6 days agoCincinnati Reds infielder
Matt McLain (shoulder) is about a week away from a follow-up appointment with a doctor. The evaluation should allow the Reds to map out a clearer return timetable for McLain, who is recovering from March 26 left shoulder surgery. Manager David Bell said on April 1 that "there is a chance [McLain] gets back this year," so fantasy managers should still be prepared for the 24-year-old former top prospect to be sidelined through the All-Star break. With McLain on the shelf, former National League Rookie of the Year
Jonathan India is operating as Cincy's everyday second baseman. India could heat up in a hurry, and over his last nine games, he's batting a strong .344 (11-for-32) with one home run, six RBI, three runs scored, one stolen base, and three walks.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Gordon Wittenmyer - The Cincinnati Enquirer
6 days agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby has been a big reason why the team has a 1.58 ERA over their last 19 games since April 10. After yielding 13 runs in his first 14 1/3 innings (three starts) of the 2024 regular season, Kirby has turned it around for a 1.00 ERA and a 25:2 K:BB across the subsequent 18 frames (three starts). The 26-year-old All-Star right-hander will take the ball in a tough spot on Friday for the start of a three-game weekend set on the road against the division-rival Houston Astros, but in three career starts against Houston, Kirby owns a 1.62 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 14:3 K:BB across 16 2/3 innings. The current Astros roster is batting a career .218 (12-for-55) with zero extra-base hits against Kirby, who'll have plenty of DFS tournament appeal on Friday's full slate.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Savant
6 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) made his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday since overcoming a bout of "dead arm," launching five one-hit innings on three walks with three strikeouts. After throwing 61 pitches in the outing, Garrett's next appearance may very well come with the major-league roster for his 2024 regular-season debut. The Marlins should make a decision on that sometime this weekend. Last season, the 26-year-old former No. 7 overall pick fanned 156 hitters and walked only 29 for a 3.66 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over his 159 2/3 frames of work (30 starts). If his next showing indeed comes in Miami's rotation, it would likely be in place of rookie
Roddery Munoz during Monday's series opener in a shy-away spot from a fantasy perspective against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Fish on the Farm
6 days agoThe New York Mets have concerns that relief pitcher
Brooks Raley (elbow) could miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Manager
Carlos Mendoza already stated on Thursday that Raley won't return from inflammation in his left elbow when first eligible on May 6, but this update is a bit more ominous. The 35-year-old southpaw was serving as New York's primary left-handed setup man this season, working seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and three walks while logging four holds over eight appearances. Although veteran lefty
Jake Diekman now figures to operate as a high-leverage arm, unheralded right-hander
Reed Garrett has emerged as a weapon with a 0.54 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 28:8 K:BB through 16 2/3 frames out of the Mets' bullpen this year. Reed is throwing well enough right now to warrant fantasy consideration in all formats.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Joel Sherman - New York Post
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will shift to the 60-day injured list to free up a 40-man roster spot for incoming right-hander
Matt Bowman from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations. This is a fairly significant update for Kelly, considering manager Torey Lovullo said on April 23 that the hurler's strained right shoulder would undergo re-imaging in the upcoming weeks. As a result, the D-backs and fantasy managers will now be without Kelly until early July at the earliest. The 35-year-old right-hander was working to an excellent 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) before heading to the IL, and he's well worth a stash for those who can afford the roster spot. Right-hander
Slade Cecconi should continue functioning from Arizona's rotation, and he's trending up with a 2.25 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 11:1 K:BB across 12 frames (two starts).
