6 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu sat out the team's 3-2 win against the Washington Nationals on Sunday with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. But Abreu will return to the lineup and bat second in Monday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 24-year-old hasn't seen many opportunities in the two-hole for Boston this season, only hitting there twice over the past 18 games. However, this is now his second consecutive start batting in that spot. That should lead to more run-scoring chances, considering both Tyler O'Neill and
Rafael Devers are batting behind him. The young outfielder could also start all four games in this series with the Rays throwing out all right-handed pitchers. He is hitting .282 with three home runs, nine doubles, and 14 RBI in 34 games this season.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 hours agoThe Baltimore Orioles optioned outfielder
Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A ahead of their three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. Kjerstad was one of the hottest hitters at Triple-A this season, batting an absurd .349 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 21 games. As a result, the Orioles decided to call him up in late April. However, the left-handed slugger didn't see the playing time he deserved upon his promotion and only started four games for Baltimore over the past three weeks. He had just two hits across 17 plate appearances in 2024. The move to send down MLB Pipeline's No. 23 prospect has likely something to do with the team wanting the young outfielder to get more consistent at-bats at the plate. In a corresponding move, the Orioles called up
Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Britt Ghiroli
7 hours agoTexas Rangers rookie pitcher
Jack Leiter is scheduled to start at home against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday. Despite struggling in his first two major league starts, it appears the Rangers will give Leiter another chance to prove himself on the mound. The right-hander gave up seven earned runs on eight hits in his first start against the Detroit Tigers on April 18 and then allowed four earned runs (six runs) across four innings against the Oakland A's on May 8. It's been sort of a rough go for the Rangers' No. 6 prospect to begin his MLB career, so he should only be started in extremely deep formats on Tuesday.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
7 hours agoToronto Blue Jays infield prospect
Orelvis Martinez was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk on Sunday against the Worcester Red Sox. Over the previous five games, he had managed only one hit and three walks in 17 plate appearances. Despite a cold spell, Martinez has been excellent in Triple-A. Through 36 games with the Buffalo Bisons, he's hitting .277/.362/.569 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, and 31 runs scored. Positionally, he spent his first 22 starts at second base. However, two of his last six starts have seen him at third. It may be that Martinez is taking reps at the hot corner in preparation for his major league debut. According to MLB.com, that debut should come sometime this year.
--Wade Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
7 hours agoThe Baltimore Orioles plan to call up outfielder
Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk, according to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic. This will be Stowers's third time up in the majors with the first two coming in 2022 and 2023. Both times, though, the outfielder struggled mightily at the plate. He is hitting just .207 with three home runs, four doubles, and 11 RBI over 48 major league games in his career so far. As a result, he isn't an add in most formats. However, keep an eye on his playing time over the next few games because he showed some power potential in 36 Triple-A games this season, hitting 11 HRs with 11 doubles and 32 RBI.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Britt Ghiroli
7 hours agoCincinnati Reds pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder made his first start for Double-A Chattanooga on Saturday against the Tennessee Smokies. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out five batters over five innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and a walk along the way. Despite having thrown more than 80 pitches in only one of his six starts this season, he finished with 76 pitches (50 strikes). The Reds' decision to promote Lowder after just five professional appearances shows how confident they are in his abilities. According to MLB.com, Lowder is expected to make his major league debut later this year.
--Wade Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com Top 100 Prospects
7 hours agoChicago White Sox shortstop prospect
Colson Montgomery continued showing improvement over the weekend with a 3-for-8 performance against the Braves Triple-A affiliate that included three RBI and two extra-base hits. Montgomery struggled through in April, slashing just .211/.324/.358 with three HRs, nine RBI, and 38 strikeouts in 112 plate appearances. However, he's been turning things around in May, posting a .265/.419/.618 slash line with three HRs, six RBI, and only eight strikeouts in 43 plate appearances. Overall, Montgomery's numbers for the season have improved to .225/.351/.426 with 29 hits (including 13 extra-base hits), 6 HRs, 15 RBI, and 18 runs scored, indicating a trend in the right direction.
