6 days agoChicago White Sox right-hander
Chris Flexen is lined up to start on Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. It will be Flexen's fourth start of the season. The 29-year-old former 14th-round pick by the New York Mets in 2012 has appeared out of the bullpen for the Pale Hose his last two times out and is now sporting a 6.41 ERA (5.75 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings pitched. Flexen has been more effective in his two relief appearances than his three starts, and the matchup against Tampa doesn't really make him attractive as a streaming sleeper in deep fantasy leagues on Friday. He'll be making the start on three days of rest. Flexen could be sent right back to Chicago's bullpen once
Mike Clevinger is finally ready to make his season debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMinnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa (oblique) did some light glove work off to the side on the field on Wednesday and said he's swinging and doing baseball activities as he recovers from an oblique injury that sent him to the injured list. It sounds as though there's some possibility that he could come off the IL on the coming road trip without a minor-league rehab assignment if things keep trending well. The Twins start their road trip in Los Angeles against the Angels this Friday. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican is itching to get back as the team's starting shortstop after starting the year 11-for-36 (.306) with a homer and four RBI in 11 games played.
Willi Castro has been serving as Minnesota's primary shortstop since Correa was placed on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park
6 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder
Kevin Kiermaier (hip) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with left-hip flexor inflammation and recalled utility man
Addison Barger from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Kiermaier was injured in Tuesday's contest and will now miss at least the next 10 days. Considering the 34-year-old's injury history, it wouldn't be a surprise if he missed more than the required 10 days on the IL. Kiermaier will be eligible to return on May 4.
Daulton Varsho is moving to center field and batting cleanup on Wednesday, while Barger will make his major-league debut in left field while hitting eighth against Kansas City Royals right-hander
Alec Marsh. Barger, who hits from the left side, is likely to see some playing time against right-handed pitching and is worth a deep-league pickup for his power upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
6 days agoHouston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez (elbow) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday at Wrigley Field and is expected to come off the injured list and start one of the team's games in Mexico City against the Colorado Rockies this weekend. Right-hander
Ronel Blanco will start the other game. The 30-year-old Valdez was put on the 15-day injured list on April 9 with left-elbow inflammation. The fact that he's not going to pitch in a minor-league rehab game before returning to the major-league starting rotation should have fantasy managers hesitant to use him in his first start back from the IL, even if the matchup is a juicy one against the Rockies away from Coors Field. The two-time All-Star should still be rostered in all fantasy leagues and was looking good in his first two starts of 2024 before going on the shelf.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
6 days agoOakland Athletics infielder
Zack Gelof (undisclosed) has been scratched ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees. It's unclear why the A's pulled Gelof out of the lineup. The hope is that it's a minor issue and he'll be back in the lineup soon. In the meantime,
Abraham Toro will cover third base and bat sixth on Wednesday. The A's should give an update on his status shortly.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos
6 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Max Kepler (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. This appears to be a routine rest day for Kepler against a tough left-handed starter. Kepler has been hot since returning from the injured list with four RBI in two games. In his absence,
Manuel Margot will cover right field and bat third versus left-hander
Garrett Crochet.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoSeattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh (tooth) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers. Raleigh will miss this game after undergoing an emergency procedure to remove a tooth. The assumption is that this will be a one-game absence for Raleigh. In his absence,
Seby Zavala will cover behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander
Jon Gray.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins catcher
Christian Bethancourt (illness) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. The 32-year-old will return to the field after missing the last week or so due to an illness. His return won't mean too much for fantasy managers as Bethancourt has struggled this season. He's hitless through 23 plate appearances, so fantasy managers can look elsewhere for help.
Jhonny Pereda has been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville to make room for Bethancourt on the active roster.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Miami Marlins
6 days agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (illness) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-handed slugger has missed four games in a row due to an illness. He shouldn't require a trip to the injured list, but it could happen if he continues to miss time.
Stuart Fairchild will cover center field and bat ninth versus right-hander
Spencer Turnbull on Wednesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds infielder
Jonathan India (illness) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. This marks the fourth game in a row that India has missed due to an illness. Despite that, fantasy managers should consider India as day-to-day for the moment.
Santiago Espinal will cover second base and bat eighth versus right-hander
Spencer Turnbull on Wednesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Nolan Jones (back) is out of the team's starting lineup on Wednesday against the visiting San Diego Padres after he was pulled from Tuesday's victory with back stiffness. With Jones resting on the bench,
Jake Cave is getting the start in left field for the Rockies and will hit eighth against Padres right-hander
Matt Waldron. Jones should be considered day-to-day for now, but with a day game on Thursday before a scheduled day off on Friday, don't expect the 25-year-old to return in the series against the Friars. After hitting an impressive .297 (109-for-367) with 20 homers, 62 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 106 games in 2023, Jones has really disappointed early in 2024 with a .148 average (13-for-88), just one home run, seven RBI and two steals in his first 24 games. He could use a couple days off.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Sixto Sanchez will get the start for the series finale against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Thursday. The last time Sanchez started in a big-league game was in Game 3 of the 2020 National League Division Series against the Braves. The 25-year-old Dominican hurler has made his return to the majors in 2024 after dealing with multiple shoulder injuries and is currently 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA (5.75 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with three walks and three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings pitched, all in relief for the Fish. It's a cool comeback story for Sanchez, but fantasy managers looking for a streaming option on Thursday should avoid him, as he's unlikely to go more than two or three innings as the team's opener against a very tough opponent.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
6 days agoThe Colorado Rockies announced on Wednesday that they recalled utility man
Hunter Goodman from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned infielder/outfielder
Michael Toglia to Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Goodman, the club's No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, gets called up to the majors after hitting .298 with seven home runs and 10 doubles in the first 20 games at Triple-A this year. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Memphis made his big-league debut in 2023 and went 14-for-70 (.200) with a homer, 17 RBI, five walks and 24 strikeouts in his first 23 games played in the Show. For now, he's merely a waiver-wire option for fantasy managers in deep leagues for his power upside at Coors Field. He figures to see some playing time in right field and first base, but he's not start in Wednesday against the visiting San Diego Padres.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rockies Club Information
6 days agoWashington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that the plan for now is to play
Joey Gallo in right field after the team placed outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 2 MLB sprain in his left knee. Rookie infielder
Trey Lipscomb, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester, will play multiple positions but probably a decent amount of first base. Gallo is making his first start in the outfield on Wednesday and is hitting fifth against Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed rookie
Landon Knack. The 30-year-old left-handed batter has plenty of power offensively, but he swings and misses often and is hitting just .143 (9-for-63) on the year with three home runs, five RBI and 34 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances over 20 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
6 days agoWashington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) is dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee after getting hurt in Tuesday night's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. "It could've been a lot worse," Martinez said. Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and is likely to miss more than the required 10 games, but fantasy managers should keep him stashed in an IL spot for the time being after he had 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a breakout season in 2023. Martinez said the plan for now is to play
Joey Gallo in right field, with infield prospect
Trey Lipscomb playing multiple positions but probably a decent amount at first base. Thomas is hitting just .184 (16-for-87) in the first month of the season, but he's helped his fantasy managers with 11 stolen bases, which ranks third in MLB.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
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