20 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Paul Skenes had high expectations going into his third major-league start at home on Thursday against the visiting San Francisco Giants after throwing six shutout and hitless innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts in his last outing on the road at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. The best pitching prospect since
Stephen Strasburg only allowed one earned run on six hits against the Gigantes in six innings of work on Thursday, but he struck out only three and walked one for a no-decision when the Pirates bullpen blew another lead. Despite not missing as many bats in this one, the 21-year-old flamethrower was still impressive working out of trouble and now has a strong 2.25 ERA in three starts. He needs to be in all fantasy lineups for his next scheduled outing next Wednesday in a cushy matchup against the Detroit Tigers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
20 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers optioned right-hander
Alex Lange to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday and recalled right-hander
Mason Englert from Toledo in a corresponding move. The move to demote Lange to the minors comes a day after he gave up four earned runs in one inning of work in the team's loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The 28-year-old opened the year as Detroit's closer but will now try to figure some things out in the minors after going 0-3 so far in 2024 with a career-worst 4.34 ERA (3.94 FIP), a 1.77 WHIP, two saves, 17 walks and 21 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Lange had a career-high 26 saves for the Tigers last year but has fallen on hard times so far this year, mainly for his inability to control the strike zone. He should be back in Detroit eventually, but he's not guaranteed to win the closer role back from
Jason Foley.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tigers PR
20 hours agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge hit his 15th home run of the season in the team's 5-0 shutout win over the visiting Seattle Mariners in the series finale at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. Judge finished the contest 2-for-2 with a double, solo home run, two runs scored and two walks to boost his season average to .276 and his OPS to 1.027. His homer off right-hander
Luis Castillo gave the Bombers a 2-0 lead early in the game, and they never looked back with
Luis Gil dominating on the mound for the Yanks yet again. Judge didn't look all that great in the first month of the season in April, but those concerns have quickly evaporated, as he entered Thursday's game with a .373 average (25-for-67) with eight homers, 16 RBI and 18 walks in 20 games in May. Judge is locked in right now and needs to be in fantasy lineups every day.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
20 hours agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Luis Gil was absolutely outstanding in his sixth win of the season on Thursday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, holding them to just one hit over 6 1/3 shutout innings while walking two and striking out eight to lower
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22 hours agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates optioned outfielder
Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday and recalled left-hander
Jose Hernandez from the minors in a corresponding move. Suwinski is being shipped down to the farm to work on his swing after struggling so far this year to a .174/.268/.297 slash line with four home runs, 13 RBI, five stolen bases and 16 runs scored in 138 at-bats. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter should eventually be back in Pittsburgh, but he probably won't be anything more than a platoon center fielder. With Suwinski in the minors for the time being, it should open up more playing time in the outfield for
Ji Hwan Bae and
Connor Joe, which will in turn open up more action for the lefty-hitting
Rowdy Tellez at first base in Pittsburgh.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
22 hours agoThe Tampa Bay Rays reinstated left-hander
Shane Baz (elbow) from the 15-day injured list on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Durham. Baz is finally nearing a return after opening the year on the IL as he recovers from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in July of 2022. Although he's already made four minor-league rehab starts for the Durham Bulls, the Rays aren't going to rush him back and want to see more before they consider returning him to their big-league starting rotation later this season. In his four rehab starts for Triple-A, the 24-year-old southpaw had a 6.00 ERA and 1.92 WHIP with 22 walks and eight strikeouts in 12 innings. Baz's control could take a while to return as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Fantasy managers are going to want to temper expectations after Baz missed all of last year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications
22 hours agoCincinnati Reds left-hander
Brandon Williamson (shoulder) went 3 2/3 innings in his latest minor-league rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Louisville, allowing one earned run on five hits while walking just one and striking out four in a no-decision. The 26-year-old was making his first rehab start with Louisville but his second overall after pitching for High-A Dayton on May 14. Williamson is likely going to need another rehab start or two before being an option to join Cincinnati's starting rotation. He's been on the IL all year with a left-shoulder strain but may have to settle for a role out of the bullpen for the Reds when he's ready to return if he's not sent back to the minors when he's activated. The former second-rounder by the Seattle Mariners in 2019 out of TCU had a 4.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 39 walks and 98 K's in his first 23 MLB starts in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
23 hours agoThe Cincinnati Reds placed right-hander
Emilio Pagan (triceps) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday due to right-triceps tightness. The move comes after Pagan had not appeared out of the Reds' bullpen since Sunday due to the injury. The 33-year-old veteran setup man had an MRI exam come back negative, so there's hope that he can return to the big-league roster when his 15 days are up. Pagan is a key setup man for the Reds in front of closer
Alexis Diaz in his first year in Cincinnati and is currently sporting a 2-3 record, 4.19 ERA (4.32 FIP) and 1.34 WHIP with seven walks and 25 strikeouts in 19 1/3 relief innings. With Pagan out of the picture for at least the next two weeks, the Reds will need setup men
Fernando Cruz and
Lucas Sims to step up in high-leverage roles.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
23 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitching prospect
Cristian Mena threw five shutout innings on Wednesday and tied a season-high nine punchouts. Through 50 innings with Triple-A Reno, Mena has a 3.42 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 54:25 K:BB ratio. The 21-year-old got a small taste of Triple-A ball last season but struggled with a 5.95 ERA across 19 ⅔ innings. While Mena is showcasing his elite strikeout upside, he is still struggling with his control. Mena should be expected to reach the major leagues later this summer and could become a must-stash player if he lowers his walk rate over his next few starts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
23 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (hand) still has swelling on the outside of his right hand after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday. Fraley said he was going to try and take some swings to test it on Thursday, but he remained out of the starting lineup for the series finale versus the visiting San Diego Padres. X-rays came back negative on the 28-year-old left-handed hitter's hand, so he's considered day-to-day for now. If Fraley feels better while testing his hand on Thursday, he could return to the lineup at some point this weekend for a series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. When healthy, Fraley is an option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues and in DFS lineups against right-handed pitching. The former second-rounder by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 out of LSU is currently hitting .272/.333/.359 with a homer, seven RBI and seven steals in 103 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
23 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
TJ Friedl (thumb) is back to hitting flips and continues to progress. He's working toward getting back to taking batting practice soon. Friedl suffered a fractured left thumb 11 days ago but is already swinging a bat and is progressing nicely. If the 28-year-old doesn't suffer a setback with his thumb once he starts to take batting practice, he should be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after that. Surprisingly, Friedl is on track to return from the 10-day injured list when he's eligible early next month. When healthy, Friedl should be a lineup regular, at least against right-handed pitching, after hitting 18 home runs, driving in 66 and stealing 27 bases in a breakout 2023 campaign. He's been unlucky with injuries so far in 2024, though, and is currently hitting .182 (4-for-22) with no homers, two RBI and two steals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
23 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals second baseman
Jose Fermin went 3-for-4 with his sixth home run of the season to power Triple-A Memphis to a victory. Through 26 games at Triple-A this season, Fermin has posted an excellent .393/.481/.708 slash line with a 13:3 BB:K and nine stolen bases. Fermin has appeared in only 30 games in the majors over the past two years, made just nine appearances earlier this season, and holds a cumulative .227/.338/.242 line. However, the 25-year-old is on pace to set career-highs in every category in the minors and could earn himself a more extended opportunity in the majors later this summer. When he is promoted, he is worth an addition in NL-only formats, as he could provide you with a nice power and speed combination.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
23 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
23 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
23 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
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