8 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Ryne Nelson (elbow) threw a five-inning simulated game on Monday that went smoothly, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Nelson was able to toss 75 pitches during the session and may not even need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. He's only dealing with a right-elbow contusion after being hit by a line drive. It's a good bet that he'll come off the IL when he's eligible on May 4. The former second-round selection in 2019 out of Oregon made four starts before his injury and has gone 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA (4.14 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings pitched. Nelson is going to need more strikeouts to become attractive in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Until then, he'll be a matchup-based streamer in deeper leagues when he returns to Arizona's rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
8 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Sewald was supposed to throw a bullpen on Sunday, but the Diamondbacks pushed him back a bit after he experienced soreness in his oblique after a minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Reno. While the team has slowed the 33-year-old veteran down slightly, it's great news that he's still on track to throw a bullpen this week. After Wednesday's session, Sewald could make another rehab appearance before being cleared to return to Arizona's bullpen. He has yet to make his 2024 debut, but Sewald should be stashed in all fantasy leagues as Arizona's primary closer when he's healthy. He had a career-high 34 saves in 65 regular-season outings with the D-backs and Seattle Mariners in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
8 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Jesus Luzardo (elbow), who was diagnosed with a mild left-flexor muscle strain after undergoing testing, played catch before the team's game on Monday. The Marlins placed Luzardo on the injured list recently after he felt tightness in his left elbow. All in all, it's good news that the 26-year-old southpaw was able to play catch on Monday, but he remains without a timetable to return to the team's starting rotation. Luzardo will definitely have a spot in the rotation waiting for him when he's able to return, and even though he's gotten off to a rough 0-2 start with a 6.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in his first five starts in 2024, he deserves to be rostered in most fantasy leagues once he's back in action.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
8 hours agoMiami Marlins shortstop
Tim Anderson (hand, thumb) left the game early on Monday against the Washington Nationals after hurting his left hand/thumb.
Vidal Brujan replaced Anderson at shortstop after Anderson struck out in his only plate appearance of the game. Fantasy managers will need to check back later on Monday night or early Tuesday morning for an update on the severity of Anderson's injury. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star fell off a cliff in his final season with the Chicago White Sox in 2023 and entered Monday's contest hitting just .223 (21-for-94) with no home runs, five RBI and three runs scored in his first 27 games with the Fish. If Anderson's injury is serious and puts him on the injured list, Brujan would likely become the team's starting shortstop.
UPDATE: Anderson is dealing with a mild left-thumb sprain and is considered day-to-day.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
8 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder
Christian Yelich (back) played catch from around 120 feet in the outfield on Monday. Given Yelich's history with back issues, dating back to last year, it's no surprise that the Brewers are taking things slow in his recovery from a lower-back strain that landed him on the injured list. It's good news that the 32-year-old left-hander is doing baseball activities, but it may still be a while before he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Despite the Brewers slow-playing Yelich's rehab, fantasy managers must keep him stashed in an IL spot in all leagues after he opened the season hitting .333/.422/.744 with a 1.166 OPS, five home runs, 11 RBI, two steals and seven runs in his first 39 at-bats. Until he's able to return,
Blake Perkins should continue to benefit from more playing time in Milwaukee's outfield.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
9 hours agoThe New York Mets expect outfielder
Starling Marte to return from the bereavement list on Tuesday, according to manager
Carlos Mendoza. Marte is missing his third straight game on Monday against the Chicago Cubs after being placed on the bereavement list on Saturday. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday, but the 35-year-old veteran should be back in New York's starting lineup to face Cubs right-hander
Javier Assad.
