13 hours agoChicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros has launched two home runs in his first ten games of the 2024 season at Double-A. The 20-year-old launched 14 long balls across Low and High-A last season. This is a promising sign for the young backstop, as he has hit double-digit home runs every season in his professional career and is on pace to do it once again in 2024. Overall, he is riding a .226/.368/.452 line with five RBI and an impressive 4:6 K:BB ratio. Ballesteros remains a potential catcher of the future in Wrigley and should remain on the radar of dynasty managers for the next few seasons, as he is not projected to make his major league debut until 2026.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoKansas Royals pitching prospect
Steven Zobac was named High-A Pitcher of the Week credited to his performance on April 19, where he threw six shutout innings and only surrendered one hit. He struck out six. Zobac has been stellar to open the season, posting a 1.20 ERA and 0.67 WHIP across 15 innings. Zobac, who is currently ranked as the 24th prospect in the Kansas City system according to MLB Pipeline, is making quite a case for an early promotion to Double-A. Zobac is someone to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues, as he could quickly rise the pitching ranks during the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitching prospect
Carson Whisenhunt tossed three 2/3 shutout innings with three hits, two free passes, and seven punchouts in Tuesday's victory. This was a big bounce back for the number two prospect in the San Francisco system, as he has allowed 14 earned runs in his past three starts. The southpaw now sits with an 8.79 ERA and 2.09 WHIP across 14 1/3 innings with 24 strikeouts to begin the season. The 23-year-old has flashed at times but has struggled just as much, which will delay his eventual MLB debut. Nonetheless, Whisenhunt is projected to be promoted later in the season as the Giants look to compete for the NL West.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
13 hours agoSan Francisco Giants shortstop prospect
Marco Luciano tallied three RBI en route to Tuesday's victory, increasing his season total to 13. After getting a small taste of the major leagues last season, the Giants sent down the 22-year-old to continue his development in Triple-A. Luciano has performed well early in the season, posting a .303/.419/.382 slash line with six extra-base hits and three stolen bases. Luciano is expected to return to the major leagues later in the summer and is worth keeping an eye on in deeper re-draft formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoOakland Athletics shortstop prospect
Jacob Wilson went 4-for-5 and brought in three runs in Tuesday's victory. Wilson lined his first of two RBI doubles in the second to break the game open and then knocked his second double in the fourth inning. He then brought in his third run of the game in the fifth inning off a single to right field. The top prospect in the Oakland system has been off to a scorching start to the 2024 campaign, as he currently sits with a .409/.438/.636 slash line in his first 12 games at Double-A. Wilson is a name to monitor throughout the summer, as he could force his way into a late-season call-up if he continues his strong play.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Jason Heyward (back) isn't swinging a bat and is still dealing with "residual soreness," according to manager Dave Roberts. Heyward is still more than a week from starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 34-year-old veteran left-handed hitter was put on the 10-day injured list all the way back on April 3 with back soreness, and he hasn't made much progress since. There remains no timetable for a return from the IL, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should expect him to be out at least another few weeks. Outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez has been shifted over to right field for the Dodgers with Heyward out, while rookie prospect
Andy Pages has also been platooning in center field with
James Outman.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
14 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch side session on Tuesday that went "great," according to the team. He will now through four innings or 60 pitches in a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday. Garrett had to pause his rehab assignment after dealing with dead arm, but he's back up and running and may need only a few rehab starts before he's activated to rejoin Miami's starting rotation in the big leagues. The former seventh overall pick by the Fish in 2016 out of high school is worth picking up and stashing right now in deep-mixed fantasy leagues. Garrett flashed his upside in a career-high 31 outings (30 starts) last year when he went 9-7 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 29 walks and 156 strikeouts in 159 2/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
14 hours agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Kris Bryant (back) is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list for a lower-back strain on Wednesday, but that won't be happening. Manager Bud Black said that Bryant isn't doing any baseball activities yet. Bryant hasn't undergone anymore tests, though, and there has been no discussion of surgery. Given all the time the 32-year-old former MVP has missed in recent seasons due to various ailments, it makes sense for the Rockies to bring him back slowly, even if his back injury isn't considered very serious. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues must remain patient, but in shallower leagues, it's fair to consider dumping him for better options after he started the year going 7-for-47 (.149) with a home run and six RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Patrick Lyons
