13 hours agoThere has been speculation that Oakland Athletics rookie closer
Mason Miller, who has the most pitches at 102-plus mph (19) this year, could be dangled at this summer's trade deadline. Rival executives are split on whether the A's would actually dare trade their biggest start with a move to Sacramento coming next year. Miller has topped out at 103.7 mph and is an "elite" closer that should bring "a prospect package worth pursuing." A rival executive envisions a bidding war that could make a Miller trade irresistible for the A's. "They may want to cash in while stock is so high." The 25-year-old former third-round pick in 2021 out of Gardner-Webb University has been lights-out in 2024 with a 1.26 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, eight saves and 29 K's in 14 1/3 innings, although a trade to a contender wouldn't necessarily mean he'd stay in a closer's role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
13 hours agoTexas Rangers catcher
Jonah Heim tallied two hits for the seventh time of the season to lead the Rangers to a series victory over the Washington Nationals. Heim laced a single to left field in the second frame and was able to cross home plate via an
Ezequiel Duran double. The 28-year-old then knocked an RBI single in the eighth inning to score
Nathaniel Lowe to increase the Texas lead. During the young season, Heim has proven to be a solid batting average contributor with a .263 AVG, which is on pace to be a new career-high. Heim remains a strong second catcher in two-catcher leagues and is a sneaky play in DFS due to the strong lineup around him.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoThe Colorado Rockies are expected to place right-handed reliever
Justin Lawrence on the paternity list and to summon right-hander
Angel Chivilli from Double-A Hartford for their upcoming series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Lawrence is technically the Rockies' closer with two saves on the year, but he's also sporting an ugly 7.20 ERA (2.94 FIP) and 1.80 WHIP with five walks and 10 strikeouts in his 10 innings in 11 appearances out of the 'pen for the lowly Rockies. The 29-year-old is only worth rostering for fantasy managers that are desperate for saves, but Lawrence isn't going to see a ton of chances if the Rockies continue playing like they have been. If a save situation arises this weekend in Pittsburgh with Lawrence away, it will likely go to
Jake Bird.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
13 hours agoHouston Astros second baseman
Jose Altuve registered three hits in Thursday's victory over the Cleveland Guardians. The 33-year-old has now tallied at least three hits in five games this season and continues to improve on his .341/.409/.585 line. In addition, Altuve tallied 11th RBI of the season in the seventh inning by scoring
Jake Meyers. He also swiped his fifth and sixth bags on Thursday. Altuve continues to be a high-end five-category fantasy contributor with his stellar bat-to-ball skills and his excellent 13.9% K rate. The 2017 American League MVP should be a weekly lineup lock and remain matchup-proof in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoHouston Astros first baseman
Jon Singleton went 2-for-3 in Thursday's victory with three RBI to power the Astros to their 11th victory of the season. Singleton tallied a single in his first at-bat of the game in the third inning and crossed home plate via a passed ball. Then in the sixth inning, the 32-year-old launched his second home run of the season, which scored shortstop
Jeremy Pena. This was Singleton's second home run of the series and of the season, and he is carrying a .275/.362/.431 slash line into a three-game set against their division rivals, Seattle Mariners, which will begin Friday evening. Singleton has been subject to limited playing time but could be a viable option in DFS in a favorable matchup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
14 hours agoCincinnati Reds infielder
Matt McLain (shoulder) is about a week away from a follow-up appointment with a doctor. The evaluation should allow the Reds to map out a clearer return timetable for McLain, who is recovering from March 26 left shoulder surgery. Manager David Bell said on April 1 that "there is a chance [McLain] gets back this year," so fantasy managers should still be prepared for the 24-year-old former top prospect to be sidelined through the All-Star break. With McLain on the shelf, former National League Rookie of the Year
Jonathan India is operating as Cincy's everyday second baseman. India could heat up in a hurry, and over his last nine games, he's batting a strong .344 (11-for-32) with one home run, six RBI, three runs scored, one stolen base, and three walks.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Gordon Wittenmyer - The Cincinnati Enquirer
14 hours agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby has been a big reason why the team has a 1.58 ERA over their last 19 games since April 10. After yielding 13 runs in his first 14 1/3 innings (three starts) of the 2024 regular season, Kirby has turned it around for a 1.00 ERA and a 25:2 K:BB across the subsequent 18 frames (three starts). The 26-year-old All-Star right-hander will take the ball in a tough spot on Friday for the start of a three-game weekend set on the road against the division-rival Houston Astros, but in three career starts against Houston, Kirby owns a 1.62 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 14:3 K:BB across 16 2/3 innings. The current Astros roster is batting a career .218 (12-for-55) with zero extra-base hits against Kirby, who'll have plenty of DFS tournament appeal on Friday's full slate.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Savant
14 hours agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) made his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday since overcoming a bout of "dead arm," launching five one-hit innings on three walks with three strikeouts. After throwing 61 pitches in the outing, Garrett's next appearance may very well come with the major-league roster for his 2024 regular-season debut. The Marlins should make a decision on that sometime this weekend. Last season, the 26-year-old former No. 7 overall pick fanned 156 hitters and walked only 29 for a 3.66 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over his 159 2/3 frames of work (30 starts). If his next showing indeed comes in Miami's rotation, it would likely be in place of rookie
