3 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers haven't indicated a timetable for outfielder
Kerry Carpenter's (spine) return after he went on the injured list on May 29 (retroactive to May 27) with what the Tigers called lumbar-spine inflammation. Carpenter had been dealing with a lingering back issue and underwent tests the previous evening. The Tigers recently altered his diagnosis to a lumbar-spine stress reaction, which has been described by doctors as a crack in the bone that tends to appear clearly on MRIs and CT scans. It can take six weeks or three months for a stress fracture to settle down, so Carpenter's return isn't on the horizon. Before his injury, the 26-year-old had a 1.004 OPS against right-handed pitching, good for seventh in MLB. Carpenter should be able to return to full strength once the injury is healed, but he remains without a timetable and has yet to resume baseball activities.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
5 hours agoCincinnati Reds pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder has been very good in three June starts for Double-A Chattanooga. The 22-year-old right-hander has a 3.29 ERA this month with 12 strikeouts and two walks in 13 2/3 innings. The seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest is known for his excellent control and his devastating changeup. Lowder has the feel, the savvy, and the stuff to contribute at the big-league level this season. He will need to continue to show consistency at Double-A. If he does, he could find himself in Cincinnati and firmly on the fantasy radar by the end of the season. The top prospect for the Reds and one of the top pitching prospects in baseball would warrant immediate waiver-wire attention should he get the call this season.
--Brian BuckeySource: MILB.com
5 hours agoSan Francisco Giants second baseman
Thairo Estrada hit a three-run, walk-off homer to lift them to a 7-6 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Estrada's homer was his ninth and capped off a night that saw him finish with two hits, four RBI, and a walk in five plate appearances. The home run snapped a string of 20 consecutive games where Estrada had not gone deep. He is slashing .243/.277/.401 with 39 RBI and 37 runs scored. Estrada's versatility as a middle infielder offers some value and remains a solid fantasy option in leagues with 12 or more teams.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ homered and drove in three runs in Monday's 7-6 loss at the San Francisco Giants. Happ's eighth home run was a three-run shot in the top of the seventh inning that gave the Cubs a 6-3 lead as he finished with two hits and a walk in four plate appearances. He is slashing .229/.340/.400 with 36 RBI, 34 runs scored and six stolen bases. Happ is hurting fantasy managers with his batting average but makes up for it with his power and speed as he is on pace for 18 homers and could approach 15 steals.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 hours agoHouston Astros outfield prospect
Jacob Melton (wrist) is back in action for Double-A Corpus Christi. In his first action since May 22, Melton is 1-for-6 in two games since his return to the lineup. The speedy 23-year-old has hit .264 with five home runs and 24 RBI to go with 10 stolen bases at Double-A this season. The Astros top prospect slugged 23 homers and stole 46 bases across two levels of the minors last season. The second-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Oregon State has the power-speed combination that will catch the eye of fantasy managers for years to come. A debut in Houston this season is not out of the question, but next year is the more likely scenario.
--Brian BuckeySource: MILB.com
5 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani had three hits during Monday's 9-5 win at the Colorado Rockies, his third multi-hit game in the last four. Ohtani had two doubles, a single, and a walk, as he also scored twice and drove in a run. He has recorded seven hits in his last 15 at-bats and is hitting .314/.388/.601 with 19 homers, 47 RBI, 55 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases. Ohtani is competing with New York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge for fantasy MVP honors, and his fantasy managers are thriving behind his numbers.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 hours agoNew York Mets shortstop prospect
Jett Williams (wrist) underwent surgery in early June and will be sidelined until at least August. Limited to 11 games at Double-A Binghamton this season, Williams has hit .179 with no homers, and two RBI to go with two stolen bases. A pure-hitter with excellent speed, the 20-year-old drew 104 walks and stole 45 bases across three levels of the minors last season while hitting .263. The injury will sap a good portion of his 2024 but the future is still bright for the first-round pick in the 2022 draft. If he can return from his wrist surgery at some point at the end of this season, he could still be on track to make a big-league debut sometime next season. His recovery is worth tracking for fantasy managers with an eye toward the future.
