6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Walker Buehler (elbow) needs at least one more minor-league rehab outing, according to manager Dave Roberts, which means rookie
Landon Knack will stay in the team's starting rotation for at least one more start. Roberts said Buehler's execution during his rehab start on Thursday night was "not great" and that his command was lacking. The 29-year-old gave up two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out three in just 2 2/3 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City. It's no surprise the Dodgers want to see more from Buehler before they feel comfortable letting him pitch in the big leagues for the first time since 2022. Buehler's outing on Thursday in the minors is a reminder that fantasy managers are probably going to have to be patient with him once he returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
6 days agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl (wrist) is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon. Manager David Bell said the plan is for Friedl to begin his rehab work within the next week or two. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a fractured wrist in March. The organization is hopeful that Friedl can get back on the field for the Reds around early May. He's coming off a career-best 2023 season. Fantasy managers should hold tight for a little longer as Friedl appears to be making progress.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mark Sheldon
6 days agoChicago White Sox relief pitcher
John Brebbia (calf) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. The right-hander appears to be back on track after suffering a calf injury during a game two weeks ago. It's uncertain how many outings Brebbia will need before rejoining the big league bullpen. The assumption is that Brebbia should be back before or in early May. However, Brebbia is likely going to take a backseat to
Michael Kopech who appears to be the primary closer in Chicago. Brebbia should still be used in high leverage spots, but probably won't offer the same fantasy value.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: LaMond Pope
6 days agoNew York Yankees relief pitcher
Nick Burdi (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. This is a tough blow to the Yankees bullpen that is already dealing with injuries. Burdi was pitching well as he hasn't allowed a run through 6 1/3 innings this season. The Yankees are hopeful that it'll be a minimal stint on the injured list for Burdi. In a corresponding move, right-hander
Cody Morris has been recalled from Triple-A to take the spot on the active roster.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Yankees PR
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Kyle Bradish (elbow) is set to make his next rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. The right-hander looked sharp during his most recent rehab outing on Tuesday. The organization has bumped him up to Triple-A, but he'll likely need at least one or two more outings before he's ready to return to the O's rotation. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Bradish and be hopeful for a return in early May.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jake Rill
6 days agoSan Diego Padres first baseman
Jake Cronenworth (calf) has returned to the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 30-year-old has missed each of the last two games due to a minor right-calf issue. However, Cronenworth will be back in there at first base and batting third against right-hander
Yariel Rodriguez on Friday. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Cronenworth back in their lineups.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMinnesota Twins closer
Jhoan Duran (oblique) threw 21 pitches of live batting practice before Friday's game at Target Field against the Detroit Tigers and didn't feel any discomfort. Duran is close to embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment. "He was supposed to throw 20 and he wanted an extra one, so that tells you he's feeling good," manager Rocco Baldelli said. Once the 26-year-old goes on a rehab assignment, it might not be long before Duran is able to make his 2024 debut. He should be rostered in all fantasy formats despite getting a late start to the season. While Duran can be a high-end fantasy closer when he's healthy, don't be surprised if the Twins ease him into late-inning situations when he initially returns to the big-league bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
6 days agoDetroit Tigers outfielder
Riley Greene (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Twins. This appears to be a rare rest day for the 23-year-old outfielder. Greene has started the first 19 games of the season, so he has earned a day off on Friday.
