6 days agoOakland Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (oblique) is back to baseball activities and took ground balls at second base and played catch on Wednesday. However, there is still no timetable for his return from the 10-day injured list from a strained left oblique. Given the nature of his injury, fantasy managers in deeper leagues shouldn't expect the 24-year-old infielder to return when he's eligible. After a promising rookie campaign in 2023 in which he hit .267 (72-for-270) with 14 home runs, 32 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 69 games, Gelof hasn't looked as good so far in 24 contests in his sophomore season. So far, he's gone 18-for-92 (.196) with three homers, seven RBI and four stolen bases. Until he's able to return,
Max Schuemann and
Abraham Toro could split playing time at the keystone in Oakland.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
6 days agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) had a "heavy day" of throwing on Tuesday, and manager Aaron Boone said he doesn't know when Cole is scheduled to throw from a mound. When asked if the All-Star break was a realistic time for Cole to return, Boone said he wouldn't speculate. MLB's Bryan Hoch thinks Cole is close to throwing off a mound, but he still needs to go through a whole spring training progression to build up his arm, so it wouldn't be a surprise of the reigning American League Cy Young winner isn't able to return to the Yanks until the second half of the season. The 33-year-old continues to throw multiple times per week on flat ground, but he still has a ways to go before making his 2024 debut. He is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on May 25, but that's not going to happen. Fantasy managers must stay patient.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
6 days agoThe Los Angeles Angels placed corner infielder
Miguel Sano (knee) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 28) on Wednesday and selected the contract of outfielder
Willie Calhoun from the minors in a corresponding move. Right-hander
Zac Kristofak was also designated for assignment. Sano hasn't played since last Friday due to left-knee inflammation and will now miss more time. The 30-year-old former Twin has gotten off to a decent start with a .262 average (16-for-61) in his first year with the Halos, but his signature power has yet to show up. Sano has gone deep just once and has driven in only five runs before injuring his knee. Until Sano returns,
Luis Rengifo should play daily for the Angels at either third base or second base.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Angels PR
6 days agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Bryan Bello (lat) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and could have an up-and-down, two-inning simulated outing next, with a possible minor-league rehab start coming next Tuesday. Bello's bullpen session this week was his first time throwing off a mound since he dealt with right-lat tightness last week and was placed on the injured list. It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will need more than one rehab start before returning to Boston's starting rotation. A popular breakout candidate in 2024, the Dominican hurler went 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA (4.06 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with seven walks and 26 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings over his first five starts of the season before going on the shelf. If he was dropped when he landed on the IL, fantasy managers should look go scoop him up off the waiver wire.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
6 days agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that the team is hopeful that middle infielder
Vaughn Grissom (hamstring, illness) will be able to make his season debut on Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Grissom was set to come off the injured list to make his 2024 debut on Tuesday, but he came down with the flu and had to be pushed back. The 23-year-old has yet to play in the big leagues this year, but when he joins the club, he's expected to be Boston's primary second baseman. The former 11th-round selection of the Atlanta Braves in 2019 has looked good at the plate the last two years in 64 games for the Braves, slashing .287/.339/.407 with five home runs, 27 RBI and five stolen bases. Pick him up off the waiver wire immediately if he's available in your fantasy league.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that third baseman
Isaac Paredes was out of the starting lineup in Wednesday's loss to the Milwaukee Brewers because his body and arm are "barking a little bit." The Rays have a scheduled off day on Thursday before beginning a weekend series on Friday at home against the visiting New York Mets, so we'd expect Paredes to be back in action then. If the 25-year-old Mexican infielder is back in there on Friday, fantasy baseball managers will want to get him back into their lineups in all formats. Paredes is currently slashing a strong .291/.358/.509 with an .867 OPS, seven home runs, 17 RBI and 14 runs scored in 110 at-bats. He had a career-high 31 long balls in 2023 and also drove in a career-high 98 runs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
6 days agoThe Boston Red Sox acquired infielder
Zack Short from the New York Mets on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. Short finds a new home in the American League after the Mets designated him for assignment recently. Because the 28-year-old utility infielder is out of minor-league options, he'll join Boston's big-league roster for the time being as infield depth. The former 17th-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2016 out of Sacred Heart University has the ability to play shortstop, second base and third base. Before being DFA'd, Short appeared in 10 games for the Mets this year and went 1-for-9 at the plate with two walks and four strikeouts. He's a career .172/.266/.304 hitter in four big-league seasons and is off the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
6 days agoThe Boston Red Sox are expected to sign first baseman
Dominic Smith after the Tampa Bay Rays released him from his minor-league contract on Wednesday. The Red Sox are short-handed at first base with injuries to
Triston Casas (rib) and the recently signed
Garrett Cooper (wrist), so they will take a flier on the 28-year-old, who can also play the outfield. Cooper is expected to be fine, though, and the Red Sox also have