--Wade Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
8 hours agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Blake Snell (groin) expects to make another minor-league rehab start before being reinstated from the injured list to rejoin the Giants' starting rotation. Snell was dominant in his first rehab outing with Single-A San Jose on Sunday, tossing four shutout innings with seven strikeouts. He threw only 46 pitches in the contest but touched 97 mph on the radar gun and tossed an addition 15 pitches in the bullpen after being removed from the contest. It makes sense for San Francisco to give Snell another start in the minors after he got off to a late start in 2024 because of the timing of his signing. The 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young winner also got off to a rough start in his first three games before landing on the injured list, going 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA and 1.97 WHIP with 12 K's in 11 2/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
8 hours agoSeattle Mariners right-hander
Bryan Woo (forearm) is listed as the team's probable starter for this Wednesday's game against the visiting Kansas City Royals. Woo was removed from the injured list last week in order to make his season debut on Friday in a strong matchup against the visiting Oakland Athletics. The 24-year-old looked good, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless inning before being removed with right-forearm tightness. It was concerning since Woo missed the first six weeks of the regular season with right-elbow inflammation, but it turns out his latest injury isn't serious enough to keep him from making his second start of 2024. Woo looked good on Friday but did only throw 62 pitches in the outing, so fantasy managers looking for streamers should consider him pretty risky on Wednesday in a shy-away matchup against KC.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
8 hours agoMinnesota Twins catcher/designated hitter
Ryan Jeffers is tied for ninth in the American League with nine home runs. He has served in the DH role for the Twins more than anyone else, but despite that, he has yet to hit a home run as the DH. Eight of Jeffers' home runs have come on days when he's the starting catcher, and the other homer came when he was used as a pinch-hitter. It's something to watch, but Jeffers is hitting .275 as the DH with a .772 OPS and six doubles. "If it was a problem, it would be on our radar. But he's had good at-bats as the DH. He's comfortable as the DH," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "If the definition of hitting for power is hitting home runs, then no. But he's hitting the ball hard as hell all over the park, even as the DH."
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Phil Miller
9 hours agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton (knee) ran the bases at Target Field on Saturday and will do so again when the team returns there on Tuesday, according to athletic trainer Frank Paparesta. It's a sign that the soreness in his surgically repaired right knee has stopped, and that Buxton is nearing readiness for a return from the injured list. He's eligible to be activated for Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees, and the Twins are "cautiously optimistic" that they can do so. It's a bit of a surprise that Buxton won't need a minor-league rehab assignment, but fantasy managers won't be complaining if the 30-year-old veteran is able to return to the Twins lineup this week. The oft-injured outfielder continues to struggle to stay on the field for large stretches and will return to a .250/.300/.391 slash line with a homer, 11 RBI, one steal and 12 runs scored when he returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Phil Miller
9 hours agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Jesse Winker (back) left the game early in the fifth inning on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox due to back spasms. Winker felt it before the contest and it got worse after he dove for a line drive in the outfield early in the game. Before leaving, Winker was hitless in his two at-bats and was replaced in left field by
Ildemaro Vargas. The 30-year-old veteran left-handed hitter is now slashing .235/.350/.386 on the year with four home runs, 18 RBI, four stolen bases and 19 runs scored in 132 at-bats. At the very least, it's unlikely that Winker will be in action on Monday for the series opener against the Chicago White Sox. If the Nationals don't elect to call up top prospect
James Wood from the minors, more playing time will go to
Victor Robles if Winker needs a trip to the injured list.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Andrew Golden
9 hours agoSan Francisco Giants catcher
Patrick Bailey (illness) was scratched from Sunday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds due to a viral illness, according to the team. Bailey recently came off the seven-day concussion injured list, but his absence from Sunday's game wasn't in any way a setback with his head. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if the 24-year-old backstop is feeling good enough to play in the series opener on Monday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. If Bailey misses any more time this week,
Blake Sabol will benefit from more playing time behind the dish for the Gigantes. So far in 2024, Bailey is hitting a strong .280/.340/.451 with three home runs, 11 RBI, a stolen base and 10 runs scored in 26 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
9 hours agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that outfielder
Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) suffered a separated left shoulder in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning and will go for an MRI exam. Even if Lee's MRI exam doesn't show any structural damage in his shoulder, the 25-year-old first-year outfielder could be set for an extended absence. Fantasy baseball managers should prepare for a worst-case scenario and for Lee to require a stint on the injured list. With
Michael Conforto (hamstring) going on the injured list on Sunday,
Luis Matos was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. If Lee misses extended time, Matos,
Heliot Ramos and
Tyler Fitzgerald could all see more playing time in San Fran's outfield. Fitzgerald replaced Lee in center field on Sunday and went 1-for-5 with a run scored and a strikeout.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Maria I. Guardado
9 hours agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (side) isn't too concerned about being removed from Sunday night's loss to the division-rival New York Mets early as a precaution with left-side tightness and considers himself day-to-day. Riley started feeling tightness in his side during batting practice before Sunday's contest and was eventually removed in the fourth inning after going 1-for-2. The 27-year-old doesn't know if he'll go for an MRI exam on Monday, but there's a very good chance he won't be in the starting lineup for the series opener on Monday against the Chicago Cubs. Fantasy managers will have to make a tough decision whether to keep him in their lineups in weekly leagues, but you shouldn't rule out a trip to the injured list.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
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