1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes continued his hot hitting in Monday's 11-2 Grapefruit League rout of the Phillies. The 27-year-old went 3-for-4 with a run scored, making it three straight multi-hit performances for the youngster and the sixth of the spring. He's now 16-for-38 (.421) with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, and eight runs scored in 13 spring games. Perhaps even more impressive is that he's struck out just once in those 38 at-bats. Hayes is an all-around, albeit somewhat unexciting, contributor for fantasy as he'll approach 20 home runs and provide double-digit steals. Right now he's ranked as the thirteenth option at third base at RotoBaller, but it wouldn't be unrealistic to see him in the top-12 by season's end.Source: ESPN
1 week agoMinnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa hit his first home run of the spring on Monday in a 5-2 Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox. It was a solo shot off of Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta, and Correa finished the day 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI, and one run scored. On the spring, the 2x All-Star is hitting .310 (9-for-29) with a home run, three RBI, and four runs scored. The 29-year-old played through injury for most of last season, but is now healthy heading into 2024. While he's well outside the top-12 SS for fantasy, he could very well be a value pick at the end of drafts as he should easily improve on last year's numbers and outperform his NFBC ADP of 244.Source: ESPN
1 week agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried took the loss on Monday in a 7-3 Grapefruit League game versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Although he took the loss, the veteran pitched well. The southpaw hadn't given up a run through five innings of work, but allowed four singles and a sac fly that turned into four runs (three earned) in the sixth inning. The 30-year-old walked just one while striking out four. It was a nice bounce-back after a rough start his last time out, and the former All-Star will look to build some momentum heading into the start of the regular season.Source: ESPN
1 week agoToronto Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson experienced tightness in his forearm and underwent an MRI. According to Jays manager John Schneider, there was no injury and no inflammation, so the 30-year-old will be shut down for "a day or two." The veteran had four saves and 29 holds for the Jays last season and figures to be an important part of the bullpen in 2024. With fellow reliever and top-10 fantasy closer option Jordan Romano dealing with an injury as well, this situation should be monitored since Swanson would likely be next in line for save chances. However, neither pitcher's injury sounds serious and both still appear to be on track to be ready by Opening Day.Source: Sportsnet - Hazel Mae
1 week agoToronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano is dealing with inflammation in his elbow. The 30-year-old had an MRI done and it showed no structural damage, so at this point it doesn't appear to be serious. The 2x All-Star will receive an anti-inflammatory injection Tuesday and will be shut down for three days, but will then "ramp back up." As the injury is to his throwing arm it should be monitored, but being ready for the start of the regular season still seems to be intact. If it doesn't get better, then veteran Erik Swanson theoretically would be next in line for save opportunities, however, he too has been shut down for a couple of days. Romano is a top-10 closer option so hopefully this is a non-issue by the end of the week.Source: Sportsnet - Hazel Mae
1 week agoTexas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia went 2-for-3 with a double, a solo home run, and a strikeout in Monday's 9-5 Cactus League loss to the Mariners. The 31-year-old got a late start to spring after suffering a moderate left oblique strain in the World Series, so seeing him flash his power is good. However, he is batting just .167 in 24 at-bats this spring. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried, as Garcia has been a higher-end fantasy option each of the last three seasons. If healthy, he should provide a middling batting average with high power upside and moderate speed upside.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier yielded his worst start of the spring in Monday's 10-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Nationals. Javier pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on three hits (including a solo home run) and four walks with one strikeout. The 26-year-old is coming off of a surprisingly poor 2023 season and now has a 4.30 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in 14 2/3 IP this spring. He is still a bounce-back fantasy candidate given his career track record, but hopefully, he can turn in a few more positive outings heading into the regular season.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown has put together a strong spring to this point, compiling a 2.84 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings pitched. This is a good sign for the Astros and fantasy managers, as the team has expressed that the 25-year-old will need "to take a step forward" given their lack of rotation depth and injuries, per the Athletic's Chandler Rome. Brown showed some positive signs in 2023 but ultimately finished at 11-13 with a 5.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 26.8% strikeout rate in 31 appearances (29 starts) and 155 2/3 IP. His pedigree and strong team give him some fantasy upside, but fantasy managers may want to wait to see consistency from him before trusting him.Source: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
