4 hours agoToronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette (calf) remains out of the starting lineup on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Guardians for the second straight day due to right-calf soreness. It's not a serious injury for Bichette, but the Blue Jays want to rest the 26-year-old for at least a few days. Fantasy managers will need to check back to see if he's available for Monday's series opener against the visiting Boston Red Sox. The two-time All-Star has struggled to this point in 2024, hitting .237 (61-for-257) with four home runs, 28 RBI and four stolen bases in 66 games played. The underlying numbers show that Bichette should eventually turn things around if he's healthy, but fantasy managers are still waiting for that to happen. With Bichette sitting again Sunday,
Isiah Kiner-Falefa will draw the start at the 6 and will hit eighth against Guardians right-hander
Ben Lively.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
4 hours agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Jesse Winker (knee) said that the MRI exam on his right knee showed no structural damage. He is stiff but thinks he'll be good to go with a couple days of rest. Winker injured his knee while running the bases on Saturday and will sit out on Sunday against the visiting Miami Marlins on Father's Day. The Nationals have a scheduled off day on Monday, so there's a chance the 30-year-old left-handed-swinging veteran will be ready to play again on Tuesday for the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With Winker out on Sunday,
Ildemaro Vargas is starting in left field and batting fifth against Marlins left-hander
Jesus Luzardo. After a terrible year in 2023, Winker has bounced back in 2024 with the Nats and has gone 17-for-44 (.386) with seven RBI in 14 games in the month of June. He's already swiped a career-high 11 bags as well.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
4 hours agoTampa Bay Rays middle infielder
Jose Caballero (illness) is back at shortstop and is batting ninth for the Rays on Sunday on Father's Day against the hosting Atlanta Braves and rookie right-hander
Hurston Waldrep. Caballero was forced from Friday's game early in Atlanta and also sat out on Saturday, but he's feeling better and will return on Sunday for the series finale. The 27-year-old should continue to see plenty of playing time at the 6, but
Taylor Walls has seen some action at the position since making his season debut recently. Caballero is mostly useful in fantasy leagues for his speed, as he currently leads baseball with 22 stolen bases while also batting .250/.313/.368 with four homers, 20 RBI and 30 runs scored for Tampa. He has little DFS upside in the nine-hole on Sunday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) will be activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday for the start of a series at home against the visiting San Diego Padres, according to manager Rob Thomson. Turner has made excellent progress since landing on the IL on May 4 with a left-hamstring strain and will be able to return to the Phillies without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 30-year-old All-Star could be a little rusty upon his return, but he needs to be reinserted into starting fantasy lineups in all single-year leagues on Monday. With Turner's return coming next week,
Edmundo Sosa will return to a bench role as a utility infielder. Turner had some good fortune early on before his injury and was hitting an electric .343 (47-for-137) with two home runs, nine RBI and 10 stolen bases in 33 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
6 hours agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run and two walks in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Rays. It was the second consecutive game with a home run and with three RBI. Many of Riley's peripheral stats remain nearly unchanged year-over-year, such as K%, BB%, Contact%, and chase rate, so it is a bit surprising to see such a low .233/.304/.372 slashline. His bat typically heats up with the weather though, with July and August being his two best months for batting average (career .295 in those months) so perhaps this is the beginning of one of his hot streaks.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
7 hours agoHouston Astros outfielder
Chas McCormick went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 13-5 loss to the Tigers. It was McCormick's first home run of the season and the three RBI account for 25% of his RBI total on the season (12). It has been a disappointing season for the 29-year-old after hitting .273 with 22 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and posting a 133 wRC+ last season. The right-handed hitter has tallied a .209-1-12-10-3 line through 36 games this season with a .255 wOBA and 64 wRC+. Until he heats up, McCormick will be off the fantasy radar in redraft leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
7 hours agoLos Angeles Angels closer
Carlos Estevez struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Giants to secure his 12th save of the season. It was the sixth consecutive appearance where Estevez did not allow a run, a hit, or a walk. The outing brings his season ERA to 3.68 with a 0.91 WHIP and 22.6% K-BB%. He's seemingly firmed up his grip on the role after looking shaky during a seven-game stretch from mid-April to mid-May that saw him blow three saves.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
7 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers closer
