16 hours agoDespite allowing a two-out double to Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler, Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano picked up his sixth save of the season in Saturday's 10-8 win at Rodgers Centre. Romano avoided allowing an earned run for the first time in three appearances in May, lowering his ERA to 4.15. An encouraging stat for fantasy managers is that Romano struck out two batters on Saturday, only the second time he has done so in 2024. His current 7.0 K/9 is light years from Romano's 11.0 K/9 last season. Despite the drop in K/9, Romano is a top-five fantasy closer with six saves, 4.15 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and an 8:2 K: BB across 8 2/3 innings in 2024. Source: ESPN.com
16 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies infielder Bryson Stott was the hero of the day in the team's 8-3 over the Miami Marlins on Saturday as his bases-clearing triple in the top of the sixth inning broke the game open. Stott, who finished 2-for-5 with a run scored, added his fourth RBI of the day with an infield single in the top of the eighth to boost his batting average to .257 this season. Over the past 15 games, the second baseman has driven in 16 runs while sporting a .400 OBP, making him a must-start in all league formats.Source: ESPN.com
17 hours agoBoston Red Sox rookie outfielder Wilyer Abreu hopes Saturday's solo homer in the 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals is a sign in the right direction. Abreu hit his third dinger of the season, tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning. It was just his fifth hit in May as he came into Saturday's play batting a paltry .190 in 23 at-bats. The 24-year-old will enter Sunday's series finale against the Nationals with a .284/.378/.480 slash line with three home runs, 14 RBI, 18 runs, and five stolen bases.Source: CBSSports.com
17 hours agoBoston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen retired all three batters he faced on Saturday as he picked up his sixth save of the year in a 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Jansen fanned two of the three batters who came to the plate, with 12 of his 16 pitches finding the strike zone. He lowered his ERA to 2.84 in 12 2/3 innings this season and has yet to allow a home run. His 13.1 K/9 rate is Jansen's highest since averaging 14.4 K/9 during the 2017 season with the then-National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with Jansen in all league formats. Source: ESPN.com
17 hours agoBaltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the 11th inning to cap off a 4-for-5 day in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Westburg, whose batting average is now at .301, opened Saturday's scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the second, now has hits in five straight games and comes into Sunday's play with six homers and 26 RBI to go along with a .867 OPS. Saturday's game-winner was his second walk-off hit of the season for Westburg, who came into the season without ever recording one in his entire career. The 25-year-old is off to a solid start in 2024, slashing .301/.345/.522 with six home runs, 26 RBI, 20 runs, and five stolen bases across 36 games.Source: ESPN.com
17 hours agoNew York Mets rookie right-hander Christian Scott (0-1) was tagged with the loss in Saturday's 4-1 defeat to the Atlanta Braves. His eight strikeouts over six innings offered a positive in the rookie's second big league start and first start at Citi Field. Scott allowed three earned runs on six hits, including Orlando Arcia's two-run homer in the top of the third. The 24-year-old has struck out 14 batters and three walks in his first 12 2/3 innings and will go into his next start this Thursday at the Phillies with a solid 2.84 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Despite the tough matchup against the Phillies, fantasy managers can use Scott as a streamer in Week 8.Source: MLB.com
19 hours agoOakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers is on the bench Saturday night against the Seattle Mariners. Kyle McCann will get the start behind the plate and bat in the sixth spot. Langeliers it hitting .212 with nine home runs, 24 RBI, and 16 runs so far this year. This appears to be just a maintenance day off for Langeliers, who is hitting .333 with three home runs and 11 RBI in May thus far. Look for him to be back in the lineup for the series finale with the Mariners on Sunday afternoon.Source: Oakland Athletics
19 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers have announced that they will recall right-hander Matt Manning to make a start on Monday against the Miami Marlins. Manning will take the spot of veteran Kenta Maeda, who was placed on the IL with a viral illness. Manning has started three games this year for the Tigers, going 0-1 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. In a small sample size, Manning has 17 strikeouts in 17 innings and his 85.5 average exit velocity is in the 92nd percentile in MLB. It is unknown how long Maeda will be out with his illness, but Manning could make two or three starts in the interim.Source: Detroit Tigers
