7 days agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho belted two home runs in Wednesday's game versus the division-rival New York Yankees, but it wasn't enough as his team fell 6-4. Varsho's first homer was a two-run shot that went 373 feet to right center field to score
Davis Schneider in the second inning, and his second blast traveled 392 feet to give the Jays a temporary 3-1 lead during the seventh frame. The 27-year-old converted catcher had a strong spring training, and he's offering plenty of power with four round-trippers and eight RBI in 55 at-bats to begin the 2024 season. Even so, he's only batting .218 across 19 outings and will likely need to pick it up in the speed department (one stolen base) to overcome hitting in the lower part of Toronto's order. Varsho has a three-game series against the San Diego Padres starting on Friday, and in 21 games against San Diego since 2022, Varsho is batting just .147 with three bombs.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Esteury Ruiz went yard in his first start from the leadoff spot since March in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, smashing a two-run jack in the third inning and also stealing a base. Ruiz's homer was a 412-foot two-run shot that brought
Max Schuemann around to score. The A's surprisingly sent the American League's 2023 stolen base leader to the minor leagues following only three games to start the 2024 season, but Ruiz is swiftly demanding the attention of fantasy managers after tearing it up in the minors. The speedy 25-year-old center fielder is now batting .357 (5-for-14) with two taters, four RBI, five runs scored, and two swipes in just six outings in the major leagues. He'll look to stay hot during a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians beginning on Friday. Across nine career games against Cleveland, Ruiz is hitting .333 (10-for-30) with five extra-base hits, six RBI, and four pilfers.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoOakland Athletics closer
Mason Miller continued to solidify himself as the team's go-to ninth-inning option in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, picking up his fourth save of the season to protect the victory. Miller allowed a leadoff walk to
Ivan Herrera but quickly settled in to retire the next three batters, striking out two. After giving up two runs in his first appearance of the 2024 campaign, the fire-balling 25-year-old right-hander has rattled off eight consecutive scoreless frames in the month of April and now owns a 2.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 17 punchouts over nine innings overall (seven appearances). The A's aren't going to win very many games this season, but Miller's current pace suggests there is a pathway to the neighborhood of 25-30 saves if he maintains a grip on Oakland's closing job and doesn't get shifted back to the starting rotation.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto enjoyed a massive day at the dish in Wednesday's 6-4 comeback win over the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBI, and two walks. Soto collected seven total bases on Wednesday, doubling during the fifth inning to bring home
Oswaldo Cabrera and get the Yankees on the board before going deep in the eighth frame. The 25-year-old four-time Silver Slugger just can't stop hitting following a scorching-hot spring training, now slashing a robust .352/.478/.577 with four dingers, four doubles, 17 RBI, 12 runs scored, and one stolen base in 90 plate appearances (19 games) in the 2024 regular season. Soto's next act will come on Friday at home for the start of a three-game weekend set versus the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. He went hitless in eight at-bats against the Rays a season ago, so fantasy managers hope Soto isn't due to cool off.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. finally got on the board in the home run department during Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Houston Astros, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Fantasy managers who spent the No. 1 overall pick on the reigning National League MVP this spring will certainly be relieved to hear that following his 16-game homerless drought to begin the 2024 season, as Acuna launched one 422 feet to center field to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. The 26-year-old is still doing just fine from a fantasy perspective, hitting .294 (20-for-68) with a .797 OPS, six RBI, 17 runs scored, and eight stolen bases to go with the aforementioned long ball atop Atlanta's potent lineup. Acuna now gets set for a marquee three-game weekend set at home versus the defending-champion Texas Rangers beginning on Friday. He hit a big fly in each of his three games against Texas in 2023.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoKansas City Royals second baseman
Michael Massey (back), who was placed on the injured list back on Opening Day due to lower back tightness, is closing in on returning to the major-league lineup and making his 2024 debut. Entering Wednesday's action, Massey is batting .407 (11-for-27) with six extra-base hits and eight RBI over six games on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. He could rejoin the Royals as early as Friday for the start of a three-game weekend set versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles. The 26-year-old lefty-hitting infielder should serve as the club's everyday second baseman upon his imminent activation, with neither
Adam Frazier nor
Nick Loftin doing much to stand out at the keystone in the early stages of the season. With KC's lineup hitting well to begin the campaign, Massey is a name to watch for fantasy managers in AL-only or deep mixed leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday. It's a significant step forward for Senga, who is recovering from a right posterior shoulder capsule strain. With the Mets having him pitch every six days instead of every five however, Senga's ramp-up process could extend a bit longer than expected. The 31-year-old All-Star right-hander is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on May 27, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be available until early June at best based on the way the team is handling their ace's recovery. Right-hander