Wenceel Perez will bat second and cover right field versus right-hander
Joe Ryan on Friday. Fantasy managers and DFS players should be able to find a better option than Perez for Friday's slate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ (hamstring) was pulled in the seventh inning of Friday's win over the visiting Miami Marlins due to right-hamstring tightness, according to manager Craig Counsell. Happ's status for the rest of the weekend is now to be determined. Given the fact that Happ also missed time in spring training with a left-hamstring strain, fantasy managers should not be surprised at all if this ends up being an injured-list situation for the switch-hitting outfielder. For now, the 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day. There's a good chance he won't play on Saturday, but check back anyway to see if he's active. With
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) already on the IL, the Cubbies would be down to
Cody Bellinger,
Mike Tauchman and rookie
Alexander Canario in their outfield, although
Garrett Cooper and
Patrick Wisdom could also be used out there.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
6 days agoHouston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez (elbow) played catch on Friday, and manager Joe Espada said the hope is that Valdez could throw off a mound on Saturday or Sunday. Valdez is currently on the injured list while dealing with left-elbow inflammation, but there's no structural damage and he's already throwing again after being sidelined on April 9. The 30-year-old southpaw won't come off the IL when he's eligible next week, but a minor-league rehab assignment may not be far off. In the meantime, his fantasy managers will be hoping he'll return sometime in May. Keep Valdez stashed in all fantasy formats until then. The Dominican starter had picked up where he left off in 2023 through his first two starts before his elbow injury, giving up just three earned runs while striking out 10 in 12 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
6 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that right-hander
Taijuan Walker (shoulder) will make a third minor-league rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. If Walker comes out of that outing without any setbacks, he's expected to rejoin the Phillies' starting rotation after that to make his 2024 debut. The Phillies aren't going to rush the 31-year-old veteran back into the fold, especially with
Spencer Turnbull pitching well right now as he fills in for Walker. Fantasy baseball managers looking for extra rotation depth in deeper mixed leagues may want to consider picking Walker up now and stashing him. Walker's 4.83 xFIP last year shows he was pretty lucky to come away with a 4.38 ERA in his 31 starts in 2023. He'll be a matchup-based streamer once he returns to the majors.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
6 days agoThe game between the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners in Colorado on Friday has been postponed due to inclement weather. The contest is being rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Sunday at 1:10 pm and 6:10 pm. Right-hander
Dakota Hudson was scheduled to pitch for the Rockies on Friday, with right-hander
Emerson Hancock set to take the bump for the visiting Mariners. Both pitchers will presumably be pushed back to start in what will now be the series opener on Saturday. Fantasy baseball managers will want to make sure they remove any players from these two teams from their starting lineups for Friday's slate of action.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Denver Post - Kyle Newman
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever
Aroldis Chapman's suspension has been reduced to one game after he settled with the league. Chapman will serve his one-game suspension on Friday night against the Boston Red Sox and won't be available out of the bullpen. The league suspended the 36-year-old southpaw for getting into a confrontation with an umpire during Monday's game against the New York Mets. The Cuban hurler does have a save on the season but has also allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits while walking six and striking out 11 in 5 2/3 innings pitched so far in 2024. The seven-time All-Star isn't Pittsburgh's primary closer but he can still be useful for his strikeout numbers and holds in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
6 days agoThe Kansas City Royals reinstated infielder
Michael Massey (back) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder
Nick Loftin to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Massey is immediately back in the Royals' starting lineup on Friday, starting at second base and batting seventh against Baltimore Orioles right-hander
Dean Kremer. Massey is back in Kansas City after a back strain caused him to miss the start of the 2024 regular season. The 26-year-old looked good on his minor-league rehab assignment and figures to split playing time at the keystone with veteran left-handed hitter
Adam Frazier. In 129 games with the Royals in 2023, Massey slashed an underwhelming .229/.274/.381 with 15 home runs, 55 RBI and six stolen bases in 461 plate appearances. He's worth a pickup in AL-only leagues, at least, for middle infield depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
6 days agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Jarred Kelenic is on the bench on Friday with the team facing a left-hander. With Kelenic starting on the bench,
Adam Duvall will make the start in left field for Atlanta and hit sixth in the batting order versus Texas Rangers left-hander
Andrew Heaney. It's not out of the ordinary for Kelenic to get benched against a left-handed pitcher and he could use the break right now after going 2-for-13 with six strikeouts in his last four games played. The 24-year-old former Seattle Mariner has otherwise enjoyed his time so far in Atlanta, going 14-for-39 (.359) but with no home runs and only three RBI to show for it in his first 14 games. Duvall is hitless in his two career at-bats against Heaney.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
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