5 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.Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
5 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.Source: Newsday - Tim Healey
5 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.Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
5 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.Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
5 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.Source: NJ Advance Media - Max Goodman
6 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.Source: MLB.com
6 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.Source: Maddie Lee
6 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.Source: Meghan Montemurro
6 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.Source: MLB.com
6 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.Source: MLB.com
6 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.Source: MLB.com
6 hours agoSeattle Mariners outfield prospect Jonatan Clase has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday. The 21-year-old struggled during his brief stint with the team. He slashed .222/.250/.259 with zero home runs and three RBI in 28 plate appearances. Clase has plenty of potential and should get another shot later in the summer. In the meantime, outfielder Sam Haggerty has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster. He was hitting well in the minors, but is unlikely to do enough to carry viable fantasy value.Source: Mariners PR
6 hours agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Aaron Hicks has been designated for assignment by the organization on Monday. The veteran outfielder struggled during his brief time with the organization. Hicks slashed .140/.222/.193 over 18 games with the Halos. He put together a solid stint with the Baltimore Orioles last season. Sadly, Hicks couldn't translate that success over to his new team. Hicks will either decide to take the option to Triple-A or elect free agency. In a corresponding move, infielder Cole Tucker has been recalled from Triple-A to join the active roster.Source: Angels PR
7 hours agoKansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (back) has been scratched from Monday's lineup against the Blue Jays in Toronto due to back tightness. Freddy Fermin will now catch right-hander Jonathan Bowlan and hit sixth in the batting order against Blue Jays right-handed rookie Yariel Rodriguez. For now, fantasy managers should consider Perez as day-to-day, but this is certainly something that could sideline the 33-year-old veteran for multiple days or even land him on the injured list. We'll keep an eye out for more updates on Perez, but for now, fantasy managers will obviously want to remove him from their starting lineups on Monday. Injury aside, Perez has been excellent through the season's first month, hitting .340/.398/.592 with a .990 OPS, seven home runs and 26 RBI in his first 103 at-bats.Source: Kansas City Royals
7 hours agoThe Colorado Rockies are officially calling up outfield prospect Jordan Beck to the major-league roster on Monday. Beck received the news on Sunday night and is traveling to Miami on Monday to join the team when they start their series with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. The team's No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, gets his first big-league call-up after hitting .307 (31-for-101) with five homers, 10 doubles, 28 RBI, five stolen bases and 24 runs scored in 25 games with Triple-A Albuquerque. The 23-year-old former 38th overall pick in 2022 out of Tennessee should play every day with Nolan Jones (back) going on the injured list on Monday. Beck should immediately become attractive in most fantasy formats in the short term for his raw power from the right side of the plate as long as he's playing every day in Colorado.Source: Ben McKee