14 hours agoHouston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez (elbow) will throw a bullpen session with the team in Chicago this week and he could start one of the two games against the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City, either this Saturday or Sunday, according to manager Joe Espada. The 30-year-old southpaw was able to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session last Saturday, which was his first time throwing off a mound since left-elbow inflammation landed him on the injured list on April 9. Whether Valdez is able to make his return and start this weekend against the Rockies will be determined by how he looks in his next bullpen session this week. Even though the Rockies are a very enticing matchup, Valdez would be a shaky fantasy play in the altitude in Mexico City if he's activated for a start this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
14 hours agoLos Angeles Angels right-handed reliever
Robert Stephenson (elbow) said he will have Tommy John surgery with the internal brace on April 30 and he's expecting to have a rehab timeline of 12 to 18 months. The exact nature of his surgery hadn't been revealed until Stephenson talked to the media on Tuesday for the first time since getting injured. We already knew the 31-year-old veteran would miss the rest of 2024, but now we know the exact nature of his surgery. He signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Halos in January but didn't throw a single pitch in the regular season and also was battling a shoulder injury in spring training. There's no guarantee that Stephenson will be ready to roll for the start of the 2025 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
14 hours agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout is in center field and hitting out of the leadoff spot on Tuesday versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez. It's a notable development, as Trout will be hitting leadoff for the first time since August of 2020. Perhaps it will get the 32-year-old All-Star going, as he's hitting just .111 in his last seven games after a strong start to the season. This setup with Trout at the top of the batting order could continue until third baseman
Anthony Rendon (hamstring) returns from a stint on the injured list. Trout's recent slump at the plate has dropped his season slash line to .236/.327/.562 with an .889 OPS, but he's still leading the league with eight home runs while driving in 11 and stealing five bases in 23 games. In six career at-bats against Rodriguez, Trout is hitting .333.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
14 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks rookie infielder
Blaze Alexander (hamstring) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday as they get set to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Alexander injured his right hamstring on Sunday and will miss his second straight game as a result. The 24-year-old was reportedly available off the bench in Monday's game, though, so it doesn't appear to be a serious injury and he should be considered day-to-day.
Kevin Newman is starting at the 6 on Tuesday and will hit eighth against Cardinals left-hander
Steven Matz. Although Newman has hit .583 with a 1.416 OPS and five RBI in 12 career at-bats against Matz, he'll still be a low-upside DFS sleeper on Tuesday. Alexander has looked great in his first 18 major-league games in 2024, going 17-for-53 (.321) with three home runs, 13 RBI and a steal in his first 58 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
14 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. This appears to be a routine rest day for the young slugger against left-hander
Steven Matz. The 23-year-old is off to a slow start to the season, but fantasy managers shouldn't lose hope. Possibly a rest day will help Carroll get back on track.
Randal Grichuk,
Jake McCarthy, and
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will cover the outfield during Tuesday's game.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
15 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. The right-hander is dealing with a shoulder strain, but reportedly won't need surgery, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The D-Backs have not given a timetable on Kelly's possible return to the mound. It sounds like the organization plans to have Kelly undergo further testing before they decide on what to do. Southpaw
Tommy Henry has been recalled from the minors and figures to slide into the open spot in the starting rotation.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Friedman
15 hours agoThe Texas Rangers have signed starting pitcher
Johnny Cueto to a minor-league contract on Tuesday. The 38-year-old lands a deal with the defending World Series champions after a rough year with the Miami Marlins. Cueto posted a 6.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 39/15 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings with the Marlins last season. It's uncertain what Cueto still has left in the tank, but he'll at least be additional depth for the organization. Cueto has plenty of experience but is unlikely to offer any kind of fantasy value.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
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