16 hours agoNew York Mets right-hander
Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw an up-and-down bullpen session on Thursday and is scheduled to face hitters for the first time on Monday. Senga will be facing hitters for the first time since suffering a shoulder capsule strain in late February in spring training. It's good news for the 31-year-old, but he still has many boxes to check before he's able to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment. Because Senga is on the 60-day injured list, he won't be eligible to make his 2024 debut for the Mets until late May, if he's even ready by then. Fantasy baseball managers must continue to practice patience and keep him stashed in an IL spot after he posted a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 202 strikeouts and 77 walks in 166 1/3 innings over 29 starts in his first year in the majors in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
16 hours agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
J.D. Martinez (back) is hitting fifth in his debut with the team on Friday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Miles Mikolas. Martinez is getting a late start to the 2024 campaign after signing with the team late in March. The 36-year-old veteran then tweaked his back while playing in extended spring training, further delaying his debut. Martinez is back now, though, and will give first baseman
Pete Alonso more protection in the lineup. Martinez hit a strong .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, and while he can still provide some decent pop in mixed fantasy leagues, nobody should be expecting him to be quite that good in New York. The Mets plan to ease Martinez back in, so don't be surprised to see him get frequent days of rest.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
16 hours agoThe Miami Marlins placed left-hander
Jesus Luzardo (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 23) on Friday with left-elbow tightness and recalled right-hander
Anthony Maldonado from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move. The Marlins scratched Luzardo from his start on Friday against the Washington Nationals, and now he's going to miss at least the next two weeks. The 26-year-old southpaw first felt pain in his elbow while playing catch on Thursday but doesn't think he'll be out for too long. We should know more after the Marlins reveal the results of the tests on Luzardo's left arm. Maldonado is the team's No. 18 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he hasn't gone more than two innings in any of his minor-league appearances this year and is likely to be sent back to Jacksonville after his major-league debut on Friday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
18 hours agoMinnesota Twins right-hander
Bailey Ober will look to keep rolling on Friday when he hits the road for a matchup with the Los Angeles Angels. The towering 6-foor-9 righty was lit up for eight earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings in his season debut on March 31 but has since allowed all of two earned runs over his last three starts spanning 17 innings of work. He dominated the Tigers over his last two starts, tossing 12 innings of one-run ball by allowing just five hits and one walk against nine punchouts. He still owns a 4.91 ERA due to his first start of the season but he also sports a 3.98 SIERA and has walked just 5.3% of the hitters he has faced. He'll take on an Angels team that is tied for 19th with a .319 wOBA on the season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoThe Carolina Panthers officially picked up the fifth-year option for standout cornerback Jaycee Horn on Friday, according to sources. Despite playing in only six games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, Horn will have his fifth-year option picked up. The 24-year-old former eighth overall pick by Carolina in 2021 out of South Carolina had 27 tackles (20 solo) and five passes defensed in his six starts last season. He's only played in 22 games in his first three years in the league due to injuries, so picking up Horn's fifth-year option was far from a guarantee. In his three years in the NFL, Horn has produced 85 tackles (60 solo), four interceptions and 13 passes defensed in 22 starts. The Panthers are taking a bit of a gamble and are hoping the defensive back can avoid the injury bug moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
18 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Miles Mikolas will look to get straightened out when he takes the ball for a road contest against the New York Mets. The 35-year-old was knocked around for nine hits, including three homers, leading to five earned runs allowed in just 4 1/3 innings in a losing effort against the Brewers his last time out. It was the second consecutive outing and third of five on the season in which the veteran has allowed five earned runs in less than five innings this season. The rough outing raised his ERA to 6.49 through five starts, although his 4.05 xFIP, 4.28 SIERA, and solid 6% BB% suggest positive regression is likely moving forward.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoToronto Blue Jays right-hander
Chris Bassitt will be looking to get back into the win column for the third time this season on Friday versus the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran took a tough-luck loss his last time out after tossing 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball but also allowed six hits and three walks against the Padres his last time out. While the 35-year-old owns a solid 3.90 ERA on the season, he also sports a 4.77 FIP and a 4.47 SIERA that both suggest some regression could be on the horizon. Of course, there's at least a decent chance of that happening on Friday against a Dodgers offense that ranks second in baseball with a .348 wOBA on the season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoThe Buffalo Bills have interest in trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Deebo Samuel, according to league sources. Now that the first round of the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, Niners wideout
Brandon Aiyuk is less likely to be traded than Samuel, who has a 2025 salary cap number over $20 million. Not only are the Bills extremely desperate for a receiver after trading
Stefon Diggs and losing
Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, but they acquired extra picks in this year's draft by trading down twice late in the first round on Thursday night. A move to Buffalo would immediately make Samuel the team's top wideout for Pro Bowl quarterback
Josh Allen and allow him to retain plenty of fantasy value given his after-the-catch abilities. Stay tuned.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Sports Journal - Mike Giardi
