14
hours
agoToronto
Blue
Jays
shortstop
Bo
Bichette
(calf)
remains
out
of
the
starting
lineup
for
the
third
straight
game
for
Monday's
series
opener
against
the
visiting
Boston
Red
Sox.
Bichette
is
dealing
with
a
right-calf
injury
that
isn't
believed
to
be
serious,
but
the
Jays
read more...
14 hours agoAn MRI exam on Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll's injured left side on Monday morning didn't reveal significant damage, and he will join the team ahead of their series opener on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, according to a source. Carroll described a "pull feeling" on his left side while making a throw in the seventh inning of Sunday's game. It's possible Carroll will be back in the starting lineup on Tuesday. Last year's National League Rookie of the Year was hitting just .184 with a .547 OPS in his first 52 games in 2024, but he's posted a .299/.397/.403 slash line with five doubles, a triple and three stolen bases in 78 plate appearances over his last 18 games. Fantasy managers have to be happy that Carroll appears to have avoided a serious injury, but make sure to check back on Tuesday to see if he's back in there.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
14 hours agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) will come off the 60-day injured list to make his 2024 season debut on Wednesday versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. The long-awaited wait for Yankees fans and fantasy managers is over, and the 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young winner should be thrown into all starting lineups this week despite the tough first matchup. Cole was shut down in spring training with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow and hasn't pitched all year, but he's a high-end fantasy ace when healthy and looked dominant on his minor-league rehab assignment, giving up just one earned run while fanning 19 batters and walking none over 12 1/3 innings over three starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Cole will have more risk baked into his first outing and could be limited from a pitch-count perspective.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
15 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Pedro Pages will start behind the plate and bat eighth in the team's series opener against the Miami Marlins on Monday. The 25-year-old catcher has now started five straight games for the Cardinals, which has moved
Ivan Herrera to the designated hitter role or on the bench. Pages is coming off the best three-game stretch of his career after launching two home runs over the weekend against the Chicago Cubs. His strong series has surely earned him more playing time. But with
Willson Contreras (forearm) likely beginning a rehab assignment on Tuesday, the young catcher does not have much long-term fantasy appeal.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
15 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals second baseman
Nolan Gorman is not in the team's lineup on Monday against the Miami Marlins. With the Marlins starting a left-hander in
Braxton Garrett, Gorman will take a seat, and
Jose Fermin will start at second base in his place. The left-handed slugger is batting just .186 at the plate with four home runs, 12 RBI, and 27 strikeouts in 77 plate appearances against southpaw pitching this year. With a right-hander on the mound for Miami in the second game of this series, the 24-year-old should be back in the lineup on Tuesday.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
15 hours agoFirst baseman
Joey Votto (ankle) was transferred to the Blue Jays' rookie-level Florida Complex League to begin a rehab assignment, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Votto has been out with a right ankle sprain since March 17, when the 40-year-old rolled his ankle in the dugout in spring training. However, it appears the former MVP is now fully healthy following that injury. After he gets enough games under his belt on his rehab assignment, the Blue Jays could decide to activate the veteran to the active roster. However, he isn't worth a stash in fantasy. Votto hit just .202 last year with 14 home runs and 38 RBI across 65 games in 2023.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson
16 hours agoWith Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop
Mookie Betts fracturing his hand on a hit-by-pitch in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, the Dodgers lineup will look slightly different in his absence. Manager Dave Roberts said the team is considering moving designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani to the leadoff spot, where he has hit one other time this year. Ohtani has primarily been in the two hole for the Dodgers this season, but that could change with Betts' extended absence. Wherever the two-time MVP hits in Los Angeles' lineup shouldn't affect his fantasy value moving forward.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunket
16 hours agoMiami Marlins pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (back) said after Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Washington Nationals that he pitched through a stiff back. Luzardo was not at his best on Sunday, giving up two runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts across five innings. His fastball velocity was also down across the board and he was pulled after just 77 pitches. However, now fantasy managers know that the southpaw was battling a back injury. It remains to be seen if the left-hander will miss any time with this new back issue, but there should be an update on his status in the coming days. For now, fantasy managers can assume he will pitch this weekend against the Seattle Mariners.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Florida
17 hours agoBoston Red Sox shortstop prospect
Marcelo Mayer has been hitting at an elite level with Double-A Portland. In 58 games, he's slashing .301/.368/.480 with 47 runs scored, 23 doubles, six home runs, 30 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and a 24:54 BB/SO ratio. He's played particularly well in 12 June games, showcasing his impressive bat-to-ball skills, discipline, and speed. So far this month, he's slashing .326/.473/.419 with eight runs, four doubles, six RBI, three steals, and a 11:9 BB/SO ratio. Mayer, 21, is Boston's No. 1 overall prospect (per MLB.com). He's expected to make his MLB debut sometime later this season.
