14 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander
Ryne Nelson (elbow) will throw a bullpen session at Salt River Fields on Wednesday, and it sounds like it could be close to the minimum 15 days on the injured list for him. Nelson was hit by a comebacker on his elbow and was put on the 15-day injured list last week, but he appears to be making good progress and could be ready to return when he's eligible on May 4. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2019 out of Oregon should have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in Arizona when he's ready. In his first four starts this year in his third major-league season, Nelson has gone 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts covering 15 2/3 frames.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
14 hours agoArizona Cardinals closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) is back in Arizona working with the medical team to determine whether he will need another minor-league rehab assignment or if he's ready to rejoin the D-backs. Manager Torey Lovullo said Sewald is "getting extremely close" to returning from the 15-day injured list. The 33-year-old made his first rehab appearance on Tuesday with Triple-A Reno and gave up an unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out two, and that may be all he needs before returning to Arizona's bullpen. He has yet to pitch in the big leagues in 2024 due to a strained left oblique, but when he's back, he will operate as the team's full-time closer. Make sure he's not available for some reason on the waiver wire in your fantasy league.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
14 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Alec Burleson is out of the lineup on Wednesday with the team facing left-hander
Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Cardinals. It's no surprise, as Burleson will continue to ride the pine when the Cardinals face a southpaw. With the 25-year-old out and
Jordan Walker being optioned to Triple-A Memphis,
Brendan Donovan is in left field and hitting leadoff, while rookie
Michael Siani gets the nod in center field and will bat ninth. With Walker in the minors for a bit, Burleson's fantasy stock in deeper leagues is going up, as he should play more regularly against right-handers now. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of East Carolina is still searching for his first home run in 2024 while batting .255 (13-for-51) with two RBI and two runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
14 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (hand) is back in the team's lineup on Wednesday, serving as the designated hitter and batting second against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander
Jordan Montgomery.
Ivan Herrera is doing the catching and is hitting fifth. Left-hand soreness caused the Cardinals to lift Contreras from Tuesday's game early, but manager Oliver Marmol said the decision to pull Contreras had more to do with the lopsided score. Still, the 31-year-old veteran's hand issue is something to keep an eye on. It hasn't affected him at the plate so far, as he's currently hitting .292 (19-for-65) with three home runs and eight RBI in 19 games. He's gone hitless in eight career at-bats against Montgomery, but fantasy managers in single-year leagues need to get him back into their lineups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
15 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Jordan Walker has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. The former 21st overall pick in 2020 will head to the farm after opening the 2024 campaign with a weak .155/.239/.259 slash line with no home runs, four RBI, six walks and 18 strikeouts in 67 plate appearances over 20 games for the Red Birds. The 21-year-old will surely be back in St. Louis at some point, but he's going to need to work on some things in the minors first.
Brendan Donovan is in left field and hitting leadoff on Wednesday, while rookie
Michael Siani is in center field and batting ninth against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander
Jordan Montgomery. With Walker now in the minors,
Alec Burleson and
Ivan Herrera could see some more playing time in the outfield moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
15 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll is starting in center field but has been moved to the seven-hole on Wednesday for the matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Kyle Gibson. The 23-year-old will be down near the bottom of the D-backs' lineup for the first time this year as manager Torey Lovullo looks to get last year's National League Rookie of the Year going at the plate. After making his first All-Star team and leading Arizona to the World Series last fall, Carroll has come out cold at the plate in 2024, slashing .215/.324/.269 with a homer, five RBI and eight stolen bases in his first 23 games. While the drop in the batting order is likely just a temporary thing to try and help Carroll get going offensively, it's not what fantasy managers want to see. Outfielder
Pavin Smith is hitting leadoff after driving in six on Tuesday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
15 hours agoChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that X-rays on outfielder
Cody Bellinger (rib) were negative, but the team has to see how he is on Wednesday before they can determine how long he might be out. Bellinger left Tuesday's game early with a right-rib contusion not long after he ran into the wall in center field at Wrigley Field tracking a ball down. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if Bellinger is in the lineup against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, but most likely he will not be, and he could miss more time beyond that. For now, consider the 28-year-old lefty hitter to be day-to-day. Rookie outfielder
