13 hours agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo (4-6) picked up the loss Thursday, allowing two runs on seven hits with three walks and one hit-by-pitch in five innings in a 5-0 loss to the New York Yankees. Castillo's only mistakes were two solo shots by Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, and the two runs were the only ones the Yankees needed as Luis Gil out-dueled the veteran right-hander. Castillo has put up excellent numbers since being traded over from the Cincinnati Reds and continues to do so this year while headlining a stacked Seattle rotation. Overall, the 31-year-old owns a 3.31 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 69:18 K: BB across 65 1/3 innings. After a rocky start to the season, allowing four runs in each of his first three starts, Castillo has not allowed more than two runs in eight straight starts. He will look to continue that streak against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.--Joey Inglese - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds smacked his seventh home run Thursday afternoon while going 3-for-5 in a 7-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Bryan Reynolds has homered in back-to-back games while going 5-for-10 at the plate with five RBI. The 29-year-old switch hitter has been incredibly consistent over the last two seasons and is on pace to put up similar numbers again in 2024. In 2022, Reynolds hit 27 home runs with a .262/.345/.461 slash line. In 2023, he hit 24 home runs with a .263/.330/.460 slash line. Those numbers are interesting because, towards the end of May, Reynolds is on pace for about 25 home runs with a .260/.341/.431 slash line. Mr. Consistency isn't the sexiest fantasy player in the game. Still, managers can always feel good about inserting him into their lineups because he can produce a little bit of everything.--Joey Inglese - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked a two-run homer Thursday night, going 2-for-5 with an additional run scored in a 9-1 win against the Detroit Tigers. Despite the power outage, Guerrero Jr. has turned it around from a batting average perspective in May. The slugger has produced a .371 batting average in May after batting a horrific .219 in April. Overall, the 25-year-old has been disappointed in fantasy baseball and regular baseball as he's only on pace for 20 home runs, which would be his lowest total since clubbing 15 home runs during his rookie season. If it wasn't for his name and potential, you can argue that he would be on the waiver wire in most leagues after his abysmal April. Hopefully, the first baseman's hot hitting will start, leading to more balls going over the fence moving forward.--Joey Inglese - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (1-4) picked up a quality start and the loss Thursday night, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in a 9-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Tigers starter cruised through six innings before being chased after allowing a two-run home run to Daulton Varsho. That was the deciding blow, as the Tigers couldn't muster up any run-support for Flaherty. Run support has been almost nonexistent for Flaherty in his starts, which is why he only has one victory on the season. He currently has a 3.84 ERA on the season and ranks seventh in the league in strikeouts. There's no doubt Flaherty has found a home in Detroit and should be in your fantasy lineup every week despite the lack of wins. He will look to pick up his second win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.--Joey Inglese - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoBaltimore Orioles second baseman Jorge Mateo filled the stat sheet Thursday night, going 1-for-2 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored while walking twice and swiping two bases in an 8-6 victory against the Chicago White Sox. The 28-year-old speedster has been inconsistent with the bat this season, batting .258 with only three home runs and nine RBI. He's picked it up in his last 10 games batting. 281 with one home run, five RBI, six runs scored, and four stolen bases. He remains at the bottom of the Orioles lineup with little chance of moving up soon. Mateo is only a deep-league add for fantasy managers desperately needing stolen bases.--Joey Inglese - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (5-1) picked up a win against the Chicago White Sox Thursday night, going five innings with three hits allowed, seven strikeouts, and five walks in an 8-6 victory. The five walks were a season-high for the young rookie who struggled with his command early and often. He also added one hit-by-pitch to his stat line but still escaped with the win. The game ended on a crazy infield fly rule double play on interference from the runner on second base, Andrew Vaughn, who bumped into Gunnar Henderson before he was able to get situated under the pop-up. It was by far one of the wildest endings to a game you'll ever see. Rodriguez has a great 3.20 ERA on the season, but since returning from the injured list, he has struggled with his command, allowing eight walks in 11 innings pitched. He will look to regain his command against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. --Joey Inglese - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler delivered another strong performance in Thursday's victory over the visiting Texas Rangers, striking out five batters and allowing just two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings for his sixth win of the campaign. Wheeler has been a quality-start machine in 2024, with Thursday's showing already being his eighth out of 11 appearances this year. The early favorite to bring home his first National League Cy Young Award, the 33-year-old All-Star right-hander owns an outstanding 2.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 76:21 K:BB over 67 2/3 frames as Philly's ace this season. Wheeler's next act is slated to arrive during Tuesday's scheduled start against the San Francisco Giants at the pitcher-friendly Oracle Park, where he'll once again be one of the top fantasy plays on the slate.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman shined in Thursday's victory on the road over the Detroit Tigers, fanning a season-high 10 batters while throwing six innings of one-run ball on three hits and two walks for his third win of the campaign. It was almost certainly Gausman's finest effort of the season, as it was his first double-digit strikeout performance this year. The 33-year-old strikeout machine missed some time during spring training due to injury, and while he has work to do to improve on his lackluster 4.47 ERA and 1.43 WHIP through 10 starts, Gausman's superb 53:13 K:BB is a reason for optimism. Tuesday's matchup against the last-place Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field marks Gausman's next projected start, a prime opportunity for Toronto's ace to right the ship further.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
