11 hours agoMinnesota Twins closer
Jhoan Duran (oblique) will make his next appearance on his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, with his outing pushed back a day due to rain on Friday. It's a small hitch in the road for Duran on his way back from a strained right oblique, as he still figures to have a chance re-enter Minnesota's bullpen and be activated from the injured list as early as Monday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Right-hander
Griffin Jax's run as manager Rocco Baldelli's preferred ninth-inning man appears to be nearing a close, but he's submitted a strong 2.53 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 15:3 K:BB in 10 2/3 innings while converting four of his five save chances for the Twins in Duran's stead. Fantasy managers should look to sell high on Jax while his value is still heightened.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Betsy Helfand - St. Paul Pioneer Press
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
John Means (forearm) will make another minor-league rehab appearance on Sunday, and he should then join the big-league roster soon after. It's been a lengthy stint with Triple-A Norfolk for Means, who will make his sixth and final start before rejoining Baltimore's rotation to make his 2024 regular-season debut in Week 5 of fantasy baseball. He would appear set to get the ball sometime next weekend during a three-game set on the road with the Cincinnati Reds, which is a far less favorable environment for his first start off the injured list then if he were throwing at home against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Veteran right-hander
Albert Suarez has launched 11 1/3 scoreless frames with nine strikeouts in two starts for the O's and will now take the hill in Sunday's tasty matchup instead, making him a strong pickup to wrap up Week 4.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jacob Calvin Meyer - The Baltimore Sun
11 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Frankie Montas (forearm) is expected to throw off a mound this weekend, according to manager David Bell. Montas is progressing in his recovery from a right forearm contusion and is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list on May 7, but it's unknown if he'll need a brief rehab assignment before rejoining Cincy's rotation. The 31-year-old former ace carries an uninspiring 4.19 ERA (5.26 FIP), 1.44 WHIP, and 14:10 K:BB across 19 1/3 innings (five starts), and fantasy managers in shallow mixed leagues might be able to find stronger options as a stash. Veteran swingman
Nick Martinez should receive at least two more starts for the Reds until Montas becomes available again, but he has just a 5.48 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 17 punchouts in 23 frames (five appearances) and won't be a convincing streamer in Tuesday's scheduled road start against the San Diego Padres.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Justin Steele (hamstring) threw 47 pitches in 2 1/3 innings in an extended spring game on Friday in Arizona. Steele will continue his rehab program there for now, but pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said on Thursday that the hurler should be able to start shifting into a five-day routine following his recent period of building up his workload. The 28-year-old star left-hander is recuperating from a strained left hamstring, and while it's unclear how long his rehab stint will last, Steele might be able to get back into Chicago's rotation in early May if all continues to go well in his recovery. Rookie right-hander
Ben Brown has shown some promise with a 3.72 ERA (2.88 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB over 19 1/3 innings (six appearances) for the Cubs, and he'll be a decent streaming option for fantasy managers in Saturday's scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) resumed his rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Jacksonville, giving up two runs on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts in three innings. It was a 59-pitch outing out of Garrett, who is on the mend in his recovery from a left shoulder impingement after a bout of dead arm. While his next start is not going to come with the major-league roster, Garrett should be an option for Miami's banged-up rotation and fantasy managers in early May, barring any setbacks. Last year, the 26-year-old left-hander recorded a 3.66 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a remarkable 156:29 K:BB through 159 2/3 innings (31 appearances) and should be stashed in the majority of fantasy leagues. Unless the Marlins recall top prospect
Max Meyer from the minor leagues, look for former top prospect
Sixto Sanchez to get another turn as a starter in Tuesday's favorable home matchup with the Colorado Rockies.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Alex Krutchik - Fish On First
12 hours agoMiami Marlins third baseman
Jake Burger (oblique) completed a full on-field workout ahead of Friday's game versus the division-rival Washington Nationals, throwing across the diamond for the first time since suffering a strained left oblique. Burger still has to progress to batting practice on the machine, but it's encouraging to see he's improving in his recovery. The 28-year-old infielder was slashing .228/.281/.421 with three home runs, two doubles, 15 RBI, and eight runs scored over 64 plate appearances (16 games) before heading to the injured list, and he's tracking toward a minor-league rehab assignment in early May and a return to the Marlins sometime in the middle of May. In Burger's stead,
Emmanuel Rivera has served as Miami's primary third baseman but isn't producing enough to warrant consideration for a roster spot in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola - MLB.com
12 hours agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks announced that starting pitcher
Zac Gallen (hamstring) left Friday's start against the Seattle Mariners due to tightness in his right hamstring. Before exiting, Gallen surrendered three runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts over five innings of work. He was pulled from the game after his 64th pitch in the sixth inning and relieved by
Scott McGough. Although the extent of the setback won't be known until Gallen is evaluated further, the D-backs and fantasy managers should be relieved the ace isn't dealing with an injury to his throwing arm. It remains to be seen if Gallen will need a trip to the injured list, or if he'll just need his next turn in the rotation skipped, but his next start is tentatively slated for Wednesday's series finale versus the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The 28-year-old workhorse right-hander owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 35:9 K:BB over 32 frames (six starts) this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks on X