Alexander Canario replaced Bellinger in center field on Tuesday night and could see more playing time there moving forward if Bellinger is forced to miss time.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
16 hours agoColorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar finished Tuesday's 5-2 Game 2 win over Winnipeg with two assists. The Avalanche fell behind twice in the game, but Makar's playmaking helped the team even up the series. Playing only in his sixth postseason campaign, Makar already boasts the fifth-most multi-point playoff games among active defensemen with 15. He's had a fantastic start to action in 2024 with five points (one goal, four assists) in two games, which puts him tied with Edmonton's Connor McDavid at the top of the postseason scoring charts.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
16 hours agoWashington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson recorded a goal and an assist as the team went down 4-3 to the Rangers in Game 2 on Tuesday. He picked up a power-play assist when Dylan Strome scored early in the second period and netted a goal with the man advantage himself in the middle of the third frame. The Capitals now find themselves down 2-0 in the series, but Wilson can be happy with his contributions. He's the only player on the team with multiple points in the series, having tallied one goal and two assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
17 hours agoNew York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere helped set up two goals in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Washington in Game 2. Both helpers came in power-play situations, with Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic getting the goals. Lafreniere has played a big role early in the series, registering three assists through the first two games. With Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck skating as his linemates, the stage is perfectly set for the 22-year-old to enjoy even more success as the Rangers take a 2-0 lead to the capital.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
17 hours agoNashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg recorded two points, including the game-winning goal, as the team tied its first-round series against Vancouver with a 4-1 win in Game 2 on Tuesday. Forberg assisted Anthony Beauvillier on the first goal of the game with less than two minutes played before lighting the lamp himself in the second frame. The Swedish star finished the regular season with a three-game goal streak and has opened the playoffs in prolific form as well. The series heads to Music City for Game 3 with Forsberg sitting on three points (one goal, two assists).
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
17 hours agoTampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman finished Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to Florida with two assists. Hedman's good eye for a pass helped the Lightning erase a two-goal deficit in the game, but the team couldn't escape a second loss in the series. With the effort, Hedman tied Bobby Orr for the 10th most multi-point playoff games in NHL history by a defenseman. It was his 26th such outing. The former Norris Trophy winner will now have a bit of momentum ahead of Game 3 after going scoreless with a minus-two rating in the series opener.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
17 hours agoFlorida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe was the hero of the night on Tuesday in Game 2 against the Lightning, scoring a 3-2 game-winner with 2:59 played in overtime. The Panthers blew a 2-0 lead in the contest, but Verhaeghe spared their blushes with a nice back-hander. Verhaeghe now boasts five career overtime goals in the playoffs, which puts him behind only Joe Sakic (8) and Maurice Richard (6) on the all-time list. He also picked up one assist on Tuesday. The former Tampa Bay man has started the first-round series in fine form, producing two goals and three points in the first couple of games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
17 hours agoFlorida Panthers center Sam Bennett suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's 3-2 Game 2 win against Tampa Bay. He left the contest early in the second period. Before exiting, Bennett scored the first goal of the game and had a power-play assist on a Vladimir Tarasenko strike. Bennett missed 13 games during the regular season, and it looks like he might be forced to sit out some postseason action as well. Florida will re-evaluate him on Wednesday to determine Bennett's status for Thursday's Game 3. Anton Lundell or Eetu Luostarinen could take over as the second-line center if Bennett can't play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
17 hours agoLos Angeles Clippers guard
James Harden had 22 points on 6-for-14 shooting in a 96-93 loss to Dallas on Tuesday. After opening the series with a vintage performance and 28 points, Harden scored only three points in the first quarter without making any field goals, and the Clippers' offense struggled throughout the night. Harden finished 6-for-14 shooting, including a 2-for-10 effort from deep, and tallied six rebounds with eight assists, one steal, and one block. The former MVP has plenty to think about ahead of Game 3, but at least the Clippers now have
Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup to boost their chances in the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
17 hours agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic netted a game-high 32 points in Tuesday's 96-93 Game 2 victory over the Clippers. Doncic added six rebounds, nine assists, one steal, and one block to his tally, playing a whopping 45:43 in the contest. Both teams struggled to put points on the board, and it was no different with Doncic, who finished 5-for-14 with his three-point attempts and 11-for-26 overall from the floor.
