15 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper had a nice game at the plate in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Rockies. Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run home run, three RBI, and a strikeout. The 31-year-old has hit for power but not average to start the season, slashing .215/.301/.462 with four HR and 11 RBI in 73 plate appearances. Fantasy managers should be patient with Harper given his excellent career. Hopefully, his average will start to catch up to his power production.Source: MLB.com
15 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez continued his strong start in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Rockies. Suarez pitched a complete game shutout, allowing seven hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. The 28-year-old is now 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA, a 9.35 K/9 rate, and a 1.38 BB/9 rate in his first four starts. He is rostered in 67% of leagues, so fantasy managers should pick him up if available. He will look to keep things rolling in his next start, which projects to be a tougher matchup at the Reds.Source: MLB.com
16 hours agoColorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and two stolen bases for Double-A Hartford on Tuesday. It was the 22-year-old's third straight multi-hit game and fourth in his last five. Over that five-game span, the lefty hitter is 10-for-19 (.526) with two doubles, two triples, a home run, five RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases. A wrist injury limited the former first-round draft pick to 46 games in 2023, yet he still managed to swipe 22 bags. In 2022 he stole 55 bases in 126 games, and had 36 the year before in 106 games. Veen has yet to see any time at Triple-A but with his hot hitting could see a promotion sooner rather than later. Veen was ranked as the 27th overall prospect in all of baseball last season but has since dropped out of the Top 100. Nevertheless, dynasty managers, especially those in need of speed, should have the speedster on their radar if he wasn't already.Source: MiLB.com
17 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers (hand) was removed from his start on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants for precautionary reasons due to cramping in his left hand. Before departing, Weathers was in command, allowing two earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out a career-high 10 batters while matching his career-high with six innings pitched in his second win of the season. The 24-year-old threw 90 pitches in the outing and probably wasn't going to go much deeper into the game regardless. It sounds like his injury isn't anything serious, so fantasy managers should expect Weathers to make his next scheduled start this Sunday in Chicago against the Cubbies. With the strong effort on Tuesday, Weathers is now 2-1 on the year with a 2.70 ERA for the Fish.Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
17 hours agoUpdating a previous report, Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (knee) left Tuesday's game against the visiting Cleveland Guardians with left-knee discomfort. Devers went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks before being replaced at the hot corner in the eighth inning by Bobby Dalbec. The 27-year-old missed several games last weekend due to a shoulder injury but returned to action on Monday before an injury scare when he collided with outfielder Tyler O'Neill (head), who was forced to leave the game. For now, fantasy managers should consider Devers as day-to-day while checking back on Wednesday to see if he's back in the starting lineup. The Red Sox can ill-afford another injury to their infield after losing shortstop Trevor Story (shoulder) already for the season. In addition to Dalbec, Pablo Reyes could play some third base if Devers is forced to miss additional time.Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
17 hours agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha allowed 10 hits and gave up five runs while taking a loss in last Friday's 6-1 defeat to the New York Mets, but he finds himself in prime position to bounce back in Wednesday's start on the road in one part of a doubleheader against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Although Wacha holds a mediocre 4.00 ERA (2.75 FIP) through 18 innings (three starts) to begin his Royals debut season, his 1.05 WHIP is a cause for optimism. Since 2023, the 32-year-old journeyman right-hander is 2-0 with 14 scoreless frames and 15 strikeouts over two appearances against the White Sox. Additionally, the current Chicago roster is hitting a career .141 across 72 plate appearances versus Wacha. With the ChiSox sitting dead last in baseball with 34 runs scored, treat Wacha as a confident fantasy option on Wednesday's full slate.Source: MLB.com
17 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session at Minute Maid Park ahead of Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Continuing to recuperate from Tommy John surgery, Garcia started tossing bullpens earlier in April and is slowly progressing toward eventually heading to a minor-league rehab assignment. The expectation is that he will be able to rejoin Houston's injury-ravaged rotation at some point during the middle of the season. Before his 2023 season came to a close, the 27-year-old right-hander posted a respectable 4.00 ERA (3.63 FIP), 1.29 WHIP, and 31:10 K:BB over 27 innings (six starts). The Astros called up Forrest Whitley on Tuesday for pitching help, but it wouldn't be surprising to see swingman Brandon Bielak be asked to eat some innings at some point.Source: Brian McTaggart - Astros.com
17 hours agoBoston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers was pulled during the eighth inning of Tuesday's game versus the visiting Cleveland Guardians, and Bobby Dalbec replaced him defensively at third base. He went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI before exiting, and it's unclear at this time why Devers was removed from the contest. It's worth noting he dealt with soreness in his left shoulder that cost him four games last week, so it remains to be seen if he's dealing with some type of setback with the injury. The Red Sox should offer some clarity on the 27-year-old All-Star slugger's status shortly, and we'll provide that update when it becomes available. Devers is hitting just .205 with two home runs and five RBI over his first 44 at-bats of the season.Source: Christopher Smith
