20 hours agoColorado Rockies first baseman
Kris Bryant (rib) revealed to the Rockies today that on top of his left-rib contusion he also has an internal oblique strain and has no idea when he will be able to return. The news of the internal oblique strain left the Rockies "extremely frustrated" according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Bryant has continually battled injuries in his tenure with the Rockies, only being able to suit up for 37% of the Rockies' 393 games played since signing his 7-year, $182 million contract in 2022. With no timetable for his return, and Bryant already hitting for a less than pedestrian 64 OPS+ on the season, fantasy managers should drop Bryant immediately. Look for
Elehuris Montero and
Michael Toglia to continue receiving additional playing time at first base (Montero) and in the outfield (Toglia).
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Harding
20 hours agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Jesse Winker exited Saturday's 4-0 victory against the Miami Marlins early with an apparent injury and will be having an MRI on his right knee on Saturday night. Winker was pinch-hit for by Luis Garcia Jr. in the bottom of the third inning. He was thrown out at second base after rounding too far during an
Ildemaro Vargas bloop single in the first inning and it's being speculated that the injury could have occurred here. The 30-year-old stayed in the game but did not make his next at-bat. The lefty was having a solid season, hitting for a 124 OPS+. Should he need to miss much time then fantasy managers should target Ildemaro Vargas and
Eddie Rosario to pick up Winker's at-bats.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Mark Zuckerman
20 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith is out of the Dodgers' lineup for Saturday's tilt against
Seth Lugo and the Kansas City Royals. This marks Smith's third rest day during June. The slugger has been having a solid June, hitting for a 115 wRC+ during the month. Fantasy managers need not worry about Smith's health as he should be expected to be back in the lineup on Sunday when the Dodgers face off against Royals' starter
Brady Singer.
Austin Barnes will be starting in Smith's spot on Saturday and will be batting ninth. Though Barnes is hitting for just a 65 OPS+ on the season, he may be a sneaky add in DFS for managers willing to take a risk as he's recorded a hit in each of his last four starts.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
21 hours agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) threw another bullpen session on Saturday and will need at least one more bullpen before progressing in his rehab and facing hitters, according to Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza. Senga said he threw between 30-35 pitches during the bullpen and replicated it as a two-inning start by throwing 15 pitches, sitting down, and then throwing another 15-20 pitches. The need for another bullpen session before facing hitters was already something on the docket for the righty and shouldn't be viewed as a negative step in his recovery. Senga has been shut down since May due to tightness in his triceps and has yet to pitch in 2024. Fantasy managers need to continue to be patient, as it doesn't sound like Senga is close to returning quite yet, and he probably won't return until after the All-Star break.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: SNY
21 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga was dominant yet again after pitching seven innings of one run ball in the Cubs' 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Imanaga struck out six along the way and lowered his ERA to 1.89 on the season. This was the lefty's eighth quality start of the season, his second in a row after two major blemishes against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago White Sox. Currently in the driver's seat for NL Rookie of the Year, Imanaga continues to outpace his 3.09 xERA and post quality results for the Cubs as they look to stay in the thick of the NL wild card race. Imanaga's next scheduled start will be next Friday as the Cubs host the New York Mets.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21
hours
agoNew
York
Yankees
starting
pitcher
Gerrit
Cole
(elbow)
stated
on
Saturday
that
he
was
feeling
good
the
day
after
his
rehab
start
for
Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre,
his
third
rehab
start
this
season,
and
that
he
"definitely"
will
be
back
"soon."