Kyrie Irving added 23 points as the Mavericks continued to rely heavily on their star duo. The pair have averaged over 55 points per game in the series, with Doncic posting 32.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard
Damian Lillard continued to roll in Game 2 against the Pacers on Tuesday, but his big performance wasn't enough this time around for the team to get the win. Lillard led his squad in a 125-108 loss with 34 points on 10-for-21 shooting. Most of his makes came from downtown, as Lillard went 6-for-13 with the three-ball. He delivered five assists in the contest and recorded four rebounds with one steal. The 2024 All-Star Game MVP is thoroughly enjoying his first postseason campaign in three years, sitting among the top scorers with 34.5 points and boasting a very impressive 50 percent success rate from behind the arc.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoIndiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double in Tuesday's Game 2 victory over the Bucks. He already had seven assists in the first half and didn't have any trouble completing his double-double after the break, hitting three shots from downtown with seven attempts and finishing with 4-for-10 overall shooting. Additionally, Haliburton grabbed four rebounds and disrupted Milwaukee's offense by registering one steal and one block. The young Pacers star was a nightmare for the Bucks during the regular season, but they have found a way to limit him to 10.5 points in the playoffs so far. However, he's been shooting 40 percent from three-point range, and it looks to be only a matter of time before Haliburton explodes for a big performance in his first playoff campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoIndiana Pacers forward/center
Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 37 points and bagged 11 rebounds as his squad tied the first-round series against Milwaukee at one with a 125-108 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night. Siakam became the first player to start a postseason campaign with consecutive 35-point, 10-rebound performances since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967. The two-time All-Star reached the impressive double-double with 16-for-23 shooting, and he also found time to dish out six assists. The Pacers will be delighted to see their midseason acquisition flourish in the playoffs, but
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is reportedly close to returning to action, and his presence will make things a lot more difficult for Siakam.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoPhoenix Suns guard/forward
Devin Booker had a team-high 20 points in Tuesday's Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves. He finished 6-for-13 shooting from the field and went 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Phoenix had a miserable night offensively in a 105-93 loss, and it was summed up well by Booker's 1-for-6 effort from deep. The Suns star also collected three rebounds, five assists, and two steals with six turnovers before fouling out with a couple of minutes remaining in the game. Head coach Frank Vogel's team is now down 2-0 in the series, and Phoenix will need a lot more from Booker to turn things around. He's shot below 40 percent in the series so far, averaging 19.0 points.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Mike Tauchman went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBI in Tuesday's victory against the Houston Astros. Both of the outfielder's hits were home runs, his first and second of the season. Tauchman has been on a heater lately and has nine hits over his last 20 at-bats. For the season, Tauchman is hitting a respectable .283 with two homers and seven RBI to go along with 13 runs scored. With
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) sidelined, Tauchman has gotten every day reps and has taken the most of the opportunity. As long as he keeps hitting, he is worth a look in deeper leagues. The outfielder will look to stay hot on Wednesday in a rematch against the Astros and rookie starting pitcher
Spencer Arrighetti.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoMinnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards couldn't replicate his Game 1 performance in the second game of the first-round series against Phoenix, settling for 15 points on 3-for-12 shooting in Tuesday's 105-93 win. He made two shots from outside with six attempts and was 7-for-8 at the line. Edwards couldn't get going shooting-wise but helped out well in other areas, delivering a game-high eight assists and notching five rebounds with three steals and one block.