18 hours agoCleveland Guardians left-hander
Logan Allen will be in search of some improved results on Thursday when he takes on the hosting Atlanta Braves. The 25-year-old owns a 5.06 ERA through five starts on the season, allowing at least three earned runs while pitching fewer than six innings in four of his five outings. Aside from six shutout innings over the Mariners on April 3, Allen has otherwise yielded 15 earned runs across 20 2/3 innings of work. There is a chance for positive regression moving forward considering Allen's 4.23 xFIP and 4.31 SIERA on the season, figures well below his surface ERA. Of course, he'll have his hands full against a Braves lineup that ranks first in baseball with a .363 wOBA on the season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoRookie quarterback
Drake Maye, who was taken third overall in this year's NFL draft by the New England Patriots on Thursday night, will initially compete with veteran
Jacoby Brissett for the starting job in 2024. The Patriots also
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18 hours agoThe Chicago White Sox have selected veteran outfielder
Tommy Pham from Triple-A Charlotte. Fellow outfielder
Kevin Pillar has been designated for assignment in order to clear a spot on the active roster. The White Sox agreed to a minors pact with Pham just a week ago and are bringing him up after he appeared in four games with Charlotte. Pham had a nice season in 2023, hitting .256 with 16 home runs and 22 stolen bases alongside a .774 OPS across 129 games between the Mets and Diamondbacks. Pham interestingly had to settle for a minors pact despite the quality season as he could once again become fantasy-relevant if his power and speed remain in his age-36 season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
18 hours agoThe Buffalo Bills traded down twice on Thursday night to drop out of the first round of the NFL draft and now hold the 33rd pick, the first selection in the second round. There are a few players they really like who are under consideration, but they've already received calls from teams considering trading up. After trading down twice on Thursday night, the Bills moved up 38 spots in the later rounds with their first trade and 59 spots with their second swap. Buffalo was criticized heavily for trading back twice late in the first round, only to see both the Chiefs and Panthers take receivers with those picks. The Bills are desperately in need of receiving help after trading
Stefon Diggs and losing
Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, but they could still select one they are high on at No. 33 overall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
18 hours agoDallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said former Texas running back
Jonathon Brooks had the best pre-draft interview of any young prospect Jones has spoken to in 30 years. "We got him high, high (on our board). He's a good player," Jones said. Meanwhile, the
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18 hours agoThe Dallas Cowboys could draft a running back on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft on Friday night with one of their three picks, but that choice won't change the expectation that free-agent running back
Ezekiel Elliott will return to Dallas' backfield in 2024 to complement and help mentor a rookie. Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken is reporting that Elliott's signing with the Cowboys is increasingly imminent. Elliott's agent met with Dallas on Wednesday, and the Cowboys have been connected with the 28-year-old RB throughout the offseason. The Cowboys lost
Tony Pollard to free agency this offseason but have
Rico Dowdle and
Deuce Vaughn. If Elliott were to return to Big D, he'll be in a complementary role and will be an RB3/flex, at best, in fantasy after putting up a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in 2023 with New England.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Michael Gehlken
18 hours agoThe New England Patriots had preliminary trade discussions on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Deebo Samuel prior to the start of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, according to a source. Niners receiver
Brandon Aiyuk has been in trade talks all offseason, but Samuel's name has surfaced of late, and a report on Thursday night suggested he's now more likely to be dealt by San Fran than Aiyuk. The 49ers also took wideout
Ricky Pearsall with their first-round pick (31st overall) on Thursday night, suggesting they could be beefing up their receiver room in the event they trade one of Samuel or Aiyuk. The Patriots are desperate to add a receiver, especially after taking rookie quarterback
Drake Maye third overall in the first round. Samuel's fantasy stock would take a big hit if he were to move to New England.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CBS Sports - Josina Anderson
19 hours agoThe Baltimore Orioles optioned top prospect
Jackson Holliday to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. In corresponding moves, the team selected the contract of outfielder
Ryan McKenna from Norfolk and designated catcher
David Banuelos for assignment. Holliday, the top prospect in all of baseball, made his big-league debut on April 10 but disappointed at the plate in his limited time and has been sent back to the farm. The 20-year-old middle infielder has looked overmatched at the plate and had just two hits, an RBI, five runs scored, two walks and 18 strikeouts in his first 36 big-league plate appearances over 10 games. Holliday will most likely be back with the O's at some point in 2024, and he should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues in the meantime. With Holliday out of the picture for now, it will mean more playing time at second base for
Jorge Mateo and
Ramon Urias.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
19 hours agoAlex Perez is taking on Matheus Nicolau on short notice in the UFC Vegas 91 main event this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. Perez (24-8) has recorded three straight losses, going down to Deiveson Figueiredo in a flyweight championship fight in November 2020, followed by defeats to current division champion Alexandre Pantoja and Muhammad Mokaev in July 2022 and March of this year respectively. DraftKings sees Soriano as the favorite with a salary of $7,500. Throughout his UFC career of 10 fights, he averages 70.6 fantasy points per contest. With Steve Erceg challenging for the flyweight title at UFC 301, a win for either Nicolau or Perez could easily earn them a spot challenging for the UFC flyweight championship before the end of the year.
