11 hours agoNew York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu (foot) started hitting in the batting cages last Saturday and started taking ground balls in the infield on Tuesday. He took batting practice on the field at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. There isn't yet a timetable for LeMahieu's return from the injured list, but he will travel with the Yankees on their upcoming road trip to play the Rays from Friday through Sunday so that he can take live at-bats and do infield work at the team's minor-league complex. After that, LeMahieu could start a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 35-year-old hasn't played in a big-league game after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his right foot on March 16 in spring training. He was shut down after starting a rehab assignment in late April due to more soreness in his foot. When LeMahieu returns, he should be the regular third baseman in the Bronx.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Yusei Kikuchi had a very strong outing on Friday night but picked up the loss as the Blue Jays fell to the Minnesota Twins 3-2. Kikuchi threw eight innings and gave up just two earned runs while striking out three. Kikuchi has been the Blue Jays' best pitcher this season, now having a 2.64 ERA. Kikuchi has shown significant improvement year-over-year by slightly reducing his BB% and has greatly reduced his HR/9 rate also. Fantasy managers should snag Kikuchi off the waiver wire if available. The lefty will look to continue his dominant season next Wednesday in a tough matchup against the Baltimore Orioles.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Joe Ryan posted up a strong outing on Friday, striking out seven and giving up just one earned run while picking up the win in the Twins 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan's only blemish was giving up a solo home run to
Isiah Kiner-Falefa but gave up no other extra-base hits after that. The win moves Ryan's record on the year to 2-2 and reduced his ERA to 3.21. The Twins' right-hander will get his next shot to continue his dominant ways against the New York Yankees on Thursday.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Clarke Schmidt held the Rays scoreless while striking out six in the Yankees 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night. Schmidt threw six and two-thirds innings and gave up five hits, all singles, en route to picking up his fourth win of the season. The 28-year-old reduced his ERA to 2.95, the lowest ERA he's posted in any season. Fantasy managers looking for additional pitching depth should look to snag Schmidt if available as he'd make a great bench and streaming option. The right-hander will look to continue his hot run in his next scheduled start on Thursday against the red-hot Minnesota Twins.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoNew York Yankees first baseman
Anthony Rizzo had two hits, one a solo shot, and drove in the Yankees only other run in New York's 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Rizzo now has a hit in six of his last seven games and increased his OPS to .772 on the season. The lefty has been on a tear over the last two weeks, hitting for a .296 BA and a .926 OPS. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Rizzo if he's available on the waiver wire and snag him up if possible. DFS managers should continue to target Rizzo against righties as he's hitting them for an .878 OPS. Rizzo will look to continue his hot streak on Saturday against Rays right-hander Zach Littell.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez notched four strikeouts in seven innings and picked up the win in Houston's 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Valdez has now picked up two wins in three starts since coming back from elbow inflammation in his left elbow. The lefty needed to come back strong after a disappointing outing vs Seattle, where he gave up five earned runs, and he did so in a big way by helping the Astros win back-to-back games. Valdez will make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Oakland A's as he will look to improve to 3-1 on the season.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoHouston Astros outfielder
Kyle Tucker went 1-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run in the Astros' 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday. The solo shot marks his 12th home run of the season (most in the league) and his fourth in his last five games. The lefty has now raised his OPS to .965 on the season, leading the Astros as they work to make their way out of the cellar of the American League West. Tucker will have a tough matchup on Saturday night against Tigers ace and early AL Cy Young candidate
Tarik Skubal.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoBaltimore Orioles third base prospect
Coby Mayo went 3-for-5 at the plate on Friday afternoon and launched his 12th home run of the campaign. Overall on the season, Mayo has posted an impressive .295/.366/.609 slash line with 36 RBI and three stolen bases. Mayo has been one of the best power hitters in the minor leagues this season and is on the verge of being promoted to the major-league roster. However, he does hold an ugly 16:49 BB:K, which could be a reason why Baltimore is hesitant to promote him. Nonetheless, Mayo should be stashed in all standard leagues, as he has the potential to be an impactful fantasy contributor as soon as he receives the call.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Keiner Delgado was promoted to Single-A earlier this week after opening the season in the Rookie league and has begun to showcase his elite raw power. In just three games Delgado has launched two long balls with an overall .231/.231/.692 line. The 20-year-old has not showcased this power consistently in his young professional career, as he tallied just eight home runs in 49 games at the Rookie League last year and three the year prior. The number 24 ranked prospect is still several years away from his major league debut, with an ETA of 2027. Nonetheless, dynasty managers should keep tabs on him to see if he can continue to show this power potential throughout the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoChicago Cubs right-hander