The
expectation
is
that
a
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22 hours agoOutfielder
Mitch Haniger will head to the bench on Saturday night for the Seattle Mariners. Rookie
Dominic Canzone will replace him, batting seventh and playing right field. The veteran Haniger is hitting .224 and has six home runs and 30 RBI thus far on the season. Haniger has not hit much in June with a .250 clip, no home runs, and only six RBI thus far in 40 plate appearances. Expect Haniger back in the lineup for the series finale on Sunday against the division-rival Texas Rangers.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners on X
22 hours agoVeteran ace
Max Scherzer (back, thumb) will start Saturday night for Triple-A Round Rock as he works his way back to the major leagues after back surgery this winter. Scherzer has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season due to his back injury and a thumb injury that he suffered in April. Expectations seem to be that Scherzer will be back by the end of June. On Monday, Scherzer threw 53 pitches and struck out five while throwing four scoreless innings. He also gave up one run and one walk in the outing. Scherzer was consistently hitting 94-95 with his fastball as he nears a return to the Rangers.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR on X
22 hours agoTexas Rangers catcher
Jonah Heim was moved to the paternity list on Saturday. In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled catcher
Sam Huff from AAA Round Rock. Heim is hitting .234 with six home runs and 31 RBI, getting the bulk of the starts behind the plate due to his great defense and handling of the pitching staff. Heim can miss up to three days as his family awaits the birth of their third child. Be sure to get Heim out of your lineup for the next few days.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR on X
23 hours agoChicago Cubs starter
Jordan Wicks was placed on the injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain. In a corresponding move, the team recalled veteran righthander
Keegan Thompson. Wicks left his start on Friday with the apparent injury after facing only seven batters covering a little more than one inning. It's not immediately known who will take Wicks' spot in the rotation. The Cubs have both veteran
Kyle Hendricks and youngster
Hayden Wesneski in the bullpen who could step back into the rotation. Wicks has started six games this season, winning one and posting 32 strikeouts in 28 innings with a 4.18 ERA and 1.46 WHIP.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs on X
23 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy announced to the media on Saturday that star closer
Devin Williams (back) "remains on track" to be ready to pitch in the major leagues after the All-Star break. There is no other specific timeline on it. Murphy stated that Williams would be pitching from a mound soon as he takes the next step in his rehabilitation from a back injury that has kept him on the injured list all season. Williams had eight wins, 36 saves, a 1.53 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts in 58 innings in 2023. In his absence,
Trevor Megill has 11 saves and has locked down the closer role in Milwaukee. The first-place Brewers would welcome Williams back to highest-leverage role in their bullpen in the second half.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Jack Stern on X
23 hours agoBoston Red Sox shortstop
David Hamilton will be on the bench Saturday night. Hamilton is hitting .281 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 22 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. Rookie
Ceddanne Rafaela will get the start instead and hit in the ninth spot. Hamilton has had a solid June, hitting .283 with two homers, five RBI, and five stolen bases in 47 plate appearances. This is likely a day off for the left-handed hitting Hamilton as the Red Sox face lefty
Carlos Rodon and the New York Yankees on Saturday night. Look for the speedy shortstop to be back in action Sunday afternoon in the series finale.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox on X
24 hours agoLos Angeles Angels reliever
Ben Joyce will open Sunday's series finale with the San Francisco Giants as the club hopes to get two innings out of the right-hander. Joyce has made just four appearances so far this season for the Angels and also pitched in another 18 contests with Double-A Rocket City, tossing a 12.27 ERA in the majors but also a 4.26 ERA in the minors alongside a 2.32 xFIP that suggests he was far better in the minors than his surface ERA indicates. The flame thrower's 2023 season was cut short due to an elbow injury as he posted a 5.40 ERA in 10 outings a season ago with a four-seam fastball that consistently reached triple digits.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
24 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (forearm) is targeting a late-June return to action and is also hoping to begin a minor-league rehab assignment around June 18. The veteran backstop suffered a gruesome break of his forearm when he was struck on a swing by Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez on May 7. The fairly swift potential return is excellent news for fantasy managers, considering how the injury looked, and it appears Contreras is approaching a best-case scenario. The 32-year-old has enjoyed a big season at the plate, hitting .280 with six homers, two stolen bases, and a career-high 14.1% walk rate, helping him to a sterling .949 OPS, while his 171 wRC+ checks in 71% above the league average.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Fox Sports MLB
1 day agoOutfielder
Harold Ramirez has signed a minor-league contract with the Washington Nationals and he will report to Triple-A Rochester. The 29-year-old was recently designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays and was released on Friday but it didn't take him long to land with a new club roughly 24 hours later. Ramirez has been a productive hitter in each of the last two seasons with Tampa Bay and enjoyed a career year in 2023 that saw him hit .313 with 12 homers and an .813 OPS across 434 trips to the plate. However, he has taken a major step back in 2024, hitting .268 with just one homer alongside five steals and a .589 OPS across 48 games.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Mark Zuckerman
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