12 hours agoCincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (groin) had a successful bullpen session on Wednesday and will throw again on Saturday. Lodolo is aiming to come off the 15-day injured list and return to Cincy's starting rotation on Monday to face the St. Louis Cardinals. As long as the 26-year-old southpaw doesn't have a setback in his next bullpen session on Saturday, fantasy managers should be ready to throw him back into their starting lineups in a favorable matchup to kick off next week. Lodolo landed on the 15-day IL due to a left-groin strain that wasn't very serious, which is why he didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment. The former seventh overall pick out of TCU in 2019 should be rostered in all fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside. He was looking good this year before his injury, going 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 43 K's in 35 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
12 hours agoAtlanta Braves starting pitching prospect
Spencer Schwellenbach tossed seven shutout frames on Wednesday, allowed only two hits, and struck out eight to extend his impressive scoreless streak to 17 ⅔ innings. Through his first two starts at Double-A, the number three prospect in the Atlanta system has yet to allow a run and is riding an incredible 17:1 K:BB ratio. The 23-year-old began the season with High-A and posted a solid 2.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 34:9 K:BB ratio through 32 innings. The 25-year-old is not projected to reach the majors until next season but is worth paying close attention to in dynasty leagues as he is developing into one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
12 hours agoThe Oakland Athletics placed outfielder
Esteury Ruiz (wrist) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a strained left wrist and selected the contract of outfielder
Daz Cameron from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Infielder
Jordan Diaz was also designated for assignment. Ruiz only made two starts in the team's last 13 games due to his injury, so they A's weren't trying to play a man short any longer. The 25-year-old speedster had a league-high 67 stolen bases in 2023 but has already been optioned to the minors once in 2024 and is currently hitting .200 (11-for-55) with two homers, eight RBI and five steals in 29 games. Ruiz has gone 2-for-19 with 10 strikeouts in May. Cameron, 27, could be an interesting option in AL-only leagues if he sees playing time. He was hitting .307 with six homers and eight steals in 41 games for Vegas before this call-up.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
12 hours agoThe San Francisco Giants placed left-hander
Blake Snell on the paternity list on Thursday and recalled relief pitcher
Nick Avila from Double-A Richmond in a corresponding move. Snell should be back in time for his next start against the Philadelphia Phillies. The reigning National League Cy Young winner made his return from the injured list on Wednesday to face the Pittsburgh Pirates and he'll now leave the team for a few days. In his return from a groin strain, Snell allowed four earned runs on four hits while walking a season-high four batters and striking out five in 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision. The 31-year-old southpaw remains winless on the year with a nightmarish 11.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP with 17 strikeouts in 15 innings of work over four starts. Snell should be able to get things figured out and has been notorious for being a slow starter, so he's worth some buy-low offers if you're in need of a strikeout artist.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
12 hours agoNew York Yankees first base/catching prospect
Ben Rice broke out of his 10-game power slide with his first multi-home run game of the season on Wednesday. Rice has hit a solid .245/.373/.496 through 38 games this season at Double-A with 10 long balls, seven stolen bases, and a 25:38 BB:K. Rice got a taste of Double-A ball last season and posted a strong .327/.401/.648 slash line with 16 home runs through 48 games. With how well Rice is performing at Double-A, he could earn himself a Triple-A promotion very soon, which opens the door for a late-season major-league debut. The No. 12 prospect in the New York system, according to MLB Pipeline, should remain a name to monitor in dynasty leagues, especially if he continues to showcase his elite power.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
12 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitching prospect
Cade Horton posted his best start at Triple-A on Wednesday with five innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits, one free pass, and striking out six. Through his first four starts with Triple-A Iowa, Horton has posted a 6.88 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 20:10 K:BB ratio. However, in his two recent starts, he has a much better 4.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, which is a good sign. The top prospect in the Chicago pipeline opened the season with Double-A Tennessee and posted a stellar 1.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 18:2 K:BB ratio, which allowed him to move up to Triple-A quite early this spring. The former number-seven overall pick should reach the major leagues later this summer, and with his recent turnaround at Triple-A, this promotion could come relatively soon. Horton should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper leagues and is worth stashing in deeper redraft leagues for now.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
12 hours agoThe Baltimore Orioles placed left-hander
