11 hours agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Edward Cabrera (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing for five to seven days. Cabrera's rehab from a right shoulder impingement found a hitch in the road when he didn't recover well from last Friday's bullpen session, so the Marlins will err on the side of caution with the former top prospect. At this point, fantasy managers should probably not be expecting Cabrera to be an option until late June at the earliest. The hard-throwing 26-year-old right-hander has all the talent to develop into an upper-echelon fantasy starter with 31 punchouts through 21 1/3 innings this year, but his lack of control has always prevented him from reaching his full potential. With a 7.17 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over three starts, Cabrera isn't looking like the most convincing stash in redraft leagues right now.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Christina De Nicola - MLB.com
11 hours agoCleveland Guardians manager
Stephen Vogt said starting pitcher
Gavin Williams (elbow) threw a live batting practice session on Friday and will throw another one in a few days. Barring any setbacks, Williams will begin a minor-league rehab assignment before the end of May. Williams has not yet made his 2024 regular-season debut due to an extended absence with discomfort in his right elbow, but he's finally tracking toward rejoining Cleveland's rotation before the end of June. Due to the long layoff, he figures to need multiple rehab appearances before doing so. The 24-year-old former top prospect registered a promising 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 81:37 K:BB across 82 innings (16 starts) for the Guardians during his rookie season in 2023, and Williams' upside to contribute across the board in fantasy means he deserves to be stashed in the majority of leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Kyle Glaser
12 hours agoColorado Rockies manager Bud Black said before Friday's game versus the visiting Philadelphia Phillies that outfielder
Nolan Jones (back, knee) is still a few days away from resuming full baseball activities. Jones was running and stretching at Coors Field on Friday, but he's still not ready to take swings. After heading to the injured list on April 30 with a strained lower back, Jones then experienced swelling in his knee during his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Albuquerque last weekend and remains without a clear timeline for a return at this point. Even though the speedy 26-year-old slugger was slashing a miserable .170/.243/.277 with one home run, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases through 26 games (94 at-bats) as Colorado's everyday left fielder before hitting the shelf, his five-category upside when healthy makes him worth stashing in all fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Lyons
12 hours agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (groin) threw another bullpen session ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Although Eovaldi is close to returning to the mound, the club's training staff hasn't decided if he will need a brief minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the major-league action. The hard-throwing 34-year-old is working his way back from a strained right groin, and he appears to have a chance to rejoin Texas' rotation as early as Sunday's series finale against the Twins with the Rangers' pitching staff so shorthanded at the moment. Eovaldi was 2-2 with a sharp 2.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 44:19 K:BB over seven starts (41 1/3 innings) before getting hurt, and his return should come before the end of May if all continues to go well in his recovery in the coming days.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Kennedi Landry - MLB.com
12 hours agoCleveland Guardians manager
Stephen Vogt said prior to Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels that outfielder
Steven Kwan (hamstring) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment at High-A Lake County on Saturday. Kwan is also scheduled to play on Sunday, so he could be ready to come off the injured list as early as Monday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Vogt did say the team will take it "a day at a time" in determining the length of Kwan's rehab stint, though. Before suffering a strained left hamstring, the 26-year-old contact specialist was batting a scorching .353 (47-for-133) with three home runs, 11 RBI, 23 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 32 games as Cleveland's everyday leadoff hitter, and he needs to be stashed in all leagues with a return on the horizon.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Tom Withers - Associated Press
14 hours agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) will continue rehabbing his knee in the minor leagues and will be re-evaluated after the weekend, per Nationals manager Dave Martinez. Thomas is currently with Double-A Harrisburg but could also make his way to Triple-A Rochester. The righty has been recovering from a sprained MCL for the past month. Washington's offense is in need of some offensive firepower, scoring over three runs just three times in their past nine games. Thomas had been performing well below his norms prior to his injury, but if he returns to his .783 OPS from 2023 it'd be a great help to a desperate Nationals offense. Fantasy managers should be prepare for his return in the next week or so under the assumption that no setbacks happen over the weekend.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Golden
14 hours agoThe Cubs-Cardinals game on Friday night has been postponed due to rain in the St. Louis area and will be made up as part of a July 13th doubleheader.
