5 hours agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (lat) said he feels great and is pain-free and is ready to start on Sunday at Fenway Park against the visiting Washington Nationals. We'll see what the Red Sox have to say about that after Bello allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out five batters in only 2 2/3 innings in a minor-league rehab start for Double-A Portland on Tuesday. The good news is that Bello feels fully healthy, but even if he's activated from the injured list and returns on Sunday in a good matchup against the Nats, he'll be a shaky fantasy option for Sunday's slate of games in his first start back. Before landing on the IL, the 24-year-old had a nice 3.04 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 26 2/3 frames over five starts. If Bello is on your league's waiver wire, scoop him up.Source: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
5 hours agoWashington Nationals third base/shortstop prospect Brady House has performed well in his first extended look at Double-A this season and is making a case to be moved up to Triple-A sooner rather than later. House is currently on a three-game hitting streak and has gone hitless in just one of his past eight games. During this stretch, the 20-year-old has tallied three of his total five home runs. Overall, on the season, the third-ranked prospect in the Washington pipeline has a .266/.361/.479 line. House is projected to reach the majors in 2025 but could make a late-season push to the majors if he continues to hit this well.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoHouston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) is dealing with a shoulder injury that will sideline him "a while," according to a person familiar with his situation. Shoulder inflammation delayed France's building in spring training, but he recovered in time to make the team's Opening Day roster. He had a 7.46 ERA in five big-league starts before he was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on April 25. France walked four batters and gave up three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in his only start for Sugar Land. The 29-year-old is now on the seven-day injured list in the minors after suffering a setback with his shoulder. It's a hit to an already thinned Astros rotation, although the club is getting Cristian Javier (neck) back this weekend. France's injury should offer both Hunter Brown and rookie Spencer Arrighetti more security in the big-league rotation.Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
5 hours agoWashington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is taking full batting practice on the field on Tuesday for the first time since going on the injured list with a left MCL sprain two weeks ago. It's good progress for Thomas, but he still has other boxes to check before the club clears him to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment. Barring a setback with his knee, the 28-year-old should be able to return to Washington's lineup before the end of May. In his absence, the left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker has seen more run in the Nationals' outfield. When he's healthy, Thomas will return to everyday duties for the team despite hitting .184 in his first 87 at-bats. He had added two home runs, 10 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Thomas' 20-20 potential makes him stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues.Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
5 hours agoChicago White Sox shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery launched another home run on Tuesday, his second in the past two days. After not tallying a long ball in his first 11 games of the season, the 22-year-old now has six in his last 19 games at Triple-A. He has an overall .230/.360/.434 line. While Montgomery seems to be settling in from a power standpoint, he is still striking out at a very high rate. The top prospect in the Chicago system has struck out 42 total times, which is on pace to become a new career-high. Montgomery should be expected to be promoted to the major league roster sometime this summer but could be called up even sooner if he can continue to showcase his raw power and drop his strikeout rate.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoThe Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder Victor Robles (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Alex Call to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. Robles will return to the big leagues after missing more than a month due to a strained left hamstring. The 26-year-old went 7-for-20 with a stolen base in six minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Rochester, but he was not immediately back in the big-league lineup for the Nats on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles. The Dominican speedster has been a disappointment in his seven years in D.C., so regular playing time will not be guaranteed now that he's back, especially since Jacob Young has played well in his absence.Source: Washington Nationals
5 hours agoOakland Athletics shortstop prospect Jacob Wilson went 4-for-4 with a walk in Tuesday's victory over the Tulsa Drillers. Wilson tallied two runs and two RBI as well. The 22-year-old wasted no time by lacing an RBI double in the opening frame, and then came around to score off a Cooper Bowman groundout. Later in the third, Wilson knocked a single and then scored his second run courtesy of Bowman again, this time off a double. Then in the sixth, he tallied his first RBI of the game off a walk and brought in his second run in the eighth off an RBI single. The former sixth overall pick is riding an incredible .455/.473/.705 slash line through 22 games at Double-A. Wilson should be rostered in all dynasty leagues and could even make a late-season push to the major leagues.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoChicago Cubs left-handers Drew Smyly (hip) and Jordan Wicks (forearm) were both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday. Wicks went on the injured list over a week ago with a strained left forearm but is already good to throw off a mound, so it sounds as though his injury isn't very serious. However, the 24-year-old southpaw could need a minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs feel comfortable returning him to their starting rotation. Smyly, 34, is recovering from a right-hip impingement and has already missed several weeks. Because Smyly is a reliever, he may not need as lengthy of a rehab assignment before rejoining Chicago's bullpen. In a starting role, Wicks is more attractive in fantasy in deeper leagues. He had a 4.70 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and 28 K's in five starts before his injury.Source: Watch Marquee - Andy Martinez