John Means (forearm) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a left-forearm strain and recalled right-hander
Jonathan Heasley from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. The frustration around Means continues after he was forced to leave his start on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals early due to a flare-up with his left forearm. The 31-year-old southpaw got a late start to the 2024 campaign due to a similar issue with his arm, so fantasy managers should expect him to miss more than the 15 days on the IL. The O's are likely to play it safe with Means at this point, although hopefully he'll be able to return to Baltimore's starting rotation before the All-Star break in mid-July. With Means now sidelined again, it's likely that
Cole Irvin will take his rotation spot.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dan Connolly
12 hours agoAtlanta Braves catcher
Travis d'Arnaud will get a day to rest in the matinee affair on Thursday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs to wrap up the series. With d'Arnaud on the bench,
Chadwick Tromp will do
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13 hours agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (intercostal) remains sidelined for the series finale at Wrigley Field on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. It's a mild surprise that Atlanta hasn't put Riley on the injured list yet, as this will be his 10th straight missed game due to a left-intercostal strain. The good news is that the 27-year-old right-handed slugger was able to take some swings on the field earlier this week. However, if he's not able to return this weekend for a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, it would be even more of a surprise if he's not put on the IL. The former 41st overall pick in 2015 is currently slashing .245/.319/.388 with only three home runs and 18 RBI, but he remains a must-start when he's healthy.
Luke Williams will get the start at third on Thursday instead of
Zack Short and will hit ninth against Cubs right-hander
Ben Brown.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
13 hours agoTexas Rangers right-hander
Jon Gray has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a mild groin strain after it was apparent that he wasn't going to be able to make his next scheduled start for the team. Gray injured his groin during
read more...
13 hours agoTexas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager will get a day to rest on Thursday in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. In his absence,
Josh Smith will handle shortstop duties and will bat third against Phillies right-hander
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13 hours agoSeattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh will take a seat for the matinee game on Thursday in the Bronx against the New York Yankees.
Seby Zavala will do the catching for right-hander
Luis Castillo and will hit in the nine-hole for the M's against Yankees right-hander
Luis Gil. It appears to be just a normal day of rest for Raleigh, who clubbed his 11th homer of the season in Wednesday's contest. The 27-year-old switch-hitting backstop has high-end power for the catching position in fantasy, but he's not ever going to do your team batting average any favors. He's currently hitting .219 (34-for-155) with a 34.5 percent strikeout rate. Those setting DFS lineups should be able to find a better catching option than Zavala, who is hitting .188 (6-for-32) with a homer and two RBI on the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 hours agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez has been dropped to the sixth spot in the batting order on Thursday in the Bronx against the New York Yankees and right-hander
Luis Gil. It's the first time all year that Rodriguez
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14 hours agoSeattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh hit his 11th home run of the season in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Yankees. The three-run blast was Raleigh's only hit of the contest and accounted for the only scoring the M's could muster. The 27-year-old hit 30 home runs last season but batted just .232, and it looks like more of the same this season. The backstop is hitting just .219 so far this year with a high 34.5% strikeout rate, but his 11 home runs leads all catchers. For fantasy, managers can't complain, as this was to be expected, and he's delivering in the power department. With the high strikeout rate and robust 16.7% barrel rate, fantasy managers should expect much of the same going forward.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
14 hours agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Chris Bassitt went seven strong innings in Wednesday's 9-2 victory over the White Sox. The veteran allowed five hits and two walks while striking out four on his way to earning the win. It was the righty's fifth quality start out of 10 starts, and his record now stands at 4-6. This season has been a bit of a mixed bag, as the 35-year-old has a 4.39 ERA on the season despite Wednesday's strong outing, and owns a 1.46 WHIP with a low 10.0% K-BB%. His K% is slightly below average at 20.5%, but it's the walks that have been hurting him, as his BB% stands at 10.5%. He's also got an elevated .314 BABIP, which isn't normal for him (career .281), so perhaps there's been a bit of bad luck too. You're probably only using Bassitt in easier matchups like this one against the Sox, and as luck would have it, he'll face them again in his next start next Monday in Chicago.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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