6 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (knee) isn't comfortable playing the field just yet after his knee injury, according to manager Alex. Cora. However, the skipper said that Devers will likely return to the hot corner on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. Devers missed some time recently with a left knee injury, but he's been the team's designated hitter the last few days. Once the 27-year-old heads back to third base, it will allow outfielder
Masataka Yoshida to return to the DH spot for Boston. The left-handed hitter has sat each of the last three games against a right-hander with Devers serving as the DH. Devers has battled a few nagging injuries already in 2024 and is hitting an uncharacteristic .231 (12-for-52) in the early going with three home runs and seven RBI. It's too early to be concerned with Devers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
6 days agoTexas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (shin) is serving as the team's designated hitter and will bat second on Thursday against right-hander
Luis Castillo and the visiting Seattle Mariners. Seager was removed as a precaution late in Wednesday's contest against the M's after he was hit by a pitch and suffered a left-shin contusion. The 29-year-old's shin swelled up after the game, but apparently he's feeling good enough on Thursday to serve as the DH against a pitcher that he's hit .300 against in 10 career at-bats. With Seager at DH,
Josh Smith is starting at the 6 and batting sixth for Texas. Fantasy managers will want to get Seager back into all starting lineups. He's started off the 2024 season hitting .256 (22-for-86) with a homer, six RBI and 11 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoThe Minnesota Twins recalled right-hander
Simeon Woods Richardson from Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday and optioned right-hander
Ronny Henriquez to St. Paul in a corresponding move. Woods Richards, the team's No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will make his second start of the year and just the third of his career on Thursday in a good matchup against the visiting Chicago White Sox. The Twins sent the struggling
Louie Varland to the minors, so the 23-year-old Woods Richardson could stick around for a while in Minnesota's rotation if he has another strong outing on Thursday. He gave up just one run in six innings against the Detroit Tigers on April 13 in a spot start but was sporting a 6.08 ERA in three starts at St. Paul over 13 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
6 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton is getting a day off in a matinee game on Thursday versus the visiting Chicago White Sox. With Buxton starting on the bench,
Austin Martin is starting in center field and will bat ninth against White Sox right-hander
Michael Soroka. Not only has Buxton remained healthy through the first month of the season, but he's starting to pick it up at the plate of late, hitting .323 with a home run, four doubles and a triple in his last eight games to raise his season line to .247/.280/.403 with a home run, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in his first 77 at-bats. Buxton should be back in action for the start of a series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim. Martin has never faced Soroka in his career and will be a low-upside sleeper in DFS in the nine-hole for the Twins.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoCincinnati Reds second baseman
Jonathan India (illness) is back in the starting lineup on Thursday and is serving as the designated hitter while batting sixth against Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler. India returns to the field for the first time since last Saturday after dealing with an illness. The Reds are easing him back in as the DH, with
Santiago Espinal still playing second base and batting eighth. The 27-year-old India probably should be left on benches in his first game back in a tough matchup against a pitcher that he's hitless against in seven career at-bats. He's also gotten off to a slow start offensively this year, going 12-for-69 (.174) with no home runs, four RBI, two stolen bases and 10 runs scored for the Reds.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies reinstated first baseman
Bryce Harper from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned infielder
Kody Clemens to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move after Wednesday's game. Harper is playing first base and batting third in his return in the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds and right-hander
Nick Martinez on Thursday. Fantasy baseball managers will want to put the two-time MVP back in their starting lineups in all formats. He's hitless in two career at-bats against Martinez. The seven-time All-Star returns to a .241/.330/.443 slash line with four home runs, four doubles, 14 RBI, one stolen base and 10 runs scored in 91 plate appearances over his first 21 games of 2024. Harper will be hoping to extend his current six-game hitting streak in his return on Thursday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
6 days agoBoston Red Sox catcher
Connor Wong, who went 4-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's win over the Cleveland Guardians, is taking a seat for the series finale against Cleveland on Thursday in a matinee contest. With Wong out for this one,
Reese McGuire will catch right-hander
Chase Anderson and will hit eighth against Guardians right-hander
Triston McKenzie. In three career at-bats against McKenzie, McGuire has gone hitless. The 27-year-old Wong has been a popular waiver-wire pickup in fantasy leagues at the catcher position early in the 2024 season after his scorching-hot start at the plate. After Wednesday's huge performance, he's now hitting .370 (20-for-54) with five long balls, 11 RBI and seven runs scored in his first 16 games played. The hot start has pushed him past McGuire on Boston's catching depth chart.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
6 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielders
Tyler O'Neill and
Masataka Yoshida are not in the lineup for the matinee game on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians.