19 hours agoRookie outfielder Evan Carter is out of the Texas Rangers lineup on Saturday night against the Colorado Rockies. Carter will head to the bench, ceding left field to veteran Travis Jankowski. Carter is hitting .216 with five home runs, two stolen bases, 15 RBI and 23 runs scored. This will be Carter's first day off in May, where he has struggled to a .206 batting average with no home runs, four RBI, and 13 strikeouts in his last 37 plate appearances. Expect the rookie to be back in the lineup for the series finale tomorrow,Source: Texas Rangers
19 hours agoSan Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano will take a seat Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kyle Higashioka will start behind the plate for the Friars and will catch knuckleballer Matt Waldron. Campusano is hitting .283 with three home runs, 23 RBI and 17 runs scored. This looks to be a standard day off for Campusano in the second game of the series. Higashioka is hitting just .194 (6-for-31) on the year with a homer and two RBI and will be a catching option to avoid in DFS in the nine-hold for the Padres against Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander James Paxton.Source: San Diego Padres
19 hours agoThe New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (intercostal) was removed from the Saturday afternoon tilt with the Atlanta Braves with intercostal irritation. Nimmo appeared to hurt his side on a check swing. Nimmo was able to complete the at-bat but left the game the next half-inning. The team is calling it an irritation, but it feels safe to assume he will have some testing on it this weekend. Nimmo was hitting .300 with two home runs and seven RBI in 37 May plate appearances. Should Nimmo miss time, reserve outfielders Tyrone Taylor and DJ Stewart should see more opportunities for at-bats.Source: New York Mets
20 hours agoDetroit Tigers veteran Kenta Maeda (illness) has been placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 8, with a viral infection, In a corresponding move, the Tigers recalled outfielder Akil Baddoo from Triple-A Toledo. The veteran Maeda is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in seven starts covering 30 innings. He pitched on May 7 against the Cleveland Guardians with poor results, going only two innings and surrendering seven earned runs on five hits and three walks. Baddoo likely will be a reserve outfielder during his stay on the roster. It appears that the Tigers will recall right-hander Matt Manning to take Maeda's upcoming Monday start against the Miami Marlins.Source: Detroit Tigers
21 hours agoSan Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth is out of the lineup on Saturday for the Padres tilt against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With James Paxton on the mound, and Cronenworth struggling deeply against lefties, the Padres will start Luis Arraez at first base in his place. While Cronenworth has been excellent this season with an .841 OPS, that drops to just .437 when facing lefties. This decision would appear to simply be platoon-based and shouldn't raise any concerns with fantasy managers. Expect Cronenworth to be back in the lineup on Sunday when the Los Angeles Dodgers start right-hander Walker Buehler.Source: San Diego Padres
21 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo will look to bounce back after a rough outing vs Baltimore when he faces the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night. Lodolo has only had two real hiccups in his five starts this season with both of those hiccups (Philadelphia, Baltimore) being strong against lefties. The San Francisco Giants rank 18th against lefties with a 98 wRC+, just below league average. Lodolo should be able to perform a little stronger against San Francisco than those two. Fantasy managers should feel fine with him in their lineups on Saturday and DFS players should target the left-hander as well.Source: MLB.com
21 hours agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans will aim to notch his third straight quality start on Saturday when he takes the hill against the Los Angeles Angels. Ragans has been living up to the potential the Royals were looking for when they traded for him last season. The lefty ranks third in K/9 among American League starters who have thrown at least 20 innings with an 11.39 K/9 behind only Garrett Crochet and Jack Flaherty. The lefty should continue to dominate and may even have room for improvement as his 3.38 ERA and 2.35 FIP suggest he could be even better. Fantasy managers and DFS players will want to target the lefty Saturday against the struggling Los Angeles Angels, who are only hitting for a .217 BA over the last seven days.Source: MLB.com