11 hours agoThe Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder/outfielder
Dylan Moore from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned infielder
Leo Rivas to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move after Wednesday's contest. Moore has been on the paternity list since Monday but will now return to the M's and will likely start at second base in Thursday's series finale against the visiting Chicago White Sox with
Jorge Polanco (hamstring) still on the injured list. The 31-year-old veteran has some speed to spare and is useful for his positional versatility in deeper leagues, but he has been cold offensively of late and is hitting just .213/.325/.408 on the year with six home runs, 22 RBI, nine stolen bases and 23 runs scored in 169 at-bats. So far in June, he's been worse, slashing .160/.233/.200 with two RBI and five runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Mariners PR
11 hours agoNew York Yankees shortstop prospect
Roderick Arias went 2-for-5 at the plate on Wednesday with his fifth home run of the season and third since the start of June. After struggling through his first two months of Single-A ball, the 19-year-old has begun to find his footing. In his past 11 games, Arias has held a .300/.352/.600 line with 17 RBI and four stolen bass. Overall on the season, he sits with a .227/.326/.387 line that is inflated due to his poor start. The number four ranked prospect in the Yankee system on MLB Pipeline is several seasons away from his major league debut but could become a must-stash candidate in dynasty leagues if he carries this success into High-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoSeattle Mariners second baseman
Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is close to being sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Polanco will run the bases before Thursday's series finale against the Chicago White Sox at T-Mobile Park, and if that goes well, he'll join a minor-league affiliate for rehab games. The 30-year-old veteran will likely need at least a handful of rehab games before the Mariners reinstate him from the injured list. With Polanco out of action, rookie infielder
Ryan Bliss has been getting more opportunities at the keystone while hitting at the bottom of the batting order. When Polanco returns from his IL stint, he might need to show more offensively in order to stay in the lineup regularly, as he's currently hitting just .195 (31-for-159) with five homers and 14 RBI in his first year in Seattle.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer
11 hours agoThe word on Seattle Mariners first baseman
Ty France (heel) is good, and he shouldn't require much more than the 10 days on the injured list. France has a good shot at being able to come off the IL when he's eligible next Tuesday. The 29-year-old veteran first baseman landed on the IL on Sunday due to a hairline fracture in his heel. When he's ready, France will return to starting duties at first base in Seattle. Fantasy managers would prefer that he hit for more power at the first base position, but he was hitting over .300 with a 1.013 OPS in 12 games before he landed on the injured list. Until France is able to return, rookie
Tyler Locklear and
Luke Raley should continue splitting work at the cold corner for the M's. In 211 at-bats on the year, France has slashed .251/.329/.403 with seven homers and 27 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Sports - Shannon Drayer
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles infield prospect Aron Estrada has been on an impressive run since the start of May. After posting a poor.155 AVG through his first taste of Single-A ball, the 19-year-old held a .330 AVG in May and has carried that into June with a similar .324 AVG. In addition, through the first half of June, the switch-hitter has already launched two home runs and stolen six bases. Estrada spent the past two seasons in the Rookie League and posted an impressive .317/.451/.503 line. While he is still several seasons away from the major leagues, he could become a name to monitor as he progresses through the lower levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoSeattle Mariners right-hander
Emerson Hancock is being called up to make the start on Thursday against the visiting Chicago White Sox. Hancock will return from Triple-A Tacoma in an excellent matchup that should have savvy fantasy managers looking for a streamer on Thursday pretty happy. With the Mariners in a stretch with just one off day in the next 14 days, the 25-year-old will offer Seattle's rotation a little reprieve, especially with
Bryan Woo (arm) uncertain for his next start. Right-hander
Luis Castillo will now be pushed back to the weekend against the division-rival Texas Rangers. Hancock last made a big-league start on May 7 and had a 5.24 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in his seven starts before being sent to Tacoma. Although he hasn't been special in the big leagues early in his career, the matchup is great and he had a 2.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in five starts down on the farm.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
11 hours agoThe Minnesota Twins optioned first baseman/outfielder
Alex Kirilloff to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday and called up outfielder
Austin Martin in a corresponding move. After a recent cold spell at the plate, Kirilloff will go down to the farm to work on his swing after slashing .201/.270/.348 in his first 178 plate appearances of the 2024 season. With the 26-year-old off the major-league roster for now, both
Trevor Larnach and
Carlos Santana should see more playing time in left field and first base, respectively. Martin could see some playing time when the Twins face left-handed pitching, making him really only attractive in fantasy in AL-only leagues. Before his demotion to St. Paul, the 25-year-old was hitting just .224/.289/.355 in 30 games with the Twins.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Bobby Nightengale
11 hours agoTexas Rangers infielder
Maximo Acosta went 3-for-5 on Wednesday with his first home run of the season. The 21-year-old has looked quite sharp since the start of May with a .296/.333/.426 slash line with 16 hits, three swiped bags, and a 1:7 BB:K. Overall, through his first look at Double-A this season, Acosta has held a solid .255/.319/.345 line through 39 games. Acosta joined the Rangers system back in 2021 and has moved up one level every year. Last season with High-A, he held a similar .260/.312/.390 line, which is a good sign that the young infielder has not regressed since facing harder competition. Currently, Acosta sits outside of MLB Pipeline's top-30 Rangers prospects, but that could change if he continues this hot stretch at Double-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoCincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that right-hander
Carson Spiers will start on Monday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Spiers most recently served in a long-relief role on Sunday against the Chicago Cubs after he was called up from Triple-A Louisville, and he impressed with 5 2/3 shutout innings while striking out seven. The 26-year-old has made five relief appearances for the Reds over 19 1/3 innings this year, allowing six runs (five earned) on 19 hits while walking four and striking out 15. Spiers had been stretched out in a starting role for the Bats in the minors and had a nice 2.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 49 K's and 15 walks in 46 2/3 frames over nine outings (eight starts). For now, it's just a spot start for Spiers in a solid matchup, but if he pitches well again, he could stick in the rotation after the Reds demoted
Graham Ashcraft to the minors recently.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
12 hours agoNew York Yankees catcher
Jose Trevino is getting a breather in Thursday's series finale against the Kansas City Royals on the road. Trevino will give way to
Austin Wells, who will catch left-hander
Nestor Cortes and hit eighth against Royals right-hander
Alec Marsh. Despite being out on Thursday, Trevino has started three of the last four games and has been the team's primary backstop over Wells. The 31-year-old veteran has been pretty solid offensively, too, batting .272 (34-for-125) with six home runs, 23 RBI and 17 runs scored in 42 games played. Trevino is 6-for-21 (.286) with a homer and five RBI in seven games so far in June. Wells, on the other hand, is hitting just .211/.295/.325 with two homers and 10 RBI in 114 at-bats in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Yankees
13 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Connor Joe is taking the day off on Thursday against the hosting St. Louis Cardinals. It's a good day for Joe to get some rest, as he's in a bit of a funk right now at the plate, going 2-for-27 in his last eight games to drop his season line to .255/.331/.426. Outside of his recent slump, the 31-year-old has been one of the team's more consistent hitters all year. The former 39th overall pick in 2014 out of the University of San Diego has added seven home runs, 28 RBI and 36 runs scored in 60 games in his second year with the Pirates. With Joe out of the lineup in the series finale,
Edward Olivares is in right field and is batting cleanup against Cardinals right-hander
Lance Lynn. Olivares is hitting only .229 (30-for-131) but will profile as a DFS sleeper on Thursday in the cleanup spot.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoTexas Rangers starting pitching prospect
Jack Leiter posted a strong bounce-back performance on Wednesday, where he struck out seven batters across 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. In his past two outings, he has allowed a combined 10 earned runs and 11 hits in just 4 2/3 innings. Leiter made his major-league debut earlier this season but struggled with a high 16.39 ERA and 2.57 WHIP across three starts. In 40 1/3 innings at Triple-A Round Rock, he holds a 4.24 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. While Leiter has flashed elite strikeout potential at times, he has struggled to show consistency, which has severely hurt his prospect status. Leiter is still worth holding onto in deeper dynasty leagues but should remain on the waiver wire in smaller dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies outfielder
Brandon Marsh (hamstring) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Reading on Thursday. Marsh landed on the injured list with a right-hamstring injury on June 3 but is nearing a return and could be reinstated from the IL to rejoin the Phillies major-league roster at some point this weekend or early next week for the start of their homestand. When the 26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is ready to return, he'll resume his role as Philly's regular center fielder, at least against right-handed pitching. Before getting injured, Marsh was batting .265 (43-for-162) with six home runs, 26 RBI, eight stolen bases and 21 runs scored in 52 games played. With Marsh hurt,
Johan Rojas has seen more run in center field for the Phils.
UPDATE: Marsh will serve as the designated hitter on Thursday and will have four or five at-bats before playing center field on Friday. If everything goes well, he could return to the Phillies lineup on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
13 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop
Alika Williams (wrist) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. Williams is finally ready to start playing in games again after suffering a right-wrist sprain. The 25-year-old former 37th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020 out of Arizona State has been a utility infielder for the Bucs since making his major-league debut in 2023. Williams has played in only 23 games so far this year for Pittsburgh in a reserve role and is batting just .210/.234/.290 with no home runs, and two RBI in 68 plate appearances. He's eligible to return from the injured list at any time, so whenever he concludes his rehab assignment, he'll return to the Pirates as a utility infielder. Williams can be ignored in all mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
13 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter
Andrew McCutchen and second baseman
Nick Gonzales are both getting the day off on Thursday in the series finale against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Bryan Reynolds will serve as the DH and hit second,
Jack Suwinski is starting in left field and batting seventh, and
Jared Triolo will play the keystone and hit sixth against Cardinals right-hander
Lance Lynn. The 37-year-old McCutchen has hit just .222 with two RBI in 54 career at-bats against Lynn, so it's a good day to get the veteran some rest. Gonzales, a former seventh overall pick in 2020 out of New Mexico, has done nothing but hit for Pittsburgh while playing regularly at second base since his call-up. He's currently slashing .306/.339/.500 with an .839 OPS, four homers and 23 RBI in 108 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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