 2023, but he gave 23 home runs in 21 starts and posted a poor 5.59 ERA. Bradley is probably about a month out from returning to the Rays, while Baz could return at some point in May after two oblique setbacks slowed his progress from Tommy John surgery recovery.
Zack Littell and
Tyler Alexander will occupy rotation spots in the meantime, with the former having only given up two runs through his first 15 1/3 frames of the campaign.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Josh Lowe (oblique) played extended spring training games in Port Charlotte, Florida on Thursday and Friday. After a few more games there, he should join Triple-A Durham to begin a rehab assignment. Lowe only took three Grapefruit League at-bats this past spring, however, so he'll require a fairly lengthy rehab to get ready for game action, setting him up for a return in early May. The 26-year-old former top prospect should not be floating around any fantasy waiver wires after hitting .292 with 20 home runs, 33 doubles, 83 RBI, and 32 stolen bases over 466 ABs a year ago. Veterans
Amed Rosario and
Harold Ramirez will continue splitting action in right field until Lowe returns, but neither have done enough in the early goings to warrant attention in most leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoTexas Rangers relief pitcher
Jose Leclerc will be working low-leverage situations temporarily, per manager Bruce Bochy. The Rangers were pleased with Leclerc's outing during Friday's 12-8 win over the division-rival Houston Astros after the right-hander struck out two batters, but it was an extremely low-leverage spot against the seventh, eighth, and ninth hitters with Texas up 12-3 in the sixth inning. It's bad news for fantasy managers hoping to get saves out of Leclerc, who holds a dismal 12.00 ERA and 2.33 WHIP with one blown save over six frames. The 30-year-old is not an instant drop candidate in fantasy, as he could work his way back into the ninth-inning mix with improved play, but
David Robertson and
Kirby Yates both have plenty of closing experience. Robertson, only rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues, has given up just one run over 8 1/3 innings and should be added across all formats until this situation is settled.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Wilson - RangersToday.com
7 days agoToronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher
Yariel Rodriguez is starting Saturday's game versus the visiting Colorado Rockies, says manager John Schneider. Rodriguez is all set to be called up from Triple-A Buffalo and make the first major-league start of his career on Saturday against the Rockies, as the Jays hope to get better results than
Bowden Francis' 12.96 ERA in his two starts to begin the season. The 27-year-old Cuban right-hander threw 6 1/3 innings of one-hit ball with 10 strikeouts during his lone start in the minor leagues this season, and he's in a pretty favorable position at home against a beatable Colorado lineup. Rodriguez is a fine streaming option for fantasy managers in AL-only or deep mixed leagues, and he could keep his rotation spot with a successful performance.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Shi Davidi - Sportsnet.ca
7 days agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) is having his rehab paused after recently experiencing more tightness in his shoulder following a bullpen session. An MRI showed that there is still an issue with the strained left lat of Rodriguez, who has been shut down from throwing. After bagging a four-year, $80 million with the D-backs this past offseason, Rodriguez has had a miserable start to his tenure in the desert following an abysmal spring training. The 31-year-old Venezuelan left-hander's setback leaves his return timeline very murky, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back before the end of April at this point.
