6 days agoNew York Mets shortstop prospect Luisangel Acuna is showing off the speed at Triple-A, but not much power yet. The 22-year-old hit a home run in his first game of the season, however, has not hit one since. Ronald's brother went 2-for-5 with a single, a triple, a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, bringing his season slashline to a pedestrian .211/.253/.310. Acuna has stolen seven bases so far this year and 40 or more each of the past three seasons. Francisco Lindor is blocking his way to the majors at shortstop though, but he could make it to Queens as a second baseman or outfielder. He's not forcing the issue with his performance at the plate, however.Source: MiLB.com
6 days agoCleveland Guardians outfield prospect Jaison Chourio went 1-for-2 with two walks for Single-A Lynchburg on Sunday after going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, four RBI, two runs scored, and a walk on Saturday. The younger brother of Jackson Chourio is now slashing .310/.500/.571 over 12 Single-A games this year, with five doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored, and five stolen bases. What's more is that he's got more walks than strikeouts (14:9 BB:K). The 18-year-old is at least a year or so away from the majors, but with a 60-grade hit tool, speed to steal bases, and a keen eye at the plate, dynasty managers should make sure to keep tabs on him. The switch-hitter will likely see some Double-A action before the year is out.Source: MiLB.com
6 days agoThe Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Jordan Lyles (personal) on the inactive list on Saturday, and the team is not disclosing the reason for his absence other than describing it as a "personal matter." There's no timeline for his return, but because of the type of inactive list Lyles was placed on, it opened a 40-man roster spot for the Royals to call up veteran right-handed reliever Tyler Duffey. Lyles has thrown five scoreless innings with three strikeouts in five appearances out of KC's bullpen during the 2024 regular season, but he hasn't pitched since April 12. With no defined role and most of his work coming in mop-up duty this year, however, the 33-year-old journeyman belongs on fantasy waiver wires while he's unavailable. There's no clear-cut fantasy beneficiary of his absence, either.Source: Anne Rogers - MLB.com
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) has started running more, but he's not hitting live pitching yet. There's no immediate plan for him to get into minor-league games, so until Votto resumes hitting, there's also no reason for fantasy managers to consider stashing the veteran on-base machine. After slashing .202/.314/.433 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI over 242 plate appearances (65 games) with the Cincinnati Reds a year ago, the 40-year-old former All-Star will be an option to serve as Toronto's designated hitter versus right-handed pitching when he's ultimately able to return from an ankle sprain and make his 2024 regular-season debut. Righty-mashing veteran Daniel Vogelbach will draw the occasional start as the DH, but he's only appeared in eight games for the Jays so far and isn't receiving enough at-bats to garner any fantasy interest right now.Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith - Sportsnet.ca
6 days agoNew York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (back) will move his rehab to Triple-A Syracuse this week, and "it's possible" the team could activate him when they get home on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals, per manager Carlos Mendoza. After receiving a cortisone shot due to lower back tightness, Martinez returned to a minor-league rehab assignment on Sunday and is on track to make his 2024 regular-season debut in Queens in Week 4 of fantasy baseball. With the Mets struggling to find consistency in the heart of their batting order, the 36-year-old All-Star slugger figures to slot right in as the No. 5 hitter in the lineup immediately upon his move to New York's active roster. After slashing .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs, 27 doubles, and 103 RBI across 432 at-bats (113 games) with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, Martinez should be rostered for those in need of power numbers.Source: Anthony DiComo - MLB.com
6 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles plan to recall outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad from the minor leagues ahead of Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Kjerstad, the No. 42 prospect in baseball and Baltimore's No. 4 prospect, is slashing a prolific .349/.431/.744 with 10 homeread more...