Kyle Hendricks (back) threw another bullpen session in Pittsburgh on Friday, and manager Craig Counsell confirmed that he will make another minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. In his first rehab start with Iowa on Tuesday, Hendricks gave up one earned run while walking three and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings. If the 34-year-old veteran looks good again on Sunday for Iowa, there's a good chance his next outing will be back in the big leagues with the Cubbies. Chicago could need Hendricks back in their starting rotation by then if
Jameson Taillon (back) needs another stint on the injured list. Before being sidelined, Hendricks was getting lit up to the tune of a 12.00 ERA and 2.09 WHIP with just 16 strikeouts in 21 innings over five starts. It's no wonder the Cubs aren't rushing him back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
13 hours agoChicago Cubs right-hander
Jameson Taillon (back) experienced back stiffness while throwing on Tuesday and was shut down/pushed back from his scheduled start on Friday in Pittsburgh for the series opener against the Pirates. Manager Craig Counsell said it's not as bad as Taillon's spring training back issue, but it's something to watch. There's a chance that Taillon could start on Sunday in Pittsburgh, but the Cubs aren't making anything official and will see how he feels on Saturday. If the 32-year-old veteran doesn't feel good enough to start on Sunday, there's a chance the Cubs will play it safe and send him to the injured list for the second time this year. It's bad timing after being scratched from a good matchup against the Bucs, as Taillon is currently 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in 24 innings over his first four starts of the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
13 hours agoMinnesota Twins starting pitching prospect
Zebby Matthews made his Double-A debut on Thursday and tossed 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball (zero earned runs). He allowed just three hits and matched a season-high of nine strikeouts. After posting a dominant 1.59 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through 22 2/3 innings at High-A to open the season, the 23-year-old was moved up to Double-A and has yet to slow down. The 20th-ranked prospect in the Minnesota pipeline is not projected to reach the major leagues until 2025 but could be worth adding in dynasty leagues if he continues to silence Double-A bats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever
Evan Phillips (hamstring) played catch on Friday and continues to progress from his Grade 1 right-hamstring strain. Phillips has been on the 15-day injured list for only five days and should be ready to return when he's eligible on May 19 since he's not dealing with any kind of injury to his arm. As the closer out of the Dodgers' bullpen when healthy, the 29-year-old needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats despite missing some time with a hamstring injury. Before going on the shelf, Phillips was sporting a fantastic 0.66 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, eight saves, four walks and 17 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings in 2024. Since Phillips has been injured, both lefty
Alex Vesia and veteran righty
Daniel Hudson have picked up saves. Hudson is the better bet for more saves until Phillips is eligible to return.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
13 hours agoSan Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) was able to play catch at Petco Park on Friday after having some imaging done on his right elbow. Everything came out looking good on his tests, and he's still expecting a minimum stay on the 15-day injured list. It's the first time that Musgrove has played catch since landing on the injured list last Sunday with right-elbow inflammation. If he doesn't have any setback, the 31-year-old veteran could return to the Padres' starting rotation next Friday. Fantasy managers probably will want to avoid throwing him right back into their starting lineups when he returns. After finishing last year on the sidelines due to an injury, Musgrove has gone 3-3 with a bloated 6.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with a league-high 10 home runs allowed, 13 walks and 36 strikeouts in 41 innings over eight starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Jeff Sanders
13 hours agoKansas City Royals starting pitching prospect
Chandler Champlain posted another strong outing on Thursday with six shutout innings, only allowing three hits and striking out seven. After posting a hefty 6.27 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in his four starts of the season, the 24-year-old has begun to find his stride. In his recent two outings, he has tossed eleven innings to the tune of an 0.82 ERA and 0.55 WHIP. This is a big step for Champlain as he not only struggled against Double-A pitchers through the early part of this season but posted a disappointing 3.82 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 73 innings at this level last season. The eleventh-ranked prospect in the Kansas City pipeline is projected to make his major league debut in 2025 but could be worth adding in dynasty leagues if he reaches Triple-A by the end of the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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