6 days agoPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) carries a questionable tag ahead of Friday's clash with Orlando. The reigning MVP has sat out one game since his return to the lineup, but that was in a back-to-back situation, so it appears likely that Embiid will take the court against the Magic. The big guy has been limited to 30.0 minutes a night since his return, but Embiid has still crushed it by averaging 30.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks. The Magic boast some of the strongest defensive numbers in the league versus centers, but Embiid still went for 36 points the last time he was let loose against them.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoOakland Athletics closer Mason Miller tossed a perfect ninth inning against the Texas Rangers on Thursday to pick up his second save of the season. The electric right-hander threw 13-of-16 pitches for strikes and picked up two punchouts in the process. Save opportunities may not be plentiful in Oakland this season, but Miller still possesses elite strikeout upside with worthwhile ratios. He will be a useful fantasy reliever this season and has the potential to accomplish a lot more in dynasty formats.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoSacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (calf) will be in the lineup on Thursday against New Orleans. He has been upgraded from questionable to available as Murray continues to battle through a calf issue. This will be his 16th straight appearance. Murray, who set a new rookie record for most made threes a season ago, has previously found it tough against the Pelicans, averaging 9.3 points in three prior meetings in 2023-24. New Orleans has limited opponents to a league-low 34.8 percent three-point shooting, which is a major reason why Murray hasn't looked quite like himself in the matchup.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoKansas City Royals right-hander Brady Singer allowed one run on five hits across five innings of work during Thursday's win over the Houston Astros. Singer struck out four in the contest while walking two. The 27-year-old is now 2-0 on the season with a sparkling 0.98 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 18/4 K/BB rate. Singer was a sizeable disappointment for fantasy managers in 2023, but he has passed all the tests thus far in 2024. He is set to face the lowly Chicago White Sox in his next projected start and should be rostered in all formats while his resurgence continues.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoHouston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 with a walk during Thursday's blowout loss to the Kansas City Royals. The veteran infielder has been his productive self to start the season, slashing .370/.452/.648 with three home runs through 14 games. Altuve continues to be one of the best fantasy second basemen in the league and should garner plenty of counting stats at the top of the Astros lineup. He remains a must-start option for the rest of 2024 even though Houston has been a surprising disappointment overall.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoOakland Athletics left-hander JP Sears allowed one hit across 6 1/3 scoreless innings during Thursday's 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers. He struck out five batters while issuing three walks en route to his first win of the season. It was a nice bounce-back performance for the 28-year-old after a pair of inefficient outings to kick off 2024. Sears shows glimpses of fantasy viability every so often, but his inconsistency makes him nothing more than a streaming option in 2024. He is a risky play in his next projected start on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoGolden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (calf) has been added to the injury report with a questionable tag a few hours before tipoff against Portland on Thursday. He's experiencing tightness in his left calf and might have to sit out Thursday's action after playing in 16 consecutive games. Draymond Green (knee) and Klay Thompson (knee) have already been ruled out, so we should see plenty of Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga on Thursday. Moses Moody will also have a chance to step up from the second unit if Payton II can't go.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoBoston Celtics forward Oshae Brissett (illness) won't be available for Thursday's clash with the Knicks. The 25-year-old lands on the shelf with a non-COVID illness, as the team has downgraded Brissett from questionable to out. Brissett's absence means very little, as he has averaged only 7.8 minutes per game for the month. He will have his first opportunity to return on Friday versus Charlotte. Brissett might play a bigger role against the Hornets if Boston decides to rest some of its starters for the second leg of a back-to-back.Source: Boston Celtics
6 days agoHouston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown had a start to forget on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. The 25-year-old was crushed for nine runs on 11 hits in the first inning of the contest. Brown got the hook after recording only two outs, making it the shortest start of his young career. It has been a harrowing start to the season for the former top prospect. Brown now owns an ugly 16.43 ERA through three starts and has yet to go deeper than four innings into a game. Brown has the pedigree to turn things around, but it will be tough to trust him in his next start against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoNew Orleans Pelicans forward/center Larry Nance Jr. (personal) won't be available on Thursday versus Sacramento. He comes out of the lineup for personal reasons after playing in each of the last 12 games. Nance Jr.'s absence should mean a busy night for Jonas Valanciunas against his fellow Lithuanian big man Domantas Sabonis. In four previous head-to-head battles this season, Valanciunas has logged 14.