5 hours agoSeattle Mariners second baseman
Jorge Polanco (hamstring) played second base in his second minor-league rehab game for High-A Everett on Sunday and went 0-for-1 with two walks out of the leadoff spot. Polanco will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday and isn't far off from a return to the big-league lineup, barring a setback with his balky hamstring. In his absence in Seattle, rookie
Ryan Bliss has seen more of an opportunity for playing time at the keystone. The 30-year-old Polanco needs to pick things up offensively when he returns if he wants to remain the team's primary second baseman. Polanco has really struggled in his first year with the M's, batting .195 (31-for-159) with five home runs, 14 RBI and 15 runs scored in 159 at-bats. If he stays healthy on his rehab assignment, he could rejoin the Mariners by this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
5 hours agoAtlanta Braves rookie right-hander
Hurston Waldrep's (elbow) evaluation showed that it was what the Braves believed it to be, just right-elbow inflammation. It seems to be the best-case scenario for the young pitcher. Waldrep will be shut down for a week and then will begin building his arm back up again. The 22-year-old prospect won't be ready to return from the 15-day injured when he's eligible, and when he is ready to come back, there's a good chance that he'll be sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett at that time. The club's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, only made it through seven innings in his first two major-league starts against the Nationals and Rays and allowed 13 earned runs on nine hits (three homers) while walking eight and striking out only three. It seems more likely the Braves will send Waldrep back to the farm and use a different young arm for their big-league rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
5 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl (hamstring) was forced to leave Monday's game early against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a hamstring injury. Friedl said he went through a series of tests on his hamstring and he had full range of motion and strength. "It was just tight," Friedl said. In the 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh, the 28-year-old went 0-for-3 with a strikeout out of the leadoff spot for the Reds and was eventually replaced in center field by
Will Benson when he left the contest early. Friedl appeared to initially injure his hamstring when he made a diving catch in center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. It sounds like Friedl's injury might not be too serious, but he's already missed time with injury this year and could be headed back to the injured list. He's hitting only .222 this year with four homers, 15 RBI and six stolen bases in just 81 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
5 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher prospect Spencer Giesting is being promoted to Double-A Amarillo. The former 11th-round draft pick pitched to a 4.00 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and a 10.1% K-BB% over 24 starts last season at High-A, but has looked like a different pitcher this season. Over 10 starts at High-A in 2024, the southpaw has posted a 1.50 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 23.2% K-BB%. He's lowered his BB% and HR/FB% significantly while increasing his SwStr% by a large margin, which has been a recipe for success. As an 11th-rounder and outside the Diamondbacks' Top 30, Giesting is exceeding expectations and if he continues to have success at Double-A, dynasty managers will want to start keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Hillsboro Hops
5 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers catcher
Willson Contreras (head) has avoided a concussion after he suffered a head injury during a collision at home plate with Cincinnati Reds outfielder
Stuart Fairchild as he applied a tag at the end of Sunday's win. Contreras was put through the league's concussion protocol after the game on Sunday. The 26-year-old backstop has since been cleared of a concussion, but he was held out of Monday's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels as a precaution. It sounds like Contreras will avoided the concussion injured list and could be back in the starting lineup as soon as Tuesday. Manager Pat Murphy said that Contreras is "going to be fine." If he's back in action on Tuesday, fantasy managers will want to get the catcher back into their starting lineups, as he's been one of the most valuable players at his position so far this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
5 hours agoSan Francisco Giants catcher
Tom Murphy (knee) has resumed taking batting practice in the cage and is throwing out to 110 feet while recovering from a left-knee sprain. Murphy felt a pop in his knee after going down to block a wild pitch in the second inning of the team's loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 4 and was put on the 10-day injured list the next day. An MRI revealed a Grade 1-2 sprain for Murphy, who was expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. He was moved to the 60-day IL on May 15. Signed to a two-year, $8.25 million deal in December, Murphy hit just .118 with a home run over his first 13 games with the Giants this year before getting hurt. When healthy, Murphy is merely a third catching option for the Giants behind starter
Patrick Bailey and backup
Curt Casali.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Robbie Ray (elbow) will make his next minor-league rehab appearance in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday. The Giants have been pleased with Ray's progress from Tommy John surgery, but he's unlikely to be ready to join the starting rotation for his 2024 debut until around the All-Star break. He gave up three runs on four hits over 1 2/3 innings in his third rehab start in the ACL last Thursday. The 32-year-old southpaw still has a bit to go to build up his left arm, but he's on his way to making his season debut for the Giants and will be an option for fantasy managers in the second half due to his strikeout upside. However, there's also reason to be concerned about his command when he returns, especially since Ray has had issues pre-Tommy John surgery with his control.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoSan Francisco Giants right-hander
Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) threw another 30- to 35-pitch bullpen session on Friday, although it's unlikely that he'll return from the injured list to make his season debut until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Cobb was progressing well in his rehab from offseason hip surgery he had on Oct. 31, but he had another setback when he felt mild shoulder irritation before throwing a bullpen session on April 16. He was moved to the 60-day injured list on April 20 and tried to resume throwing after that, but he was shut down again after more soreness in his shoulder. Cobb resumed a throwing progression after receiving some nerve medication and looked "really good" during a 25-pitch bullpen session at Oracle Park on June 11. The 36-year-old has limited strikeout upside and is injury-prone at this point in his career, but he can have fantasy value as a matchup-based streamer when he's healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoCleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Gavin Williams (elbow) threw 52 pitches over 1 2/3 innings in his fourth rehab start at Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Over his first three rehab outings, Williams went a combined 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and gave up six earned runs on eight hits and four free passes. On pace to return from right elbow discomfort to Cleveland's rotation in late June, Williams could be one last rehab start away, which is scheduled for Friday, from making his 2024 debut with the Guardians. The 24-year-old former top prospect belongs on no fantasy waiver wires at this stage of his recovery, carrying a 3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while striking out 81 and walking 37 through 16 starts (82 innings) during his rookie year a season ago.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider on X
6 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu (ankle) will start a minor-league rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, and he is expected to be there for two days. The rookie ran the bases at full speed prior to Saturday's game against the division-rival New York Yankees amid his recovery from a sprained right ankle. If there are no setbacks, the Red Sox could activate him on Friday for the opener of a three-game series in Cincinnati against the Reds. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger has settled in as a fixture in Boston's lineup this year, slashing a sturdy .272/.344/.485 with six home runs, 14 doubles, 22 RBI, and seven stolen bases covering 189 plate appearances in Beantown. With an everyday role in right field awaiting him upon his return, Abreu is worth stashing in most fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoThe Oakland Athletics have designated infielder
J.D. Davis for assignment. If he's not traded by Oakland, he'll become a free agent. Davis was cut by the San Francisco Giants in spring training and soon found a home with the A's, but he's turned in a lackluster .236/.304/.366 triple-slash line, four home runs, four doubles, five RBI, and 12 runs scored over 135 plate appearances (39 games) this season. The red-hot
Tyler Soderstrom should be locked into playing time at first base with Davis out of the mix, and the switch-hitting
Abraham Toro has a clearer pathway to playing time at third base as well. Davis should be able to land on his feet as a veteran bench bat elsewhere, but the 31-year-old will likely be hard-pressed to muster much fantasy relevance.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan - ESPN
6 hours agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Edward Cabrera (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Monday morning in Jupiter, Florida. Cabrera is next scheduled to throw three innings and 50 pitches in Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, and while it's unclear how many appearances he'll need to make on his minor-league rehab assignment, there's a chance he's back with the Marlins before the end of June. The 26-year-old former top prospect exhibits top-flight strikeout upside, as evidenced by his 31 punchouts through 21 1/3 innings from Miami's rotation this season, but his lack of control has helped produce a cringe-inducing 7.17 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over his five starts. Cabrera will be a name to watch during the second half of the season, but he's by no means a must-stash fantasy player.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Kevin Barral -Fish on First
6 hours agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin described first baseman
LaMonte Wade Jr.'s (hamstring) chances for playing in the Rickwood game on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs as "a little longer than we'd hope. Unfortunately, it's probably taking a little longer than he wants." Wade resumed taking batting practice on the field and increased his running progression during the team's series with the Los Angeles Angels this past weekend, but he's unlikely to be ready to return from a strained left hamstring until sometime later in June. The 30-year-old on-base machine's fantasy appeal is muted outside of leagues that weigh walks, but he's certainly worth stashing in those formats, slashing a healthy .333/.470/.426 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 22 runs scored, and one stolen base over 166 plate appearances (52 games) for the Giants in 2024.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Baggarly - The Athletic
6 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Mike Tauchman (groin) left Monday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants with tightness in his left groin. Tauchman immediately called for a trainer after he beat out an infield single in the third inning, and he appeared to be grabbing his groin. The Cubs will likely provide another update after Tauchman is further evaluated sometime in the near future, but consider the outfielder day-to-day. The 33-year-old veteran on-base machine sports limited fantasy appeal, but he's an integral component of Chicago's lineup against right-handed pitching with a .259/.359/.382 triple-slash line, five home runs, 19 RBI, 38 runs scored, and five stolen bases through 256 plate appearances this year. Should Tauchman need to miss an extended period of time,
Pete Crow-Armstrong would get more at-bats against righties while
Patrick Wisdom handles more playing time against lefties.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Sahadev Sharma - The Athletic
7
hours
agoBoston
Red
Sox
shortstop
David
Hamilton
(side)
exited
Monday's
game
against
the
division-rival
Toronto
Blue
Jays
with
left
side
discomfort.
After
grabbing
at
his
side
in
Boston's
dugout
and
going
0-for-2
on
Monday,
Hamilton
left
the
contest
and
was
replaced
by
read more...
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