--Wade Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
17 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
Giovanny Gallegos (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point during this week's series in Miami against the Marlins, potentially as early as Monday. Gallegos has been sidelined since early May with a right-shoulder impingement and could be eased back into a high-leverage setup role in the Cardinals' bullpen given how much he had struggled early on before going on the shelf. The 32-year-old veteran right-hander also didn't look good on his minor-league rehab assignment, giving up eight runs while striking out five and walking four in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The Mexican reliever had a 12.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 13 K's and seven walks in nine innings for St. Louis earlier this year. Gallegos can be useful in holds leagues, but fantasy managers probably aren't rushing to acquire him off the waiver wire.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
17 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers third base prospect
Brock WIlken (face) spent a month on the injured list after taking a fastball to the face in early April. Since his return to action on May 7, he's yet to hit his stride. In 34 games, he's 31-for-149 (.237 AVG) with five doubles, five home runs, 18 RBI, and a 16:38 BB/SO ratio. Over his first 87 professional games (spanning from Rookie Ball to Double-A) Wilken is slashing .259/.365/.426 with 15 doubles, 10 homers, 47 RBI, four stolen bases, and a 49:93 BB/SO ratio. The No. 5 prospect in Milwaukee's farm system (per MLB.com), he's currently expected to make his MLB debut in 2025.
--Wade Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
17 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (forearm) will start his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. Everything is tentative, but there is a scenario where he could return from the 10-day injured list as early as next Monday. Contreras has made great progress from a gruesome fractured forearm when he was hit by a
J.D. Martinez swing behind the plate. Fantasy managers shouldn't get their hopes up that the 32-year-old All-Star backstop will be back for the series opener next Monday against the visiting Atlanta Braves, but the big takeaway is that Contreras should be back well before the All-Star break next month. Until then,
Ivan Herrera and rookie
Pedro Pages will continue to split playing time behind the plate in St. Louis. Before the injury, Contreras was hitting .280 with six homers and 12 RBI, and he should be stashed everywhere.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
17 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Kyle Gibson is expected to come off the bereavement list to make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins on the road. Gibson went on the bereavement list on Sunday but won't actually miss a turn through the rotation and is set for a strong matchup against the Fish. The 36-year-old veteran has given up a lot of hard contact in 2024 but he was able to toss seven scoreless innings his last time out against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. He's now 5-2 on the year with a 3.44 ERA (4.14 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 31 walks in 83 2/3 innings over his 14 starts. Gibson will be a popular streaming option this week in DFS and redraft leagues against a Marlins offense that ranks dead-last in MLB with a .630 OPS. Ignore the fact that Gibson allowed seven earned runs in six innings against the Marlins in his second start of the year on April 7.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
17 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers catcher
William Contreras (head) was being evaluated for a concussion after Sunday's 5-4 win over the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Contreras hit his head during a collision with Reds outfielder
Stuart Fairchild at home plate while applying the tag for the final out of the contest. The 26-year-old backstop remained down for a while and was slow to get up, prompting the concussion evaluation. There's no word on Contreras' status as of Monday morning, but fantasy managers will want to check back to see if he was able to clear the league's concussion protocol. Either way, Contreras might get the day off on Monday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Gary Sanchez would be forced into starting duties behind the plate if Contreras has a concussion and is forced to the seven-day injured list. Contreras went 2-for-4 with a run scored on Sunday and is now hitting a cool .305 on the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
18 hours agoHouston Astros right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday in Houston, working in fastballs, changeups, cutters and sinkers. McCullers is progressing on schedule after missing all of last year following surgery on June 13 to fix his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. He had rehabbed to the point that he was close to facing hitters in mid-May of last year, but another setback led to surgery. The 30-year-old oft-injured starting pitcher is making progress but probably isn't going to be an option for the Astros rotation or for fantasy managers until some point in August. Given all of McCullers' arm injuries, Houston isn't going to rush him back, especially given all the injuries to their starters so far in 2024. When McCullers does make his season debut, McCullers will have limited fantasy upside to close out the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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