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in 25.0 minutes.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoChicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (ankle) has received the all-clear for Thursday's matchup against Detroit. The team has upgraded him from probable to available. Caruso has slowed down offensively as of late, averaging only 8.0 points in April, but he typically fills up the box score in all areas and shouldn't have any trouble producing fantasy value on a night where his squad faces the NBA's worst team. He could even get some extra action due to Ayo Dosunmu's (quadriceps) absence.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoChicago Bulls guard/forward Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) will be sidelined for a second consecutive game on Thursday versus Detroit. After playing some excellent ball in recent weeks, Dosunmu has suffered a quadriceps contusion, and the team has downgraded him from questionable to out. Javonte Green will carry extra fantasy value as Dosunmu's replacement in the starting unit. A meeting with the league's worst team puts him in a superb position to put together a strong performance.Source: NBA Injury Report
6 days agoKansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. went 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBI and four runs scored during Thursday's 13-3 demolition of the Houston Astros. Witt also picked up his third stolen base during the blowout. It was a banner day for the 23-year-old, who is now slashing a robust .358/.414/.755 with four home runs, eight RBI and 13 runs scored on the season. Witt looks like bonafide superstar to start 2024 and is a must-start option whenever he takes the diamond.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoBoston Celtics forward/center Xavier Tillman Sr. (knee) will be available for Thursday's intriguing matchup against the Knicks. Boston's backup big has overcome a right knee issue, and the team has upgraded him from questionable to available. With Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) and Al Horford (toe) also in the lineup, Tillman Sr. likely won't play a large part in the Celtics' plans on Thursday. He should have a much bigger role on Friday in a favorable matchup against Charlotte.Source: Boston Celtics
6 days agoNew York Mets outfielder DJ Stewart went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during Thursday's 16-4 rout of the Atlanta Braves. It was Stewart's second homer in his past three games, although the two long balls are his only hits this season. The 30-year-old has seen steady playing time as the designated hitter in the early going, but this seems likely to change whenever J.D. Martinez joins the roster. Stewart can be utilized as a bench bat in NL-Only formats while he is on a power surge, but he can be left on the waiver wire everywhere else.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoBoston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (knee) will play against the Knicks on Thursday. A problem with his left patella initially left Holiday questionable for the game, but he's been upgraded to available. With Boston bringing all of its guns out on Thursday, Holiday will likely have to play second fiddle. However, he must be in high spirits after just securing a four-year, $135 million contract extension for himself, and this should help his performance. The 33-year-old is averaging 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists for the month.Source: Boston Celtics
6 days agoBoston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) will be back in the lineup on Thursday against the Knicks. After being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Porzingis sat out Tuesday's big matchup against Milwaukee. He was also initially regarded as questionable for Thursday, but the team has upgraded him to available. Porzingis will be eager to perform well against his former team. He's done a lot of damage against the Knicks across four games this season, averaging 23.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks with 56 percent three-point shooting.Source: Boston Celtics
6 days agoDetroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (knee) won't be available for Thursday's matchup against Chicago. He will miss a fifth consecutive contest after initially being considered questionable for the game. Malachi Flynn and Marcus Sasser have an opportunity to play bigger roles in the rotation without Cunningham, while Jaden Ivey gets a usage boost. He has pushed his numbers to 20.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in games played without Cunningham this season.Source: James L. Edwards III
6 days agoGolden State Warriors guard/forward Klay Thompson (knee) won't play against Portland on Thursday. He's dealing with right knee tendonitis, and the team has downgraded Thompson from questionable to out. The five-time All-Star will get his first chance to return to the lineup on Friday against New Orleans. Brandin Podziemski will likely start in Thompson's place on Thursday. The 21-year-old rookie has notched 9.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 28 previous starts this season.Source: Anthony Slater
6 days agoGolden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's meeting with the Trail Blazers. The team has downgraded him from questionable to out as Green is dealing with a right knee contusion. He shouldn't miss a lot of time and could be back on Friday as Golden State completes a back-to-back against New Orleans. With Green out on Thursday, Jonathan Kuminga has a chance to go berserk against a weak frontcourt, with extra minutes also available for Trayce Jackson-Davis and Andrew Wiggins.Source: Anthony Slater
6 days agoAn MRI exam revealed that Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe (oblique) is dealing with a Grade 1 right-oblique strain, and he will be placed on the injured list before the team's series opener on Friday against the San Francisco Giants. It'sread more...
