5 hours agoCincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) visited a specialist for a second opinion on June 8 and was advised to rest for an additional five days. The 24-year-old was originally scheduled to begin the next step in his rehab progression on June 5 but opted to go for a second opinion. In addition, Encarnacion-Strand is hopeful to resume his current progression after the newly established rest period and should begin swinging a bat in the next couple of weeks, as per manager David Bell. The Oklahoma State product has been on the 10-day injured list since May 8 with a right ulnar styloid fracture. With this recent news, fantasy managers should not expect Encarnacion-Strand back on the field until the end of June or potentially early July. He should remain stashed in standard leagues as he should provide a solid amount of power and RBI in a hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark during the second half of the season.Source: MLB.com
5 hours agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray is scheduled to make his first start since May 21 on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gray was activated from the 15-day injured list on Saturday, June 8, after recovering from a groin injury. The right-hander tossed two ⅓ innings of relief in that game and allowed just one hit, one free pass, and struck out four. This is a great sign, as Gray looked quite sharp in his first outing in over two weeks. In his 10 starts this season, Gray has posted a strong 2.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 17:52 BB:K ratio. While the 32-year-old does have a tough task ahead of him in his first start off the injured list, he should remain rostered in all leagues and will continue to produce strong ratios throughout the summer.Source: Shawn McFarland
6 hours agoSeattle Mariners first base prospect Tyler Locklear was promoted to the majors on Saturday evening and is already starting in his first major league game on Sunday. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reported that Locklear is expected to play daily and will not be in a platoon role with Luke Raley. Locklear was promoted to the majors to fill in for Ty France (heel), who was placed on the ten-day injured list with a hairline fracture in his right heel. France could miss an extended period of time as he was seen wearing a walking boot on Saturday. Locklear began the 2024 campaign in Double-A and posted a strong .291/.401/.532 line with eight home runs and 26 RBI. The 23-year-old then made his Triple-A debut on May 28. Locklear is worth adding in standard leagues knowing that he should be penciled in as the everyday first baseman in Seattle for the foreseeable future.Source: Ryan Divish
6 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill (knee) will remain out of the lineup on Sunday and could return on Tuesday. O'Neill was removed early from Friday's game with a knee injury and has remained sidelined throughout the entire weekend. The Red Sox are off on Monday and will open a three-game set on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, which is the earliest the 28-year-old could return to the diamond. The former third-round pick recently recovered from right knee inflammation but, unfortunately, has hit another roadblock in his debut season in Boston. However, when on the field, O'Neill has performed very well with a solid .250/.354/.500 line with 11 home runs and one stolen base. His stellar 17.7% barrel rate and 47.9% hard-hit rate suggest that he could be in for a big summer and should be viewed as a must-start outfielder in all leagues for the remainder of the season.Source: Associated Press
6 hours agoBoston Red Sox pitching prospect Luis Perales (elbow) left Saturday's start with Double-A Portland in the third inning and has been diagnosed with elbow inflammation. He was shaking his throwing arm and looked to be in discomfort while exiting the field. The 21-year-old had been enjoying a fantastic year and is arguably the best pitching prospect in the Red Sox system. Perales has posted a 2.94 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 56:12 K:BB across 33 2/3 innings in the minors this season. He will most likely be headed to the injured list at some point and there is no current timetable for his return.Source: Alex Speier
6 hours agoDetroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (knee) reportedly has no structural damage in his knee and is hoping to avoid a trip to the injured list. He is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, but there is a chance he returns in the coming days. Keith hurt himself on Saturday after a collision with Akil Baddoo in the outfield. It is a positive outcome for fantasy managers as it looked like it could have been a lot worse. Andy Ibanez is getting the start at second base on Sunday and batting eighth against Brewers right-hander Bryse Wilson.Source: Jason Beck
6 hours agoSan Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (hip) is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Machado has not started for the Padres since injuring himself while trying to beat out a double-play on Wednesday, but he did make a pinch-hit appearance on Thursday. It seems like it is not an overly serious ailment for Machado, but there is still no word on when he will return. The 31-year-old was starting to swing the bat better at the time of the injury and is slashing .248/.311/.374 on the year. Donovan Solano will draw another start at third base and bat fifth in Machado's absence.Source: MLB.com