--Alen Kurbasic - RotoBallerSource: UFC
19 hours agoMatheus Nicolau (19-3-1) is set to take on Alex Perez in a flyweight bout on Saturday at the UFC Apex. After losing his last bout to Brandon Royval via TKO, Nicolau is looking to get back on track. Nicolau is the fighter coming into the contest with more momentum as he has won six of his last seven contests. Although he's lost his last fight to Royval, Nicolau still has all the potential to become a title contender in the near future. DraftKings sees Nicolau as the favorite with a salary of $8,700. Throughout his UFC career (five bouts), he averages 67.7 fantasy points per contest.
--Alen Kurbasic - RotoBallerSource: UFC
19 hours agoNew York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez (back) is set to make his debut with the team on Friday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. He's expected to give All-Star first baseman
Pete Alonso more protection in the batting order after hitting 33 home runs in just 479 plate appearances in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Martinez won't be hitting behind Alonso every day, at least not to start. Manager
Carlos Mendoza said the team will ease Martinez into regular playing time, which makes sense given his age (36) and the fact he dealt with a back injury while ramping up this spring. Fantasy managers can't expect another 30-plus homer season from Martinez while getting a late start to the year, but he can provide notable pop in mixed leagues if he can stay healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Tim Britton
20 hours agoAn all-Brazilian women's flyweight bout, pitting former KSW women's flyweight champion Ariane Lipski against Karine Silva, is set for UFC Vegas 91 on Saturday. Lipski (17-8) comes into this bout on a three-fight win streak with victories over JJ Aldrich, Melissa Gatto, and Casey O'Neill. DraftKings sees Lipski as the underdog with a salary of $7,700. While in her UFC career, she's averaging 57.6 fantasy points per fight. If Lipski wins this fight and extends her win streak to four, she'll jump in the rankings and enter the top 10.
--Alen Kurbasic - RotoBallerSource: UFC
20 hours agoRiding an eight-fight win streak, Karine Silva (17-4) will face the toughest test of her career in Ariane Lipski. Since signing with the UFC, Silva has defeated Poliana Botelho, Ketlen Souza, and Maryna Moroz with first-round submissions. Silva is the only female in UFC history to earn three consecutive victories by first-round submission. DraftKings sees Silva as the favorite with a salary of $8,500. Throughout her UFC career (three bouts), he averages 108.7 fantasy points per contest.
--Alen Kurbasic - RotoBallerSource: UFC
20 hours agoDavid Onama (11-2) is set to take on Jonathan Pearce on the main card of UFC Vegas 91 on Saturday. Onama got back in the win column in his last fight, by scoring a second-round knockout. The Ugandan is 3-2 in the UFC as he also beat Gabriel Benitez, Garrett Armfield, and Gabriel Santos. DraftKings sees Onama as the underdog with a salary of $7,600. Throughout his UFC career (five bouts), he averages 84.3 fantasy points per contest.
--Alen Kurbasic - RotoBallerSource: UFC
20 hours agoJonathan Pearce (14-5) is set to take on David Onama at UFC Vegas 91 on Saturday. Pearce enters the fight coming off a submission loss to Joanderson Brito, which dropped him to 5-2 in the UFC. DraftKings sees Pearce as the favorite with a salary of $8,600. Throughout his UFC career (seven bouts), he averages 92.3 fantasy points per contest. In the UFC, Pearce is 5-2 with three of his wins by stoppage while he has been finished in two of his losses.
--Alen Kurbasic - RotoBallerSource: UFC
20 hours agoDetroit Tigers catcher
Carson Kelly (rib cage) has been scratched from Friday's starting lineup against the visiting Kansas City Royals with left rib-cage soreness. He will be available off the bench, however. In his place,
Jake Rogers will start behind the plate and will bat eighth against Royals right-hander
Seth Lugo. The fact that Kelly is available off the bench means that his injury probably isn't very serious, so the 29-year-old backstop could have a chance to return for Saturday's contest. The former second-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012 is hitting just .205 (9-for-44) on the year with a homer and six RBI for Detroit. Rogers has been even worse, going 6-for-45 (.133) with a homer and two RBI, so DFS gamers should look elsewhere at the catcher position on Friday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
20 hours agoBoston Red Sox infielder
Romy Gonzalez (wrist) is not progressing as the team had hoped and is not close to a return from the 10-day injured list. Gonzalez landed on the injured list with a left-wrist sprain on April 13, but the good news is he's not dealing with any structural damage. There's no timetable on the 27-year-old's return since he has yet to resume baseball activities. Once he is able to come back from the injured list, Gonzalez will serve as infield depth for the BoSox up the middle behind
Ceddanne Rafaela, and eventually,
Vaughn Grissom (hamstring). So far in his first season in Beantown, Gonzalez has only seen action in two games and has gone 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. He can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Pete Abraham
20 hours agoSan Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish (neck) threw a side session on Wednesday, after which "reports were favorable," according to manager Mike Shildt. "He was on the gas, but didn't have it to the floor... it was a positive first step." Darvish was put on the 15-day injured list on April 17 (retroactive to April 15) and last pitched on April 14 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 37-year-old was shut down in September of last year with a stress reaction in his right elbow and has dealt with back and neck issues in the past. It sounds like Darvish is improving, but at 37 years old, his recurring neck issue is something to keep an eye on when he returns. Before hitting the IL, he had a 4.18 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks in 23 2/3 frames over his first five starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
20 hours agoCleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell couldn't get much going and the team as a whole could only muster up 83 points in a blowout loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The star combo guard posted just 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting and only knocked down one out of six three-point attempts. Throughout Mitchell's playoff career, which consists of 47 games, he's only scored fewer than 13 points five times. Despite the rough shooting night, he didn't produce many turnovers as he only committed two of them and registered seven assists with five rebounds.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Basketball Reference
20 hours agoKansas City Royals outfielder
Hunter Renfroe finds himself on the bench again on Friday against the Detroit Tigers. This will be the second straight game that Renfroe will be starting on the bench. In his absence, the left-handed-hitting
Adam Frazier will make the start in right field for the Royals and will hit eighth against Tigers right-hander
Reese Olson. The 32-year-old Renfroe has hit just .149 (10-for-67) with two home runs, 10 RBI, five walks and 16 strikeouts in his first 72 plate appearances in 2024 and is quickly losing playing time in Kansas City's outfield rotation. Frazier, also 32, hasn't been much better, going 11-for-55 (.200) with no homers, four RBI and one stolen base in 22 games. He's never faced Olson in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
20 hours agoMiami Marlins right-handed pitching prospect
Anthony Maldonado has been called up from Triple-A Jacksonville to start on Friday against the Washington Nationals after left-hander
Jesus Luzardo was scratched after experiencing left-elbow discomfort. Maldonado, the team's No. 18 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will be making his major-league debut and won't be a recommended streamer for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old has posted a 2.31 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and four walks in 11 2/3 innings at Jacksonville this year, but he hasn't gone more than two innings in any of his eight outings on the farm in 2024. Don't expect that to change in what will essentially be a bullpen game for the Fish to start the series against the Nats.
Kyle Tyler is probably the best bet for the bulk role for Miami on Friday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ElExtraBase - Daniel Alvarez-Montes
20 hours agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Jesus Luzardo (elbow) was scratched from his scheduled start on Friday versus the Washington Nationals and will undergo testing for left-elbow discomfort, according to the team. The Marlins can ill-afford another injury to one of their starting pitchers, but the good news is they should be getting left-hander
Braxton Garrett (shoulder) back soon. For now, fantasy managers that have the 26-year-old Luzardo rostered must keep him stashed and hope for the best. It's more bad news for a pitcher that has gotten off to a tough start in 2024, as he's posted a 6.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and 13 walks in five starts covering 26 innings. In Luzardo's place, pitching prospect
Anthony Maldonado will make the spot start against the Nats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
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