Karl-Anthony Towns also struggled to make an impact offensively, but Minnesota still dominated the contest, which must be very encouraging for the team going forward. The series shifts to Phoenix on Friday, with Edwards looking to produce a bounce-back performance in Game 3.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Logan S. Allen received his first career save in Tuesday's 14-1 rout against the St. Louis Cardinals. Allen tossed the final three innings to earn the save and looked good. The lefty allowed one hits, no runs, one walk and struck out two on the evening. Allen is in the swingman role for Arizona and it may be a while until he sees another save opportunity. He can safely remain on the waiver wire in all formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks first baseman/outfielder
Pavin Smith started as the designated hitter on Tuesday versus the St. Louis Cardinals and had himself a big game. Smith went 2-for-5 with two runs, a home run and six RBI. His home run was a grand slam against
Zack Thompson in the top of the sixth inning. Smith was recalled on April 19 and was 0-for-5 entering Tuesday's contest. Smith has shown power in the past, but that is about it and without regular playing time, he can remain on the waiver wire.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers middle infielder
Brice Turang went 1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases on Tuesday versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Turang's two stolen bases lifts his total to 12 on the season. He is also hitting a respectable .319 with two homers and nine RBI. Turang is unlikely to help much in the power department, but he has been playing every day and so far, has held his own. His true value comes in the speed department and managers looking to improve in that category should consider Turang. He is now tied with
Elly De La Cruz for the league lead in stolen bases and will look to take sole control of the lead on Wednesday versus the Pirates.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Steven Matz got rocked in Tuesday's loss versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. The left-hander tossed 4 1/3 innings and got hit hard for six hits, seven runs and three walks. He also had four strikeouts on the evening. Matz has really struggled to open the 2024 campaign and has allowed 16 runs (13 earned runs) over his last three outings. He has also failed to get past 5 1/3 innings on the season. Matz has a lot that needs to be figured out and can be avoided in all formats, even with a favorable matchup against the Detroit Tigers to begin next week.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoCleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Ben Lively put together a strong outing against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. It was his second outing of the season and both have come against the Red Sox. On Tuesday, Lively tossed 6 1/3 innings and allowed five hits, one run, zero walks and struck out seven on the evening. The 32-year-old has now allowed just three runs with 14 strikeouts and one walk over 11 1/3 innings. The Guardians always seem to have a pitcher factory churning and Lively could be the latest diamond in the rough for the franchise. It is still very early and both his starts have come against a injury plagued Red Sox lineup, but if Lively can toss another gem against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, he will be worth rostering in most formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoChicago Cubs relief pitcher
Yency Almonte recorded his first save of the season in Tuesday's victory against the Houston Astros. Almonte got the final four outs of the contest with one strikeout and no hits or walks allowed. The Cubs bullpen has been a bit of a mess in the early goings with closer
Adbert Alzolay struggling to open the season, but managers should not expect Almonte to be the new closer with Alzolay still in the picture and
Mark Leiter Jr. and
Hector Neris ahead of him. Almonte can safely remain on the waiver wire.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde suffered a tough luck no-decision on Tuesday versus the Minnesota Twins. Fedde tossed six innings for a quality start and allowed three hits, one run, no walks and struck out a career-high 11 batters. Unfortunately for Fedde, his hard work went to waste as the White Sox bullpen blew a big lead and eventually the game. Despite the White Sox having a very tough season, Fedde has been one of the lone bright spots and boasts a respectable 2.73 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP in his first five starts. Fedde won't get many wins for managers, but he can help in other categories. He is worth a look with his next matchup coming against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoDetroit Tigers closer
Jason Foley stayed perfect in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Rays, earning his seventh save. Foley came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by two and delivered a 1-2-3 performance with a strikeout. The 28-year-old has had a spotless start to the season, converting all of his save opportunities with a 2-0 record and a 0.00 ERA, a 9.00 K/9 rate, and a 4.91 BB/9 rate. The walk rate is higher than fantasy managers would prefer, but everything else has been fantastic.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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