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks on X
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Tyler Wells (elbow) played catch on Wednesday and is still undergoing tests, according to manager Brandon Hyde, who had nothing further to report on the hurler. Working his way back from inflammation in his right elbow, Wells still has no clear timetable for his return to Baltimore's rotation at this juncture. Considering the big 29-year-old right-hander logged a shaky 5.87 ERA and 1.37 WHIP while striking out 13 batters and walking three over 15 1/3 innings (three starts), he doesn't need to be stashed in the majority of fantasy leagues. The O's just reinstated
Kyle Bradish and
John Means from the injured list this week, but
Dean Kremer and
Cole Irvin will still be needed as starters until Wells is back in the fold, and they'll have streaming appeal under the appropriate circumstances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jake Rill - MLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Saturday, with the new target for his return now being "mid-June." Cole is all set to resume throwing off the mound, which is a big step forward in his throwing progression, and a mid-June return is pretty much in line with his original recovery timetable from discomfort in his right elbow. The 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner still needs to build up his stamina and then start a minor-league rehab assignment, which could begin sometime in the next few weeks if all continues to go well. Cole notched a 2.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 222:48 K:BB over 209 innings (33 starts) a year ago. Until he's ready to rejoin New York's rotation, right-handers
Clarke Schmidt and
Luis Gil should continue getting starts for the Yankees as fantasy streaming options in favorable matchups.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman - New York Post
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Mitch Jebb had his best game of the season as he launched two home runs and tallied five RBI in Wednesday's victory. Jebb has now hit a home run in back-to-back performances. Overall, on the season, the number eight ranked prospect in the Pittsburgh system, according to MLB Pipeline, has a .250/.318/.388 line with four swiped bags in his first season at High-A. The former Michigan State Spartan is finally showing his power potential after going through his first professional season at Single-A with only one round-tripper. For now, Jebb should be monitored in dynasty leagues and could emerge as a potential stash if he can reach Double-A this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees second base/shortstop prospect
Jared Serna had a monster day at the plate on Wednesday, tallying three home runs and six RBI to power the Hudson Valley Renegades over the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Following this big performance, the 21-year-old has an overall .231/.351/.474 with five home runs, 17 RBI, and one stolen base across 21 games at High-A. Serna also has a strong 15:10 BB:K ratio. It is very promising to see Serna display his power potential, as he did not tally one home run in 27 games at the High-A level last season. Serna could reach Double-A by the end of the summer if he continues this trajectory, and he is worth keeping an eye on in dynasty formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoBoston Red Sox catching prospect
Kyle Teel launched his third home run of the season in Wednesday's victory. Teel went 2-4 at the plate with four RBI. The fifth overall catching prospect in baseball now sits with a solid .231/.351/.400 with 12 RBI and a 21:11 K:BB ratio across the first 17 games of the season. This is the 22-year-old's first full test in Double-A, as he only appeared in nine games at this level last season. The former Virginia Cavalier should be rostered in all dynasty leagues but should not be expected to make his major league debut until 2025, especially since he may not reach Triple-A until later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoNew York Yankees pitching prospect
Clayton Beeter tallied a season-high of nine strikeouts to earn his third victory of the season in Triple-A. This was his best start of the season, putting the 25-year-old in a good opportunity to return to the major leagues. Beeter was named to the Yankees Opening Day Roster but only threw one inning while with the major league team this season before returning to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. However, after being sent back down to Triple-A, Beeter has posted a strong 2.74 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 35 punchouts across 23 innings. The former Texas Tech Red Raider should be a name to monitor in deeper AL-only formats, as he could see opportunities later in the summer to start games for the Yankees.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoCleveland Guardians right-hander
Gavin Williams (elbow) has been cleared to begin throwing and did so on Thursday pain-free, according to manager
Stephen Vogt. An elbow injury has kept Williams from making his 2024 debut with the Guardians after a fine rookie season in 2023 in which he went 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 37 walks in 82 innings in his first 16 major-league starts. He allowed just one earned run in 4 2/3 spring training innings over two appearances as well before getting hurt and landing on the injured to open the year. The 24-year-old former 23rd overall pick in 2021 out of East Carolina isn't exactly close to joining Cleveland's rotation, but he showed enough last year to be worthy of stashing in mixed fantasy leagues if you have the room on your roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
6 days agoSan Francisco Giants right-hander
Jordan Hicks (side) is scheduled to make the start on Friday in the series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Hicks felt some tightness in his side in his last start on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he managed it well and struck out a season-high nine batters while giving up just one earned run in six innings. There was a lot to be skeptical about from Hicks from a fantasy perspective with his move to a full-time starting role in 2024, mainly because of his history with injuries as a hard-throwing reliever. However, he's excelling so far in San Fran and has gone 2-0 with a fantastic 1.59 ERA (3.08 FIP) and 0.91 WHIP with 27 K's and 10 walks in 34 innings over his six starts. He'll face a tough matchup in a hostile environment on Friday against a Phillies offense that ranks seventh in MLB in OPS (.742), but he's been a must-start through the first month.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers third base prospect
Mike Boeve was recently promoted to Double-A Biloxi after having a great start to the season at High-A. Boeve posted a dominant .553/.642/.632 stat line with a 13:5 BB:K ratio across 13 games at High-A Wisconsin. Boeve has carried the momentum into his first nine games at Double-A with an excellent .306/.405/.583 line and has already tallied four doubles and three triples. The 14th-ranked prospect is beginning to make headlines and is worth monitoring in dynasty leagues as he is quickly progressing through the minor leagues. Even though MLB Pipeline projects the 21-year-old to reach the majors in 2026, with the rate he is currently going at, do not be surprised if he is knocking on the door by next summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Christopher Morel went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk during Thursday's extra-innings loss to the New York Mets. The 24-year-old is now slashing .209/.287/.383 with five homers, 17 RBI and three stolen bases in 31 games. Morel has not had the breakout campaign some pundits were expecting as he has struggled to find consistency at the plate. There is still value in his bat due to his power potential and positional versatility, but he is becoming more of a liability in shallow formats.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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