Bobby Dalbec capable of manning the cold corner, so Smith will probably just be a left-handed bench option at first base. Smith hit .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs in 153 games with the Washington Nationals in 2023 and had gone 21-for-80 (.263) with two homers and 11 RBI at Triple-A Durham this year before being granted his release.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Pete Abraham
6 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman/designated hitter
Garrett Cooper (wrist) is dealing with a bruise and is going to be OK after being hit by a pitch on his right wrist in Tuesday's game against the visiting San Francisco Giants. Cooper was recently scooped up by Boston as a replacement at first base for the injured
Triston Casas (rib). The veteran right-handed slugger went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and the hit-by-pitch in his first game with the Red Sox on Tuesday. He began the 2024 season with the Chicago Cubs and is now hitting .256 (10-for-39) on the year with a home run, six RBI and three runs scored in his first 13 games played. It remains to be seen if he'll be back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Giants, but between the injuries to Casas and
Masataka Yoshida (hand), Cooper should have a regular role in Beantown in the short-term.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
6 days agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder/designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida (hand) is going on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. Yoshida underwent an MRI on his left hand after jamming it in Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and apparently the results were serious enough to require giving him at least 10 days off. The Japanese left-handed slugger hasn't shown much power in his season plus of action in the big leagues, but he makes consistent contact as Boston's primary designated hitter. Before his injury, he was hitting .275/.348/.388 with two home runs, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored. Recently signed
Garrett Cooper (wrist) and
Bobby Dalbec figure to be the biggest beneficiaries of Yoshida's injury as possible replacements at DH for Boston moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WEEI - Rob Bradford
6 days agoMiami Marlins shortstop
Tim Anderson (thumb) has been scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the visiting Colorado Rockies as a precautionary measure due to a mild left-thumb sprain that he suffered in Monday's game.
Vidal Brujan will get another start at the 6 for the Fish and will hit eighth in the batting order against Rockies right-hander
Dakota Hudson. Anderson remains day-to-day and could be back as earlier as the series finale against the Rockies on Thursday. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star is still reeling from a terrible year in his final season in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox. He's gone 21-for-95 (.221) with no home runs, five RBI and three steals in his first 29 games for Miami. Brujan is a light-hitting switch-hitter who also hasn't homered in 2024 in 40 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
6 days agoThe Minnesota Twins announced that outfielder
Byron Buxton (knee) left Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox with right-knee soreness after he came up limping after attempting to steal second base in the second inning. He was thrown out easily and gingerly walked off the field.
Willi Castro moved to center field, while
Jose Miranda entered the contest to play third base. The 30-year-old has had surgery on his right knee twice, so this certainly is daunting news for a player with an extremely long injury history. There's a good chance Buxton will land on the injured list, but we'll wait for more news on the severity of the injury. Before leaving, Buxton singled in his only at-bat. If Buxton ends up missing extended time,
Manuel Margot may be the biggest beneficiary in Minnesota's outfield.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park
6 days agoSan Diego Padres second baseman
Xander Bogaerts is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday for the series finale against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. It will be just the second time this year that Bogaerts will open the game on the bench for the Friars after starting each of the team's last 16 games.
Tyler Wade will get the start at the keystone and will hit in the nine-hole against Reds right-hander
Graham Ashcraft. Wade will be one to avoid in DFS contests on Wednesday's slate of action. The 31-year-old Bogaerts isn't in danger of losing playing time as the Padres' regular second baseman, but he has done very little for fantasy managers in 2024, hitting .217 (28-for-129) with only two home runs, 11 RBI, two stolen bases and 17 runs scored in 32 games this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
6 days agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) is missing yet again from the team's starting lineup in the series finale against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. Encarnacion-Strand is missing his fourth straight game after being hit by a pitch on his left hand. With a scheduled off day coming on Thursday, hopefully the 24-year-old will be able to return on Friday for a series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. On top of his injury, CES has hit just .196/.222/.314 with two home runs and 16 RBI in his first 102 at-bats of the season.
Jeimer Candelario is at first base on Wednesday and is batting seventh, while
Santiago Espinal gets the start at third and hits sixth against Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove. Neither Candelario nor Espinal have ever faced Musgrove in their careers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielders
Andrew McCutchen and
Michael Taylor are not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. With both players out,
Bryan Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter and bat second, while
Jack Suwinski will cover center field and hit eighth against A's right-hander
Ross Stripling.
Connor Joe is manning left field and batting third in the order. The veteran McCutchen has gotten off to a slow start in 2024, hitting just .190 (15-for-79) with three home runs, seven RBI and one steal. Taylor has been a bit better with a .253 average (19-for-75), but he has yet to go deep with six RBI and three stolen bases. Reynolds is a daily must-start in season-long fantasy leagues, while Joe is a nice low-cost DFS play with an average just under .300 in his first 89 at-bats in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
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