Tommy Henry and
Ryne Nelson will serve as starters in Arizona's rotation until E-Rod is ready to return, but the two hurlers are only low-end streamers in favorable matchups.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Nick Piecoro - The Arizona Republic
7 days agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta (elbow) is going to test his arm and play catch on Saturday. After Pivetta was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow on Tuesday, it's encouraging to hear he's ready to resume throwing. The 31-year-old right-hander was off to a spectacular start before the Red Sox shut him down, striking out 13 over 11 innings while surrendering only one run and one walk in two starts. Pivetta has a chance to return before April ends, but it remains to be seen if he'll require a rehab assignment before doing so. It's unclear who will join the club's rotation in the interim, as Boston still hasn't formally listed a probable pitcher for Saturday's matchup versus the visiting Los Angeles Angels, so there isn't a clear fantasy beneficiary of Pivetta's absence.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jen McCaffrey - The Athletic
7 days agoMinnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said following Friday's loss to the Detroit Tigers that shortstop
Carlos Correa (oblique) is expected to wind up on the injured list. Correa is heading for imaging after suffering a strained right oblique on Friday against the Tigers,
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7 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Walker Buehler's (elbow) third minor-league rehab start on Friday was cut short after he was struck in the right hand by a comebacker. Buehler threw only two innings before departing, but it sounds like his exit was a precautionary measure. This could have been Buehler's last rehab start on his way back from Tommy John surgery, but the Dodgers may now want him to get one final tune-up appearance before rejoining the rotation following such a long layoff. The 29-year-old All-Star right-hander should still be able to return by late April and obviously needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues at this point. Who comes out of LA's rotation upon Buehler's comeback remains a question mark, but
Ryan Yarbrough's 3.29 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through four starts may give him the upper hand over
Gavin Stone's 9.00 ERA and 2.13 WHIP over his two appearances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Mike DiGiovanna - Los Angeles Times
7 days agoMinnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa (oblique) exited early in Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers with a right oblique strain. Correa grabbed his right side after striking out during his second at-bat in the top of the third inning. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before exiting. The severity of Correa's injury is unknown at this time, and he is considered day-to-day.
Willi Castro replaced him in Friday's game. Considering Correa is dealing with an oblique injury, the veteran shortstop could likely land on the injured list.
Kyle Farmer should see an uptick in playing time while Correa is sidelined. Farmer is off to a slow start this season and has yet to collect a hit over 18 plate appearances in seven games in 2024. The 33-year-old is a speculative add in deep-league formats if Correa is forced to miss any time.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Dan Hayes
7 days agoCincinnati Reds center fielder
TJ Friedl (wrist) underwent an MRI on Thursday and was determined to need another seven-to-ten days of lighter activity before ramping up his rehab process. The hope was that Friedl's injury would be a little more cleared up at this point and the delay is a bit of a setback for the 28-year-old. The lefty had a solid year in 2023, slashing .279/.352/.467, and was looking to catapult a young Reds roster into playoff contention before injuring his wrist a month ago in spring training.
Will Benson has taken over center field responsibilities in Friedl's absence, hitting .213 with 2 HR on the short season. Friedl should be expected to take over as the starter once he returns, but without a clear timetable for him to come back fantasy managers in deeper leagues may want to keep Benson on their radar.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Gordon Wittenmyer
7 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals center fielder
Dylan Carlson (shoulder) and shortstop
Tommy Edman (wrist) will begin hitting activities on Monday. Per Cardinals' manager Oli Marmol, the two will begin to ramp up their rehab process on Monday by hitting off a tee and taking soft toss. Edman had previously been cleared for baseball activities while Carlson had not, so this is a positive sign for Carlson's progress. No return timeline has been established for either player. In Carlson's absence,
Victor Scott II's takeover in center field has not gone well with Scott hitting for just a .091 batting average.
Masyn Winn has filled in for Edman at shortstop much more admirably, hitting .379 to start this season. Edman will hold more value to fantasy managers than Carlson upon their returns.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: John Denton
7 days agoToronto Blue Jays relievers
Jordan Romano (elbow) and
Erik Swanson (forearm) are slated to pitch in Triple-A Buffalo's doubleheader tomorrow. Both pitchers struggled some in their most recent rehab appearance on Thursday and will look to improve on those outings. Should the outings go well, both relievers have a chance to join the Blue Jays roster and be taken off the injured list. Swanson's value as a setup man may carry more value to the Blue Jays than to fantasy managers. However, Romano should be rostered in all leagues with his return being close.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson
7 days agoArizona Diamondbacks closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. This will be Sewald's first bullpen session since he suffered his Grade 2 oblique strain. It may still be some time before Sewald is able to come off the injured list, but being able to progress to a bullpen session is a good sign for the 33-year-old. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on the closer's progress and keep him stashed on their rosters until he is able to be activated. In the meantime, expect
Kevin Ginkel to continue to get save opportunities for Arizona until Sewald is back.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Theo Mackie
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