3 hours agoTampa Bay Rays first baseman
Yandy Diaz (finger) is back at first base and is hitting in his customary leadoff spot for the Rays on Sunday versus the Chicago White Sox and right-hander
Erick Fedde. Diaz left Friday's contest early after being hit on the left pinkie finger with a pitch, and he sat out on Saturday as a precaution. But now that he's back on the field, fantasy managers will want to get the 32-year-old veteran back into their starting lineups in all formats. He's hitting just .241 (26-for-108) on the season so far, but he's been better recently, batting .324 in his last nine ball games. Diaz will be looking for his first home run since going deep on Opening Day. He's never faced Fedde in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 hours agoNew York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez will retreat to the bench on Sunday for the series finale against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez didn't make his 2024 debut with the Mets until Friday night after signing with the club late in spring training and then suffering a back injury while getting ramped up at extended spring training. The 36-year-old veteran right-handed went 3-for-8 in his first two games with an RBI, but he also struck out five times. The Mets plan on easing Martinez back into the fold, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he's on the bench in only his third game back. With Martinez starting on the bench,
DJ Stewart will serve as the team's designated hitter and bat cleanup against Cardinals right-hander
Lance Lynn. The 30-year-old lefty hitter isn't a bad low-cost DFS option on Sunday in the cleanup spot. He's hitting .200 (9-for-45) on the year with three homers and 11 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Tim Healey
3 hours agoDetroit Tigers shortstop
Javier Baez was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Kansas City Royals for undisclosed reasons.
Zach McKinstry is now starting in his place and will hit seventh in the batting order against Royals right-hander
Michael Wacha. Baez will start on the bench after starting the team's previous seven games. If he's dealing with an injury, we'll update you on condition when we get word. The 31-year-old free swinger has been a disappointment pretty much ever since he landed in Detroit in 2022 and he is off to another bad start in 2024, hitting .193/.233/.277 with only one home run, nine RBI, six stolen bases and 21 strikeouts in 90 plate appearances. McKinstry will be a poor sleeper option in DFS at shortstop. He's never faced Wacha in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Tigers
5 hours agoMinnesota Twins first baseman
Carlos Santana went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored in Saturday's 16-5 win over the Angels. The veteran was also hit by a pitch in the contest. The 38-year-old is experiencing a power surge of late, with all three of Santana's home runs coming in the last three games. The former All-Star hit 24 home runs last season, so the pop is certainly still there, but even after the recent resurgence, he's still slashing a paltry .181/.269/.325 on the year and is probably best left on the waiver wire.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Max Kepler hit his first home run of the season in Saturday's 16-5 blowout win over the Angels. The 31-year-old was 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored in the contest. Since returning from injury just over a week ago, Kepler has gone 8-for-19 (.421) with seven RBI, four runs scored, and a 2:2 BB:K over six games. After blasting 24 home runs last season, fantasy managers were hoping for more from the lefty, but hopefully they'll start coming in bunches as he's still putting the bat on the ball at an above-average rate (81.1% Contact%). His HR/FB% has taken a step back though, just 5.6% compared to 16.1% from last season, and a Barrel% of 6.5% compared to last season's 12.2%. If you are buying into the hot streak he's on over the past week, the outfielder is available in 85% of Yahoo leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates closer
David Bednar picked up his fifth save of the season in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Giants. It wasn't without drama though. A day after allowing a walk, two hits, and three earned runs to the Giants, Bednar gave up a two-run home run to
Jorge Soler to lead off the bottom of the tenth inning to bring the Giants within a run. The 29-year-old was able to strike out three of the next four batters to preserve the win. This season has not gone at all to plan for the Pirates closer who was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023. Bednar's ERA has swelled to 11.70 with a 1.60 WHIP and three blown save opportunities to go along with his five saves. His job doesn't seem to be in jeopardy at this point, but the Pirates and fantasy managers alike would relish some clean innings going forward.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes went 2-for-5 with his first home run of the season in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Giants. The home run was a solo shot that came off of Giants lefty reliever
Taylorread more...