12 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, and the team will likely have him appear in another rehab game if all goes well there. There was some optimism that Sewald's next appearance would come for the major-league club, but it sounds like fantasy managers will have to wait a few more days before the hurler is reinstated from the 15-day injured list due to a strained left oblique. Look for the 33-year-old right-hander to re-enter Arizona's bullpen and reclaim his closing gig sometime during Week 5 of fantasy baseball, which begins on Monday with a three-game series versus the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Righty
Kevin Ginkel owns a solid 3.48 ERA (2.85 FIP), 1.16 WHIP, and 11:2 K:BB with four saves through 10 1/3 innings, but fantasy managers should be trying to make other arrangements for saves before he reverts to a setup role upon Sewald's return.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Blake Snell (groin) resumed playing catch on flat ground on Friday, which is a good sign for a player who is dealing with a multi-week absence due to a strained left groin. Snell believes he can rejoin San Fran's rotation right around May 7, when he's first eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list. The 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young Award winner has obviously been a massive fantasy bust with an 11.57 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, and 12:5 K:BB through 11 2/3 innings (three starts), but his elite strikeout upside when healthy means he can't be jettisoned to any waiver wires. In the interim, former second-round pick
Sean Hjelle may be needed as a starter for the Giants and has a 5.79 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with two punchouts and one walk in 4 2/3 frames this year. He'd line up for a decent matchup with the Boston Red Sox at some point next week in this case.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Alex Pavlovic - NBC Sports Bay Area
13 hours agoThere is no timetable yet on Seattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique), but general manager Justin Hollander said the team doesn't anticipate him being ready by the time he's eligible to be activated from the injured list. In a best-case scenario, it sounds like Crawford will be out at least two to three weeks with a Grade 1 right-oblique strain. The Mariners aren't going to rush the 29-year-old shortstop back with an injury that isn't easy to come back from, even if it's the least-severe variety. It's been a rough year so far for Crawford, as he's hit just .198 (17-for-86) with two home runs, nine RBI and 13 runs scored in his first 22 games. Until he's able to return,
Dylan Moore should see most of the playing time at the 6 and will have elevated short-term fantasy value in deeper leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
14 hours agoTampa Bay Rays first baseman
Yandy Diaz (hand) was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning and was subsequently removed.
Niko Goodrum pinch-ran for the 32-year-old after he was hit. Diaz took a 99 mph fastball from White Sox pitcher
Michael Kopech to his hand as the Rays worked to dig themselves out of a 7-3 hole. Diaz had put together a decent day at the plate before exiting, going 1-2 with two walks. If Diaz is to miss any time, then the beneficiaries of his absence will be
Austin Shenton and Goodrum. Shenton has slashed .143/.217/.238 on the season, and Goodrum has slashed .167/.286/.452. Neither option is great from a fantasy perspective, but Shenton has generally been the starter when Diaz gets rest. Prioritize Shenton if you're looking directly for a replacement from the Rays, but there are likely better options you can snag off the waiver wire.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Evan Closky
14 hours agoNew York Yankees center fielder
Jasson Dominguez (elbow) increased his throwing length to 135 feet and is "a few weeks away" from beginning to play in minor-league rehab games, per Yankees manager Aaron Boone. The 21-year-old has been recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in September of 2023. With an anticipated recovery time of nine to 10 months, Dominguez is on track to be back around the All-Star break. The Yankees outfield is a bit crowded, but if Dominguez can replicate his .980 OPS from 2023, then he should be able to find a spot alongside
Aaron Judge and
Juan Soto. Fantasy managers needing a late-season stash should keep an eye on Dominguez's progress, especially if his rehab starts go well.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
14 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) has been held back from throwing activities the last few days as he's still experiencing soreness in his shoulder. He is scheduled to see Dr. Ken Akizuki Friday night. Cobb had been working his way back from a hip surgery he had in October and started to experience some setbacks after throwing a bullpen session a few weeks ago. The 36-year-old won't be eligible to come off the injured list until late May, but these setbacks may push his return further into June. This isn't the news the Giants wanted to hear after needing to put newly acquired
Blake Snell on the 15-day injured list this week. Cobb will have a rotation spot available for him when he returns, but fantasy managers and Giants fans will need to exercise patience for a couple more months for that moment.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Maria Guardado
14 hours agoSan Francisco Giants second baseman
Thairo Estrada (hamstring) is not in the Giants' lineup for their Friday night tilt against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Estrada was removed from Wednesday's game against the Mets after dealing with hamstring tightness. As of now, Estrada is considered day-to-day. The 28-year-old is slashing .232/.253/.400 on the year so his impact to the Giants and fantasy managers' lineups may be fairly negligible.
Tyler Fitzgerald is getting the start in his place and will bat eighth. Should Estrada return this weekend he would see
Martin Perez on Saturday and Pirates rookie
Jared Jones on Sunday.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Maria Guardado
15 hours agoKansas City Royals third baseman
Maikel Garcia hit two singles, drew a walk, drove in two runs and scored a run in the Royals' 8-0 win on Friday. Garcia now has multiple hits in four of his last seven games, a good sign after going through a bit of a slump over the past couple weeks. The 24-year-old is now hitting for a .651 OPS and has 18 RBI on the season. If Garcia is able to avoid another major slump, then he may be someone fantasy managers want to keep on their radar as an option to stash on their bench. Garcia will get matchups against
Casey Mize on Saturday and Tigers ace
Tarik Skubal on Sunday.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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