5 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. Suzuki has been away from the team for almost three weeks due to a right-oblique strain, but barring a setback in the minors this week, the 29-year-old outfielder could come off the 10-day injured list and return to Chicago's lineup this weekend. When he's back, Suzuki will return to an everyday role in the Cubbies' outfield, potentially pushing rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong back to the minor leagues now that Cody Bellinger (ribs) is also back. The Japanese right-handed hitter was batting a strong .305 (18-for-59) with three home runs, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored in his first 15 games for the Cubs before injuring his oblique. Hopefully, he can pick up where he left off when he returns to Chicago.Source: Watch Marquee - Andy Martinez
5 hours agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) said his right shoulder feels much better. He's been playing catch and is hoping to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list when he's eligible to return on May 15. The move to place Rodriguez on the IL was more of a precautionary move since he had been battling through shoulder inflammation recently, so the 24-year-old might not need a lengthy stay on the sidelines. It's great news for the O's and fantasy managers. As long as he avoids any setbacks, Rodriguez may only be required to make one minor-league rehab start before returning to Baltimore. Before his injury, he had gone 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA in his six starts. Rodriguez deserves to be kept in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues while he rehabs.Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
5 hours agoCleveland Guardians catching prospect Ralphy Velazquez has been settling in quite nicely in his first taste of Single-A ball. The 18-year-old has posted a .264/.343/.505 line with six long balls and 21 RBI through 22 games this season. He has also stolen one base and has an 11:21 BB:K ratio. The former first-round pick is showing elite power and could make a case to see time in High-A later this summer. Velazquez is ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the Cleveland system on MLB Pipeline and is worth monitoring in dynasty leagues as he has the potential to emerge as not only the top prospect in his team's system but in all of baseball.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoNew York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw another bullpen session on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone said the plan is for Cole to travel with the team to Tampa and throw another bullpen session this weekend. Cole threw off a mound for the first time last Saturday and continues to progress from a right-elbow injury that landed him on the injured list to begin the 2024 season. The 33-year-old still has a ways to go before he's able to make his season debut, but he's making progress and is currently on track to return to the Yankees' starting rotation in mid-June. Fantasy baseball managers must remain patient, though, as the Yankees aren't going to rush last year's American League Cy Young winner back too soon. Keep him stashed everywhere.Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
5 hours agoNew York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez (elbow) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment in mid-to-late May. The 21-year-old continues recovering from last year's Tommy John surgery. The hope is that Dominguez can rejoin the outfield mix at some point next month. The top prospect did well with the team during his first taste of big league action last season. He should be an impact player once he's back to full health.Source: Max Goodman
6 hours agoUpdating a previous report, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (illness) is under the weather and is getting the day off on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The hope is that Moreno will be back in the lineup on Wednesday. He's available off the bench on Tuesday, Lovullo said. It's the second straight day that Moreno will be on the bench, as he was also given the day off in the series finale on Sunday against the San Diego Padres. Tucker Barnhart got the start behind the dish and is hitting eighth in the order against Reds right-hander Frankie Montas, who is making his first start since coming off the injured list. The 24-year-old Moreno is hitting .241 (21-for-87) with 14 RBI, but he has yet to clear the fences in 2024.Source: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
6 hours agoSeattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (oblique) was able to take swings in the batting cage on Tuesday. Manager Scott Servais mentioned that Crawford should be able to start swinging on the field this weekend. If he's 100 percent this weekend then Crawford should be able to go on a rehab assignment next week. Crawford has been out of the lineup since late April due to an oblique injury. Dylan Moore will cover shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander Bailey Ober on Tuesday.Source: Ryan Divish