13 hours agoToronto Blue Jays top pitching prospect
Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Friday, and manager John Schneider expects the left-handed hurler to make a rehab outing next, either in Single-A or at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida. It was the first time that Tiedemann had faced live hitters since landing on the seven-day minor-league injured list on April 18 with ulnar-nerve inflammation. The 21-year-old southpaw is making some good progress at this point, but expect the Blue Jays to be extremely careful with their prized arm, especially when considering his injury history. Once he's deemed healthy, he'll return to Triple-A Buffalo. Fantasy managers that have been stashing Tiedemann for a potential 2024 big-league call-up might get their hopes up this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
13 hours agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander
Tyler Wells (elbow) will miss the rest of the 2024 season, according to general manager Mike Elias. Wells is set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, but Elias said it's not yet known whether it will be Tommy John surgery. That won't be known for Wells until he goes in for his procedure. It's a tough break for a pitcher that has already had Tommy John surgery in his career. The 29-year-old recently was scheduled to play catch for the first time since May 1, but apparently that didn't go well. The former 15th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of Cal State San Bernardino was able to make only three starts for the O's in 2024, posting a 5.87 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 13 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings. Because of the timing of his surgery, Wells probably won't be an option for the O's and fantasy managers until the second half in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
13 hours agoBaltimore Orioles left-hander
John Means (elbow) will miss the rest of the season, according to general manager Mike Elias. Means is set to undergo left-elbow surgery, but Elias said it's not yet known whether he'll have Tommy John surgery. That won't be known until Means goes in for his season-ending procedure. The 31-year-old had been seeking a second opinion after landing on the 15-day injured list last Thursday with a left-forearm strain. It's the same injury that caused him to get a late start to the 2024 season. Means has already had Tommy John surgery once in his career, but this time around he could have an internal-brace procedure. Either way, the veteran southpaw is going to miss the rest of this year and most likely half of the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers that had been stashing him can cut bait in redraft leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
13 hours agoBaltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (hand) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays after he was hit by a pitch on the right hand/wrist area on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. Westburg is considered day-to-day going into the weekend after X-rays on his hand/wrist came back negative, and he could return to action as soon as the second game of the series on Saturday. With the 25-year-old missing his second straight game,
Ramon Urias will man the hot corner and bat eighth in the lineup against Rays right-hander
Aaron Civale. Urias hit just his second home run of the season in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox but remains a low-upside DFS play at the bottom of Baltimore's batting order. Westburg has been a lineup staple for the O's in 2024 and is currently slashing .291/.351/.508 with an .859 OPS with eight homers, 34 RBI and five thefts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
13 hours agoThe Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday that they have placed right-hander
Alek Manoah (elbow) on the 15-day injured list with a right-elbow sprain. In other moves, the team acquired right-hander
Ryan Burr from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations and designated right-hander
Joel Kuhnel for assignment. Manoah is reportedly going for a second opinion on his right elbow, according to sources, but the expectation at this point is that he's likely to miss an extended period of time. The 26-year-old is dealing with damage to his UCL, which is going to require significant rest and could eventually lead to surgery down the road. After a disastrous 2023 campaign in which he was demoted to the minors, Manoah has held his own in five starts in Toronto this year, going 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 26 strikeouts and eight walks in 24 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Kaitlyn McGrath
13 hours agoNew York Mets first baseman
Pete Alonso (hand) had a scare with a hand injury in the series finale against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday but is back in the starting lineup on Friday for the second game of the series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks after sitting out on Thursday. Alonso is back at first base and is hitting second on Friday versus D-backs left-hander
Jordan Montgomery. X-rays and a CT scan came back negative on the 29-year-old's right hand after he was hit by a pitch by a
James Paxton fastball in the first inning on Wednesday. In six career at-bats against Montgomery, Alonso is hitting just .167 with two RBI, but fantasy managers will want to get him back in there in all formats. Alonso already has 12 homers and 26 RBI with a .235 average (50-for-213) for the Mets this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Mets
14 hours agoThe Cleveland Guardians activated outfielder
Steven Kwan (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Friday after he spent 23 yards on the sidelines and designated outfielder
Estevan Florial in a corresponding move. Kwan, a two-time Gold Glove left fielder, will slot in immediately in his customary leadoff spot for Cleveland on Friday in the series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals and left-hander
Patrick Corbin. The 26-year-old has recovered from the left-hamstring strain he suffered on May 4 and should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups immediately. Kwan was leading the American League in hits, batting average, fewest strikeouts per plate appearance and multi-hit games before getting hurt. In four minor-league rehab games at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, he had two hits (one homer) and four RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Joe Noga
16 hours agoBaltimore Orioles catching prospect
Samuel Basallo has put his slow start behind him and is performing at an elite level. He is currently riding an incredible 12-game hitting streak and has posted a .422/.469/.578 line with two home runs, nine RBI, and two stolen bases during this stretch. Through 44 games with Double-A Bowie this season, the number two prospect in Baltimore holds a .287/.332/.439 line with seven home runs. The 19-year-old is considered the number 14 overall prospect in baseball on MLB Pipeline and is projected to reach the majors next season. Basallo is one of the best young backstops in the game and should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
16 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn will not start on Friday in Philadelphia against the Phillies. In his place, veteran
Brandon Crawford will start at shortstop and will hit eighth against Phillies right-hander
Aaron Nola. Not only is Crawford hard to trust as a deep DFS sleeper in the eight-hole, but he's hit just .176 with three RBI in 17 career at-bats against Nola. The Cardinals are giving Winn a day off in the series opener in Philly despite the fact that he's currently riding an 18-game hitting streak. During his 18-game streak, the 22-year-old youngster has gone 25-for-68 (.368) with two home runs, seven doubles, 11 RBI, two stolen bases, three walks and six strikeouts in 72 plate appearances to raise his season slash line to .308/.358/.440. Winn has become a must-start player in all fantasy leagues in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
16 hours agoAtlanta Braves starting pitching prospect
Ian Mejia followed up his worst outing of the season, when he allowed five earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings, with a seven-inning scoreless gem on Thursday. He allowed just three hits and struck out three batters. This recent performance now marks the fifth start this season where Mejia did not surrender an earned run. Through 49 2/3 innings with Double-A Mississippi, the former 11th-round selection has posted career-highs with a 1.45 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 17:57 BB:K. While Mejia's blowup start did occur in his Triple-A debut, he has looked dominant at the Double-A level and should be given another opportunity in Triple-A later this summer. Mejia will become a name to monitor in dynasty leagues when he gets an extended opportunity with Triple-A Gwinnett.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
16 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies outfield prospect
Jordan Viars posted his first three-home run game on Thursday, where he tallied an incredible nine RBI. Viars has remained with Single-A Clearwater for 122 total games but is beginning to find his footing and is on pace to post season-highs in most major categories. Through 31 games this season, the 20-year-old has posted a .260/.376/.510 line with six long balls and 24 RBI. Last summer, in 83 games at the same level, he tallied only six home runs with a much worse .214 AVG. Viars remains several seasons away from his major league debut but could become a name to monitor as he is nearing the end of his stint with Single-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
16 hours agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Ethan Small (oblique) is "still a ways away" from returning, manager Bob Melvin said on Tuesday. Small has not responded well to throwing after suffering a moderate right-oblique strain. He was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason and was in the running for a bullpen spot before suffering the injury during spring training. The 27-year-old southpaw is on the 60-day injured list and may struggle to make it back before the All-Star break at this rate. Small made a full-time move to a relief role last year with the Brewers but only pitched in relief in two games in the majors, allowing five earned runs on nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts in four innings. He's allowed 10 earned runs in just 10 1/3 innings for Milwaukee since debuting in 2022.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
16 hours agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said on Tuesday that right-hander
Keaton Winn (forearm) is "getting close" and could be an option for the team the next turn through the starting rotation. Winn walked off the mound with team trainer Dave Groeschner after his velocity began to dip in the fifth inning in the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 14. MRI results showed a mild strain of his right forearm. Winn was able to throw two bullpen sessions recently, most recently with 45 pitches on Monday. The 26-year-old could come off the 15-day injured list sooner than later, potentially avoiding a minor-league rehab assignment since his injury wasn't all that serious. If Winn avoids a rehab assignment, his next start could come in a plus matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on next Monday or Tuesday. Winn was 3-6 with a bloated 6.17 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in nine starts before getting hurt.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
16 hours agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Austin Slater (concussion) cleared the concussion protocol and started a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. Slater suffered a concussion after running into the center-field wall while trying to make a catch in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park on May 10. He continued to experience fogginess and blurry vision the next day, which prompted the Giants to put him on the seven-day concussion injured list. After missing more than two weeks due to his head injury, the 31-year-old is finally feeling better and has returned to game action. If he continues to progress, Slater could be an option to be activated and rejoin the team this weekend. When healthy, Slater is an option for the short side of a platoon in San Fran's outfield against lefties. He's gone just 5-for-39 (.128) on the year with no homers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
16 hours agoDetroit Tigers infield prospect
Kevin McGonigle has been dominant through his first 38 games at Single-A. In 26 games this season at Single-A Lakeland, the 19-year-old has posted a stellar .340/.436/.505 line with two home runs, 17 RBI, eight stolen bases, and an 18:14 BB:K ratio. In his past eight games, the number four prospect in Detroit has tallied at least one hit in each of the games and brought in 11 total runs with an 8:5 BB:K ratio. McGonigle showed similar production in his 12 games at Single-A last summer with a .350/.438/.475 line. McGonigle currently sits as the number 99 prospect in all of baseball on MLB Pipeline and should be able to climb those ranks rather quickly as he progresses through the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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