6 days agoMiami Marlins left-hander
A.J. Puk (shoulder) is throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday. Puk is progressing through fatigue in his left shoulder, but his return timetable remains very much in the dark at this point. The 29-year-old former No. 6 overall pick scuffled as a starter in four appearances for the Fish this season, recording a 9.22 ERA, 2.63 WHIP, and 12:17 K:BB through 13 2/3 innings before going down, and Puk will return out of Miami's bullpen when he's healthy. Although Puk could eventually be a threat for saves when he rejoins the major-league roster, he's not a must-stash fantasy player by any means. Closer
Tanner Scott owns a 3.09 ERA (5.64 FIP), 1.62 WHIP, and 10:12 K:BB over 11 2/3 frames this year, and it probably wouldn't hurt fantasy managers to send out some sell-high trade offers when Puk's return becomes closer.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola - MLB.com
6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Walker Buehler (elbow) made perhaps his final minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts over five innings. After throwing 75 pitches in this outing, Buehler should be on the cusp of rejoining LA's rotation and making his highly-anticipated 2024 regular-season debut following a long road back from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers will make a final decision in the coming days on where his next start will come, but the 29-year-old star right-hander should be available to fantasy managers in early May. When we last saw him back in the 2022 season, Buehler logged a 4.02 ERA (3.80 FIP), 1.29 WHIP, and 58:17 K:BB over 65 frames (12 starts).
Landon Knack is making Tuesday's start against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, and it may very well be his last with the major-league roster for now.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya - The Athletic
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers catcher
Gary Sanchez (hamstring) was removed from Tuesday's game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays with tightness in his right hamstring. Sanchez hit into a fielder's choice in the first inning, coming up lame after legging out a throw to first base and getting pulled from the contest right away. Top prospect
Tyler Black, who was just promoted from the minor leagues on Tuesday, replaced Sanchez to run for him. The Brewers should offer another update on Sanchez's status when he's further evaluated following the contest. The 31-year-old slugging backstop is slashing a decent .208/.283/.458 with three home runs, three doubles, and six RBI in 48 at-bats (18 games) for Milwaukee this year, and the club would really lean on the red-hot
William Contreras behind the dish if Sanchez is facing a significant setback. Black would also see more work as a designated hitter in this case.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Brewers on X
6 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (elbow) is throwing up to 90 feet on Tuesday. Luzardo plans to play catch again on Wednesday and then throw a bullpen session thereafter. Barring any setbacks, he hopes to then make a minor-league rehab start and rejoin the major-league club. It sounds like the 26-year-old southpaw is eyeing a return from the 15-day injured list close to when he's first eligible, which is certainly an encouraging sign. Luzardo is recovering from a mild left flexor muscle strain, and he struggled to a 6.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 27:13 K:BB over 26 innings (five starts) for the Fish before hitting the shelf. Fantasy managers should keep top prospect
Max Meyer glued to watchlists in the meantime, as it's only a matter of time before he's recalled to the big leagues after submitting a 2.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 14:3 K:BB across 17 frames (three starts) this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman/outfielder
Garrett Cooper (wrist) was removed from Tuesday's game against the visiting San Francisco Giants due to a right wrist contusion. Cooper, who was making his Red Sox debut and went 0-for-2 before exiting on Tuesday, was hit by a pitch on the right wrist in the fifth inning, and he was replaced at the cold corner by
Bobby Dalbec. The Red Sox should provide another update on Cooper's status after the veteran is evaluated further following the contest. The 33-year-old lefty masher is slashing a modest .256/.341/.410 with one home run, one double, six RBI, and three runs scored over 39 at-bats (13 games) this season, and Boston would likely be forced to hand Dalbec regular at-bats at first base if Cooper needs to miss additional time.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo - The Springfield Republican
6 days agoChicago White Sox outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. (hip) is at 80 percent running in his recovery from a hip-flexor strain and is also taking batting practice, according to manager Pedro Grifol. "He's strong, energetic, he's excited to come back so we're hoping sooner than later but we're going to take our time because we don't want this to happen again," Grifol said. Robert was initially given a six- to eight-week timetable for a return after last playing on April 5. The oft-injured 26-year-old looks to be ahead of scheduled, but for a player with Robert's extensive injury history, the White Sox would be wise to play it safe and not bring the talented outfielder back too soon. The Cuban slugger's 38-homer, 80-RBI, 20-steal 2023 season displays his upside, but he's also played in over 100 games just once in his four previous MLB seasons due to injuries.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays outfield prospect
Alan Roden has been off to a great start at Double-A to begin the 2024 season. Roden has posted a strong .290/.388/.464 line with two round-trippers and two stolen bases. Last season, the 24-year-old put up similar numbers in Double-A (.310/.421/.460), suggesting that Roden may be ready to move up to Triple-A. MLB Pipeline ranked Roden as the seventh-best prospect in the Toronto system and projects him to reach the major league level later this summer. As a result, dynasty and keeper league managers should monitor Roden's status as he could be joining Triple-A Buffalo fairly soon.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfield prospect
Owen Caissie continues to succeed at Triple-A and is making a case for a much earlier-than-anticipated major league promotion. Across 26 games with Triple-A Iowa, the 21-year-old has posted a .289/.418/.433 stat line with one home run and three stolen bases. Caissie has also tallied ten extra-base hits. Over the past seven days, the number three prospect in the Chicago system has logged a .389/.542/.444 line with an impressive 6:9 BB:K ratio. Caissie may join the major league roster later this summer and be given the opportunity quite soon as Cubs outfielders
