7 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
John Means (elbow) gave up two runs in three innings in Thursday's rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk, allowing two hits and two walks while fanning three. Means allowed one run in three innings in his last rehab appearance after getting blown up for seven runs back on March 31, so he's starting to show signs of improvement while recovering from a right forearm strain. Manager Brandon Hyde has previously stated Means' rehab assignment will last close to the full 30 days, so the 30-year-old former All-Star won't be available for the O's likely until early May. Means missed most of the past two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, but he produced a solid 2.66 ERA (5.24 FIP), 0.71 WHIP, and 10:4 K:BB across 23 2/3 innings after returning late last year and is a decent stash in all fantasy leagues. The struggling
Cole Irvin is the most likely candidate to be bounced from Baltimore's rotation upon Means' return.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Rocco DiSangro - Fox Baltimore
7 days agoMilwaukee Brewers right-hander
Jacob Misiorowski has been inconsistent in his first two Double-A starts in the 2024 season. The flame-thrower has gone 7.1 innings, walking six batters while allowing a 4.91 ERA. Misiorowski has still flashed the power stuff that has made him a top prospect as he has 11 strikeouts and is holding opposing hitters to a .192 batting average. The 22-year-old has all the tools to be a front-of-the-rotation starter, however, he must throw more strikes and work deeper into games to reach his lofty ceiling. Misiorowski is still a great fantasy asset, as there are very few pitchers who can match his overall power arsenal.
--Steve SmithSource: MiLB.com
7 days agoCincinnati Reds manager David Bell said on Tuesday that outfielder
TJ Friedl (wrist) has a check-in MRI this week. Friedl fractured his right wrist on March 16 during a spring training game and was expected to miss six to eight weeks, but he
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7 days agoMariners outfielder
Lazaro Montes has picked up where he left off last season and continues to hit wherever he goes. Montes hit a mammoth home run during the 2024 opening weekend for Modesto and enters Thursday slashing .350/.480/.550 over his first 25 plate appearances. While it is a small sample size, the 19-year-old has also walked more than striking out in the early going. Montes gained a lot of prospect steam over the offseason and could be a big riser on future lists. It is not out of the question for the Cuba native to be a top-ten overall prospect by the end of the season. Fantasy managers will want to get in before the price is too high.
--Steve SmithSource: MiLB.com
7 days agoThe Houston Astros are still committed to
Justin Verlander (shoulder) making another minor-league rehab start this weekend, manager Joe Espada said following Thursday's 13-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Even though
Framber Valdez (elbow) is on the injured list and
Hunter Brown couldn't make it through the first inning on Thursday, there's still no thought of inserting Verlander back into an Astros rotation that really needs length. The club is taking the cautious route with the 41-year-old star right-hander, who is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation. Barring any setbacks, Verlander should be available to Houston's rotation in late April after collecting a 3.31 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 63:14 K:BB over 68 innings with the Stros last season.
Ronel Blanco has filled in admirably with 15 one-hit innings thus far, but he faces a tough test against the defending-champion Texas Rangers during the Lone Star Series on Saturday.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
7 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher
Dalton Rushing hit his second home run of the year on Thursday, continuing his hot start. The 23-year-old homered in the third inning for Tulsa and is off and running in his first taste of Double-A. The backstop is one of the better prospects in all of baseball and can be found on most top 100 lists. He is seemingly blocked by
Will Smith in LA, but there is always room for another power bat. Rushing entered the day slashing .305/.407/.657 and is trying to make a case for a late-season promotion, whether it's in Los Angeles or somewhere else. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Rushing in 2024.
--Steve SmithSource: MiLB.com
7 days agoOakland Athletics closer
Mason Miller tossed a perfect ninth inning against the Texas Rangers on Thursday to pick up his second save of the season. The electric right-hander threw 13-of-16 pitches for strikes and picked up two punchouts in the process. Save opportunities may not be plentiful in Oakland this season, but Miller still possesses elite strikeout upside with worthwhile ratios. He will be a useful fantasy reliever this season and has the potential to accomplish a lot more in dynasty formats.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoKansas City Royals right-hander
Brady Singer allowed one run on five hits across five innings of work during Thursday's win over the Houston Astros. Singer struck out four in the contest while walking two. The 27-year-old is now 2-0 on the season with a sparkling 0.98 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 18/4 K/BB rate. Singer was a sizeable disappointment for fantasy managers in 2023, but he has passed all the tests thus far in 2024. He is set to face the lowly Chicago White Sox in his next projected start and should be rostered in all formats while his resurgence continues.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoHouston Astros second baseman
Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 with a walk during Thursday's blowout loss to the Kansas City Royals. The veteran infielder has been his productive self to start the season, slashing .370/.452/.648 with three home runs through 14 games. Altuve continues to be one of the best fantasy second basemen in the league and should garner plenty of counting stats at the top of the Astros lineup. He remains a must-start option for the rest of 2024 even though Houston has been a surprising disappointment overall.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoOakland Athletics left-hander
JP Sears allowed one hit across 6 1/3 scoreless innings during Thursday's 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers. He struck out five batters while issuing three walks en route to his first win of the season. It was a nice bounce-back performance for the 28-year-old after a pair of inefficient outings to kick off 2024. Sears shows glimpses of fantasy viability every so often, but his inconsistency makes him nothing more than a streaming option in 2024. He is a risky play in his next projected start on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoHouston Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown had a start to forget on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. The 25-year-old was crushed for nine runs on 11 hits in the first inning of the contest. Brown got the hook after recording only two outs, making it the shortest start of his young career. It has been a harrowing start to the season for the former top prospect. Brown now owns an ugly 16.43 ERA through three starts and has yet to go deeper than four innings into a game. Brown has the pedigree to turn things around, but it will be tough to trust him in his next start against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoKansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. went 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBI and four runs scored during Thursday's 13-3 demolition of the Houston Astros. Witt also picked up his third stolen base during the blowout. It was a banner day for the 23-year-old, who is now slashing a robust .358/.414/.755 with four home runs, eight RBI and 13 runs scored on the season. Witt looks like bonafide superstar to start 2024 and is a must-start option whenever he takes the diamond.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoNew York Mets outfielder
DJ Stewart went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during Thursday's 16-4 rout of the Atlanta Braves. It was Stewart's second homer in his past three games, although the two long balls are his only hits this season. The 30-year-old has seen steady playing time as the designated hitter in the early going, but this seems likely to change whenever
J.D. Martinez joins the roster. Stewart can be utilized as a bench bat in NL-Only formats while he is on a power surge, but he can be left on the waiver wire everywhere else.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoAn MRI exam revealed that Tampa Bay Rays second baseman
Brandon Lowe (oblique) is dealing with a Grade 1 right-oblique strain, and he will be placed on the injured list before the team's series opener on Friday against the San Francisco Giants. It's
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7 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (shoulder) is still battling left-shoulder soreness, which is why he was given the day off on Thursday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. With Devers resting,
Pablo Reyes is starting at the hot corner and is hitting in the nine-hole against Orioles right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez. Devers should be considered day-to-day for now, but hopefully giving him some rest will help him avoid a trip to the injured list. Fantasy baseball managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Devers is back in there for the start of a series against the Los Angeles Angels. The two-time All-Star is off to a slow start in his first 10 games, going 7-for-38 (.184) with two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored in 46 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
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