6 hours agoDetroit Tigers starter Jack Flaherty (back) will have his next start pushed back to Friday or Saturday, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Flaherty was pulled from his most recent outing after 60 pitches due to back stiffness and the team wants to give him more time to recover. The Tigers are being as careful as possible with the 28-year-old, but it is encouraging that he has not been placed on the injured list. Flaherty has been solid in 2024, logging a 3.22 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 94:10 K:BB across 72 1/3 innings. Kenta Maeda, Reese Olson and Casey Mize will take the mound for the upcoming series against the Washington Nationals with Flaherty hopefully getting back in action against the Houston Astros on the weekend.Source: Jason Beck
6 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (back) is in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres. Marte was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to a stiff lower back, but he seems to be feeling better. The 30-year-old is enjoying another fine season in Arizona as he is slashing .282/.340/.508 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 41 runs and a stolen base. Marte is a top-five second base option for the remainder of the season, assuming this back stiffness does not linger.Source: MLB.com
6 hours agoColorado Rockies prospect Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting eighth in his major-league debut on Sunday. The 21-year-old is the team's top prospect and was recalled from Double-A last night to take the roster spot of Brendan Rodgers (lower body). Amador has had a streaky season in the minors as evidenced by his .194/.337/.329 slash line across 46 games, but he has also produced seven home runs, 24 RBI, 22 stolen bases and a 33:39 BB:K. There is some definite risk associated with Amador while he adjusts to major-league pitching, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues can take a shot on his power and speed potential.Source: MLB.com
7 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers. It will be the first rest day of the season for the 26-year-old. Gary Sanchez will get the start behind the plate and bat fifth against Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal. Sanchez is slashing .213/.287/.426 with seven home runs, 21 RBI and 16 runs scored across 42 games this season. He is always capable of clearing the fences when he is in the lineup, but going up against Skubal is a daunting task.Source: MLB.com
7 hours agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays (ribs) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Hays was hit by a pitch in his ribs during Thursday's loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. This will be his third straight absence. It is not an overly serious ailment as X-rays came back negative for the 28-year-old, but clearly the bruising is causing some discomfort. Colton Cowser will get another start in left field while Hays recovers with Cedric Mullins getting another start in center and batting ninth.Source: MLB.com
7 hours agoTampa Bay Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes is getting the day off on Sunday as he is not in the team's starting lineup. It is the first day off Paredes has had since May 13. In his absence, Taylor Walls will bat seventh and start at shortstop while Jose Caballero will slide over to third base and bat ninth. Walls has only appeared in seven games thus far in 2024 and offers little fantasy upside. Caballero can provide fantasy managers with some premium speed as evidenced by his 21 stolen bases on the year, but he is a pretty empty contributor aside from that.Source: MLB.com
7 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. It appears to be a regular rest day for the 27-year-old. Jared Triolo will draw into the lineup in his absence and bat seventh. Triolo has had an underwhelming season at the plate thus far as evidenced by his .215/.292/.285 slash line. He can be avoided in fantasy formats.Source: MLB.com
7 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique) is back in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds, serving as the designated hitter and batting second against Reds right-hander Frankie Montas. Fantasy managers were probably pretty worried when Suzuki was pulled from Friday's game early against Cincinnati with tightness in his left oblique muscle. The 29-year-old outfielder has already been on the injured list this year with an oblique injury, but this one wasn't as serious and only caused him to miss Saturday's contest. You'll want to throw him back in your starting lineups despite the fact he's never faced Montas in his career. Suzuki has been a solid contributor for the Cubs this year when he's been healthy and has gone 16-for-54 (.296) with three homers, two doubles, a triple, nine RBI and two thefts in 14 games since May 23.Source: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro