4 hours agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that second baseman Brandon Lowe (oblique) is scheduled to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. Lowe is finally going to resume playing in live games after straining his right oblique on April 7. Once the Rays deem him healthy enough to come off the injured list, the 29-year-old should at least be on the strong side of a platoon at second base against right-handed pitching. In the meantime, Amed Rosario and Curtis Mead will continue to share playing time at the keystone in Tampa. There's a lot to like about Lowe in most fantasy leagues because of his pop from the second base position, but he has trouble staying on the field and has only played in 100-plus games in two of his six big-league seasons.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
4 hours agoHouston Astros outfield prospect Luis Baez launched his third long ball of the season on Thursday. At just 20 years old, Baez currently has a .263/.314/.425 stat line with three swiped bags and 14 RBI through his first 19 games at High-A. Considered the number two prospect in the Houston system on MLB Pipeline, Baez has begun to show high upside power that he did not show at Single-A last year. He tallied just four round-trippers in 41 games and is already just one short of matching that total this season. In addition, Baez is currently riding a three-game RBI streak suggesting he has raw situational hitting ability. While he is not projected to reach the major leagues for several years, he could become a top prospect in the sport over time.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (arm), who is dealing with a nerve issue in his arm, is scheduled to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. We don't know all the details on the exact nature of Fairbanks' injury, but he's obviously doing well and is getting close to a return to the major-league roster. The 30-year-old right-hander could be eased into high-leverage situations at the back of Tampa's bullpen when he returns, but when fully healthy, Fairbanks is this team's primary closer. In the meantime, Jason Adam and Garrett Cleavinger will split the save opportunities with the Rays. Fairbanks' injury could help explain his current 9.00 ERA and 2.29 WHIP in just seven innings pitched before he went on the injured list.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
5 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that an MRI exam showed a "protruding disc" in left-hander Steven Matz's lower back. He received a pain-killing injection and will be re-evaluated early next week after being placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. Matz was pitching through lower-back pain in his outing on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers and is now most certainly going to miss more than two weeks. On top of it, the 32-year-old veteran southpaw has opened his third year in St. Louis with a 1-2 record, a bloated 6.18 ERA (4.73 FIP), 1.73 WHIP, 11 walks and 17 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings over his first six starts. In shallow mixed leagues, Matz isn't a must-hold, especially given the nature of his injury, if you have bigger needs on your roster.Source: MLB.com - John Denton
5 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitching prospect Yilber Diaz posted his best start of the season on Thursday evening when he threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and tallying eleven punchouts. This outing raises Diaz's strikeout total to an eye-catching 42 in just 25 innings. The 23-year-old sits with a 3.96 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in his first full taste of Double-A after making just three starts last season. Diaz is not projected to reach the major leagues until 2025 but could make a push for a late-season promotion, especially if he can reach Triple-A quickly. With his elite strikeout potential, dynasty managers should closely monitor his development this summer.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida (thumb) will get a second opinion on his injured left thumb, according to manager Alex Cora. Yoshida strained his left thumb last Sunday against the Chicago Cubs, and the club isn't ruling out surgery. There's no clear timetable for when the 30-year-old left-handed hitter will be able to return, but obviously he'll be facing an extended absence if he's forced to go under the knife. For now, fantasy managers must stash Yoshida in an IL spot until we know more. Before the injury, he was slashing .275/.348/.388 with two home runs and 11 RBI over 89 plate appearances. In the short term, Garrett Cooper, Bobby Dalbec and Dominic Smith could all see time as the team's designated hitter.Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
5 hours agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Peyton Pallette earned his first victory of the season by tossing five scoreless innings and tallying seven punchouts. The 22-year-old gave up just four hits and no walks. This start lowers his ratios to a 6.46 ERA and 1.63 WHIP through 15 ⅓ innings at High-A. Palette struggled in his first few starts at High-A this season, but it looks like he has begun to figure things out. MLB Pipeline ranks the former second-round pick as the 12th-best prospect in the Chicago system and projects him to reach the majors in 2026. Pallette should be monitored in deeper dynasty leagues, especially if he can continue to succeed at High-A and if he can carry that momentum into Double-A.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that right-hander Nick Pivetta (elbow) will not need another minor-league rehab start. It's a bit of a surprise after Pivetta gave up four runs in three-plus innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday. The deciding factor is probably the fact that the Red Sox could really use Pivetta back in their rotation sooner than later. The 31-year-old should be rostered in most fantasy leagues after allowing just one earned run with 13 strikeouts and one walk in 11 innings in his first two starts in 2024 before injuring his elbow. However, you'll want to avoid him in his first start back with Boston, especially since it's likely to come early next week against the Atlanta Braves and their dangerous lineup.Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
5 hours agoThe Oakland Athletics reinstated infielder J.D. Davis (thigh) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Nick Allen to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. The A's also selected the contract of infielder Brett Harris from Vegas and moved right-hander Freddy Tarnok (hip) to the 60-day IL. Davis is playing first base on Friday night and hitting fifth in his return against Miami Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers. The 31-year-old corner infielder will return to a weak .196/.255/.373 slash line with two home runs and two RBI, but he's worth rostering in AL-only leagues as he should be a regular for the A's at either corner infield spot. Davis went 3-for-15 in four minor-league rehab games with Vegas.Source: Oakland A's
5 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitching prospect Tink Hence was named Texas League Pitcher of the Month for April. Throughout April, Hence has pitched 25 ⅔ innings to the tune of a strong 2.10 ERA and stellar 0.74 WHIP. He struck out 31 batters and only surrendered six free passes. The 21-year-old has taken a significant step forward at Double-A this season, as he struggled last year with a 5.47 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. MLB Pipeline ranks Hence as the top prospect in the St. Louis system. He should be rostered in most dynasty leagues, as he could very well push for a late-season promotion, thanks to his dominant opening month.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoMiami Marlins outfielder Dane Myers has been hitting the cover off the ball since being called up. The 28-year-old is 5-for-11 with five RBI and a stolen base during his limited action with the team. Given the Marlins woes on offense, manager Skip Schumaker has moved Myers up in the batting order. He'll bat cleanup and serve as the right fielder during Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should keep an eye on Myers going forward.Source: MLB.com
5 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald (oblique) is expected to be activated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 33-year-old has been sidelined since late March due to a left oblique strain. Luckily, it sounds like Sewald is finally ready to contribute to the D-Backs bullpen. That being said, Kevin Ginkel should only hold onto the closer role through the weekend before Sewald returns.Source: John Gambadoro
5 hours agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (knee) underwent successful surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee on Friday. The Angels have not given a timetable on the return of Trout, but this injury isn't expected to be season-ending. Regardless, it's a crushing blow to both the Angels roster and fantasy managers. For now, fantasy managers will have to sit tight and hold Trout on an IL spot. Mickey Moniak figures to gain the most playing time in the absence of Trout. He hasn't hit well this season, but possibly more playing time will help him get his bat going again.Source: Jeff Fletcher
6 hours agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a side session on Friday. The right-hander is working his way back from a shoulder issue but appears to be ready to return. Manoah struck out 12 batters over six scoreless innings during his last rehab start. That being said, Manoah is a potential option to pitch during Sunday's game with Yariel Rodriguez (back) going down. Manoah has been up-and-down during his time in the big leagues, but a matchup against the Washington Nationals does give him some streaming appeal.Source: Arden Zwelling
6 hours agoChicago White Sox infielder Danny Mendick (back) has been scratched ahead of Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team has decided to pull Mendick from the lineup due to back tightness. This sounds like a minor issue that should only sideline Mendick for a day or two. In the meantime, Braden Shewmake will cover third base and bat ninth on Friday.Source: Scott Merkin