April 30, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez had a big game on Tuesday, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and four RBI in a 15-2 victory over the Miami Marlins. Hernandez was all over Marlins starter
Sandy Alcantara, smacking two RBI doubles off of him in the first two innings. The 32-year-old is having yet another solid season for the Dodgers, hitting .297 with a .926 OPS while adding 18 runs, nine homers, 31 RBI, and two steals in 111 at-bats. His RBI total now leads the entire majors, and he could end up at or near the top in that category, considering his placement in the stacked Dodgers lineup. Hernandez should remain a fixture of fantasy lineups all season.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice went 3-for-5 with two homers and two additional runs scored in Tuesday's 15-3 thrashing of the Baltimore Orioles. Rice homered in the first two innings and came around to score two more times later in the game. The 26-year-old has been mired in a bit of a slump lately, going 2-for-15 with no homers in the four games prior to this one, so it was nice to see him break out of it. Rice has had a breakout season, hitting .278 with 22 runs, eight homers, 13 RBI, and two steals in 90 at-bats. He should continue to be a solid contributor while hitting near the top of a stacked Yankees lineup.--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Seattle Mariners designated hitter/third baseman
Jorge Polanco had a huge night on Tuesday, smacking a pair of homers and driving in all five of the M's runs in a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Polanco is the hottest hitter in the majors right now, with six homers and 13 RBI in his last six games. With this performance, he bumps up his season numbers to a .389 AVG, 1.242 OPS, 12 runs, nine homers, 25 RBI, and a steal in 72 at-bats. Polanco has been phenomenal and is a must-roster and must-start player in all formats right now. He is still on the waiver wire in some leagues, so make a claim for him while you still can.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
The Houston Astros are expected to call up starting pitching prospect
A.J. Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land to make his big-league debut in Wednesday's game against the Tigers, per the Athletic's Chandler Rome. He will be making a spot start for
Hayden Wesneski, whom manager Joe Espada said "needs a couple more days to recover from his last start." The 24-year-old pitching prospect is not on the 40-man roster, so the Astros will need to make a corresponding move. Blubaugh currently owns a 4.29 ERA in 21 innings pitched at Triple-A. He has flashed high strikeout upside but also some walk issues throughout his minor-league career. While Blubaugh will have a solid offense backing him, fantasy managers should first wait to see how his debut goes and then see if he can carve out a role with the team before trusting him.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Chnandler Rome - The Athletic
April 30, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Eduardo Rodriguez did not have his best stuff in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Mets. Rodriguez pitched just four innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits (including three home runs) and a walk with one strikeout. The 32-year-old has been erratic this season, with this start adding one-and-a-half runs to his season ERA. He is now 1-3 with a 6.06 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and a 9.64 K/9 rate in six starts and 32 2/3 IP. Unfortunately, things won't get easier for E Rod in his next scheduled start, which will be at the Phillies. Fantasy managers may consider sitting him for that matchup given the potential for another low-floor outing.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Texas Rangers utilityman
Josh Smith continued his solid offensive start to the season in Tuesday's 15-2 win over the Athletics. Playing shortstop, Smith went 3-for-4 with three singles, two RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. He also stole a base. The 27-year-old has provided a bit of everything to start the season, slashing .319/.402/.458 with two home runs, 13 runs scored, six RBI, and four stolen bases in 83 plate appearances. His defensive versatility has helped him get at-bats, and he should have an opportunity to see more time at shortstop in the short-term with teammate
Corey Seager (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Smith is currently rostered in just 18 percent of leagues, meaning he could be available even in deeper roto leagues at this time.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom picked up his first win of the season in Tuesday's 15-2 drubbing of the Athletics. deGrom pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 36-year-old has pitched well overall so far this season, going 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 9.00 K/9 rate. While his peripherals have been excellent overall, they have not been quite as outstanding when compared to his career standards. However, deGrom has stayed healthy to this point, which is the biggest fantasy concern. He will look to keep things going in his next matchup, which will be a tougher one against a hot Mariners lineup.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta continued his strong start to the season in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Giants. Pivetta pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits (including a solo home run) and a walk with nine strikeouts. Everything has come together for the 32-year-old in his first six starts, going 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA, a 0.82 WHIP, and a 9.93 K/9 rate while averaging almost 6 IP/GS. Pivetta's future fortunes will hinge on his next matchup, which will be either at the Pirates or at the Yankees. Even if it is the latter matchup, fantasy managers may feel compelled to start him given how well he has performed.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter
Rafael Devers continued to pick up the power pace in Tuesday's 10-2 win over the Blue Jays. Devers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk, and a strikeout. The 28-year-old clobbered a third-inning
Bowden Francis off-speed pitch deep into the right-field seats for his fifth HR of the season and his third in the last four games. It has been a rough start to the season offensively for Devers, who has struggled with strikeouts and has produced little batting average and power. However, he has stepped things up recently, batting .231 with three HR and a double in his last seven games. Even that stretch is less than fantasy managers are expecting, but it is encouraging to see Devers trending in the right direction.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
AJ Smith-Shawver (arm) exited Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Rockies in the sixth inning after being hit in the right arm by a line drive. He retrieved the ball and tossed it to first for the out but exited after. The 22-year-old, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to make the start Tuesday, pitched 5 1/3 innings on 59 pitches, allowing two runs on four hits (including a solo home run) and a walk with five strikeouts. Fantasy managers should wait to hear more about Smith-Shawver's status in the coming days. Should he simply be day-to-day, his status with the team will still be unknown. Smith-Shawver made three starts with the Braves before being sent down to Triple-A earlier in the season. He is now 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA, a 1.68 WHIP, and a 10.42 K/9 rate.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Owen Perkins - MLB.com
April 30, 2025
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect
Walker Jenkins (ankle) is not expected to play before the end of May. The fifth-overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft injured his ankle in the spring but was able to make two starts for Double-A Wichita before soreness in the ankle sent him to the IL. The left-handed hitter is still experiencing soreness in the ankle and will need more time to recover. A cortisone shot was recently administered to alleviate the pain. The Twins' highest-ranked prospect (MLB No. 3) has one of the best hit tools in the minors and was expected to make his MLB debut this year, however, with just eight games at Double-A under his belt and none at Triple-A, it's looking more like a potential late-season call-up situation or maybe even a 2026 debut if he doesn't knock the rust off quick enough. He's a dynasty hold, but there's no reason to stash him in season-long leagues for now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Washington Nationals outfield prospect
Daylen Lile went 2-for-5 with a double, a solo home run, and two runs scored on Tuesday for Double-A Harrisburg. The former second-round draft pick is now riding a 14-game hit streak, during which time he's gone 23-for-62 (.371) with three doubles, two triples, a home run, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored, and six stolen bases. The Nats' ninth-ranked prospect likely won't see the majors this season, but a promotion to Triple-A is warranted with continued success. He's not on the dynasty radar at this point, but whenever he makes it to the big leagues, the left-handed hitter's speed could be an asset in redraft leagues, as evidenced by the 23 career triples in the minors (17 career home runs) and two seasons with 20-plus steals.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 29, 2025
Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect
Chase Petty is expected to be called up for a spot start in Wednesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. The Reds' sixth-ranked prospect has been at Triple-A Louisville this season, and since his first start of the season in which he allowed six earned runs, the righty has a 1.37 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and a 19.5 percent K-BB% (7:23 BB:K) over 19 2/3 IP (four starts). The 22-year-old is not expected to remain in the majors after the start, but should get another shot later this season. Armed with a fastball that can touch triple-digits, the 6-foot-1 hurler has a chance to rack up a few strikeouts and make himself a viable DFS play, however, the Cardinals own the 10th-best strikeouts per game average in the majors, so it is not a highly favorable spot and he's best left to the waiver wire in most season-long fantasy leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB Pipeline
April 29, 2025
Chicago White Sox catching prospect
Kyle Teel went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored on Tuesday for Triple-A Charlotte. The 23-year-old has raised his batting average 63 points since April 13, going 14-for-44 (.318) over that 11-game stretch with five RBI, nine runs scored, and a stolen base. Chicago's second-ranked prospect (MLB No. 29) is now slashing .247/.352/.398 through 25 games and should push for a major-league debut this season. In season-long leagues, unless you're in a very deep AL-only league, with fellow prospect
Edgar Quero in the majors now as well, it might be best to see who gets more playing time before using a valuable roster spot for stashing the former first-round draft pick.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 29, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar was in action for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, which meant another multi-hit performance was in order. The 22-year-old did not disappoint, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and his sixth home run of the season. The Diamondbacks' top prospect also collected two RBI and scored three times. The right-handed hitter has now tallied at least one hit in 13 straight games in which he started, with 10 of the 13 being multi-hit efforts, now slashing .364/.460/.682. Lawlar manned third base on Tuesday, the fifth time he's done so this season, with 14 starts coming at second base, six at shortstop, and one at DH. The positional versatility will help get him to the majors and should also help get him at-bats once he's there, an opportunity just needs to present itself, which could be any day now. Stash him while you still can.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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