7 days agoAtlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that second baseman
Ozzie Albies (toe) won't need surgery on his fractured big toe but doesn't have a specific timetable for a return from the injured list. It sounds like there's a chance Albies could be back in two weeks, which means three weeks might be the safer bet, especially this early in the season. It's ultimately good news for the 27-year-old after he was hit by a pitch in Monday's 6-1 win over the Houston Astros. Fantasy baseball managers must be patient with the All-Star second baseman and keep him stashed in an IL spot in all formats. In the meantime, outfielder
Michael Harris II will hit near the top of the batting order, boosting his short-term fantasy stock.
Luis Guillorme, who is starting at second on Tuesday, and
David Fletcher figure to split playing time at the keystone in Atlanta with Albies hurt.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
7 days agoWith second baseman
Ozzie Albies (toe) going on the injured list on Tuesday, Atlanta Braves outfielder
Michael Harris II has moved up to second in the batting order against the Houston Astros and right-hander
Hunter Brown. Meanwhile,
Luis Guillorme will get the start at the keystone and will bat eighth. Guillorme and
David Fletcher figure to split playing time at second with Albies out, but Harris could be the biggest fantasy beneficiary in Atlanta if he continues to hit at the top of the lineup while Albies is on the shelf. This is the first time this year the 23-year-old has hit higher than sixth. Harris is off to a fine start in 2024, slashing .290/.333/.468 with two home runs and a stolen base. He has never faced Brown in his career but will become a much more popular DFS lineup piece with Albies out.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoChicago White Sox outfielder
Eloy Jimenez is back as the designated hitter and is batting third on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals and right-hander
Brady Singer, while first baseman
Andrew Vaughn is getting the day off. Jimenez was activated from the injured list on Monday but wasn't in the starting lineup before getting a pinch-hit appearance later in the game. The White Sox are going to ease him back into the fold, but he could see more appearances in the outfield after starting there only 14 of 118 times in 2023. Vaughn has gone 1-for-16 in the last four games and 10-for-58 with no homers and three RBI to begin the year, so he's deserving of a rest.
Gavin Sheets is at first base and is batting cleanup on Tuesday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Vinnie Duber
7 days agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Esteury Ruiz (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. This seems a bit odd after Ruiz blasted a solo home run off the bench during Monday's game. It'll be
JJ Bleday continuing to start in center field with
Lawrence Butler and
Seth Brown in the corners. Ruiz should get his chance to start everyday at some point, but a bench role certainly hurts his fantasy value right now.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Tyler Wells (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. The right-hander will take a few weeks off while he recovers from right elbow inflammation. Wells hasn't looked too good this season with a 5.87 ERA and 1.37 WHIP through three starts. Despite that, Wells is still worth rostering in mixed leagues given his good track record. In a corresponding move, catcher
David Banuelos has been recalled from Triple-A to take the spot on the roster.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Roch Kubatko
7 days agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher
Nick Nastrini will stick in the rotation for at least one more start. The organization has announced that Nastrini will make the start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. The right-hander has earned the chance to stay in the rotation after a solid MLB debut on Monday. The 24-year-old allowed two runs over five innings of work against the Kansas City Royals. He's not a recommended fantasy option against the strong Phillies lineup.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Scott Merkin
7 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Justin Verlander (shoulder) is set to make his return from the injured list. The veteran right-hander will make his season debut either Friday or Saturday versus the Washington Nationals. The 41-year-old has been brought along slowly while he recovers from a shoulder injury. He's finally ready to return after having no issues during a recent bullpen outing. It's uncertain if the Astros will have Verlander on a pitch count or limited in some capacity. Regardless, fantasy managers in season-long formats can get him back in their lineups this weekend.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart
7 days agoKansas City Royals catcher
Salvador Perez (groin) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The veteran catcher has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left groin strain. Despite that, Perez hasn't been placed on the injured list and is considered as day-to-day. It wouldn't be shocking to see Perez miss a few more games while he recovers from this issue.