Cody Bellinger (ribs) and
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) have sustained serious injuries and may miss an extended period. Caissie should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper formats and should be monitored in deeper redraft leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoThe Detroit Tigers reinstated infielder/outfielder
Andy Ibanez (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned infielder
Buddy Kennedy to Triple-A Toledo after Sunday's game in a corresponding move. Ibanez didn't play at all in the 2-1 loss on Tuesday to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of a doubleheader, but he's starting at second base and batting second in Game 2 against Cardinals left-hander
Steven Matz. The 31-year-old is back from a stint on the IL due to a strained left hamstring and should see starts against left-handed pitchers moving forward. The Cuban infielder returns to a .267/.235/.267 slash line with no home runs and three RBI in just 15 at-bats in 2024. Ibanez is only an option in AL-only leagues for middle-infield depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tigers PR
6 days agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect
Lyon Richardson delivered another strong outing on Tuesday, where he tossed five shutout innings with seven punchouts. Richardson has not allowed over two runs in his past three starts and has lowered his ERA to 2.74. The 24-year-old got a small taste of the majors last season but struggled with an 8.64 ERA and 1.92 WHIP across 16 ⅔ innings. However, Richardson has never performed this well at Triple-A, suggesting that he may have taken another step forward in his development. The former second-round selection should be given another opportunity in the majors later in the summer and may be worth adding in NL-only formats when he is promoted.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays placed right-handed rookie
Yariel Rodriguez (spine) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with thoracic-spine inflammation and recalled right-hander
Zach Pop from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Rodriguez began experiencing soreness in his back during his outing on Monday night against the Kansas City Royals in which he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out one in 3 2/3 innings. Given the nature of the injury, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the 27-year-old Cuban hurler misses more than the 15 days on the IL. Rodriguez hasn't been bad in his first four MLB starts, but he also hasn't gone past four innings pitched in any of his outings while sporting a 4.11 ERA and 1.76 WHIP with 16 K's in 15 1/3 frames. It's unclear who will take Rodriguez's spot in Toronto's rotation for at least the next two weeks.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
6 days agoThe Texas Rangers are pushing right-hander
Max Scherzer's (back, thumb) next minor-league rehab start with Double-A Frisco back a few days after he experienced some soreness in his thumb after his last outing at Triple-A Round Rock, according to general manager
Chris Young. Scherzer will hopefully make his next rehab start by the end of the week. The 39-year-old's surgically repaired back has apparently held up well, though, which is the main takeaway here for fantasy managers that have been stashing the three-time Cy Young winner. In his lone rehab start with Round Rock, Scherzer allowed three earned runs while walking none and striking out four in 2 1/3 innings, so he still has a ways to go to build up his arm before making his 2024 MLB debut. Barring setbacks, Scherzer should be back in Texas' rotation at some point next month.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
6 days agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect
Ky Bush has been off to an electric start to the 2024 season. The former second-round pick is sporting a 1.27 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 21 ⅓ innings at Double-A. He has struck out 26 batters. In addition, Bush has not allowed a run in his past 11 innings. It looks like the southpaw has begun to figure things out, as he posted a hefty 6.38 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 67 ⅔ innings at Double-A last season. The 18th-ranked prospect in the Chicago system is not expected to make his major league debut until 2025. However, he could become a name to monitor in dynasty leagues due to his elite strikeout potential, especially if he can reach Triple-A later in the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Blake Snell (groin) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to the team. Snell is recovering from a Grade 2 adductor strain that put him on the injured list last week. The 31-year-old left-hander is hoping to spend the minimum 15 days on the IL, but fantasy managers should probably expect him to be out a bit longer than that, especially considering he got a late start to the 2024 season because he signed with the Giants right before the season started. Already known as a slow starter, last year's National League Cy Young winner went 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.97 WHIP with five walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in his three starts before getting hurt. Snell shouldn't be on any waiver wires, though, and could easily rebound once he's healthy given his high-end strikeout upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
6 days agoUpdating a previous report, Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout (knee) has a torn meniscus in his left knee that will require surgery, according to general manager Perry Minasian. The procedure, which is believed to be scheduled for Friday, isn't considered season-ending. It's a silver lining for the 11-time All-Star, who has missed significant time the last several seasons due to injuries. A source familiar with Trout's injury said a four- to six-week timetable is a best-case scenario, but a true timetable won't be established until he goes under the knife later this week. The 32-year-old three-time MVP is currently tied for the major-league lead in home runs with 10, but he's also hitting just .220 (24-for-109) with 14 RBI and six stolen bases. Fantasy managers must keep him stashed in an injured-list spot for the time being. Former first overall pick
Mickey Moniak is expected to start regularly in center field for the Angels with Trout sidelined.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
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