Jose Butto is helping fill in New York's rotation for the time being, allowing just one run with 15 strikeouts over 12 innings (two starts) to begin the 2024 season. Butto should be an adequate streamer in favorable situations, but Saturday's scheduled start on the road against a vaunted Los Angeles Dodgers lineup is not one of them.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) is playing catch again on Wednesday in New York, which is his first time doing so on back-to-back days after increasing his throwing distance to 75 feet on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone said there is no set date for Cole to get on a mound, though. The Yankees will continue to take things slowly with the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, who is building his stamina back up. If all continues to go well in his recovery from discomfort in his right elbow, Cole has a chance to return to New York's rotation when he's first eligible to come off the 60-day injured list in early June. Right-handers
Clarke Schmidt and
Luis Gil should continue making starts for the Yanks through the month of May at least, but the two hurlers are only low-end fantasy streamers under the appropriate circumstances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
7 days agoLos Angeles Angels infielder
Brandon Drury (hamstring) will only be available to pinch hit on Wednesday and Thursday to wrap up a series against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to manager Ron Washington. The Angels are being cautious with his left-hamstring tightness on the turf at Tropicana Field. The 31-year-old veteran infielder will miss his third straight start on Thursday, but there's a chance he could be back in there for the start of a series on Friday in Cincinnati against the Reds. In the meantime, expect
Luis Rengifo to get another start at the keystone on Thursday in Tampa. Drury has gotten off to a slow start offensively for the Halos in 2024, going 11-for-54 (.204) with only one home run, three RBI and five runs scored in his first 15 games. It sounds like he should avoid a trip to the injured list.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
7 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (head) doesn't sound likely to return to the lineup on Thursday in the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians and he's just doing OK, per manager Alex Cora, after colliding with third baseman
Rafael Devers in the outfield on Monday. O'Neill has been working out but hasn't done anything on the field yet. The good news is that he continues to clear the league's concussion protocol and should be able to return at some point this weekend after needing eight stitches to close up a cut above his eye. Fantasy managers should check back on Friday to see if the 28-year-old outfielder is back in there against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
Jarren Duran is starting in left field again and batting leadoff on Wednesday against Guardians right-hander
Ben Lively, with
Wilyer Abreu in right field and hitting cleanup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
7 days agoWashington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams kicked off the game with a bang during Wednesday's matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Abrams welcomed Dodgers rookie Logan Knack to the majors with a 392-foot leadoff blast to start the game. The Nats didn't need much more as they pulled off the 2-0 victory. Abrams is on fire at the plate right now with two home runs in his last three games. He's hitting .295 with five home runs and 11 RBI in 15 games.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani continued his stellar stretch at the plate during Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals. The two-way superstar went 3-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base during their 2-0 loss. This performance marked the 10th time this season that Ohtani has posted a multi-hit game. The 29-year-old is hitting .360 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 21 games this season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoMiami Marlins outfielder
Bryan De La Cruz has been heating up at the plate over the last week or so. On Wednesday, De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during the 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants. The 27-year-old is currently on a six-game hitting streak. During that span, De La Cruz has posted three multi-hit games. Fantasy managers should make sure to keep him in their lineups while he's hot at the plate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoKansas City Royals catcher
Salvador Perez (groin) made a significant impact during his return to the lineup on Wednesday. The 33-year-old backstop is playing through a Grade 1 left groin strain that he suffered earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Perez smacked a go-ahead two-run home run off right-hander
Michael Kopech in the eighth inning. Perez is off to a red-hot start at the plate this season. He has five home runs and 17 RBI through 17 games.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Cedric Mullins came up clutch for his team during Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. There was some thought that Mullins would return to the leadoff spot this season, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Instead, Mullins normally sits in the sixth spot where he has hit well this season. On Wednesday, Mullins was hitless until he blasted a walkoff two-run home run off right-hander
Griffin Jax. Mullins now has five home runs and 15 RBI through 18 games.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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