18 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip, elbow), who was briefly shut down recently with a mild flexor strain in his right elbow, has been cleared to resume throwing and tossed a bullpen session in Arizona on Tuesday. Other than that hiccup, Cobb is progressing well and believes he's ahead of schedule in his rehab from offseason surgery on his left hip. The 36-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2023 for the first time in his career, and despite running into trouble with the long ball in the second half, he still managed to compile a solid 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 131:37 K:BB across 151 1/3 innings (28 starts). Cobb could re-enter San Fran's rotation at some time during May, and he's a decent stash in most fantasy leagues. With Robbie Ray (elbow) also on the shelf, Jordan Hicks and Keaton Winn should continue to function as starters for the Giants for the time being.Source: MLB.com
18 hours agoChicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Patrick Wisdom (back) is continuing his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa and started Tuesday's game at right field for the first time this year. It's an interesting development for fantasy managers to keep an eye on, as Chicago's everyday right fielder, Seiya Suzuki (oblique), is expected to miss several weeks. Wisdom is essentially fully recovered from a back strain, but Michael Busch's recent power surge (five home runs in his last five games) is likely the reason why he hasn't been activated from the IL just yet. It looks like the Cubs could be grooming Wisdom for some action in right field, however, so his return appears imminent. The 32-year-old slugger is an all-or-nothing power hitter who smashed nine homers in his final 36 outings of the season in 2023, and he could be a decent source of pop if he lands a sizable role upon his reinstatement.Source: Iowa Cubs on X
18 hours agoThe New York Mets announced that third baseman Brett Baty (hamstring) left Tuesday's game versus the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates due to tightness in his left hamstring. He went 0-for-2 before veteran infielder Joey Wendle replaced him at third base. It's a tough break for the 24-year-old former top prospect, who is batting a strong .305 (18-for-59) with one home run, nine RBI, and seven runs scored over 17 games this season. With very little infield depth in Queens, Wendle and Zack Short would figure to form a platoon for at-bats at the hot corner if Baty needs to miss additional time following Tuesday's departure. Neither of the two have done enough this season to be worth speculative fantasy adds at the moment. Consider Baty day-to-day ahead of Wednesday's series finale against Pittsburgh.Source: Anthony DiComo - MLB.com
18 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray (elbow) is scheduled to throw his next bullpen session in Arizona on Wednesday. Although the 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner is still expected to be out until the second half of the 2024 season, it feels like he has a chance to make his Giants debut earlier than that based on his current progress. Ray is pleased with where he's at in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and he also tossed a bullpen on Friday. In his last full season during 2022 with the Seattle Mariners, the 32-year-old strikeout machine fanned 212 hitters while walking 62 over 189 innings and amassed a 3.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through 32 starts. Fantasy managers off to a good start should start thinking about stashing Ray. With Alex Cobb (hip) also sidelined until at least May, Jordan Hicks and Keaton Winn should keep operating as starters for the Giants in the meantime.Source: MLB.com
18 hours agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock (oblique) exited Tuesday's start versus the visiting Cleveland Guardians due to tightness in his left oblique. Whitlock threw 54 pitches, 36 for strikes, before left-hander Joely Rodriguez relieved him, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk in four innings of work. Look for the Red Sox to provide another update on the 27-year-old right-hander's status either after Tuesday's game or sometime in the coming days. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Sunday on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it remains to be seen if his turn in the rotation needs to be skipped. Whitlock has been great as a starter for Boston this year, logging a superb 1.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 17 punchouts over 18 1/3 frames (four starts) to begin the 2024 season.Source: Ian Browne - MLB.com
19 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique), who went on the injured list on Monday with a right-oblique strain, will be sidelined "in the four-week range," but the Cubs will have a better timeline for his return once he's symptom-free, according to manager Craig Counsell. It means that the 29-year-old won't be ready to return when he's eligible to come off the 10-day IL, but fantasy managers should still keep him stashed in all leagues, especially after he started the year 18-for-59 (.305) with three home runs, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored. With Suzuki set to miss at least several weeks, outfield prospect Alexander Canario, the club's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is going to get his first extended look in the big leagues. He's starting in right field and hitting ninth on Tuesday against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Tommy Henry.Source: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
19 hours agoDetroit Tigers right-handed pitching prospect Sawyer Gipson-Long (forearm) is getting further evaluation for forearm tightness, which usually doesn't bode well. The 26-year-old is also battling a left-groin strain, so he's not going to return to minor-league action for a while. The Tigers' No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, left a rehab start with Single-A Lakeland when he experienced right-forearm tightness. Gipson-Long made four starts for the Tigers in his major-league debut in 2023 and impressed by going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with eight walks and 26 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched. With Detroit having more rotation depth this year, there's no way they are going to rush Gipson-Long back to the big leagues if his forearm injury doesn't require surgery.Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen