11 hours agoUpdating a previous report, Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that X-rays came back negative on right-hander
Alec Marsh (elbow, forearm) after he was forced to leave his start early on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays when he was hit by a comebacker on his right elbow/forearm in the fifth inning. Marsh was in a lot of pain initially, but the feeling came back in his arm quickly after he was pulled. "We feel like we got pretty lucky. Everything is good. X-rays are negative," Quatraro said. The 25-year-old could still be forced to miss his next scheduled start on Monday against these same Blue Jays, but it's obviously good news he avoided any kind of fracture in his arm. Before leaving on Wednesday, Marsh tossed 4 1/3 shutout innings with two hits allowed, two walks and only one strikeout to drop his season ERA to a strong 2.70.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Joel Goldberg
11 hours agoKansas City Royals closer
James McArthur continued cementing his status atop the club's bullpen hierarchy in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, collecting his sixth save of the season after fanning two hitters in a clean ninth inning to preserve the victory. McArthur was summoned to sit down the lower part of Toronto's batting order and made the game a bit interesting by letting pinch-hitter
Justin Turner reach on a single to get the tying run aboard, but he prevented things from getting out of hand. The big 27-year-old right-hander is starting to leave veteran
William Smith in the dust when it comes to handling save opportunities for the Royals going forward, as he's now rattled off eight consecutive scoreless appearances while going 6-for-6 on save chances over his last 9 2/3 frames since April 5. There's no reason for McArthur to be on any fantasy waiver wires at this point.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Joe Ryan tossed a quality start in Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the division-rival Chicago White Sox, striking out eight hitters while giving up three runs on four hits (two home runs) and one walk for the win. After hurling two clean opening innings, Ryan yielded a couple of solo homers to the seventh and ninth batters in Chicago's lineup during the third before
Braden Shewmake stole home in the fifth to tack on another score. The 27-year-old star right-hander is off to a fine start in the 2024 regular season, posting a 3.77 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a spectacular 38:4 K:BB over 28 2/3 frames (five starts). Up next for Ryan is another scheduled appearance on Monday against the White Sox, who are now slashing an anemic .189/.263/.292 as a team with an MLB-low 53 runs scored through 24 outings.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor put together his most productive outing of the season in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants, racking up four hits in five at-bats with two home runs. Although Lindor has been one of fantasy's biggest busts over the first month of action, he looked the part of an early-round fantasy pick on Wednesday. He homered to deep right center to score leadoff man
Brandon Nimmo in the third inning and get New York into the scoring column, later sinking the Giants with another two-run jack in the ninth to make it an 8-1 ballgame. The 30-year-old Silver Slugger is now slashing .206/.291/.361 with four taters, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored, and one stolen base through 110 plate appearances (24 games) ahead of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals starting on Friday. Last season, Lindor hit .375 (9-for-24) with one homer, two doubles, five RBI, and two thefts in seven games against St. Louis.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani enjoyed a big day at the dish in Wednesday's 11-3 rout of the Washington Nationals, going 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Each of Ohtani's hits were doubles on Wednesday, with his final two two-baggers bringing
Mookie Betts around for some insurance scores late in the contest. After this three-hit attack, the 29-year-old two-time American League MVP raised his triple-slash line to .371/.433/.695 to go with six home runs, 16 RBI, an MLB-leading 14 doubles, 22 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 121 plate appearances (26 games) in the 2024 regular season. After Thursday's series finale in Washington, Ohtani faces off with the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set starting on Friday. In 20 games versus the Jays since 2021, Ohtani is batting .319 (22-for-69) with seven blasts, five doubles, 18 RBI, and 16 runs scored.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles shortstop
Gunnar Henderson stuffed the stat sheet in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBI, and a stolen base. Henderson first homered to get the O's on the board in the third inning. After leading off the fifth with a double, he hit a two-run single in the sixth before stealing a base in the eighth to put the cherry on top of a wonderful day in Anaheim. The 22-year-old reigning American League Rookie of the Year might be getting even better in his third season, now slashing a robust .309/.373/.649 with eight round-trippers, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and five pilfers atop Baltimore's high-powered lineup. Henderson has a great chance to stay hot during a home series with the Oakland Athletics starting on Friday, as he's batting .371 (13-for-40) with two bombs, five doubles, five RBI, and 11 runs scored in nine career games against the A's.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoDetroit Tigers outfield prospect
Max Clark went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, two walks, and a run scored on Wednesday for Single-A Lakeland. Clark extended his hit streak to seven games, also collecting at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 games, and reaching base via hit or walk in all but one of his 15 games. Not too shabby for a 19-year-old. He's now batting .304-1-13-9-4 to begin the year. Per MLB.com, Clark is Detroit's top prospect after being selected third overall in the 2023 draft, but his ETA to the majors isn't until 2026, so he's off the redraft radar for now. Dynasty managers should be keeping an eye on him though, as he's the No. 12 overall ranked prospect in all of baseball, and a debut in 2025 isn't out of the question.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout went deep for the second time in as many days in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the visiting Baltimore Orioles, homering to deep left in the sixth inning. Trout's solo shot got the Halos on the board, but their late comeback attempt fell just short. The 32-year-old perennial Silver Slugger is rewarding those who took the gamble on his discounted ADP during fantasy drafts, slashing a powerful .237/.321/.598 with an MLB-leading 10 big flies, 13 RBI, five stolen bases, and 16 runs scored in 97 at-bats (25 outings). If he stays healthy, Trout should have no problem returning early-round value the rest of the way no matter where he's placed in Anaheim's lineup. He'll get a day off before a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins begins on Friday, and Trout is batting .400 (8-for-20) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI, and six runs scored in six games versus the Twins since 2021.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge launched his fourth home run of the 2024 regular season in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the visiting Oakland Athletics, adding a single in the fourth inning. Judge's blast was a 394-foot shot to deep right center that scored fellow slugging superstar
Juan Soto, giving New York an early 2-0 advantage. The 31-year-old former American League MVP is still off to a sluggish start at the dish after being slowed by injury during spring training, slashing .191/.319/.383 with four homers, six doubles, 13 RBI, and one stolen base in 25 games. Following Thursday's series finale against Oakland, Judge will get the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game weekend set on the road starting on Friday. In six games versus the Brewers since 2022, Judge is batting .409 (9-for-22) with two long balls, four RBI, and six runs scored.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoWhen asked by Rich Eisen if he has any idea on where he's going to end up in this week's NFL draft, Michigan quarterback
J.J. McCarthy hinted at the New York Giants, who currently own the No. 6 overall pick in the first round on Thursday night. "I have somewhat of an Idea, New York, #Giants, I've spent the most time with. They're a phenomenal staff," McCarthy said. The young QB's stock has been rising rapidly ever since his pro-day workout. Reports suggest the Giants and Vikings could be in a raise to trade up to select McCarthy, who is attractive because of his experience running a pro-style offense in college. With
Daniel Jones (knee) coming off a torn ACL and with no guaranteed money owed to him beyond 2024, the G-Men have done their due diligence on QBs in this year's draft and feel like a lock to take one at some point this week.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rich Eisen Show
12 hours agoChicago Cubs second baseman prospect
James Triantos went 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs on Tuesday for Double-A Tennessee, extending his mini-hit streak to four games. He also drove in three and scored three times in the contest. That brings his season line to .296-3-10-11-4. Triantos spent most of 2023 at High-A but played three games at Double-A at the end of the regular season. He had a phenomenal showing in the 2023 Arizona Fall League in which he batted .417 with the second-most hits during the campaign at 35, while also stealing nine bases in 22 games. A good spring that extends into summer should get him to Triple-A this year, but Gold Glove second baseman
Nico Hoerner currently blocks his path to the majors. Regardless, he'll likely make it there sometime in 2025, so dynasty managers should be keeping tabs on him.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
12 hours agoBoston Red Sox shortstop prospect
Marcelo Mayer hit his second home run of the season on Wednesday for Double-A Portland. It was part of a three-hit day, going 3-for-4 including a double, a home run, a walk, an RBI, and three runs scored. After recording a hit in his first 10 games of the season, Mayer went into a mini-slump, going 1-for-15 over his next three games, but busted out in a big way Wednesday. The 21-year-old is now slashing .317/.344/.500 with two home runs, eight RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The walk rate could use some improvement, with a 3.4% BB% and 3:16 BB:K, but 2024 has been a success so far after hitting just .189 in 43 games at Double-A a year ago. The former first-round draft pick should be on the radar of all dynasty managers and will likely get some MLB at-bats at some point this season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
12 hours agoTexas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (shin) was hit by a pitch on the left shin in the seventh inning on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners and was removed as a precaution after staying in to run the bases. Before hitting the showers early, Seager was 0-for-2 at the plate with a walk and the hit-by-pitch. He was replaced in the field by
Davis Wendzel. The 29-year-old's injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but fantasy managers should be prepared to be without him for the day game on Thursday in the series finale against the M's. Seager came into Wednesday's contest hitting .262 (22-for-84) with only one home run and six RBI in his first 21 games, but he's hit just .192 in his last seven games, so he could probably use the day off on Thursday anyway.
UPDATE: Seager was diagnosed with a left-shin contusion.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
12 hours agoMinnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Naz Reid was named the Sixth Man of the Year for the 2023-24 season on Wednesday. Reid, who signed a three-year, $42 million extension with the club last offseason, averaged a career-high 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 41.4% from deep in 81 appearances. Without question, he will play a vital role in Minnesota's rotation for years to come, and his fantasy stock will be significantly higher heading into the 2024-25 campaign after capturing the award.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Communications
13 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers pitching prospect
Jacob Misiorowski finally looked like the pitcher we were expecting to see when the season opened up, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-hit ball for Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday. The 22-year-old did not allow a run while walking one batter and striking out seven. The righty had walked 11 batters over his first three starts, so it was good to see his command get back on track. He now has 22 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings on the young season and figures to see some Triple-A action sooner rather than later if he can string together a couple more good starts. The Brewers' top pitching prospect has the ability to be a front-of-the-rotation piece if he can keep the walks to a minimum, but at 6-foot-7 and with a fastball that can touch 100 mph, he could also be a closer. Either way, dynasty managers should keep a close eye on his ascent.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoNew York Knicks center
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is questionable ahead of Thursday's postseason game against the 76ers. Robinson was two points shy of a double-double in Game 1. He also had four blocks in that one. However, things were different in Game 2, with the 26-year-old finishing with just one point and four boards. With that said, he could be limited even if he's cleared to suit up, meaning DFS managers may want to keep him out of their lineups. Instead,
Isaiah Hartenstein, amassing 14 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks on Monday night, should be the preferred fantasy option.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
13 hours agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) is questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Knicks. The 30-year-old reaggravated the injury to his surgically repaired left knee in Game 1, forcing him to exit the contest briefly before returning. But despite carrying a questionable designation ahead of Game 2, Embiid was on the floor and finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in 39 minutes of action. At any rate, he should be listed as probable, considering the Sixers hope to avoid going down three games in this series. However, if Embiid can't go,
Paul Reed and
Mo Bamba will split time in the middle.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
13 hours agoNew York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu (foot), who was pulled from a minor-league rehab game early on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, still has swelling in his injured right foot. He will be shut down from baseball activities for the next seven days and then be re-evaluated. LeMahieu was set to play fewer than five rehab games in the minors before being activated from the injured list for his 2024 debut with the Yankees, but that's not going to happen now. The 35-year-old veteran is struggling to return from a fractured right foot and will now need to rest some more before trying to restart his rehab assignment. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see LeMahieu now until around mid-May.