--Brian BuckeySource: MLB.com
5 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman recorded five walks and two runs scored during the team’s 9-5 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday. The veteran slugger also reached base when he recorded a single in his final plate appearance; the first time in his career, Freeman reached base six times. He is slashing .302/.412/.504 with 10 homers, 43 RBI, and 47 runs scored. Freeman has been lethal in June to opposing pitchers as he is hitting .373/.500/.725 with four homers, 10 RBI, and 15 runs scored, along with a 1.225 OPS. One of the elite players at his position, Freeman continues to be an easy plug-and-play for fantasy managers.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: Noah Camaras, Dodgers Nation
5 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher
James Paxton (7-1) struck out eight over seven innings during Monday's 9-5 win at the Colorado Rockies. Paxton also recorded his sixth quality start, allowing two hits, one earned run, and one walk while picking up his seventh win of the season. Overall, Paxton has a 3.65 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, striking out 43 and walking 33 in 66 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers of Paxton will have to wait until next Monday for his next start, an ideal matchup at the White Sox, where he is projected to square off against Chicago ace
Garrett Crochet.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 hours agoMinnesota Twins outfield prospect
Walker Jenkins (hamstring) returned to Single-A Fort Myers on June 4 and has driven in eight runs in his eight games back from a hamstring injury. During those eight games, the 19-year-old switch hitter has more walks (six) than strikeouts (five). Jenkins is Minnesota's top overall prospect, and his five-tool profile makes him one of the top young players in the minors. The hamstring injury dampened some of his excitement this year, and he has yet to hit a home run in 2024. However, the buzz is still there whenever this young superstar is able to take the field. At 19, Jenkins will likely get a few more years of seasoning in the minors before he debuts at Target Field. We could be looking at a fantasy superstar for years to come.
--Brian BuckeySource: MILB.com
5 hours agoChicago Cubs first baseman
Michael Busch homered in Monday's 7-6 loss at the San Francisco Giants, his first dinger since going deep on May 28. Busch's ninth homer was a two-run shot in the sixth inning that gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead. He is hitting .324/.425/.471 with a .896 OPS in June. Overall, Busch is slashing .255/.350/.450 with a .800 OPS with 26 RBI and 31 runs scored. Busch is a solid second-tier first baseman whose value increases in leagues that use OBP or OPS as a category.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
6 hours agoMinnesota Twins outfield prospect
Emmanuel Rodriguez (thumb) was placed on the 7-day injured list on June 7 and remains sidelined at Double-A Wichita. Rodriguez was having a nice season at Wichita with a .298 average, eight home runs, and 20 RBI to go with a 1.100 OPS. He has added nine stolen bases. The No. 3 prospect in the Twins' system has shown good plate discipline (46 strikeouts, 40 walks) and possesses 60-grade power. Unfortunately, the injury has stalled some of his progress but he could still be looking at a promotion to Triple-A at some point this season. The 21-year-old is likely looking at 2025 for a major-league debut but his hitting profile makes him one of the top young outfielders for fantasy purposes.
--Brian BuckeySource: MILB.com
6 hours agoThe Oakland Athletics are set to recall first base/outfield prospect
Lawrence Butler from Triple-A Las Vegas. Butler performed well enough in the Cactus League to break camp with the club, but struggled mightily and was demoted on May 14. In his time with Las Vegas, Butler hit .255 with four homers and nine RBI in 110 at-bats. Butler takes the spot of infielder
J.D. Davis, who was designated for assignment. Butler hits the ball hard and offers pop and speed, but it hasn't translated in his two stints as a big leaguer thus far. The 23-year-old still can remain on the waiver wire for now, but he is worth watching as he should get a good opportunity to prove himself on a developing Athletics roster.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos
6 hours agoOakland Athletics shortstop prospect
Jacob Wilson (knee) began his rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Monday and went 1-for-2 with a single. Wilson, the club's No.1 prospect has been sidelined for over a month with knee tendinitis. Prior to his injury, Wilson hit a combined .437 with three homers, 22 RBI and just 12 strikeouts over 112 at-bats between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas. Wilson is the son of former Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson and thus far has shown an incredible eye at the dish as he rarely strikes out. Wilson doesn't hit the ball with a ton of power, but he makes great contact and has a knack to get on-base. Wilson has plenty of upside, especially if he can hit for more power and is a name for dynasty managers to track as Wilson doesn't remain far off from his potential big-league debut.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Melissa Lockard
6 hours agoChicago Cubs shortstop prospect
Ed Howard has struggled with some bad luck with injuries since being selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, but he has been healthy thus far and is on fire of late. Since May 26, Howard has hit an astounding .415 with an impressive .974 OPS for High-A South Bend. Overall in 43 games, Howard has hit .245 with 10 RBI and six stolen bases. Injuries have derailed Howard off many Cubs top prospect lists, but he is still 22 years old and is three games away from playing in the most games he has played in since his rookie season. Long term, Howard provides great defense but will still need to improve his offense to have an impact in the fantasy community. It's a nice story to see him healthy after some tough luck, but Howard is best suited on the waiver wire in dynasty leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: South Bend Cubs
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