6 days agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) completed a live batting practice session on Sunday at Wrigley Field. Manager Craig Counsell said everything went well, and Steele's next outing will come in an extended spring training game in Arizona on Friday. On the mend from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain that he suffered back on Opening Day, Steele continues to ramp up his activity ahead of a minor-league rehab assignment that appears to be on the horizon. Based on Steele's current progress, fantasy managers can expect the 28-year-old All-Star left-hander to rejoin Chicago's rotation at some point in the middle of May. Right-hander Javier Assad has been a major factor in mixed leagues as a starter for the Cubs to begin the 2024 regular season, posting a 2.11 ERA (3.72 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 21:8 K:BB over 21 1/3 innings (four starts), but he'll face a tough matchup on paper in Thursday's scheduled home start versus the Houston Astros.Source: Bruce Levine - Marquee Sports Network
6 days agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (shoulder) is slated to start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday or Thursday, per manager John Schneider. Schneider liked Manoah's fastball command and slider movement when he watched his latest rehab start on video, but the Jays want the hurler to get one more minor-league rehab appearance under his belt before deciding what's next for Manoah. The big 26-year-old right-hander threw 92 pitches of two-run ball in his latest rehab outing and is essentially built up in his recovery from soreness in his right shoulder, and he figures to be an option for Toronto's starting rotation early next week if he bounces back well from the start. Rookie right-hander Yariel Rodriguez will get at least one more start, which is scheduled for Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals, sporting a promising 2.35 ERA (4.38 FIP), 1.30 WHIP, and 13:3 K:BB across 7 2/3 innings (two starts).Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith - Sportsnet.ca
6 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles placed outfielder Austin Hays (calf) on the 10-day injured list on Monday, retroactive to Sunday. After leaving Saturday's win over the Kansas City Royals, Hays needs to miss some additional time with a strained left calf. The 28-year-old left fielder was already trending down due to a feeble .111/.200/.111 triple-slash line with just two RBI over 45 at-bats (19 games) as well as the emergence of former top prospect Colton Cowser for the O's, so fantasy managers shouldn't feel inclined to stash Hays while he's sidelined. Cowser's playing time in left field becomes even more solidified in the absence of Hays. Hitting .373 (19-for-51) with five home runs, six doubles, nine runs scored, and three stolen bases to this point, Cowser is a player with five-category upside in Baltimore's potent lineup for the foreseeable future.Source: Baltimore Orioles on X
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (knee) is out of Monday's lineup for the start of a three-game series on the road against the Los Angeles Angels as a precaution due to knee soreness. Skipper Brandon Hyde says Mountcastle is available to pinch-hit from Baltimore's bench if needed, so there's no need for fantasy managers to be alarmed by the infielder's absence. The 27-year-old slugger is slashing a stellar .324/.388/.500 with two home runs, seven doubles, 11 RBI, and 14 runs scored through 74 at-bats (19 games), and he can be expected back in the starting lineup as soon as Tuesday's matchup in Anaheim. Utility man Ramon Urias will slide in to bat fifth against Halos left-hander Reid Detmers and cover the cold corner for Mountcastle on Monday, but he's not the most exciting fantasy option while batting .219 (7-for-32) with just one extra-base hit and two RBI this season.Source: Steve Melewski - MASN Sports
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Robert Gasser (elbow) could be ready to pitch for Triple-A Nashville as soon as this week after being on the shelf for almost a month in the minors due to a bone spur in his left elbow. The Brewers could really use some help in their big-league starting rotation with DL Hall (knee), Wade Miley (elbow) and Jakob Junis (head, shoulder) all on the injured list, but the 24-year-old Gasser is going to need to prove he's healthy at Nashville before he's a consideration for a big-league call-up. Bryse Wilson is likely to jump into the Brewers' rotation, but other options in the minors could be Aaron Ashby, Tobias Myers and Janson Junk. Gasser is listed as the Brewers' No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
6 days agoMilwaukee Brewers right-hander Bryse Wilson is likely to move from the bullpen into the team's starting rotation for now with DL Hall (knee), Wade Miley (elbow) and Jakob Junis (head, shoulder) all on the injured list right now. Wilson made a spot start on the last homestand when the Brewers had a hole in their rotation and tossed 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball while walking one and striking out two in a no-decision against the San Diego Padres. The former fourth-rounder of the Atlanta Braves in 2016 has been solid in his seven appearances for the Brewers so far in 2024, posting a 3.29 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in his 13 2/3 innings pitched. In NL-only leagues for sure, he's worth a pickup if he officially joins Milwaukee's rotation.Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
6 days agoMiami Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Sunday and is scheduled to throw another one in the next few days. Garrett has yet to make his 2024 debut in the big leagues after being put on the 15-day injured list out of spring training with a left-shoulder impingement. The 26-year-old southpaw then had a setback when he was briefly shut down after his second minor-league rehab appearance with Triple-A Jacksonville on April 12 with dead arm. He's now building his arm back up and will hopefully be ready to make another rehab start sooner than later. Garrett isn't going to be ready to join Miami's starting rotation until May, but when he does, he's not a bad waiver-wire pickup in mixed leagues with plenty of strikeout upside. The former seventh overall pick in 2016 had a 3.66 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 156 K's in 159 2/3 frames last year in 31 outings (30 starts).Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (hip) is taking 10 to 14 days off from baseball activities due to hip inflammation. The Rays moved Walls to the 60-day injured list over the weekend while he recovers from surgery on his right hip. There's no clear timetable for his return, with manager Kevin Cash saying on April 13 that Walls is "just not going as quick as maybe we had originally anticipated." Given the amount of time he has missed, it seems likely Walls will have to essentially recreate a progression similar to spring training whenever he gets back to game action. The 27-year-old had surgery on Oct. 27 to fix a labral tear in his right hip. He said he had been dealing with a "noticeable hip impingement" for more than a year. It would probably be a surprise if we saw Walls in the big leagues before June.Source: Evan Closky
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) started a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham over the weekend and hit a home run in his second game back on Saturday with a Statcast-projected 106.4 mph, 403-foot shot to right-center field. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBI for the Bulls. The 26-year-old strained his right oblique during spring training and was forced to open the year on the injured list. Lowe is expected back around early May, and there's no reason he should be on your league's waiver wire after breaking out in 2023 with 20 home runs and 32 stolen bases. When Lowe is able to return to Tampa, Amed Rosario and Richie Palacios will likely be hurt the most in terms of playing time in the Rays' outfield. Lowe essentially needs a full spring training's worth of at-bats to get ready.Source: MLB.com