22 hours agoChicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said during Thursday's game against the visiting Baltimore Orioles that designated hitter
Eloy Jimenez (hamstring) is expected to miss "a month or so." It specifies Jimenez's return timetable after manager Pedro Grifol stated earlier on Thursday that an extended absence was in store for the outfielder as he recovers from a strained left hamstring, which he sustained in Monday's contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. The oft-injured 27-year-old slugger may have stolen a career-high three bases across 36 games as Chicago's everyday DH before going down, but he was slashing a career-worst .231/.288/.381 with five home runs, five doubles, and 12 RBI through 134 at-bats. Jimenez isn't the strongest stash in most fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Scott Merkin - MLB.com
22 hours agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin says it's unlikely that outfielder
Michael Conforto (hamstring) will be activated from the 10-day injured list in time for the club's series that starts on Friday against the New York Mets. After hitting the IL back on May 12, Conforto has ramped up his running progression but likely hasn't progressed quickly enough in his rehab from a strained right hamstring to return to the Giants when first eligible this weekend. The 31-year-old former New York Met was slashing a respectable .280/.331/.490 with seven home runs, seven doubles, and 20 RBI in 38 games (143 at-bats) as San Fran's everyday left fielder before getting hurt, and he's a decent stash in the majority of fantasy leagues. In Conforto's absence, former first-rounder
Heliot Ramos is worth a look in NL-only formats while hitting .296 (16-for-54) with two homers, nine RBI, and one stolen base over 14 outings this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
22 hours agoWashington Nationals outfield prospect
James Wood (lower body) left Thursday's Triple-A Rochester game due to lower-body soreness. There was some hope amongst fantasy managers that Wood's exit in the fifth inning was call-up related, but the outfielder's departure unfortunately came due to an injury. Not much else is known about the setback at the moment, and more information should become available sometime following Thursday's contest. It sounds like an issue that leaves Wood day-to-day, though. The speedy 21-year-old slugger is Washington's No. 1 prospect and the No. 5 prospect in all of baseball for 2024, per MLB Pipeline, and he's tearing up the minor-league competition while slashing .355/.465/.596 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, 31 RBI, and 10 stolen bases through 202 plate appearances (45 games) this season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Golden - Washington Post
22 hours agoThe Texas Rangers transferred starting pitcher
Cody Bradford (back/rib) to the 60-day injured list on Thursday. Not much of a surprise here, as Bradford said on Sunday that he was shut down from throwing again because he wasn't recovering quickly enough between sessions. The 26-year-old upstart left-hander had gone 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 0.62 WHIP while striking out 17 and walking just two over three starts (19 1/3 innings) out of Texas' rotation before going down, ranking among the American League's leaders in wins, opponent average, and ERA at the time of his injury, but he's becoming a tougher stash in fantasy without a clear timeline for a return. With six starters now sitting on the shelf, the Rangers will have to dig into their bullpen as well as their farm system for pitching help until they get healthier.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers Communications
23 hours agoSan Diego Padres starting pitching prospect
Robby Snelling has tossed six innings in consecutive outings for the first time in his professional career. Snelling has done well in Double-A this season with a 3.44 ERA and 1.29 WHIP but has flashed at times by allowing just one run in four out of his seven starts. The 20-year-old southpaw showcased his elite strikeout potential with a 118:34 K:BB ratio last season across Single, High, and Double-A but has fallen a bit short through the young part of this season with a 30:14 K:BB ratio. Snelling is considered the top left-handed pitching prospect on MLB Pipeline and is projected to reach the majors next season. Despite his drop in strikeouts, he remains one of the best prospects in baseball and a valuable asset in all dynasty formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
23 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers starting pitching prospect
Jacob Misiorowski has begun to find his footing at Double-A after posting a 3.44 ERA through the first month. Since May, the top prospect in Milwaukee is riding a near-perfect 0.71 ERA with 16 punchouts through 12 ⅔ innings. While he has only allowed six hits, he has given up 12 free passes, which has raised his WHIP to 1.42. The 22-year-old has elite strikeout potential but still has to significantly lower the 8.5 BB/9 he has had since May 1 if he wants to reach Triple-A this summer. Misiorowski is projected to reach the majors in 2025, according to MLB Pipeline, but remains a coveted asset in dynasty leagues as a top-five right-handed pitching prospect.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
23 hours agoChicago White Sox infield prospect
Jacob Gonzalez launched his first home run at Double-A on Wednesday in his second game at that level. The 21-year-old has looked quite comfortable in his first two games with Double-A Birmingham, tallying six hits and three RBI. Gonzalez began the season by debuting with High-A after spending all of last year with the Rookie league and in Single-A. It took him only 36 games at High-A to prove he was ready for Double-A. The No. 7 seven prospect in the Chicago system is progressing through the minor leagues very quickly and could even be able to reach the major leagues sometime next season. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor his performance at Double-A, and he could even be worth stashing if he reaches Triple-A at the end of the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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