15 hours agoLos Angeles Angels infielder
Luis Rengifo (wrist) was pulled from Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch in the wrist. He did undergo precautionary X-rays but avoided any major injuries. The Angels are calling the injury a left wrist contusion. It appears to be minor considering Rengifo told reporters after the game that he expects to play on Monday. It's possible that the Angels hold out Rengifo for a few days until he's back to 100 percent. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for an update.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
15 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers infielder
Miguel Vargas is expected to be recalled following
Mookie Betts (hand) being placed on the injured list. Vargas was recently sent down but the Dodgers could use another infielder with Betts expected to miss multiple weeks. The expectation is that
Kike Hernandez and
Miguel Rojas will fill in at shortstop. However, Vargas could be in the mix as well, assuming he gets recalled. Fantasy managers can probably continue avoiding Vargas unless he finds a way to get into the lineup on a daily basis.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunkett
15 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for the next couple of weeks. The right-hander suffered a strained rotator cuff during Saturday's outing. Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts mentioned that Yamamoto didn't suffer a season-ending injury but is certainly going to miss some time. At the moment, it sounds like
Bobby Miller is set to take the vacant rotation spot. He could be a possible streaming option for fantasy managers who are desperate for pitching help.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Eric Stephen
15 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder
Mookie Betts (wrist) was forced to exit early during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The superstar slugger suffered a fractured left hand when he was hit by a 98 mph fastball during Sunday's victory. Afterwards, Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said Betts won't require surgery on his wrist. However, it's going to take time to heal, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect Betts back on the field anytime soon. In the meantime,
Miguel Rojas figures to see increased playing time at shortstop. He's not a great fantasy option but could possibly help deep league managers.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Kirsten Watson
17 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
Ryan Helsley secured his MLB-leading 24th save on Sunday. The 29-year-old ran into a bit of trouble by allowing two walks but was able to get out of the jam. In 31 innings this season, Helsley holds a 2.61 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 10:35 BB:K ratio. He has generated a stellar 3.7% barrel rate and 34.1% hard-hit rate which place him in the top 97th and 79th percentile among all qualified pitchers. The Northeastern State product should be considered one of the best bets for saves for the remainder of the season and should always remain in your starting lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Miles Mikolas struck out five across six ⅓ one-run frames to lead the Cardinals to a series victory over their divisional rival Chicago Cubs on Sunday. After posting a poor 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP through his first eight starts of the season, the 35-year-old has looked much sharper in his past five starts with a 2.70 ERA and 0.73 WHIP and carried that momentum into Sunday's strong performance. Overall, through 84 ⅓ innings, Mikolas carries a 4.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 15:64 BB:K ratio. He is tentatively scheduled to face the San Francisco Giants on Saturday and could be a sneaky option in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Joe Kelly (shoulder) was moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Sunday. This move will now keep the 36-year-old sidelined until at least the first week of July. Kelly has been out of action since May 6 after suffering from a right shoulder strain. Before the injury, Kelly operated in a set-up role and tallied five holds across 13 ⅓ innings with a 4.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 5:14 BB:K ratio. While the right-hander remains sidelined,
Daniel Hudson,
Blake Treinen, and
Alex Vesia are all strong options in holds leagues as they will typically continue to operate in the later innings. When Kelly returns to the majors, he is worth monitoring in deeper leagues as he should provide a strong source of holds in the second half of the season pitching on a strong Dodgers team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
18 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks shortstop prospect
Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) is set to undergo an MRI on Monday after leaving Saturday's game early with a hamstring injury. Lawlar missed the first two months of the season following surgery on his thumb and recently began playing games in the minor leagues. He logged seven games in the Arizona Complex League before joining Triple-A Reno for four games. Through this small sample size, the former sixth-overall pick posted a .356/.434/.578 line with 16 RBI, five stolen bases, and one long ball. It is unclear how much time he may miss, but the 21-year-old should be expected to rejoin the major league roster later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Nick Piecoro
18 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (triceps) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday. The 25-year-old left his start early on Saturday after experiencing tightness in his right tricep and seeing a dip in velocity. While there is no set timetable for his return, the rookie will undergo further testing later this afternoon. After allowing five earned runs in his first start of the season, the right-hander has performed very well with a 2.34 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 16:82 BB:K ratio. The Dodgers will not need to wait long to fill the empty rotation spot as they will welcome back 25-year-old
Bobby Miller to the rotation on Wednesday as he was sidelined since April with right shoulder inflammation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: David Vassegh
19 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (forearm) is set to begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, per John Denton of MLB.com. However, it is still unknown if the 32-year-old will join Double-A Springfield or Triple-A Memphis. Contreras underwent surgery to repair his fractured left forearm on May 9 and could rejoin the major league roster before the end of the month. This is quite impressive, as many did not expect him to return to St. Louis until the All-Star Break. Before the injury, Contreras was performing well with a .280/.398/.551 line, six home runs, and two swiped bags. When he returns,
Ivan Herrera is expected to serve as the backup catcher, and
Pedro Pages may return to Triple-A as a result.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: John Denton
19 hours agoTexas Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung (wrist) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. The Texas Tech product was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 8 with a broken right wrist and recently began taking live batting practice. This is a great sign as the former first-round pick is nearing his return to the major leagues. Jung posted a .412/.474/.941 slash line with two home runs and one swiped bag through the first four games of the season and held a solid .266/.315/.467 line with 22 long balls and one stole base in 122 games last summer. Once Jung returns, he will serve as the everyday third baseman in Texas and should provide solid power and excellent counting stats batting in the heart of a strong Rangers lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Round Rock Express
20 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop
Oneil Cruz (ankle) has returned to the starting lineup and will bat third on Sunday as the Pirates finish a three-game set in Colorado. The 25-year-old missed the first two games of the series with a left ankle injury but will look to lead the Pirates to a series victory on Sunday. Before the injury, Cruz was swinging a hot bat with a .308/.345/.577 slash line and two home runs. Overall, the season, the young shortstop holds a .248/.300/.432 line with nine long balls and five swiped bags. While Cruz hits the ball extremely hard, with an 18.4% barrel rate and 52.6% hard-hit rate, he holds a high 32.8% K rate, which hinders his fantasy value. Nonetheless, he will be a popular play this afternoon in DFS as he will face right-hander
Dakota Hudson, who enters Sunday with a 4.87 ERA at the hitter-friendly Coors Field.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
20 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Justin Verlander (neck) played catch on Sunday and could make his next start as early as this week in the three-game set against the Chicago White Sox, which opens on Tuesday. This is a great sign, as the 41-year-old was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday due to neck discomfort. Verlander missed the first few weeks of the season due to a shoulder injury and holds a modest 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 17:51 BB:K ratio. The former three-time Cy Young winner has made six starts allowing just two runs or less but also made four starts allowing four runs or more, which has slightly inflated in ERA. Verlander should remain a solid option in all leagues for the remainder of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
20 hours agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) could make his first start of the season on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. Currently,
Nestor Cortes and
Luis Gil are lined up to start on Tuesday and Thursday in their upcoming three-game set against Baltimore, leaving Wednesday open for the former AL Cy Young winner. The 33-year-old was placed on the 60-day injured list back in March with right elbow inflammation and is on the verge of making his 2024 debut. Cole has made three rehab starts so far and has totaled eight innings with a 1.13 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, no walks, and nine punchouts. Once Cole returns, he will immediately be considered a high-end starting pitcher for the remainder of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
20 hours agoKansas City Royals catcher
Salvador Perez (knee) is back in the starting lineup on Sunday and will serve as the designated hitter and bat in the cleanup spot. The 34-year-old was held out of the lineup on Saturday as he was dealing with a right knee sprain, but it does not look to be too serious as he is already returning to action. However, he may continue to serve as the designated hitter until he is deemed ready to slot in behind the dish. Perez has had an excellent start to the season with a .397/.375/.490 slash line and 11 home runs. He is currently in the top 87th and 80th percentile in barrel rate and hard-hit rate among qualified hitters, which suggests this success should continue into the summer. However, it may be best to fade him in DFS on Sunday as he will face
Tyler Glasnow, who holds a 3.24 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a stellar 34.5% K rate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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