Trevor Megill picked up his 12th save of the season in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Reds. Megill walked
Elly De La Cruz to start the ninth inning, who promptly stole second and then scored on
Jeimer Candelario's double. That was the extent of the damage, however, as the 30-year-old was able to record three consecutive outs after that. Megill has been solid for the Brewers this season, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, a 23.2% K-BB%, 12 saves, three holds, and just one blown save. He only needs to hold down the role for about another month as
Devin Williams is expected back sometime after the All-Star break.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
8 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals. The switch-hitter also walked once in the contest. The outburst was a bright spot in what has otherwise been a poor month of June for Happ. The 29-year-old is now just 8-for-41 (.195) over 12 games this month, although he has been able to continue to get on base via the walk (14.0% BB% in June; 12.8% in 2024). For the season, he's got a .218-7-33-32-5 line with a .316 wOBA and 106 wRC+.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
8 hours agoAccording to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, there is a "high probability" that starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be placed on the 15-Day IL, although an official decision will not be made until after he's been examined by team doctors on Sunday. Yamamoto exited Saturday's start early, lasting just two innings before being removed due to what has been characterized as forearm tightness. Losing Yamamoto for an extended time would be a big blow to the Dodgers' rotation, as he's been excellent this season, pitching to a 6-2 record, 2.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 22.3% K-BB%.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Mike DiGiovanna
9 hours agoWashington Nationals first baseman
Joey Meneses had a productive night in a 4-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday. Meneses went 1-for-3 with a homer and three RBI to help propel Washington to the win over the Marlins. The 32-year-old first baseman got the Nats on the board with a first-inning sacrifice fly before he later ripped a two-run homer in the eighth inning to provide a couple of insurance runs for his team. Meneses is now hitting .244 with three homers, 16 runs, 36 RBI, and two stolen bases over 217 at-bats in 2024. He's been swinging a hot bat of late, hitting .318 with six RBI over his past seven contests.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers third baseman
Joey Ortiz played the hero in a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Ortiz went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer to provide all the offense needed for his team in the win. The 25-year-old ripped a ball over the fence in the fifth inning, a blast that traveled 398 feet and had an exit velocity of 101.2 MPH. After his Saturday heroics, Ortiz is now hitting .281 with six homers, 26 runs, 27 RBI, and four steals over 178 at-bats. Ortiz is providing the kind of well-rounded production that makes him a quality fantasy asset in most leagues moving forward.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Heliot Ramos had a big game in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. Ramos went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a homer, and three RBI to provide all of the Giants' offense in the loss. The speedy outfielder hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added an RBI double in the fifth to complete the scoring for San Francisco. Ramos is putting together an excellent season for the Giants, hitting .325 with seven doubles, eight homers, 15 runs, 30 RBI, and one stolen base across 126 at-bats. He has been red-hot at the plate over his past 15 games, hitting .386 with six homers and 18 RBI over that span. Ramos should be owned in all fantasy leagues while he is seeing the ball well at the plate.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoAtlanta Braves right-hander
Charlie Morton turned in a quality start in a 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. Morton tossed six innings of one-run ball while striking out eight and walking two to improve his record to 4-3 on the season. The 40-year-old hurler had it going on Saturday against his former team, picking up an impressive 22 swinging strikes in the start. Morton now has a 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts over 72 2/3 innings of work in 2024. He will look to stay hot in his next scheduled start, which is set for Saturday against the New York Yankees on the road.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoAtlanta Braves DH
Marcell Ozuna had a big night in a 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. Ozuna went 3-for-5 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI to help power Atlanta to the win. The veteran's two-run homer off
Ryan Pepiot came in the fifth inning and traveled 423 feet with an exit velocity of 105.8 MPH. Ozuna is having an excellent season for the Braves, hitting .327 with 20 homers, 43 runs, and 62 RBI across 254 at-bats. The 33-year-old should be locked into fantasy lineups as he has been red-hot at the plate of late, hitting .414 with two homers and seven RBI over his past seven contests.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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