Tyrone Taylor, who is making a third straight start on Monday with Marte away from the team, will head back to the Mets' bench when Marte returns. Marte has been able to stay healthy so far in 2024 and has been solid for his fantasy managers with a .288 batting average (30-for-104) with four home runs, 12 RBI, six stolen bases and 16 runs scored in 25 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Tim Healey
9 hours agoThe Baltimore Orioles plan to activate left-hander
John Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list this week to make his 2024 season debut, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's unclear exactly what day Means will make his his return to Baltimore's starting rotation, but the best bet is on Friday in Cincinnati against the Reds. That wouldn't be the greatest matchup for the 31-year-old southpaw for fantasy streamers, but he did look good in his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk, tossing seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Right-hander
Kyle Bradish (elbow) is also on track to make his season debut for the O's this week, so both
Cole Irvin and
Albert Suarez will soon be bumped from the team's rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
9 hours agoBaltimore Orioles closer
Craig Kimbrel (back) is considered day-to-day with upper-back tightness, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The skipper doesn't think Kimbrel's soreness is workload related. The 35-year-old right-handed reliever has blown his last two save chances and didn't even record an out while giving up two earned runs in the team's 7-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. The Orioles are hoping that he can avoid going on the injured list, but fantasy managers should prepare for the worst here. Kimbrel is not going to be available if another save situation arises in the series opener on Monday against the division-rival New York Yankees. Those in need of saves should run to the waiver wire and pick up
Yennier Cano if he's available, as he's the favorite to be Baltimore's closer if Kimbrel ends up missing extended time.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
9 hours agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw on flat ground again on Saturday, and manager Aaron Boone said it went "really well." Cole is now up to 120 feet while throwing on flat ground for the last three weeks as he tries to recover from an elbow injury he suffered in spring training. The 33-year-old ace is getting close to throwing off a mound, which could happen as early as this week. There are no guarantees, but if Cole avoids any setbacks in his recovery, he could be ready to join New York's starting rotation in late May when he's eligible to come off the 60-day injured list. Cole should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues in an injured-list spot after winning the American League Cy Young award in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NJ Advance Media - Max Goodman
9 hours agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Jo Adell is starting in right field and is batting second on Monday against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander
Cristopher Sanchez. This will be the first time this year that Adell has batted higher than sixth in the Angels' order. The 25-year-old has earned the bump up the lineup, as he's dropped his strikeout rate considerably through the first month of the 2024 season and is currently slashing .327/.382/.592 with a .974 OPS, three home runs, 10 RBI, a career-high five stolen bases and 10 runs scored in 21 games played. The former 10th overall pick in 2017 out of high school is making his seventh straight start in right field for the Angels and should continue to play every day, especially after the team designated
Aaron Hicks for assignment on Monday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Kyle Hendricks (back) is expected to have a rehab start later this week, according to manager Craig Counsell. The right-hander has been throwing off the mound and appears to be doing well. Hendricks was placed on the 15-day injured list last Tuesday due to a lower back injury. The assumption is that Hendricks will return to the Cubs rotation after one rehab start. He was off to a rough start to the season before going down due to injury. Fantasy managers can probably wait until he gets back on track before adding him again.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Maddie Lee
9 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Justin Steele (hamstring) might only need one rehab start, according to manager Craig Counsell. The left-hander has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury on Opening Day. Steele is set to make a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. It sounds like the left-hander could be back in the Cubs rotation at some point next week. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see how the rehab start goes before making any moves. Regardless, it doesn't sound like Steele is going to miss much more time.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Meghan Montemurro
9 hours agoLos Angeles Angels third baseman
Miguel Sano (knee) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-handed slugger is still dealing with a lingering knee issue that forced him to exit early last Wednesday. He was able to return to the lineup later in the week but sat out on both Saturday and Sunday. The hope is that Sano will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list.
Ehire Adrianza will cover third base during Monday's game.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
9 hours agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) will remain out of the lineup ahead of Monday's game against the San Diego Padres. Encarnacion-Strand was hit on the hand during Saturday's game and will now miss two games because of it. The hope is that this is a minor issue that won't require a trip to the injured list.
Jeimer Candelario wilL hold down first base while
Santiago Espinal plays third base during Monday's game. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Tuesday for another update on Encarnacion-Strand.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
10 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. The veteran backstop will take a seat after homering with three RBI on Sunday. The expectation is that Realmuto will be back in the lineup following this one-game absence.
Garrett Stubbs will cover behind the plate and bat eighth on Monday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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