Rob Refsnyder is in left field and is batting
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6 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Reynaldo Lopez didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Marlins but pitched another great game, throwing seven strong innings while allowing just one run on three hits (one home run) and a 2:6 BB:K. That makes four straight quality starts to begin the season and the 30-year-old has stepped up big at a time when the Braves needed it after
Spencer Strider was lost for the year and
Max Fried got off to a rough start. The 30-year-old hasn't been a regular starter since 2019 when he made 33 starts for the Chicago White Sox, but he looks the part so far in 2024 with a 0.72 ERA (2.71 FIP), 0.88 WHIP, and a 17.4% K-BB% in 25 IP. His next start lines up Tuesday in Seattle, the team that currently has the highest amount of strikeouts per game this season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoBoston Red Sox catcher
Connor Wong went 4-for-4 with two home runs in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Guardians. Wong also was hit by a pitch in the game, making it a perfect 5-for-5 at getting on base. In addition to the two home runs, Wong also had a pair of singles, drove in three runs, and scored twice. Wong's batting average is now up to .370 on the season, with five home runs (all in his last 10 games), 11 RBI, and seven runs scored. The backstop doesn't draw many walks, however, with just one walk compared to 15 strikeouts so far this season. Regardless, he ranks as the seventh-highest scoring catcher in Yahoo leagues as of now, so is certainly a useful fantasy asset, although the 27-year-old has been splitting time with
Reese McGuire to start the year. McGuire is getting the start in Thursday's day game against the Guardians.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoTampa Bay Rays reliever
Garrett Cleavinger picked up his second save in four days in Wednesday's 7-5 victory over the Tigers. With closer
Pete Fairbanks on the IL, Cleavinger has been used to close out games and has
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6 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Landon Knack earned his first career win on Wednesday in an 11-2 victory over the Nationals. The righty made his first career start against these same Nationals last week but came away with the loss despite pitching well. This time, the 26-year-old went six innings, allowing just three hits (one home run) while walking three batters and striking out five on his way to the win. With
Walker Buehler nearing his return, however, Knack likely heads back to the minors. If these two starts were any indication though, he could be a viable DFS play or streaming option if he were recalled again, depending on the matchup.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoChicago White Sox pitching prospect
Drew Thorpe improved to 4-0 on Wednesday for Double-A Birmingham. Thorpe tossed six innings and allowed one run, one walk and struck out three on the evening. Thorpe's strong outing improved his ERA to a miniscule 0.75 on the season. Thorpe, 23, was a popular name this offseason as he was first traded by the San Diego Padres in the
Juan Soto deal and then dealt to the White Sox when they acquired
Dylan Cease. Regardless, Thorpe hasn't let the switching of homes deter him from dominating on the mound. Thorpe is behind fellow pitching prospect
Noah Schultz as far as pitching rankings go, but he looks more ready for the big-leagues with Schultz still in High-A. Thorpe should get an opportunity at some point for an embarrassing White Sox club, but don't expect many wins when that happens. Outside of dynasty leagues, Thorpe can be avoided.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
6 days agoChicago Cubs outfield prospect
Brennen Davis went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. His home run came off
Alek Manoah in the top of the third inning. This was the outfielders first game in Iowa this season after returning from an arm injury that he suffered in spring training. Davis, 24, has slowly dropped from the Cubs top prospect over the past few seasons and injuries have been a big reason as he likely would have made his debut sometime in the past two seasons. Davis offers good power potential, but the Cubs have already promoted outfield prospects
Alexander Canario and
Pete Crow-Armstrong, so for now Davis will continue to swing the bat for Iowa. Outside of deeper dynasty leagues, Davis can be ignored for now.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
6 days agoColorado Rockies outfield prospect
Yanquiel Fernandez went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in Wednesday's contest for Double-A Hartford. The home run for Cuban was absolutely crushed and marked his second of the season. The 21-year-old is a consensus Top-100 prospect is now hitting .243 with 12 RBI on the season. Fernandez is a very aggressive hitter, but he makes good contact and is only beginning to tap into his power potential, which should play very well in his future home of Coors Field. It is unlikely that Fernandez will make his big-league debut in 2024, but it is realistic that 2025 could be a big year for him. The Rockies do not have much to be excited about at the big-league club, but Fernandez offers excitement for patient fans. He should be rostered in dynasty leagues and redraft managers should file his name away for the future.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB Pipeline
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