Oswaldo Cabrera has benefitted from a regular role at third base in the Bronx as a result and was hitting .278 (20-for-72) with three homers, 14 RBI and 11 runs heading into Wednesday's contest.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Erik Boland
13 hours agoOakland Athletics infielder
Zack Gelof (oblique) has been diagnosed with a left-oblique strain and is likely to land on the injured list. Gelof was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the New York Yankees due to abdominal soreness, but further tests revealed that the 24-year-old is dealing with a strained oblique and he will need at least 10 days off. The former second-round pick in 2021 out of Virginia has gotten off to a slow start in 2024 in his second year in the big leagues by going 18-for-92 (.196) with three home runs, seven RBI and four stolen bases in 24 games after slashing .267/.337/.504 with an .840 OPS, 14 home runs, 32 RBI and 14 steals in his first 69 big-league games in 2024.
Abraham Toro got the start at second for the A's on Wednesday and figures to see more playing time there moving forward with Gelof headed for the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
13 hours agoKansas City Royals right-hander
Alec Marsh (elbow, forearm) left his start on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays after being hit on the right elbow/forearm area on a comebacker up the middle. It did not look good, and Marsh appeared to be in a significant amount of pain. Before leaving the game, Marsh threw 4 1/3 shutout innings with two hits allowed, two walks and only one strikeout in what would be a no-decision in the 3-2 loss. It's being called a right-forearm contusion for Marsh for now, but he's surely to undergo X-rays and is in danger of missing his next start or landing on the injured list. The 25-year-old's ERA is down to 2.70 on the season after shutting Toronto out for 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday. Check back for an update on his condition later on Wednesday or on Thursday morning.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
13 hours agoMiami Heat center
Bam Adebayo logged a team-high 40 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Boston Celtics. He looked good in this one, finishing with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double. The C's have had issues with Adebayo during this series, with the 26-year-old averaging 22.5 points and shooting 61.3% from the field. With that in mind, the C's will likely adjust heading into Game 3 on Saturday, so everyone on the Heat roster could be in for a long night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
13 hours agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (toe) ran the bases as part of his workout on Wednesday. He appears to still be moving around well and is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Friday. Albies is recovering from a fractured right big toe that he suffered on April 16 and continues to make good progress. There's a chance the 27-year-old is activated when eligible on Friday to rejoin the lineup for the start of a series against the Cleveland Guardians without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Albies has already been fielding ground balls and swinging a bat.
Luis Guillorme and
David Fletcher have been splitting time at the keystone for the Braves with Albies out. Fantasy managers will want to get Albies back into their starting lineups right away if he returns this weekend, as he was hitting .317 (20-for-63) with two homers, 14 RBI and two steals before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
13 hours agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis had trouble getting anything going in Wednesday's loss to the Heat. The veteran scored just six points, the fewest of anyone in the starting lineup, going 1-for-9 from the field while missing all four tries from deep. Fortunately, he added eight boards, three steals, and two blocks, so his evening wasn't a total flop for DFS managers. With that in mind, Porzingis averaged 20.3 points against the Heat during the regular season, meaning he could easily turn things around on Saturday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
13 hours agoBoston Celtics forward
Jayson Tatum scored 28 points in Wednesday's matchup with the Heat. While
Jaylen Brown had a game-high 33 points, Tatum still had a solid outing. His shooting numbers haven't been the best through the first two games of this series. However, he's made up for it in other statistical areas. Unfortunately, Tatum efforts weren't enough, with the Heat stealing a win. With the series tied at a game each, both teams will meet on Saturday night in Miami. The 26-year-old played well against the Heat during the regular season, and he should continue to see plenty of minutes, which is always ideal for DFS purposes.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
