8 hours agoDetroit Tigers third baseman
Gio Urshela (hamstring) was cleared to resume baseball activities on Tuesday. After suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain in Friday's win over the Minnesota Twins, Urshela was able to do some straight-line running drills on Tuesday. The fact that the 32-year-old defensive-minded infielder is already progressing from the injury means he should be able to return to the Tigers in early May. Although Urshela was hitting for a .298 batting average (17-for-57) before going down, he has just two extra-base hits and six RBI over 18 games in Detroit's weak lineup and is not a recommended stash in the majority of fantasy leagues. Utility man
Matt Vierling will handle the lion's share of the reps at third base until Urshela is back healthy, but fantasy managers can do better on waiver wires.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Chris McCosky
8 hours agoNew York Mets catcher
Francisco Alvarez (thumb) underwent surgery to address the injury to the UCL in his left thumb on Tuesday. A typical return to play takes approximately eight weeks, which lines up with the club's original timetable after Alvarez tore a ligament in his left thumb in Friday's win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 22-year-old former top prospect should be stashed for fantasy managers who can afford the roster spot in the meantime, considering Alvarez's light-tower power, but he was slashing a lukewarm .236/.288/.364 with one home run, four doubles, eight RBI, and eight runs scored in 59 plate appearances (16 games) before going down. Veteran backstops
Omar Narvaez and
Tomas Nido will form a platoon for at-bats behind the dish while Alvarez is on the shelf, but neither of the two are even viable in deep two-catcher leagues at the moment.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: New York Mets on X
8 hours agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that closer
Pete Fairbanks (undisclosed) underwent tests on Tuesday that came back "really clean". Fairbanks was sent for multiple tests, evaluating everything from his neck to his fingertips, but the Rays still haven't provided a specific diagnosis. Cash is "encouraged that nothing is showing up", though. While it's promising to hear no serious setback for Fairbanks has come to light to this point, the hard-throwing 30-year-old right-hander's return timetable from a nerve-related issue remains very cloudy. Over Fairbanks' two injured-list stints last season, setup man
Jason Adam collected 10 saves while the closer was sidelined and belongs on all mixed-league fantasy rosters until Tampa Bay's bullpen hierarchy becomes clearer. Lefty
Colin Poche should be in the mix for ninth-inning work as well, but he gave up three runs in the eighth inning in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
8 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl (wrist) is taking flips and hitting off a tee. Manager David Bell said on Tuesday that Friedl is "much further ahead" than anticipated in his six-week timetable from a fractured right wrist that he sustained back on March 16, so the center fielder's minor-league rehab assignment sounds like it's imminent. If Friedl continues to progress well, fantasy managers should be able to get him back available sometime in early-to-mid May. After breaking out a year ago, the 28-year-old left-handed hitter should serve as Cincy's everyday center fielder upon his eventual activation from the injured list. Fellow lefty-hitter
Will Benson has drawn starts and hit from a favorable spot in the Reds' batting order at times against right-handed pitching this season, but he's barely on the radar in 12-team leagues with a .186/.288/.400 triple-slash line, two home runs, six RBI, and five stolen bases in 70 at-bats (20 games).
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Mike Petraglia
9 hours agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (leg) exited Tuesday's game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers with an apparent left leg injury. Thomas appeared to twist his left leg on a slide while attempting a stolen base in the fifth inning and was able to
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9 hours agoThe New York Yankees have announced that third baseman
DJ LeMahieu (foot) left Tuesday's minor-league game with Double-A Somerset due to soreness in his right foot, and the infielder will return to New York for examination tomorrow. The Yankees' plan was for LeMahieu to make four rehab appearances before potentially being activated from the injured list on Sunday, but this development is likely to delay the veteran's 2024 regular-season debut a bit longer. LeMahieu is working his way back from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot that he sustained on March 16, and the severity of his setback should be revealed sometime in the coming days. Switch-hitting utility man
Oswaldo Cabrera is batting .290 (20-for-69) with three home runs, 14 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 19 games this year, and he should continue manning the hot corner regularly until LeMahieu is finally ready to play.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
9 hours agoChicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros has launched two home runs in his first ten games of the 2024 season at Double-A. The 20-year-old launched 14 long balls across Low and High-A last season. This is a promising sign for the young backstop, as he has hit double-digit home runs every season in his professional career and is on pace to do it once again in 2024. Overall, he is riding a .226/.368/.452 line with five RBI and an impressive 4:6 K:BB ratio. Ballesteros remains a potential catcher of the future in Wrigley and should remain on the radar of dynasty managers for the next few seasons, as he is not projected to make his major league debut until 2026.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
9 hours agoKansas Royals pitching prospect
Steven Zobac was named High-A Pitcher of the Week credited to his performance on April 19, where he threw six shutout innings and only surrendered one hit. He struck out six. Zobac has been stellar to open the season, posting a 1.20 ERA and 0.67 WHIP across 15 innings. Zobac, who is currently ranked as the 24th prospect in the Kansas City system according to MLB Pipeline, is making quite a case for an early promotion to Double-A. Zobac is someone to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues, as he could quickly rise the pitching ranks during the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
10 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitching prospect
Carson Whisenhunt tossed three 2/3 shutout innings with three hits, two free passes, and seven punchouts in Tuesday's victory. This was a big bounce back for the number two prospect in the San Francisco system, as he has allowed 14 earned runs in his past three starts. The southpaw now sits with an 8.79 ERA and 2.09 WHIP across 14 1/3 innings with 24 strikeouts to begin the season. The 23-year-old has flashed at times but has struggled just as much, which will delay his eventual MLB debut. Nonetheless, Whisenhunt is projected to be promoted later in the season as the Giants look to compete for the NL West.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
10 hours agoSan Francisco Giants shortstop prospect
Marco Luciano tallied three RBI en route to Tuesday's victory, increasing his season total to 13. After getting a small taste of the major leagues last season, the Giants sent down the 22-year-old to continue his development in Triple-A. Luciano has performed well early in the season, posting a .303/.419/.382 slash line with six extra-base hits and three stolen bases. Luciano is expected to return to the major leagues later in the summer and is worth keeping an eye on in deeper re-draft formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
10 hours agoOakland Athletics shortstop prospect
Jacob Wilson went 4-for-5 and brought in three runs in Tuesday's victory. Wilson lined his first of two RBI doubles in the second to break the game open and then knocked his second double in the fourth inning. He then brought in his third run of the game in the fifth inning off a single to right field. The top prospect in the Oakland system has been off to a scorching start to the 2024 campaign, as he currently sits with a .409/.438/.636 slash line in his first 12 games at Double-A. Wilson is a name to monitor throughout the summer, as he could force his way into a late-season call-up if he continues his strong play.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
10 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Jason Heyward (back) isn't swinging a bat and is still dealing with "residual soreness," according to manager Dave Roberts. Heyward is still more than a week from starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 34-year-old veteran left-handed hitter was put on the 10-day injured list all the way back on April 3 with back soreness, and he hasn't made much progress since. There remains no timetable for a return from the IL, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect him to be out at least another few weeks. Outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez has been shifted over to right field for the Dodgers with Heyward out, while rookie prospect
Andy Pages has also been platooning in center field with
James Outman.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
10 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch side session on Tuesday that went "great," according to the team. He will now through four innings or 60 pitches in a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday. Garrett had to pause his rehab assignment after dealing with dead arm, but he's back up and running and may need only a few rehab starts before he's activated to rejoin Miami's starting rotation in the big leagues. The former seventh overall pick by the Fish in 2016 out of high school is worth picking up and stashing right now in deep-mixed fantasy leagues. Garrett flashed his upside in a career-high 31 outings (30 starts) last year when he went 9-7 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 29 walks and 156 strikeouts in 159 2/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
11 hours agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Kris Bryant (back) is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list for a lower-back strain on Wednesday, but that won't be happening. Manager Bud Black said that Bryant isn't doing any baseball activities yet. Bryant hasn't undergone anymore tests, though, and there has been no discussion of surgery. Given all the time the 32-year-old former MVP has missed in recent seasons due to various ailments, it makes sense for the Rockies to bring him back slowly, even if his back injury isn't considered very serious. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues must remain patient, but in shallower leagues, it's fair to consider dumping him for better options after he started the year going 7-for-47 (.149) with a home run and six RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Patrick Lyons
11 hours agoHouston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez (elbow) will throw a bullpen session with the team in Chicago this week and he could start one of the two games against the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City, either this Saturday or Sunday, according to manager Joe Espada. The 30-year-old southpaw was able to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session last Saturday, which was his first time throwing off a mound since left-elbow inflammation landed him on the injured list on April 9. Whether Valdez is able to make his return and start this weekend against the Rockies will be determined by how he looks in his next bullpen session this week. Even though the Rockies are a very enticing matchup, Valdez would be a shaky fantasy play in the altitude in Mexico City if he's activated for a start this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
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