3 hours agoSeattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (oblique) took grounders before Monday's game versus the Atlanta Braves. Crawford also reported after Sunday's pregame activity that he's feeling much better as he recuperates from a Grade 1 right oblique strain. The M's believe that his timeline is still a matter of multiple weeks, however, so fantasy managers should not be expecting Crawford to be reinstated from the injured list when first eligible on May 5. The 29-year-old on-base machine is only worth stashing in formats that record walks, as evidenced by his .198/.296/.302 triple-slash line with two home runs, nine RBI, and 13 runs scored in 86 at-bats (22 games). Utility man
Josh Rojas is seeing more action in the leadoff spot and should be considered in AL-only or deep mixed leagues in Crawford's stead, slashing a robust .297/.366/.516 with three home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored, and one stolen base in 64 ABs (20 games).
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Divish - The Seattle Times
3 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Cristian Javier (neck) threw a bullpen session prior to Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Javier had flown to Chicago on Tuesday to receive treatment and get checked out by team doctors, and he appears to be progressing well in his recovery from discomfort in his neck. There's a chance the 27-year-old star right-hander could come off the 15-day injured list and start in this upcoming weekend's three-game series against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, which begins on Friday. With a 1.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and 11 walks through 23 1/3 innings (four starts) for the Stros this season, Javier is certainly a must-stash fantasy player with his return perhaps looming. Rookie righty
Spencer Arrighetti will draw Thursday's start against the visiting Cleveland Guardians, but he's given up 13 runs across 10 2/3 frames in Houston's injury-riddled rotation this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart - Astros.com
3 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Zac Gallen (hamstring) threw a successful bullpen session before Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. It coincides with the optimism that Gallen won't need to miss a turn in the rotation after exiting Friday's start against the Seattle Mariners with tightness in his right hamstring. The 28-year-old ace right-hander appears firmly on track to take the hill in Wednesday's scheduled start against the Dodgers, and fantasy managers should be relieved Gallen isn't dealing with a significant injury. Gallen owns a solid 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 35:9 K:BB over 32 frames (six starts) this year, but he'd be a risky fantasy start in a tough matchup at home if he's ultimately cleared for the start.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Alex Weiner - ArizonaSports.com
3 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder/infielder
Tommy Edman (wrist) has progressed to taking swings from both sides of a tee and has reported no issues. Edman had been limited to swinging from the left side due to pain and swelling in his surgically-repaired right wrist, but he's still not ready to fully participate in baseball activities. While manager Oliver Marmol said on Monday that the switch-hitting 28-year-old speedster is "recovering really well", Edman probably won't be available to make his 2024 season debut until sometime in late May. With St. Louis getting very little offensive production from their outfield bats, fellow switch-hitter
Dylan Carlson's (shoulder) return probably can't come soon enough. Last season, Edman slashed .248./307/.399 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, 69 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 479 at-bats (137 games) for the Cards and is worth stashing for fantasy managers hunting for speed.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Derrick Goold - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
3 hours agoChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated on Monday that outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) still has some steps to clear before being cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Suzuki ramped up his baseball activity on Saturday and Sunday and is getting a recovery day on Monday, but he'll work out again on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 29-year-old slugger is on the mend from a strained right oblique, but fantasy managers should not be expecting him to be available for the Cubs until sometime in mid-May at this point. Veteran
Mike Tauchman is handling everyday at-bats in Chicago's outfield and worth rostering in deep mixed or NL-only leagues for now, slashing a potent .294/.429/.500 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 16 runs scored, and one stolen base over 84 plate appearances (24 games) this season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Meghan Montemurro - Chicago Tribune
4 hours agoOakland Athletics left-hander
Ken Waldichuk (elbow) faced live hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Monday and will pitch in a simulated game and could go on a minor-league rehab assignment after that. The 26-year-old former fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's could be a starting rotation option for the A's and fantasy managers in deeper leagues sooner than later. In his second big-league season in 2023, he went 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 71 walks and 132 strikeouts in 141 innings over 35 appearances (22 starts). His 3.42 ERA in his final 10 outings last year gave fantasy managers some hope that he could be better this year, but a UCL sprain and flex strain have delayed his start to 2024. Waldichuk is a consideration in AL-only leagues once he's activated.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
4 hours agoOakland Athletics third baseman
J.D. Davis (thigh) will continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas through at least this Thursday. Davis played in his first rehab game with Vegas on Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a strikeout as the designated hitter. The A's would like to see him play in several more games down on the farm and return to the field before they consider activating him from the 10-day injured list. The 31-year-old veteran should eventually return to everyday duties for the A's at third base when he's healthy. In his first 14 games for the A's before getting hurt, he went just 10-for-51 (.196) with two home runs and two RBI in 55 plate appearances. Darrell Hernaiz has been playing often at the hot corner of late with Davis sidelined.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
4 hours agoOakland Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (oblique) is currently shut down from baseball activities. Unsurprisingly, Gelof will miss more than the 10 days on the injured list with a strained left oblique. There will be no timetable for his return to the big leagues until he starts ramping up his activities and goes on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of Virginia held his own in his rookie season in 2023 with a .267/.337/.504 slash line with an .840 OPS, 14 home runs, 32 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 69 games, but he's gotten out of the gates slow in 2024 with a .196 average (18-for-92) with three homers, seven RBI and four stolen bases in his first 24 games. His oblique injury won't make it any easier to bounce back once he returns. In the meantime,
Max Schuemann figures to see most of the playing time at the keystone in Oakland.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
5 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Ryne Nelson (elbow) threw a five-inning simulated game on Monday that went smoothly, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Nelson was able to toss 75 pitches during the session and may not even need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. He's only dealing with a right-elbow contusion after being hit by a line drive. It's a good bet that he'll come off the IL when he's eligible on May 4. The former second-round selection in 2019 out of Oregon made four starts before his injury and has gone 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA (4.14 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings pitched. Nelson is going to need more strikeouts to become attractive in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Until then, he'll be a matchup-based streamer in deeper leagues when he returns to Arizona's rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
5 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Sewald was supposed to throw a bullpen on Sunday, but the Diamondbacks pushed him back a bit after he experienced soreness in his oblique after a minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Reno. While the team has slowed the 33-year-old veteran down slightly, it's great news that he's still on track to throw a bullpen this week. After Wednesday's session, Sewald could make another rehab appearance before being cleared to return to Arizona's bullpen. He has yet to make his 2024 debut, but Sewald should be stashed in all fantasy leagues as Arizona's primary closer when he's healthy. He had a career-high 34 saves in 65 regular-season outings with the D-backs and Seattle Mariners in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
5 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Jesus Luzardo (elbow), who was diagnosed with a mild left-flexor muscle strain after undergoing testing, played catch before the team's game on Monday. The Marlins placed Luzardo on the injured list recently after he felt tightness in his left elbow. All in all, it's good news that the 26-year-old southpaw was able to play catch on Monday, but he remains without a timetable to return to the team's starting rotation. Luzardo will definitely have a spot in the rotation waiting for him when he's able to return, and even though he's gotten off to a rough 0-2 start with a 6.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in his first five starts in 2024, he deserves to be rostered in most fantasy leagues once he's back in action.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
5 hours agoMiami Marlins shortstop
Tim Anderson (hand, thumb) left the game early on Monday against the Washington Nationals after hurting his left hand/thumb.
Vidal Brujan replaced Anderson at shortstop after Anderson struck out in his only plate appearance of the game. Fantasy managers will need to check back later on Monday night or early Tuesday morning for an update on the severity of Anderson's injury. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star fell off a cliff in his final season with the Chicago White Sox in 2023 and entered Monday's contest hitting just .223 (21-for-94) with no home runs, five RBI and three runs scored in his first 27 games with the Fish. If Anderson's injury is serious and puts him on the injured list, Brujan would likely become the team's starting shortstop.
UPDATE: Anderson is dealing with a mild left-thumb sprain and is considered day-to-day.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
5 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder
Christian Yelich (back) played catch from around 120 feet in the outfield on Monday. Given Yelich's history with back issues, dating back to last year, it's no surprise that the Brewers are taking things slow in his recovery from a lower-back strain that landed him on the injured list. It's good news that the 32-year-old left-hander is doing baseball activities, but it may still be a while before he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Despite the Brewers slow-playing Yelich's rehab, fantasy managers must keep him stashed in an IL spot in all leagues after he opened the season hitting .333/.422/.744 with a 1.166 OPS, five home runs, 11 RBI, two steals and seven runs in his first 39 at-bats. Until he's able to return,
Blake Perkins should continue to benefit from more playing time in Milwaukee's outfield.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
5 hours agoThe New York Mets expect outfielder
Starling Marte to return from the bereavement list on Tuesday, according to manager
Carlos Mendoza. Marte is missing his third straight game on Monday against the Chicago Cubs after being placed on the bereavement list on Saturday. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday, but the 35-year-old veteran should be back in New York's starting lineup to face Cubs right-hander
Javier Assad.
Tyrone Taylor, who is making a third straight start on Monday with Marte away from the team, will head back to the Mets' bench when Marte returns. Marte has been able to stay healthy so far in 2024 and has been solid for his fantasy managers with a .288 batting average (30-for-104) with four home runs, 12 RBI, six stolen bases and 16 runs scored in 25 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Tim Healey
5 hours agoThe Baltimore Orioles plan to activate left-hander
John Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list this week to make his 2024 season debut, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's unclear exactly what day Means will make his his return to Baltimore's starting rotation, but the best bet is on Friday in Cincinnati against the Reds. That wouldn't be the greatest matchup for the 31-year-old southpaw for fantasy streamers, but he did look good in his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk, tossing seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Right-hander
Kyle Bradish (elbow) is also on track to make his season debut for the O's this week, so both
Cole Irvin and
Albert Suarez will soon be bumped from the team's rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
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