6 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers will undergo an MRI on his left knee after he felt discomfort. Devers was pulled from the game on Tuesday but gave it a go as designated hitter on Wednesday. Manager Alex Cora states that the MRI is precautionary in nature to make sure the knee is structurally sound. Devers is not in the lineup Thursday, so we'll await to see the results of the MRI to get a better understanding of the injury and whether or not he'll be able to play this weekend. The 2x All-Star is off to a slow start at the plate, hitting just .188 with two home runs, five RBI, and five runs scored through 13 games. On the bright side he's got a 9:10 BB:K, with three of those strikeouts coming on Wednesday alone.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: The Springfield Republican - Christopher Smith
6 days agoNew York Yankees closer
Clay Holmes notched his seventh save of the season in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Blue Jays, tying him for the league lead in all of baseball. Holmes allowed one hit but did not allow a run, a feat he's managed in all of his appearances so far this season, resulting in a perfect 0.00 ERA. The 31-year-old also has a 1.11 WHIP, although he isn't striking out many batters at just 15.4%. As long as he's locking down saves though, fantasy managers won't mind. After two straight 20+ save campaigns with New York, Holmes appears well on his way to 20+ again and is a top option at closer.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays closer
Pete Fairbanks blew the save in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Angels. Fairbanks came on in the ninth with a 4-3 lead and recorded an out to the first batter he faced, then the wheels came off. The 30-year-old proceeded to allow three singles and two walks (one was an IBB to
Mike Trout) which resulted in two runs coming across the plate and a blown save. It was only his first blown save of the season, but he's been up and down so far to start the year. Over eight appearances (seven IP) the righty has allowed seven earned runs on eight hits with a BB:K of 8:10. Fairbanks does have three saves to his name thus far and his job doesn't seem to be in jeopardy, but a couple more outings like this and fantasy managers might consider picking up
Jason Adam as insurance.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoThe long-awaited arrival of Houston Astros pitching prospect
Forrest Whitley was short-lived. Houston's 2016 first-round draft pick and former top pitching prospect has battled injuries over the years but finally got the call, only to face five batters in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Braves before being sent back down to Triple-A Sugar Land. The righty allowed a double, a walk, and hit a batter, but was able to record two outs in the inning. Even when healthy, Whitley hasn't been very effective, so we'll see where he goes from here. He's still just 26 years old, so perhaps a change of scenery would serve him well. For fantasy, however, he remains irrelevant.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks designated hitter
Joc Pederson homered for the second straight game in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Cubs. Pederson came on to pinch hit in the sixth for
Blaze Alexander, lining out to first in his initial at-bat before homering in the next at-bat in the bottom of the ninth off of lefty
Drew Smyly. Pederson is off to a solid start this season, hitting .333 (11-for-33) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, and seven runs scored. Last season, Pederson saw an increase in his BB% by 3.7% over the prior year, up to 13.4%, and it appears he's brought the keen eye into 2024, having walked nine times while striking out just once. The result is a superb .467 OBP thus far.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfield prospect
Kevin Alcantara went 2-for-4 with a home run on Wednesday for Double-A Tennessee. The home run would be the first of the year for the 21-year-old. Alcantara has been off to a very slow start this year, hitting just .086 with a stolen base and hopefully Wednesday round-tripper will get him going. It is only nine games in, so there is no concern for the talented outfielder. Alcantara offers loads of potential and the power should continue to blossom as his body fills out, but he needs to become more disciplined at the dish to reach his full potential. The Cubs have plenty of outfield depth throughout their system, but Alcantara has arguably the most upside. If he can improve his vision at the plate, Alcantara could be a star at the next level. Dynasty managers should consider Alcantara moving forward.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs shortstop prospect
Matt Shaw is a name for dynasty managers to take note of, as he has been on fire to open the season for Double-A Tennessee. The Cubs first-round pick of 2023 had a great Spring Training with the club
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6 days agoDetroit Tigers outfield prospect
Max Clark went 3-for-5 with four RBI for Single-A Lakeland on Wednesday. Clark now has 10 RBI on the season, but is still searching for his first home run. The 19-year-old was the third overall pick in the 2023 draft and is a consensus Top-15 prospect. Clark possesses the ability to hit for contact, swipe bases and play great defense, but he still needs to improve his power. As his body fills out and he ascends through the Tigers system, the power could start developing. Although he is a few years away from helping redraft managers, he is a name that should be strongly considered in dynasty leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
6 days agoChicago White Sox pitching prospect
Jonathan Cannon earned a no-decision in his big-league debut on Wednesday versus the Kansas City Royals. Cannon, 23, was the first pitcher in the 2022 draft to make his way to the show and he put together a solid performance. Over five innings, Cannon allowed three hits, one run, one walk and struck out three. The 6'6, right-hander held his own on Wednesday and with the White Sox rostering one of the worst rosters in professional sports, it would make sense for the club to keep Cannon on the roster to develop. For now, Cannon is only a name for the watch-list. He is tentatively lined up to face the Minnesota Twins next week and best suited remaining on the waiver wire.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoArizona Diamondbacks shortstop prospect
Tommy Troy went 1-for-4 on Wednesday for High-A Hillsboro. His lone hit would be his first home run of the season. Although he is hitting .188 to start the season, it is nice to see him improving after recovering from a fractured foot this summer. The 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Troy offers good bat-to-ball skills to go along with good plate discipline. Troy also plays variety infield positions which should help him ascend throughout the minor league system. For now, the consensus Top-100 prospect is a name for dynasty managers to keep tabs on, but he is a few years away from making an impact in redraft leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
7 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to seven games as his team held on for a 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies, going 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored. Turner went back-to-back with teammate
Kyle Schwarber with a long ball as the Phils ambushed Rockies right-hander
Ryan Feltner for four runs in the first inning, later doubling to lead off the fifth and scoring a run during the frame. The 32-year-old fantasy superstar is off to a much better start than that of his Philly debut season in 2023, now slashing a potent .329/.386/.487 with two big flies, six RBI, 12 runs scored, and seven stolen bases through 19 outings in 2024 following Wednesday's three-hit attack. Turner looks to stay hot during an upcoming weekend series at home versus the Chicago White Sox. In six games against Chicago since 2022, Turner is hitting .292 with two homers, four RBI, and three thefts across 22 at-bats.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
7 days agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout continued his strong start to the 2024 campaign with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, also drawing an intentional walk in the ninth inning. Trout homered to deep right center in the first inning to get the Halos into the scoring column, which was already his eighth round-tripper of the young season. The 32-year-old perennial All-Star has been excellent so far this year, slashing .282/.363/.690 with an American League-high eight homers, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases while returning early-round numbers in all fantasy settings. His RBI upside will likely be held back by Anaheim's underwhelming lineup all season long, but the swipes are a welcome sight after the oft-injured Trout stole only three bags across 201 games from 2022 to 2023. After Thursday's series finale against the Rays, Trout gets a three-game series at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
7 days agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Tanner Houck spun a complete-game shutout in Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians, going the distance on just 94 pitches while giving up only three singles. This one wrapped up in just one hour and 49 minutes, which should give you an idea as to just how efficient Houck was on Wednesday. He threw 69 pitches for strikes and fanned nine on his way to posting his third win of the 2024 season. The 27-year-old right-hander is thriving in a starting role for the BoSox thus far, boasting a 1.35 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with a sparkling 28:2 K:BB covering 26 2/3 frames (four starts) to this point. Houck will square off with these same Guardians at Progressive Field sometime next week. In 14 innings against Cleveland since 2022, he now has a strong 1.93 ERA with 13 punchouts.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
7 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez fanned 10 Colorado Rockies en route to his first win of the 2024 campaign on Wednesday, firing six scoreless innings on five hits and one walk in the 7-6 victory. Spotted to an early four-run lead, Sanchez mostly cruised through Colorado's lineup on Wednesday.
Brenton Doyle reached on
Alec Bohm's fielding error in the opening frame, so
Ezequiel Tovar's score went down as an unearned run. The 27-year-old southpaw will take a strong 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 25:8 K:BB across 21 1/3 frames (four starts) into his next appearance that's slated for Tuesday at the Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds, which is a tough matchup for fantasy purposes.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
7 days agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher
Bryce Miller shut down the Cincinnati Reds while tallying a win in Wednesday's 5-1 victory, tossing six innings of one-run ball on one hit with seven strikeouts. Reds star
Elly De La Cruz may have taken Miller deep in the second inning, but the hurler was perfect for his other five frames otherwise. Following the 25-year-old former top prospect's brilliant day on the mound, he sports a shiny 1.85 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 24:7 K:BB over 24 1/3 frames (four starts). Miller's next start lines up for next Wednesday on the road against the defending-champion Texas Rangers, who torched him for 13 runs in seven innings last season. Fantasy managers in season-long leagues will have a difficult decision to make for that one, but Miller might be throwing too well to sit right now.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
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