1 week agoToronto Blue Jays No. 4 prospect Orelvis Martinez launched his 14th home run of the season and the 11th in May alone. The power surge is nothing new for the 21-year-old, who managed 30 long balls across 118 games in 2022 and 28 over 98 appearances in 2021. Martinez's 60-grade power has never really been called into question. Instead, it's his plate discipline that leaves the organization wanting more. He's cut his strikeout rate to 22.4% while his walk rate is up to 12%. Still, Martinez carries just a .781 OPS due to his .179 batting average, down from .203 last season. His prolific power potential will make for an appealing fantasy asset, but it's clear Martinez has work to do before he gets called up to the majors.--Kevin Hickey - RotoBallerSource: Baseball America - Geoff Pontes

1 week agoHouston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not in the team's starting lineup on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins. After starting the team's last six games, the veteran 33-year-old will get a breather. Altuve has only played in nine contests because of a fractured thumb he suffered while playing in the World Baseball Classic, but he's knocked off the rust rather well by hitting .324 (11-for-34) with three doubles, two home runs, six RBI and seven runs scored in 40 plate appearances. Be prepared to put him back into your starting lineups on Thursday for the start of a series against the Los Angeles Angels. With Altuve out, Mauricio Dubon is at the keystone and is hitting leadoff for the 'Stros against Twins right-hander Louie Varland.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Michael Grove (groin) will be activated from the 15-day injured list in order to start on Saturday against the New York Yankees, according to manager Dave Roberts. As expected, Grove will at least temporarily be taking the rotation spot of rookie pitching prospect Gavin Stone, who was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Grove has looked healthy in his last two minor-league rehab starts, but he's also allowed 15 runs on 21 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 14 in 16 innings over his first four big-league starts in 2023. RotoBaller won't be recommending the 26-year-old right-hander as a streamer against the streaking Yankees, but he's worth considering as a waiver-wire pickup in deeper leagues now that he's healthy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Juan Toribio

1 week agoChicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (forearm) left his start early on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays with left-forearm tightness, the team announced. Steele made it through three scoreless innings without allowing a hit and striking out one to drop his season ERA to 2.65 before departing. The 27-year-old is a very good bet to land on the injured list, but we'll have to wait for more word from the Cubs either later on Wednesday or early Thursday morning. Entering Wednesday's start, Steele had been turning heads in 11 starts in 2023, going 6-2 with a 2.77 ERA (2.85 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, 16 walks and 57 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched. If he's forced to miss extended time, Hayden Wesneski is probably the most likely candidate to replace him in Chicago's starting rotation.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Sahadev Sharma

1 week agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Conforto (heel) was limping noticeably on Wednesday morning and said he is going to get a scan done on his injured left heel. Conforto injured his heel in Tuesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and wasn't in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Depending on the results of his MRI exam and X-rays, the 30-year-old left-handed slugger could need to go on the injured list, so fantasy managers will want to check back for updates. Conforto has been crushing the ball of late, so his injury is terrible timing for the Giants and fantasy managers alike. He's now up to a .250 average (42-for-168) on the year with three doubles, 11 home runs, 28 RBI and two stolen bases in 49 games. We should have an update later on Wednesday or early Thursday.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Andrew Baggarly

1 week agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that shortstop Wander Franco's left shoulder "is a little dinged up" after his slide into home plate on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, which is why he wasn't in the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against a left-handed pitcher. Cash said he thinks Franco will be available off the bench on Wednesday, if needed. With an off day on Thursday, fantasy managers should fully expect the 22-year-old to be back in action for the series opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday. The left-shoulder injury is something to watch, but Franco needs to be in all starting lineups when he's on the field. He's currently hitting .298 on the year with seven homers, 29 RBI, 20 thefts and 35 runs scored in 218 at-bats.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