13 hours agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the division-rival Texas Rangers in Arlington due to soreness in his right oblique. There's no word from the M's on the severity of the injury, but it might be fair to expect Crawford to get another day off during the series finale on Thursday. The 29-year-old on-base machine's fantasy value has been more noticeable in leagues that count walks, as evidenced by his .198/.296/.302 triple-slash line with two home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs scored over 98 plate appearances (22 games) during the 2024 regular season. Super-utility player
Dylan Moore drew the start at short in Crawford's stead on Wednesday, and he can steal bases in bunches when given playing time. In fact, Moore already has four swipes across 15 games and is worth a speculative add for those in need of speed.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners Public Relations
13 hours agoBoston Celtics guard/forward
Jaylen Brown had a game-high 33 points in Wednesday's postseason meeting with Miami. He added eight rebounds, one steal, and one block. The 27-year-old had 17 points in Game 1, so his offensive outburst was appreciated by DFS managers. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as the Celtics would go on to lose this one on their home turf. With the series knotted at one game each, both clubs will meet on Saturday night in South Beach. Of course, Brown will be a coveted DFS Option, although he may have a tough time matching his production from Game 2.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
14 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander
A.J. Puk (shoulder) will pitch out of the bullpen when he returns to the major-league roster, according to manager Skip Schumaker. The experiment as a starter in Miami's rotation was a failed one for Puk, who is nursing fatigue in his left shoulder following just four appearances and holds a dismal 9.22 ERA, 2.63 WHIP, and a 12:17 K:BB over 13 2/3 innings. Although Puk's return timetable from the issue remains unclear, this development is bad news for the rest-of-season outlook of closer
Tanner Scott, who is going to have some competition for ninth-inning work when Puk is eventually reinstated from the 15-day injured list. With Scott carrying a 3.38 ERA (5.88 FIP) and 1.68 WHIP while striking out 10 hitters and walking 12 through his first 10 2/3 frames of the 2024 regular season, it probably behooves fantasy managers to field some sell-high trade offers after Puk picked up 15 saves in 2023.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola - MLB.com
14 hours agoUpdating a previous report, Oakland Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (abdomen) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx due to soreness in his left abdomen. Gelof, who was originally included in Oakland's starting lineup, was a late scratch and was on the bench for the first time in the 2024 regular season. It sounds like a minor issue that should leave Gelof day-to-day ahead of Thursday's series finale at Yankee Stadium. After a breakout rookie year in 2023, the 28-year-old former second-round pick has taken a step back in the early portion of this season while slashing .196/.260/.337 with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 92 at-bats (24 games). Gelof's fantasy value might continue to drop if he continues batting sixth in a poor A's lineup, which he's done in each of his past three appearances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos - MLB.com
14 hours agoMiami Heat guard
Tyler Herro scored a team-high 24 points in Wednesday's shocking win over the Boston Celtics. He struggled in Game 1 of this series. However, the 24-year-old turned things around in Game 2, going 6-for-11 from deep and adding 14 assists. With
Terry Rozier (neck) and
Jimmy Butler (knee) out of commission, the offense will continue to run through Herro. Of course, the Celtics will make adjustments for Game 3 on Saturday, so the 2019 No. 13 overall pick could have difficulty remaining as productive as he was on Wednesday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
14 hours agoSan Francisco Giants second baseman
Thairo Estrada (hamstring) exited Wednesday's loss to the visiting New York Mets in the sixth inning due to tightness in his left hamstring after going hitless in two at-bats. Estrada wanted to stay in the game before
Jung Hoo Lee replaced him, so it doesn't seem like he's dealing with a significant injury at this time. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and perhaps San Fran's day off on Thursday will be enough to prevent Estrada from missing any additional time. The 28-year-old veteran infielder is batting only .232 (22-for-95) with nine extra-base hits, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, and zero stolen bases through 26 outings, and his fantasy value will remain diminished until he can climb his way up the Giants' batting order.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser - San Francisco Chronicle
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