Shota Imanaga and
Miles Mikolas were set to face off but that will now have to wait until Saturday. The Cubs came into St. Louis on a 2-5 slide while the Cardinals have turned things around and are on an 8-2 heater. With the make-up game being scheduled for July, fantasy managers should prepare for the same pitching matchup in tomorrow night's game, though no starting pitcher adjustments have been announced as of yet.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Derrick Goold
14 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Jose Urquidy (forearm) exited his rehab start early on Friday. Urquidy had thrown just 56 pitches in his start. Urquidy attempted a warmup pitch, lobbed it in and then walked off the mound. He was also seen flexing his hand and fingers before the trainers visited him. This is a bad sign for the right-hander who was very close to rejoining an Astros rotation that's desperately needing help. Urquidy has also been battling injuries for much of the past two seasons and missed the majority of the 2023 season. Fantasy managers should stand pat on Urquidy's status and hope for the best when doctor's evaluate his arm. Regardless, it doesn't seem like the right-hander will be joining the Astros' rotation any time soon.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
14 hours agoKansas City Royals second baseman
Michael Massey exited Friday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays with low back tightness according to the team. Massey was replaced in the bottom of the 6th inning after going two-for-three with a three-run home run in the Royals 8-1 victory. Massey had been having a very solid month of May for the upstart Royals, hitting for a .906 OPS. The lefty should be considered day-to-day until more info is released on the seriousness of his back tightness. If Massey is forced to miss much time,
Adam Frazier should be expected to pick up playing time against righties while
Garrett Hampson should find time against lefties.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
14 hours agoColorado Rockies starting pitching prospect
Sean Sullivan continued to showcase his elite strikeout potential with eight punchouts in Thursday's victory. Through his first 40 ⅓ innings at High-A, the 21-year-old has tallied 50 punchouts and only allowed three free passes. He has tallied at least eight punchouts in three of his starts, with his season-high being 13. Overall, he holds a solid 2.68 ERA and 0.99 WHIP through seven starts. Sullivan logged only two innings at Single-A last season and was immediately sent to Double-A to begin this season. The right-hander is projected to reach the majors in 2026, but that window could change thanks to the elite command he has shown in the first two months of the campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
15 hours agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) will throw another live batting practice on Saturday per Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Cole threw a live batting practice on Tuesday without setbacks so another positive session on Saturday would be a great sign for the Yankees' ace. When Cole is able to return from the injured list at the end of May he will likely need multiple rehab starts before being able to rejoin the Yankees' rotation. New York has surprisingly been able to succeed without Cole pitching at all this season, finding themselves atop the AL East with a 35-17 record and a three game lead over the Baltimore Orioles. This gives a little bit more cushion for Cole to not rush his return and take his time. Fantasy managers should continue stashing the Cy Young winner on their bench until he's active, likely at some point in late June or early July.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Chris Kirschner
15 hours agoSeattle Mariners starting pitching prospect
Logan Evans was dominant once again on Thursday as he tossed six clean frames with eight strikeouts. He allowed four hits and no walks. Evans began this season at Double-A after ending last season with Single-A, which was very unexpected. However, Seattle looks like they made the right call as their young right-hander looks on track to reach Triple-A this summer. Through 45 ⅓ innings with Double-A Arkansas, he has posted a near-perfect 1.39 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 14:41 BB:K ratio. Evans is ranked as the number 19 prospect in the Seattle system on MLB Pipeline, but that is sure to change through the summer as the former 12th-round selection has looked near unhittable through the early part of the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
15 hours agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
John Means (forearm) will be seeking a second opinion on his throwing elbow according to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. On Thursday the Orioles placed Means on the 15-day injured list with a forearm strain, the same strain that caused him to miss the beginning of the season. Given that the forearm injury is now causing concern for his throwing elbow, it's not a great sign for the lefty. Means could likely stay on the injured list for much longer than 15 days if the second opinion delivers similar news as the first opinion. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Means to be active any time in the near future.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Andy Kostka
15 hours agoNew York Yankees starting pitching prospect
Cade Smith pitched a season-high seven innings on Thursday en route to his second victory of the campaign. He did not allow a run and surrendered just two hits and two free passes. He struck out five. This was a big bounce-back outing for the young right-hander, as he has allowed multiple runs in his previous two starts. Through his first seven starts of professional ball at Single-A (37 ⅓ innings), he holds a 2.41 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and an 18:46 BB:K ratio. Smith is still several seasons away from the major leagues but with the strong start that he has had, he could develop into one of New York's top pitching arms. The 22-year-old remains a name to monitor in dynasty leagues, especially if he reaches High-A by the end of the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
15 hours agoCincinnati Reds infield prospect
Ricardo Cabrera has been performing quite well in his first extended look at Single-A ball and could be approaching his promotion to High-A. In his past six games the 19-year-old is riding a .391/.462/.565 slash line with three extra-base hits and one stolen base. Overall, through 35 total games this season, he has posted a .285/.363/.454 line with three long balls and four swiped bags. The number nine ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline in Cincinnati, hit for a strong .300 AVG in the Rookie League and is looking just as producing in Single-A. He remains several seasons away from his major league debut but is worth a follow in dynasty leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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