6 days agoBoston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (shoulder) is still battling left-shoulder soreness, which is why he was given the day off on Thursday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. With Devers resting, Pablo Reyes is starting at the hot corner and is hitting in the nine-hole against Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Devers should be considered day-to-day for now, but hopefully giving him some rest will help him avoid a trip to the injured list. Fantasy baseball managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Devers is back in there for the start of a series against the Los Angeles Angels. The two-time All-Star is off to a slow start in his first 10 games, going 7-for-38 (.184) with two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored in 46 plate appearances.Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
6 days agoBoston Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom (groin, hamstring) will start his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Friday. Grissom has yet to make his Red Sox debut in the regular season in 2024 due to groin and hamstring issues that he dealt with late in spring training, but he's getting closer and could be activated early next week if he doesn't have any setbacks with Worcester this weekend. Even before Trevor Story suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, the 23-year-old Grissom was projected to play every day for Boston this year (mostly at second base). Grissom was blocked in Atlanta but will play every day in Beantown and should be picked up off the waiver wire in mixed fantasy leagues right now if he's available. If he stays healthy, Grissom has 15-15 potential.Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
6 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays granted right-hander Jake Odorizzi (hamstring, shoulder) his release on Thursday. The veteran of 11 major-league seasons signed a minor-league deal with the Rays in mid-March and made two rehab starts with Triple-A Durham in hopes of getting back to the big leagues. Odorizzi missed all of the 2023 season while recovering from shoulder surgery and will now be looking for another opportunity with another organization in 2024. In his two minor-league starts with Durham, the 34-year-old didn't look good, giving up seven runs while walking five and striking out only two in 5 1/3 innings while being bothered by a hamstring injury. Even if he's healthy and gets a shot elsewhere, it's looking like an uphill battle for Odorizzi to get back to the majors this year.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
6 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach (toe) is starting his minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday night with Single-A Fort Myers. Larnach is working his way back after being placed on the Triple-A injured list on March 29 due to turf toe. If the 27-year-old outfielder doesn't suffer any setbacks with his toe while with Fort Myers, he'll be returned to Triple-A St. Paul in short order. The former 20th overall pick in 2018 out of Oregon State has yet to stick at the major-league level, hitting .222/.315/.385 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI in 188 games played in parts of the last three seasons. Nothing about his defense in the outfield stands out, and although he has drawn plenty of walks, he's failed to make enough consistent contact at the plate to play regularly for the Twins. A platoon role will be likely if he's back with the Twins in 2024.Source: John Vittas
6 days agoFormer Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt has had eight total visits or private workouts with teams since the 2024 NFL Combine, according to Tom Pelissero. He visited with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns this week, and several other teams are interested in him. Pratt could find his way into the third round of this month's draft after throwing for 9,611 yards, 90 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions in four collegiate seasons. The 22-year-old posted a 21-3 record over the last two seasons and could have sleeper potential as at least a backup quarterback to monitor in Superflex or two-QB leagues.Source: Tom Pelissero
6 days agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) was supposed to begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday night with High-A Aberdeen, but the team is now saying he'll throw a live batting practice session instead due to the weather. Bradish is getting a late start to his 2024 season after breaking out in 2023 by going 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA (3.27 FIP) and 1.04 WHIP with 44 walks and a career-high 168 strikeouts in 168 2/3 innings over 30 starts. He was diagnosed with a sprained UCL in his right elbow back in spring training, but for now the 27-year-old has avoided dreaded Tommy John surgery and could make his season debut with the O's at some point next week. After his big year last season, Bradish should be assured of a rotation spot when he's ready, which means Tyler Wells could be the odd-man out soon.Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
6 days agoChicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said there's a possibility that outfielder Eloy Jimenez (groin) is able to come off the injured list to play this weekend. "He's getting close," Grifol said. "He feels better than yesterday, that day to day thing keeps coming up. But he feels better today than he did yesterday. [Friday] is a possibility. Everything is a possibility. We have to see where he's at and we'll have to see what we want to do as an organization in the short term and long term to make sure these things don't happen again." The 27-year-old is dealing with a left-groin strain, but with both Luis Robert Jr. (hip) and Yoan Moncada (groin) facing extended absences with injuries of their own, don't expect the White Sox to rush Jimenez back. Until Jimenez is able to return, veterans Robbie Grossman and Kevin Pillar will be in line for more playing time.Source: MLB.com
6 days agoThe New York Giants are signing veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The nine-year NFL veteran has spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Arizona Cardinals, and he has racked up 181 tackles, 24 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception, and 25.5 run stuffs in 120 career games. New York already has Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge rusher Brian Burns, so Phillips won't be expected to be dominant in 2024. However, he's an experienced run-stopper with the ability to give the team a few sacks.Source: Ian Rapoport
6 days agoThe San Francisco 49ers are bringing in cornerback Rock Ya-Sin on an undisclosed one-year deal, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 27-year-old spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens, posting 13 tackles and two pass deflections in 14 games. In five career seasons (66 games), the 2019 second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts has totaled 196 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 29 passes defended. He has not lived up to his draft capital, but he can be utilized as a depth corner in the talented 49ers defense.Source: Ian Rapoport