6 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Bryan Reynolds blasted an extra-inning go-ahead two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Giants. The switch-hitter went 2-for-5 in the game with the home run breaking a 1-1 tie in the top of the tenth inning. The home run came off of the Giants' LHP
Taylor Rogers and was the first home run of the year that Reynolds has hit off of a lefty with his other three coming off righties. The 29-year-old is having a solid season thus far, posting a .264/.372/.418 slash line with four home runs, 17 RBI, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases, and a strong 14.7% BB% through 28 games.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 hours agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher
Bryan Woo pitched three-and-a-third innings for Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, allowing two hits while striking out six batters and walking none. That marks his second straight strong rehab performance, with two hits, zero earned runs, no walks, and eleven strikeouts in all (six-and-a-third IP). The 24-year-old is expected to make one more start for Tacoma before being evaluated to determine whether or not he's ready to rejoin the Mariners' rotation. Woo is coming off a solid 2023 MLB debut and became somewhat of a fantasy sleeper in the offseason with some additional hype building in the spring after the righty posted an 11:1 K:BB over three Cactus League starts. Managers who held onto Woo should slot him back into their lineups upon his return, and he's rostered in just 65% of Yahoo leagues, so those in need of pitching help would be wise to pick him up off the waiver wire where available.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
15 hours agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Jose Siri was removed from Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox in the third inning due to lack of hustle. According to Rays manager Kevin Cash, Siri was pulled out of the game because he disliked how he went after an
Eloy Jimenez double in the second inning.
Niko Goodrum replaced him for defense in the third inning. Siri went 0-for-1 with a strikeout before being removed. Cash also said he considers the issue over, with no carryover. Siri could be back in the lineup in the series finale. The 28-year-old struggled this season, slashing .179/.270/.269 with a home run, six RBI, nine runs, and six stolen bases over 26 games. Siri is mainly an option in deep leagues until he can turn things around at the plate.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
15 hours agoNew York Yankees utility player
Jon Berti (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Sunday. Berti was placed on the injured list two weeks ago with a left groin strain. The 34-year-old will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday and could be activated from the injured list as soon as next week. He is slashing .211/.250/.211 with an RBI and two runs scored over six games in 2024. Berti qualifies at second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield in most leagues but is mainly a fantasy option in AL-Only or deep-league formats when he returns from the injured list.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
15 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies infielder
Alec Bohm went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI during Saturday's 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres. Bohm extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-run shot off Padres right-hander
Dylan Cease during the top of the first inning. He added a two-run single in the fifth inning, giving him four RBI total on Saturday. The 27-year-old's 11-game hitting streak is the longest active in MLB. He is slashing .354/.434/.596 with four home runs, 26 RBI, 14 runs, and a stolen base over 28 games in 2024. Bohm will look to extend his streak to 12 games on Sunday and is a must-start in all league formats while he's wielding a hot bat.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
15 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies left-hander
Ranger Suarez (5-0) allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out eight over eight innings in Saturday's 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres. Suarez was brilliant on Saturday and picked up his fifth win of the season. The 28-year-old's scoreless inning streak ended 32 2/3 frames after he surrendered a solo shot to
Eguy Rosario in the eighth inning. His breakout season continues as Suarez owns a 1.32 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts over 41 innings in 2024. Suarez will look to continue his impressive season in his next start at home against the San Francisco Giants.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
16 hours agoCincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson (hand) was removed from Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers for precautionary reasons. Stephenson was hit in the right hand by a pitch and replaced in the game by
Luke Maile. The 27-year-old went 1-for-2 with a run scored before being removed. According to Reds manager David Bell, the removal of Stephenson was precautionary. Stephenson avoided a severe injury and could be back for Sunday's series finale against the Rangers. He is slashing .231/.338/.415 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 12 runs, and a stolen base over 23 games in 2024. Stephenson is expected to be fine and solid fantasy option in two-catcher formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Gordon Wittenmyer
16 hours agoChicago White Sox outfielder
Andrew Benintendi went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI during Saturday's 8-7 extra-inning win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Benintendi blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game 3-3. He later logged an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Sox up 6-4. Benintendi blasted the walk-off two-run shot in the bottom of the tenth inning, sending the White Sox to victory. The 29-year-old is slashing .191/.224/.277 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 24 games in 2024. Despite the breakout performance, Benintendi is mainly an option in deep-league formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
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