1 week agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher Matt Canterino (elbow, shoulder), who had Tommy John surgery in August of 2022 and did not pitch in 2023, suffered a shoulder strain Monday and will start the 2024 season on the Triple-A injured list. This is a shame, as the Twins pitching staff has suffered numerous injuries and The 26-year-old had looked good in his two spring outings. He is still worth keeping an eye on in dynasty leagues, but Canterino will now have another health hurdle to overcome before continuing his trajectory to the big leagues.Source: Aaron Gleeman - The Athletic
1 week agoMinnesota Twins relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) will be one of several of the team's pitching staff to start the 2024 season on the injured list, per the Athletic's Aaron Gleeman. Thielbar suffered a strained left hamstring early in camp and, while he progressed to throwing live batting practice last week, it was determined that the 37-year-old won't be ready in time to start the season. Thielbar had a successful 2023 season, earning 14 holds with a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 30.0% strikeout rate in 30 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers in saves-plus-holds leagues should look for additional information on a timetable for his return.Source: Aaron Gleeman - The Athletic
1 week agoWith Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) set to open the 2024 season on the injured list with a fractured right wrist, Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild could see additional playing time to start the season, per MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Manager David Bell said, "It's all going to work out. I'm focused on the guys we have here." The 25-year-old Benson had a successful 2023 season in limited playing time but is batting just .200 in 25 spring at-bats. Fairchild has yet to stick in a big-league role but is hitting .360 with three home runs in 25 spring at-bats. From a fantasy perspective, Benson's potential to provide power and speed seems to give him the edge over Fairchild in deeper leagues. However, fantasy managers should watch for further news as the regular season approaches.Source: Mark Sheldon - MLB.com
1 week agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks announced Monday that starting pitcher Zac Gallen will be the team's Opening Day starter. This will be the second consecutive season that the 28-year-old has earned the honor. Gallen will get a favorable matchup against the Rockies at home. He put forth another strong season in 2023, going 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 26.0% strikeout rate in 34 starts and 210 innings pitched. He finished third in the voting for the National League Cy Young Award and will be looking to build off that, making him a high-end fantasy option in all formats.Source: Michael McDermott - SI.com
1 week agoCincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley was removed from Monday night's Cactus League game early against the San Francisco Giants after fouling a ball off what appeared to be a part of his body that is very sensitive. Fraley was probably pretty uncomfortable, but he was able to leave the field under his own power and should be fine for Opening Day on March 28. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will continue in the strong side of a platoon against right-handed pitchers in 2024 in his third year in Cincinnati and deserves attention for outfield depth in deep-mixed fantasy leagues after he hit .256/.339/.443 with career-highs in homers (15), RBI (65) and stolen bases (21) in 111 games last year. RotoBaller has Fraley ranked as the No. 50 fantasy outfielder.Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
1 week agoLos Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said first baseman Nolan Schanuel (back) felt something while stretching for a ball, but trainers told him it was "nothing serious." Schanuel was scratched from Monday's Cactus League game against the Milwaukee Brewers as a precaution. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter will probably be sidelined a day or two, but he should return to spring action this weekend and be ready for Opening Day on March 28. Schanuel was fast-tracked to the majors last year after the Halos took him 11th overall out of Florida Atlanta. While he doesn't project for much long-term power at the first base position, Schanuel has enough plate discipline and contact skills to be relevant in AL-only leagues as the Angels' primary first baseman. He hit .275 (30-for-109) with a homer and six RBI in his first 29 major-league games last year.Source: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
1 week agoIn a move that many expected when the Milwaukee Brewers signed outfield prospect Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million contract extension, he will officially be part of the team's Opening Day roster, according to sources. Chourio, 20, will be the youngest player in team history since Robin Yount to make his MLB debut on Opening Day. He's the second-ranked prospect in all of baseball wasn't a sure thing to start the year in the majors given the team's crowded outfield picture, and despite some defensive troubles this spring, he's impressed the Brewers with his ability to hold his own at the plate against big-league pitching this spring. Chourio has hit .286 with a .347 on-base percentage and .490 slugging percentage through 272 minor-league games since 2021, clubbing 47 homers and stealing 68 bases. He'll likely start in center field and should be considered a No. 3 fantasy outfielder despite never appearing in a major-league game.Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg