6 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander
A.J. Puk (shoulder) will pitch out of the bullpen when he returns to the major-league roster, according to manager Skip Schumaker. The experiment as a starter in Miami's rotation was a failed one for Puk, who is nursing fatigue in his left shoulder following just four appearances and holds a dismal 9.22 ERA, 2.63 WHIP, and a 12:17 K:BB over 13 2/3 innings. Although Puk's return timetable from the issue remains unclear, this development is bad news for the rest-of-season outlook of closer
Tanner Scott, who is going to have some competition for ninth-inning work when Puk is eventually reinstated from the 15-day injured list. With Scott carrying a 3.38 ERA (5.88 FIP) and 1.68 WHIP while striking out 10 hitters and walking 12 through his first 10 2/3 frames of the 2024 regular season, it probably behooves fantasy managers to field some sell-high trade offers after Puk picked up 15 saves in 2023.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola - MLB.com
6 hours agoUpdating a previous report, Oakland Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof (abdomen) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx due to soreness in his left abdomen. Gelof, who was originally included in Oakland's starting lineup, was a late scratch and was on the bench for the first time in the 2024 regular season. It sounds like a minor issue that should leave Gelof day-to-day ahead of Thursday's series finale at Yankee Stadium. After a breakout rookie year in 2023, the 28-year-old former second-round pick has taken a step back in the early portion of this season while slashing .196/.260/.337 with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 92 at-bats (24 games). Gelof's fantasy value might continue to drop if he continues batting sixth in a poor A's lineup, which he's done in each of his past three appearances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos - MLB.com
6 hours agoMiami Heat guard
Tyler Herro scored a team-high 24 points in Wednesday's shocking win over the Boston Celtics. He struggled in Game 1 of this series. However, the 24-year-old turned things around in Game 2, going 6-for-11 from deep and adding 14 assists. With
Terry Rozier (neck) and
Jimmy Butler (knee) out of commission, the offense will continue to run through Herro. Of course, the Celtics will make adjustments for Game 3 on Saturday, so the 2019 No. 13 overall pick could have difficulty remaining as productive as he was on Wednesday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 hours agoSan Francisco Giants second baseman
Thairo Estrada (hamstring) exited Wednesday's loss to the visiting New York Mets in the sixth inning due to tightness in his left hamstring after going hitless in two at-bats. Estrada wanted to stay in the game before
Jung Hoo Lee replaced him, so it doesn't seem like he's dealing with a significant injury at this time. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and perhaps San Fran's day off on Thursday will be enough to prevent Estrada from missing any additional time. The 28-year-old veteran infielder is batting only .232 (22-for-95) with nine extra-base hits, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, and zero stolen bases through 26 outings, and his fantasy value will remain diminished until he can climb his way up the Giants' batting order.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser - San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours agoSan Diego Padres third baseman/designated hitter
Manny Machado is expected to return to the lineup on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Machado is currently on the paternity list while he and his wife expect the delivery of their first child, and manager Mike Shildt has confirmed the star infielder will not rejoin the club ahead of their series finale against the division-rival Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Before taking some time away, the 31-year-old six-time All-Star was slashing a modest .260/.324/.417 with four home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 105 plate appearances (24 games). In 16 games versus the Phillies since 2021, Machado is hitting .267 (16-for-60) with six homers, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, and one stolen base.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoSports Illustrated's Albert Breer thinks Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt will either be taken by the Los Angeles Chargers or Tennessee Titans in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft. Alt has been compared to Joe Thomas, although Alt is a little bit bigger and longer. The son of an NFL lineman is still learning his position and won't turn 22 years old until after the Super Bowl. One veteran evaluator had Alt behind only Ohio State wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. among the best players in this year's draft class. The Chargers hold the No. 5 overall pick on Thursday night, while the Titans sit at No. 7. Both teams could use an athletic tackle like Alt, with the Bolts looking to bolster their offensive line while transitioning to more of a run-first offense.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SI.com - Albert Breer
7 hours agoThe Atlanta Braves are increasing the activity of catcher
Sean Murphy (oblique). Murphy has caught a bullpen session in each of the past two days, but he's still not swinging a bat yet and may be at least a week away from being cleared to do so. Working his way back from tightness in his left oblique, Murphy is probably not going to be available to the Braves or fantasy managers before the end of April based on the current progress in his recovery. The 29-year-old All-Star backstop will need a rehab assignment before he's reinstated to Atlanta's major-league roster as well, but an early-May return is still in the cards. Former All-Star
Travis d'Arnaud is surging after a slow start to the 2024 regular season, going 8-for-13 with five home runs and 11 RBI over his past five games, and he should be rostered in two-catcher leagues while he's hot.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Justin Toscano - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
7 hours agoDenver Broncos' connections to Oregon quarterback
Bo Nix have persisted with the 2024 NFL draft just a day away on Thursday night. Nix is a player that teams could wait on until the second round, but the Broncos don't have a current second-round pick this year and are slated to select in the first round at No. 12. Their acquisition of former first-rounder
Zach Wilson adds another layer to their QB situation heading into Thursday evening. The Broncos have done their homework on the QB draft class -- they hosted Washington's
Michael Penix Jr. on a top-30 visit and watched Michigan's
J.J. McCarthy work out -- and have discussed a potential trade up in the first round. However, they have plenty of other needs and have also talked about trading down. Right now,
Jarrett Stidham and Wilson are slated to compete for the starting job in training camp.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SI.com - Albert Breer
7 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Cristian Javier (neck) played catch on Wednesday back in Houston. Javier is not with the team during their road series with the Chicago Cubs after flying back home on Tuesday to get checked out by team doctors, but it's encouraging to hear he's throwing. The 27-year-old star right-hander is working his way back from discomfort in his right neck, and it's unclear if he'll need a brief rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. Fantasy managers should expect him to remain sidelined through early May, though. Although he has a weak 18:11 K:BB through 23 1/3 innings (four starts) for the Stros, Javier's 1.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP makes him a must-stash player. Rookie right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti is making starts in Houston's injury-riddled rotation, but he's struggled to muster much fantasy usability to this point.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
7 hours agoThe Las Vegas Raiders are thought to be high on Washington quarterback
Michael Penix Jr., and if the QB market starts drying up quickly in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft and they feel the need to trade up in order to avoid being shut out, the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 7 are two teams that people think are willing to trade down. The Raiders would love to be able to get up high enough to take LSU's
Jayden Daniels to reunite him with head coach Antonio Pierce, but they know they might not be able to do that. The Raiders have talked with the Arizona Cardinals about what it would take to trade up to No. 4, but Vegas' interest in that pick would likely cool off significantly if Daniels is among the top three picks, as expected.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
7 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder
Christian Yelich (back) ran on the field on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his back. Yelich hasn't swung or played catch yet, however, as he's progressed slower than anticipated from a strained lower back. Considering Yelich battled back issues in the early part of his career with the Miami Marlins, expect the Brew Crew to take a cautious approach with the 32-year-old star left fielder. Yelich was returning first-round fantasy value before hitting the shelf, slashing .333/.422/.744 with five home runs, 11 RBI, seven runs scored, and two stolen bases across 39 at-bats (11 games). The switch-hitting
Blake Perkins has received everyday ABs in Milwaukee's outfield since Yelich went on the injured list, slashing .309/.387/.473 with two homers, six RBI, 13 runs scored, and two swipes through 55 ABs overall, and he's worth a look for those in NL-only or deep mixed leagues who need a stopgap solution.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Curt Hogg - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
7 hours agoNew England Patriots ownership seems to have a strong preference to come out of the first round of this year's NFL draft with a quarterback, so moving back to, say, No. 11 with the Minnesota Vikings or No. 13 with the Las Vegas Raiders might be too far of a drop for the team to still ensure their ability to do that. But if they move back only three spots to No. 6 in a trade with the New York Giants, they could still be in position to pick a QB in the first round and add multiple extra premium picks. The Patriots gathered information on Washington QB
Michael Penix Jr. in the pre-draft process in case they decide to trade down. The Pats appear to be high on him, but ESPN's Dan Graziano doesn't think he'll be in consideration if they stay at No. 3. Most pundits believe New England will take North Carolina's
Drake Maye if they stick in the third spot.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
7 hours agoThe Athletic's Jeff Howe predicts that New York Giants will trade the sixth overall pick in this year's NFL draft and a 2025 second-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in order to move up to fourth overall to take Michigan quarterback
J.J. McCarthy on Thursday night. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort is eager to trade down for a second straight year. If LSU's
Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's
Drake Maye remain available at No. 4, the Minnesota Vikings or Las Vegas Raiders would probably become more aggressive in pursuing the fourth overall pick. "I think there's going to be a race to McCarthy between the Giants and Vikings," a coach said. McCarthy doesn't have the upside that the top three QBs in this class do, but rival executives cited concerns with Giants current QB
Daniel Jones' (knee) health after tearing his ACL and dealing with a neck injury in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jeff Howe
7 hours agoThe Athletic's Jeff Howe thinks No. 3 to the New England Patriots in Thursday night's NFL draft feels like the spot for North Carolina quarterback
Drake Maye, although a couple executives made a case for Michigan's
J.J. McCarthy. Maye has prototypical size, arm strength and athletic ability, but there's genuine concern about his inconsistencies in 2023, and his tape shed light on some erratic throws and tendencies. He has a reputation as a high-character person with great leadership abilities. Maye would be the more traditional pick at No. 3 to the Pats, with McCarthy being viewed as more of a surprise. If Maye is still available at No. 3, one executive thinks the Minnesota Vikings "would move heaven and Earth" to try and move up to draft him. If Maye lands in New England, he could sit and learn behind veteran
Jacoby Brissett in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jeff Howe
8 hours agoWord around the league is that the Washington Commanders have advocates in their building for both LSU quarterback
Jayden Daniels and North Carolina QB
Drake Maye. However, almost everyone polled for The Athletic's story believed Daniels was destined for Washington with new general manager Adam Peters hot for Daniels. The belief from rival teams is that the Commanders had been leaning toward Maye much earlier in the pre-draft process, but Daniels has done enough to lock himself into the No. 2 pick. One executive from a team outside of the top 10 wouldn't rule out a brief Daniels slide, perhaps down to No. 4. Still, it's highly unlikely Daniels drops out of the top five. If he goes to D.C., he'll be favored to start from Day 1 in his rookie season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jeff Howe
8 hours agoThe Dallas Cowboys officially picked up hybrid defensive end Micah Parsons' fifth-year option for the 2025 season on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the move. Parsons' salary is worth $21.32 million as a defensive end, which is the position at which he played the majority of his snaps in 2023. The 24-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2021 out of Penn State has been a beast rushing the passer so far in his first three NFL seasons. He's made the Pro Bowl in all three seasons and has a total of 213 tackles (142 solo), 40.5 sacks, 51 tackles for loss, 89 QB hits, eight passes defended, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) in 50 regular-season starts. Parsons had 64 tackles and a career-high 14 sacks in 2023 and will once again be a highly coveted pass-rusher in IDP fantasy formats this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Michael Gehlken
8 hours agoCarolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson (leg), offensive guard Austin Corbett (knee), pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney and running back
Tarik Cohen (Achilles) have all been taking part in drills during voluntary offseason workouts this week. Meanwhile, offensive guard Chandler Zavala (knee) and linebackers D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) Amare Barno (knee) weren't participating in drills. Thompson, who suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2 last year against the New Orleans Saints, is the most notable name of this group. The 30-year-old should be ready to go for training camp and the preseason later this year as long as he doesn't suffer a setback before then. The former 25th overall pick in 2015 out of Washington recorded 100-plus combined tackles in each of his previous four seasons with Carolina before getting hurt in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
8 hours agoThe Dallas Cowboys are currently meeting with free-agent running back
Ezekiel Elliott's representatives around the facility on Wednesday, a day before the start of the 2024 NFL draft, according to a source. There has been mutual interest from both sides in a reunion this offseason as the Cowboys look to bolster their running back position after losing
Tony Pollard in free agency. As of right now, Dallas' RB room consists of
Rico Dowdle,
Deuce Vaughn,
Malik Davis,
Royce Freeman and
Snoop Conner. The 28-year-old Elliott had 184 carries for 642 yards (career-low 3.5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns while adding 51 catches for 313 yards and another two scores through the air in 17 games for the New England Patriots in 2023. At this point in his career, Zeke needs volume to be fantasy relevant, and that probably won't happen if he returns to Dallas.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CBS Sports - Josina Anderson
8 hours agoCincinnati Bengals three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson has requested to be traded from the Bengals, according to a league source. Hendrickson is due to make $15 million in 2024 and is looking for more long-term security than the Bengals have been willing to offer. It remains to be seen if the 29-year-old's wish will be granted with the first round of the 2024 NFL draft coming on Thursday evening. The former third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2017 out of Florida Atlantic has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons with the Bengals. In 17 starts in 2023, he had a career-high 43 tackles (28 solo), a career-high 17.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits and three forced fumbles. Even if he heads to a new team for 2024, Hendrickson should still be in play as a weekly starting defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
8 hours agoThe Cincinnati Reds moved left-hander
Alex Young (back) to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday and claimed outfielder
Peyton Burdick off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles in a corresponding move. The Reds sent Burdick to Triple-A Louisville as organizational outfield depth. Young was shut down during spring training in mid-March with lower-back disc degeneration and now won't be able to make his 2024 debut for the Reds until late May. The 30-year-old southpaw reliever went 4-2 last year with the Reds while recording a 3.86 ERA (4.99 FIP), his first career save, a 1.36 WHIP, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings in his 63 appearances out of the bullpen. Young can continue to be ignored in fantasy circles.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
9 hours agoChicago White Sox right-hander
Chris Flexen is lined up to start on Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. It will be Flexen's fourth start of the season. The 29-year-old former 14th-round pick by the New York Mets in 2012 has appeared out of the bullpen for the Pale Hose his last two times out and is now sporting a 6.41 ERA (5.75 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings pitched. Flexen has been more effective in his two relief appearances than his three starts, and the matchup against Tampa doesn't really make him attractive as a streaming sleeper in deep fantasy leagues on Friday. He'll be making the start on three days of rest. Flexen could be sent right back to Chicago's bullpen once
Mike Clevinger is finally ready to make his season debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoMinnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa (oblique) did some light glove work off to the side on the field on Wednesday and said he's swinging and doing baseball activities as he recovers from an oblique injury that sent him to the injured list. It sounds as though there's some possibility that he could come off the IL on the coming road trip without a minor-league rehab assignment if things keep trending well. The Twins start their road trip in Los Angeles against the Angels this Friday. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican is itching to get back as the team's starting shortstop after starting the year 11-for-36 (.306) with a homer and four RBI in 11 games played.
Willi Castro has been serving as Minnesota's primary shortstop since Correa was placed on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park
9 hours agoThe Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder
Kevin Kiermaier (hip) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with left-hip flexor inflammation and recalled utility man
Addison Barger from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Kiermaier was injured in Tuesday's contest and will now miss at least the next 10 days. Considering the 34-year-old's injury history, it wouldn't be a surprise if he missed more than the required 10 days on the IL. Kiermaier will be eligible to return on May 4.
Daulton Varsho is moving to center field and batting cleanup on Wednesday, while Barger will make his major-league debut in left field while hitting eighth against Kansas City Royals right-hander
Alec Marsh. Barger, who hits from the left side, is likely to see some playing time against right-handed pitching and is worth a deep-league pickup for his power upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
9 hours agoHouston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez (elbow) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday at Wrigley Field and is expected to come off the injured list and start one of the team's games in Mexico City against the Colorado Rockies this weekend. Right-hander
Ronel Blanco will start the other game. The 30-year-old Valdez was put on the 15-day injured list on April 9 with left-elbow inflammation. The fact that he's not going to pitch in a minor-league rehab game before returning to the major-league starting rotation should have fantasy managers hesitant to use him in his first start back from the IL, even if the matchup is a juicy one against the Rockies away from Coors Field. The two-time All-Star should still be rostered in all fantasy leagues and was looking good in his first two starts of 2024 before going on the shelf.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
9 hours agoOakland Athletics infielder
Zack Gelof (undisclosed) has been scratched ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees. It's unclear why the A's pulled Gelof out of the lineup. The hope is that it's a minor issue and he'll be back in the lineup soon. In the meantime,
Abraham Toro will cover third base and bat sixth on Wednesday. The A's should give an update on his status shortly.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos
9 hours agoBrooklyn Nets center
Nicolas Claxton will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but if the team has its way, he won't be going anywhere soon. According to general manager Sean Marks, tying Claxton down will be the "No. 1 priority" for the team in the summer. Marks added that he hopes Claxton will be a Net for "a very long time." The comments came after Brooklyn's new head coach, Jordi Fernandez, said at his introductory press conference that he believes Claxton has the potential to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Claxton, the 31st pick of the 2019 draft, has just completed his fifth NBA season. He averaged 11.8 points with a career-high 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 29.8 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
9 hours agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Max Kepler (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. This appears to be a routine rest day for Kepler against a tough left-handed starter. Kepler has been hot since returning from the injured list with four RBI in two games. In his absence,
Manuel Margot will cover right field and bat third versus left-hander
Garrett Crochet.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoSeattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh (tooth) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers. Raleigh will miss this game after undergoing an emergency procedure to remove a tooth. The assumption is that this will be a one-game absence for Raleigh. In his absence,
Seby Zavala will cover behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander
Jon Gray.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoPhoenix Suns guard/forward
Grayson Allen (ankle) hasn't been ruled out for Game 3 against Minnesota on Friday. X-rays came back negative after Allen re-injured his right ankle in Tuesday's Game 2. He is considered day-to-day. "Got to see what the next two days look like," Allen said when asked about his chances of featuring in Game 3. Allen, who initially hurt his ankle in Game 1 last week, has had a rough time in the first-round series, averaging only 3.5 points on 20 percent shooting.
Royce O'Neale and
Eric Gordon will figure more heavily in the rotation if he can't play on Friday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Duane Rankin
9 hours agoMiami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic (back) has been cleared to play in Wednesday's Game 2 against Boston. He was a late addition to the injury report with a back issue, but the team has upgraded him from probable to available. The 20-year-old logged 26 minutes in Game 1 and had 10 points and six rebounds with 3-for-9 shooting. However, he's been inconsistent all season, so it wouldn't be surprising if we see an anonymous performance from Jovic on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
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