Roddery Munoz during Monday's series opener in a shy-away spot from a fantasy perspective against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Fish on the Farm
15 hours agoThe New York Mets have concerns that relief pitcher
Brooks Raley (elbow) could miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Manager
Carlos Mendoza already stated on Thursday that Raley won't return from inflammation in his left elbow when first eligible on May 6, but this update is a bit more ominous. The 35-year-old southpaw was serving as New York's primary left-handed setup man this season, working seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and three walks while logging four holds over eight appearances. Although veteran lefty
Jake Diekman now figures to operate as a high-leverage arm, unheralded right-hander
Reed Garrett has emerged as a weapon with a 0.54 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 28:8 K:BB through 16 2/3 frames out of the Mets' bullpen this year. Reed is throwing well enough right now to warrant fantasy consideration in all formats.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Joel Sherman - New York Post
15 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will shift to the 60-day injured list to free up a 40-man roster spot for incoming right-hander
Matt Bowman from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations. This is a fairly significant update for Kelly, considering manager Torey Lovullo said on April 23 that the hurler's strained right shoulder would undergo re-imaging in the upcoming weeks. As a result, the D-backs and fantasy managers will now be without Kelly until early July at the earliest. The 35-year-old right-hander was working to an excellent 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) before heading to the IL, and he's well worth a stash for those who can afford the roster spot. Right-hander
Slade Cecconi should continue functioning from Arizona's rotation, and he's trending up with a 2.25 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 11:1 K:BB across 12 frames (two starts).
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks on X
15 hours agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Tyler Wells (elbow) played catch on Wednesday and is still undergoing tests, according to manager Brandon Hyde, who had nothing further to report on the hurler. Working his way back from inflammation in his right elbow, Wells still has no clear timetable for his return to Baltimore's rotation at this juncture. Considering the big 29-year-old right-hander logged a shaky 5.87 ERA and 1.37 WHIP while striking out 13 batters and walking three over 15 1/3 innings (three starts), he doesn't need to be stashed in the majority of fantasy leagues. The O's just reinstated
Kyle Bradish and
John Means from the injured list this week, but
Dean Kremer and
Cole Irvin will still be needed as starters until Wells is back in the fold, and they'll have streaming appeal under the appropriate circumstances.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jake Rill - MLB.com
15 hours agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Saturday, with the new target for his return now being "mid-June." Cole is all set to resume throwing off the mound, which is a big step forward in his throwing progression, and a mid-June return is pretty much in line with his original recovery timetable from discomfort in his right elbow. The 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner still needs to build up his stamina and then start a minor-league rehab assignment, which could begin sometime in the next few weeks if all continues to go well. Cole notched a 2.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 222:48 K:BB over 209 innings (33 starts) a year ago. Until he's ready to rejoin New York's rotation, right-handers
Clarke Schmidt and
Luis Gil should continue getting starts for the Yankees as fantasy streaming options in favorable matchups.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman - New York Post
16 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Mitch Jebb had his best game of the season as he launched two home runs and tallied five RBI in Wednesday's victory. Jebb has now hit a home run in back-to-back performances. Overall, on the season, the number eight ranked prospect in the Pittsburgh system, according to MLB Pipeline, has a .250/.318/.388 line with four swiped bags in his first season at High-A. The former Michigan State Spartan is finally showing his power potential after going through his first professional season at Single-A with only one round-tripper. For now, Jebb should be monitored in dynasty leagues and could emerge as a potential stash if he can reach Double-A this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
16 hours agoNew York Yankees second base/shortstop prospect
Jared Serna had a monster day at the plate on Wednesday, tallying three home runs and six RBI to power the Hudson Valley Renegades over the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Following this big performance, the 21-year-old has an overall .231/.351/.474 with five home runs, 17 RBI, and one stolen base across 21 games at High-A. Serna also has a strong 15:10 BB:K ratio. It is very promising to see Serna display his power potential, as he did not tally one home run in 27 games at the High-A level last season. Serna could reach Double-A by the end of the summer if he continues this trajectory, and he is worth keeping an eye on in dynasty formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
17 hours agoBoston Red Sox catching prospect
Kyle Teel launched his third home run of the season in Wednesday's victory. Teel went 2-4 at the plate with four RBI. The fifth overall catching prospect in baseball now sits with a solid .231/.351/.400 with 12 RBI and a 21:11 K:BB ratio across the first 17 games of the season. This is the 22-year-old's first full test in Double-A, as he only appeared in nine games at this level last season. The former Virginia Cavalier should be rostered in all dynasty leagues but should not be expected to make his major league debut until 2025, especially since he may not reach Triple-A until later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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