21 hours agoTampa Bay Rays right-hander
Ryan Pepiot (leg) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. As expected, Pepiot will make his return to the Rays' starting rotation after initially landing on the injured list with a bruised lower left leg after he was hit by a comebacker in his last start on May 5. The 26-year-old didn't require any minor-league rehab starts because he wasn't dealing with an injury to his arm, so fantasy managers should feel a bit more comfortable throwing him back into their starting lineups right away. The matchup against the Red Sox isn't a great one, however, as they rank eighth in all of baseball with a .724 team OPS. Since giving up six earned runs in his season debut on April 1, Pepiot has looked better and will return on Wednesday to a 3.68 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 41 K's in 36 2/3 innings over his seven starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
21 hours agoThe Chicago White Sox are planning to recall pitching prospect
Nick Nastrini from Triple-A Charlotte in order to join their major-league starting rotation, according to sources. Nastrini could start as soon as Wednesday in Toronto against the Blue Jays. The 24-year-old is the team's No. 8 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He looked overmatched in his first two big-league starts last month, picking up two losses, allowing eight runs (seven earned), walking seven and striking out eight in eight total innings against the Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies. His third MLB start on Wednesday will be a better matchup against the struggling Jays offense, but the rookie hurler will still have plenty of risk as a deep-league streaming option. If Nastrini shows improvement, perhaps the White Sox will consider giving him another turn through the rotation with
Michael Soroka now in the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen
21 hours agoChicago White Sox outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. (hip) is scheduled to play five innings on Wednesday in a minor-league rehab game in the Arizona Complex League. Robert will then take Thursday and play this weekend in Arizona before going on a rehab assignment with a higher affiliate, according to manager Pedro Grifol. It's likely that the White Sox will let the 26-year-old right-handed slugger play in plenty of rehab games before they consider bringing the oft-injured outfielder back to the majors. He's been out since April 6 with a Grade 2 right hip-flexor strain, but Robert should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues because of his power/speed upside when he's healthy. Even without a setback, the best bet is that Robert won't return until early June. The Cuban outfielder was a first-time All-Star in 2023, hitting .264 with a career-high 38 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen
21 hours agoTexas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that right-hander
Dane Dunning (shoulder) will be ready to come off the injured list and start on Wednesday in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Dunning is making his return from a right rotator-cuff strain that put him on the injured list earlier this month. The 29-year-old didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment and has gone beyond five innings just twice (in his first two starts) so far in 2024, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting him to go very deep in one of the tougher matchups in his return on Wednesday. The former 29th overall pick by the Washington Nationals in 2016 out of Florida has a decent 4.10 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings over his seven starts. Dunning has a 48.9% hard-hit rate but also a strong 31% whiff rate, making him a pretty polarizing fantasy asset.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
21 hours agoTexas Rangers head coach Bruce Bochy said that right-hander
Jon Gray (groin) left his start early on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies with right-groin tightness after throwing 75 pitches. Gray was hit with his second loss of the season after allowing two earned runs on four hits while walking three and striking out four in his five innings of work to raise his season ERA to a still very solid 2.21. We should know more on the severity of the 32-year-old's groin injury later on Tuesday night or on Wednesday morning. Even if it's not that severe of a strain, the Rangers could play it safe and put Gray on the injured list. At the very least, it seems likely that he won't be able to make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins. The good news for the Rangers is that right-hander
Dane Dunning (shoulder) is returning from the IL to start on Wednesday in Philly.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
22 hours agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) will have a follow-up exam on June 5. Encarnacion-Strand was diagnosed with a fractured right hand back on May 8, which stemmed from being hit by a pitch on April 27, and he was expected to miss somewhere between four and six weeks. The 24-year-old former top prospect should remain stashed in shallow fantasy leagues for his power potential and a possible return sometime in the middle of June, but he was slashing a pitiful .190/.220/.293 with two home runs, six doubles, and 16 RBI over 123 plate appearances (29 games) before requiring a trip to the injured list. The switch-hitting
Jeimer Candelario's playing time at first base should be locked in for the time being, but he's failed to produce much for fantasy purposes while slashing just .216/.284/.379 with four homers, 11 doubles, and 17 RBI in 153 at-bats.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Charlie Goldsmith - Cincinnati Enquirer
22 hours agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) played "light catch" on Tuesday, manager
Carlos Mendoza said. It's an encouraging sign for Senga, who missed Sunday's scheduled bullpen session due to a setback with triceps tightness. His next bullpen session is scheduled for Friday, but considering how much time Senga has taken between mound sessions in his throwing progression from a right posterior shoulder capsule strain, his rehab could easily extend into mid-June or beyond at this point. Mendoza does believe a return in the first half is still possible, though. In 29 starts a year ago, the hard-throwing 31-year-old right-hander recorded a strong 2.98 ERA (3.63 FIP), 1.20 WHIP, and 202:77 K:BB over 166 1/3 innings. Senga should remain stashed in the majority of leagues, but fantasy managers will need to exercise continued patience.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Tim Healey - Newsday
22 hours agoChicago Cubs relief pitcher
Adbert Alzolay (forearm) is getting a second opinion on his strained right flexor. That's something you never want to hear, as it further clouds Alzolay's return timetable from the injury. In 18 games this year, the 29-year-old right-hander held a disappointing 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks, and six home runs allowed over 17 1/3 innings from the Cubs' bullpen before manager Craig Counsell had to remove him from the closer's role. Consider Alzolay out indefinitely until more is known. This should solidify
Hector Neris' standing as Chicago's primary closer for the foreseeable future, though. Neris has a 2.65 ERA through 17 frames, but a 4.85 FIP, 1.64 WHIP, and 15:14 K:BB can't help but feel highly concerning.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Meghan Montemurro - Chicago Tribune
22 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder
Jake Fraley (hand) left Tuesday's game against the visiting San Diego Padres after being hit in the right hand by a pitch in the first inning. X-rays were negative for a fracture, but Fraley has swelling and will get looked at on Wednesday.
Stuart Fairchild entered the game, and he would be in line for an uptick in at-bats in Cincy's outfield if Fraley needs to miss additional time beyond Tuesday. The 28-year-old Fraley is slashing a modest .272/.333/.359 with 17 runs scored and seven stolen bases through 103 at-bats in 2024, but he's going through a power outage with just one home run and seven RBI in 36 games. Consider the right fielder day-to-day ahead of Wednesday's meeting with San Diego, but it's fair to expect Fraley to get at least one day off with the injury.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Charlie Goldsmith - Cincinnati Enquirer
22 hours agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Blake Snell (groin) is expected to be reinstated from the injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Snell has been out of action since April 19 due to a strained left groin, but he's ready to roll following two strong appearances on his minor-league rehab assignment. It's worth noting that Snell is expecting his first child in the coming days, but at this point in time, manager Bob Melvin feels like he's going to pitch on Wednesday. The hard-throwing 31-year-old left-hander gave up 15 runs over 11 2/3 innings (three starts) before going down, but fantasy managers should feel pretty good about Snell's chances of kick-starting his season in a soft matchup against Pittsburgh.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser - San Francisco Chronicle
22 hours agoChicago White Sox designated hitter
Eloy Jimenez (hamstring) exited Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a strained left hamstring, and he's being further evaluated. Jimenez was seen limping a bit after scoring a run during the fifth inning, going 2-for-3 with a double before departing, and
Gavin Sheets hit for him in the DH spot in the seventh. The oft-injured 27-year-old slugger has made only appearance in the field this season, and he's slashing a career-worst .231/.288/.381 with five home runs, five doubles, and 12 RBI with a career-high three stolen bases through 134 at-bats (36 games) as Chicago's everyday DH. Jimenez will almost certainly be absent for Wednesday's series finale against Toronto, and fantasy managers can only hope he isn't dealing with a severe strain that could send him to the injured list.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox on X
23 hours agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher
Reese Olson (hip) said he played catch on Tuesday and felt fine other than a little soreness around his hip. Olson will throw a side session on Wednesday, but he expects to be ready to go in time for Saturday's scheduled start at home against the Toronto Blue Jays after suffering a right hip contusion in Monday's start against the division-rival Kansas City Royals. The 24-year-old right-hander may be without a win through his nine starts this season, but he owns an excellent 2.16 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 43:16 K:BB over 50 innings of work for the Tigers. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring the status of Olson over the coming days for confirmation that he won't need to miss a turn in the rotation.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jason Beck - MLB.com
23 hours agoBaltimore Orioles catcher/first base prospect
Samuel Basallo has been performing very well in his first extended look at Double-A pitching. Through 36 games this season, the 19-year-old has a solid .255/.293/.390 line with five long balls and two stolen bases. The young backstop has remained steady as he posted a .262 AVG in April and currently holds a .246 AVG through May. Basallo spent the majority of last season with Single and High-A and only got to play four games with Double-A. In 144 games last year, he showcased his elite potential with a stellar .313/.402/.551 slash line with 20 long balls. Basallo is considered as the 14th-best prospect in baseball on MLB Pipeline and remains a coveted asset in dynasty and keeper leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
23 hours agoWashington Nationals third base/shortstop prospect
Brady House went 3-for-4 on Tuesday with two RBI to lead Double-A Harrisburg to a victory. The 20-year-old entered Tuesday sporting a cold .218/.323/.491 slash line with a 7:16 BB:K. However, despite his lack of contact recently, he has tallied five long balls during this stretch. During April, he posted a higher .256 average and even opened the season with a six-game hitting streak. The former No. 11 overall selection in the 2021 MLB draft is considered the No. 3 prospect in the Nationals system on MLB Pipeline and is projected to reach the majors sometime next season. He is worth rostering in deeper dynasty leagues and could be worth adding in keeper leagues if he makes it to Triple-A later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
23 hours agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Michael Conforto (hamstring) has been cleared for on-field batting practice and is nearing a return from the injured list. A right-hamstring strain put Conforto on the 10-day injured list over a week ago, but he appears to be making good progress. The last hurdle that the 31-year-old probably will have to clear is running the bases at full speed, and it remains to be seen if he'll be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to San Francisco. Conforto is eligible to return next Wednesday. The Giants could really use him back after recently losing rookie
Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) for the entire season. The left-handed-hitting Conforto was slashing a strong .280/.331/.490 with an .821 OPS, seven home runs and 20 RBI in 143 at-bats for the Giants before tweaking his hammy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
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