Freddy Fermin will cover behind the plate and bat eighth during Tuesday's game.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
7 days agoCincinnati Reds third baseman
Jeimer Candelario (illness) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Hopefully, this is a minor issue and will only force Candelario to miss one game. In the meantime,
Santiago Espinal will cover third base and bat eighth on Tuesday night. Fantasy managers should make sure to adjust their lineups ahead of Tuesday's contest. Espinal is a good contact hitter, but isn't worth streaming in most fantasy formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
7 days agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (undisclosed) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the New York Mets. The organization has not given a reason as to why Hayes was pulled ahead of the game.
Jared Triolo will be taking over third base and bat third for Tuesday's game. Fantasy managers should get an update on Hayes status shortly.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
7 days agoThe Milwaukee Brewers placed outfielder
Christian Yelich (back) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 13) on Tuesday with a lower-back strain and recalled infielder/outfielder
Owen Miller from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Yelich was put on the IL after not playing since last Friday. This is definitely an injury that could linger for the 32-year-old Yelich, so fantasy managers should be prepared to be patient if he's forced to miss more than 10 days. Keep him stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues after he started the year hitting .333 (13-for-39) with five home runs, 11 RBI and two steals in 11 games.
Blake Perkins is starting in center field and batting sixth against the San Diego Padres and right-hander
Dylan Cease on Tuesday, but
Joey Wiemer could also see additional playing time in Milwaukee's outfield until Yelich is able to return.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Brewers
7 days agoSan Diego Padres first baseman
Jake Cronenworth (calf) is not in the lineup on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers after being pulled from Monday's 7-3 win with calf tightness late in the game. The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee points out that the Padres recalled infielder
Matthew Batten from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday, which presumably means that Cronenworth will miss some time with his injury. However, he hasn't officially been placed on the injured list, so it could just be a day-to-day situation for now.
Jurickson Profar is handling first base and batting third on Tuesday, while
Jose Azocar is in left field and batting ninth against Brewers left-hander
Wade Miley. Profar is hitting .417 with an RBI in 12 career at-bats against Miley, while Azocar has gone hitless versus the soft-tossing lefty in four career ABs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoMinnesota Twins closer
Jhoan Duran (oblique) said he's feeling closer to 100 percent in terms of command after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. He's now expected to face live hitters during Friday's pre-game workouts at Target Field. An oblique strain forced the 26-year-old to the injured list to begin the 2024 season, but he recently started throwing off a mound and could be getting close to going on a short minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Twins' bullpen. If he avoids any setbacks with his oblique, fantasy managers might get the hard-throwing closer back before the calendar flips to May. Given Duran's dominance when healthy, he should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. In his absence, Minnesota is going with a committee approach to saves involving
Griffin Jax,
Steven Okert,
Cole Sands and
Brock Stewart.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
7 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (head) cleared the league's concussion protocols and is doing OK after being removed from Monday's game early against the Cleveland Guardians following a collision in the outfield with third baseman
Rafael Devers. O'Neill is out of the lineup on Tuesday and will also sit on Wednesday, but manager Alex Cora said he's planning to have O'Neill back in action on Thursday for the series finale against Cleveland. The 28-year-old required eight stitches to close a cut on his head above his left eye, but it appears he won't need to go on the seven-day concussion injured list and should return for fantasy managers later this week. O'Neill has enjoyed his time in Beantown so far, going 15-for-48 (.313) in the early going with seven homers, eight RBI, a steal and 14 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
7 days agoMiami Marlins left-hander
A.J. Puk (illness) is still under the weather and will not make his scheduled start on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants. Instead, lefty
Trevor Rogers will move up to start in the series finale. Puk has now been pushed back twice this week, as he was originally scheduled to pitch in the series opener against the Gigantes on Monday. If the 28-year-old southpaw is feeling better later this week, there's a good chance he'll take the ball for the series opener on Thursday versus the Chicago Cubs. The former sixth overall pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2016 out of Florida hasn't fared too well in his transition to a full-time starting role in 2024 so far, posting a 5.91 ERA and 2.44 WHIP with a league-high 14 walks and just eight K's in his first three starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Miami Herald - Jordan McPherson
RADIO