1 week agoSt. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman went hitless again on Tuesday as his team avoided a series sweep against the Kansas City Royals. Gorman went 0-for-6 in the two-game series against the Royals and has hit .120 over his last seven games. The 23-year-old infielder has made immense strides this season and will hope to get back in form soon. Gorman, who has recorded 47 hits, 13 home runs, and 41 RBI, is batting .272 for the season with a .360 on-base percentage. He's gone hitless in four of his last five games, but before that short stretch he was riding a 15-game hitting streak in which he went 20-for-53 (.377) with five doubles, six home runs and 17 RBI. Stick with Gorman in fantasy this weekend.--Abhimanyu Chaudhary - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoNew York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres had another great game as his team won its fourth straight game on Tuesday night. Torres has played quite well in the series against the Seattle Mariners and is likely to continue this form. In the series against Seattle, the 26-year-old second baseman is 4-for-11 and has scored three runs. Fantasy managers should continue to ride the hot hand of Torres for the last game against the Mariners on Wednesday. In the month of May, he has batted .287 with a .333 on-base percentage, which indicates that he has been in form lately. With George Kirby on the mound for the Mariners on Wednesday, Torres could have another multi-hit game, as he has been better against right-handed pitchers this season.--Abhimanyu Chaudhary - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoCincinnati Reds infielder Kevin Newman is getting a shot out of the leadoff spot Wednesday night against Red Sox left-hander James Paxton. It's just the second start of the season out of the leadoff spot for Newman who has logged four two-hit efforts with three doubles, three runs, five RBI, and a stolen base over his last five contests. However, Newman has long been a light-hitting infielder as he sports a career .261 average with 22 homers, 32 stolen bases, and a .662 OPS for his career across 469 big-league appearances. He will man third base in addition to his leadoff duties Wednesday night at Fenway Park in Boston.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoSeattle Mariners outfielder Teoscar Hernandez went 1-for-4 on Tuesday, as his team lost their second straight game against the New York Yankees. Hernandez signed with the Mariners this past offseason but has struggled to find his form a bit in the early going. In 55 games, the 30-year-old outfielder has hit .234 and has an on-base percentage of .272. He has tallied 50 hits, nine home runs, and 28 RBI. His numbers have fallen from last year, but the good news is he's been better in May (.260 average, four doubles, two homers, 12 RBI) and has hit safely in six of his last seven games. Fantasy managers will be hoping he can carry this momentum into June.--Abhimanyu Chaudhary - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoMiami Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper is not in the club's starting lineup as they take on the San Diego Padres and left-hander Blake Snell on Wednesday night. Cooper came out of the gate white-hot through the first couple of weeks of the season but has struggled mightily of late. In fact, he's hitting just .175 with a .550 OPS in the month of May while striking out in 33.3% of his plate appearances for the month. For the season, the 32-year-old is hitting .235 with five home runs and a .655 OPS across 158 trips to the plate. Cooper doesn't offer much power for a first baseman, and with Yuli Gurriel and Luis Arraez seeing time at first, Cooper's playing time is in jeopardy moving forward.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith is back in the starting lineup Wednesday afternoon against Washington Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin. Smith not only got Tuesday's game off but with the Dodgers off on Monday, he is technically on two days' rest entering Wednesday's contest. Smith has been a massive asset for fantasy managers this season as he's hitting .305 with seven home runs and a .930 OPS across 163 trips to the plate. Furthermore, he sports an eye-popping 1.79 BB/K, striking out in just 8.6% of his plate appearances. He will slide back into the three-hole and catch right-hander Noah Syndergaard Wednesday in Los Angeles.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder Aaron Hicks is making his debut with the club Wednesday afternoon against Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber. Hicks was signed to a one-year, major-league deal after center fielder Cedric Mullins was placed on the injured list on Tuesday. The 33-year-old struggled in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons before limping to a .188 average without a home run across 76 plate appearances in 2023, prompting the Yankees to cut him loose. However, Hicks figures to get a solid look in center field for the O's as long as Mullins is sidelined. He'll hit sixth and indeed man center field Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoBaltimore Orioles second baseman Adam Frazier is hitting in the leadoff spot Wednesday afternoon against Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber. This appears to be confirmation that the leadoff spot against right-handed pitchers belongs to Frazier in the absence of Cedric Mullins who is on the injured list with a groin injury. The move up the lineup is certainly a boon to the 31-year-old's fantasy stock as he has produced a solid combination of power and speed with six homers, seven doubles, a triple, and six stolen bases across 54 games on the season.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 week agoAtlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is not in the club's starting lineup Wednesday afternoon against A's right-hander James Kaprielian. It's of little surprise to see the backstop getting a breather in an afternoon game following an evening contest Tuesday night. The Braves are wise to keep their prized catcher rested as he's been a monster at the plate, hitting .286 with 11 home runs and a .951 OPS across 46 appearances on the campaign. He's shown no signs of slowing down with a .930 OPS in the month of May while he continues to provide elite defense behind the plate. Travis d'Arnaud will take over behind the plate and hit cleanup in Oakland.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com