9 hours agoChicago Cubs infield prospect James Triantos is off to a slow start this season with a .233/.292/.349 line with one home run and six RBI. Triantos has been a great contact hitter in the minors, hitting a .272 AVG at Low-A in 2022 and a .287 AVG across High-A and Double-A last season. The former second-round pick should hope to reach Triple-A this season, as he has progressed through the lower levels of the system rather swiftly. Triantos is expected to make his major league debut in 2025 and is worth looking at in dynasty leagues, even though his arrival is far away.Source: MiLB.com
10 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect Rhett Lowder is dominating in his first taste of professional ball. The seventh overall pick in the 2023 Draft has made two starts, totaling nine innings with a 1.00 ERA and 0.89 WHIP, and has racked up ten punchouts. Lowder has only surrendered two free passes, one in each of his starts. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon should move up the Reds minor league system rather quickly and should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper league formats.Source: MiLB.com
10 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfield prospect Roman Anthony is off to a strong start at Double-A this season. The 19-year-old is riding a solid .278/.333/.528 stat line with two home runs. This is a great sign to see, as Anthony did well in a small sample size at Double-A last season as he hit for a .343/.477/.543 line. However, Anthony still holds a hefty 15:3 K:BB ratio, which could hinder his development. The number two-ranked prospect in the Boston system is projected to make his major league debut in 2025 but could push for a late-season call-up if he can continue to hit the ball and lower his strikeout rate.Source: MiLB.com
10 hours agoNew York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (hamstring) will remain out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The young corner infielder has been sidelined since being forced out of Tuesday's game. The organization is hopeful to avoid a stint on the injured list. Baty was able to get through a full workout prior to Friday's game. It sounds like he is making progress, but isn't quite ready to play yet. It'll be Joey Wendle at third base and batting ninth versus right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Friday.Source: New York Mets
10 hours agoSeattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford has struggled throughout his first 11 games at Double-A. The 21-year-old is batting a disappointing .119/.288/.190 with only three extra-base hits. The former 12th overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft is considered one of the best catching prospects in baseball and is ranked as the number two overall prospect in the Seattle system. Ford is expected to make his major league debut in 2025 and should see time in Triple-A later this summer. Ford remains a coveted piece in dynasty and keeper leagues but will not be relevant in redraft this season.Source: MiLB.com
10 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) needs at least one more minor-league rehab outing, according to manager Dave Roberts, which means rookie Landon Knack will stay in the team's starting rotation for at least one more start. Roberts said Buehler's execution during his rehab start on Thursday night was "not great" and that his command was lacking. The 29-year-old gave up two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out three in just 2 2/3 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City. It's no surprise the Dodgers want to see more from Buehler before they feel comfortable letting him pitch in the big leagues for the first time since 2022. Buehler's outing on Thursday in the minors is a reminder that fantasy managers are probably going to have to be patient with him once he returns.Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
10 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon. Manager David Bell said the plan is for Friedl to begin his rehab work within the next week or two. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a fractured wrist in March. The organization is hopeful that Friedl can get back on the field for the Reds around early May. He's coming off a career-best 2023 season. Fantasy managers should hold tight for a little longer as Friedl appears to be making progress.Source: Mark Sheldon
10 hours agoChicago White Sox relief pitcher John Brebbia (calf) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. The right-hander appears to be back on track after suffering a calf injury during a game two weeks ago. It's uncertain how many outings Brebbia will need before rejoining the big league bullpen. The assumption is that Brebbia should be back before or in early May. However, Brebbia is likely going to take a backseat to Michael Kopech who appears to be the primary closer in Chicago. Brebbia should still be used in high leverage spots, but probably won't offer the same fantasy value.Source: LaMond Pope
10 hours agoNew York Yankees relief pitcher Nick Burdi (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. This is a tough blow to the Yankees bullpen that is already dealing with injuries. Burdi was pitching well as he hasn't allowed a run through 6 1/3 innings this season. The Yankees are hopeful that it'll be a minimal stint on the injured list for Burdi. In a corresponding move, right-hander Cody Morris has been recalled from Triple-A to take the spot on the active roster.Source: Yankees PR
10 hours agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish (elbow) is set to make his next rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. The right-hander looked sharp during his most recent rehab outing on Tuesday. The organization has bumped him up to Triple-A, but he'll likely need at least one or two more outings before he's ready to return to the O's rotation. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Bradish and be hopeful for a return in early May.Source: Jake Rill
11 hours agoSan Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth (calf) has returned to the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 30-year-old has missed each of the last two games due to a minor right-calf issue. However, Cronenworth will be back in there at first base and batting third against right-hander Yariel Rodriguez on Friday. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Cronenworth back in their lineups.Source: MLB.com
11 hours agoMinnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) threw 21 pitches of live batting practice before Friday's game at Target Field against the Detroit Tigers and didn't feel any discomfort. Duran is close to embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment. "He was supposed to throw 20 and he wanted an extra one, so that tells you he's feeling good," manager Rocco Baldelli said. Once the 26-year-old goes on a rehab assignment, it might not be long before Duran is able to make his 2024 debut. He should be rostered in all fantasy formats despite getting a late start to the season. While Duran can be a high-end fantasy closer when he's healthy, don't be surprised if the Twins ease him into late-inning situations when he initially returns to the big-league bullpen.Source: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
11 hours agoDetroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Twins. This appears to be a rare rest day for the 23-year-old outfielder. Greene has started the first 19 games of the season, so he has earned a day off on Friday. Wenceel Perez will bat second and cover right field versus right-hander Joe Ryan on Friday. Fantasy managers and DFS players should be able to find a better option than Perez for Friday's slate.Source: MLB.com
12 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (hamstring) was pulled in the seventh inning of Friday's win over the visiting Miami Marlins due to right-hamstring tightness, according to manager Craig Counsell. Happ's status for the rest of the weekend is now to be determined. Given the fact that Happ also missed time in spring training with a left-hamstring strain, fantasy managers should not be surprised at all if this ends up being an injured-list situation for the switch-hitting outfielder. For now, the 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day. There's a good chance he won't play on Saturday, but check back anyway to see if he's active. With Seiya Suzuki (oblique) already on the IL, the Cubbies would be down to Cody Bellinger, Mike Tauchman and rookie Alexander Canario in their outfield, although Garrett Cooper and Patrick Wisdom could also be used out there.Source: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
12 hours agoHouston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) played catch on Friday, and manager Joe Espada said the hope is that Valdez could throw off a mound on Saturday or Sunday. Valdez is currently on the injured list while dealing with left-elbow inflammation, but there's no structural damage and he's already throwing again after being sidelined on April 9. The 30-year-old southpaw won't come off the IL when he's eligible next week, but a minor-league rehab assignment may not be far off. In the meantime, his fantasy managers will be hoping he'll return sometime in May. Keep Valdez stashed in all fantasy formats until then. The Dominican starter had picked up where he left off in 2023 through his first two starts before his elbow injury, giving up just three earned runs while striking out 10 in 12 1/3 innings.Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara