1 day agoToronto Blue Jays right-hander
Alek Manoah (shoulder) is slated to make his season debut on Sunday afternoon against the Washington Nationals. The 26-year-old threw a side session on Friday after he was rocked for a 6.50 ERA across four starts with Triple-A Buffalo to begin his season. It's been tough sledding for Manoah since he was named a Cy Young finalist in the 2022 season as he posted a 5.87 ERA alongside a monster 14.2% BB% across 19 big-league starts. He was also optioned to the team's Florida spring training complex and refused an assignment to Buffalo after he scuffled in his big-league return. He will take on a Nationals offense that entered Saturday's action ranked 18th with a .303 wOBA on the season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson
1 day agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) could be activated off the injured list in the coming week, according to skipper Craig Counsell. The 29-year-old hasn't appeared since April 15 due to a right oblique strain after a fantastic start to his season. Suzuki hit .305 with three homers, 13 RBI, and an .893 OPS across his first 68 trips to the plate this season, production that graded out 52% above the league average, as per his 152 wRC+. Suzuki has been as advertised for the Cubs after signing a five-year deal prior to the 2022 season, hitting .277 with 37 homers, 15 stolen bases, and an .816 OPS across 264 games and 1,097 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status over the next several days.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Mooney
1 day agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Cody Bellinger (ribs) could be activated within the next week, according to manager Craig Counsell. The 28-year-old is doing some hitting and defensive drills on Saturday as he works his way back from a right rib fracture. Bellinger suffered his injury on April 23 when he crashed into the outfield fence trying to make a catch. It's been a solid start to the season for Bellinger who is hitting .226 with five home runs, an 11.3% BB%, and a .760 OPS across 97 plate appearances. Additionally, he has struck out in just 15.5% of his plate appearances to this point after posting a career-best 15.6% K% in a rebound campaign with the Cubs in 2023.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Mooney
1 day agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured prior to Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants with a left hamstring strain. The Phillies promoted infielder
Kody Clemens from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot in a corresponding move. Turner was off to another dominant season, posting a .343/.392/.460 line with two long balls and ten stolen bases across 33 games. As a result, the Phillies will look to
Edmundo Sosa to play shortstop, as he is the next man on the depth chart for the time being.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
1 day agoThe New York Jets signed undrafted free-agent cornerbacks Shemar Bartholomew and Myles Jones, wide receivers
Tyler Harrell and
Marcus Riley, edge rushers Tyreek Johnson and Braiden McGregor, tight end
Lincoln Sefcik, offensive linemen Willie Tyler and Brady Latham, safeties Al Blades Sr. and Jarius Monroe, quarterback
Peewee Jarrett, linebackers Jackson Sirmon, Jimmy Ciarlo and Tre Jenkins and defensive linemen Eric Watts and
Leonard Taylor III on Friday. Jarrett, who played at West Florida, threw for 2,989 yards, 32 touchdowns and seven interceptions in college in 2023. Sefcik, 24, caught just 17 passes for 165 yards in 2023 and was limited to just nine games due to injuries at South Alabama. All of these players will be fighting an uphill battle to make New York's roster out of training camp.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NewYorkJets.com - Ethan Greenberg and John Pullano
1 day agoPittsburgh Pirates catcher
Yasmani Grandal is making his first start of the season and will bat in the six-hole against Colorado Rockies southpaw
Austin Gomber. Grandal was activated from the injured list on Friday after recovering from plantar fasciitis, a move that also sent
Henry Davis down to Triple-A. The 35-year-old catcher posted a .234/.309/.339 stat line with eight long balls last season and should be expected to split duties behind the dish with
Joey Bart for the time being. Grandal could emerge as an option in NL-only leagues if he can produce at the plate, especially from a power standpoint. Grandal is worth consideration as a sneaky pay in DFS as Austin Gomber enters Saturday with a hefty 4.50 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
Kevin Kiermaier (hip) has been activated from the 10-day injured list and will start in Saturday's lineup as the Blue Jays continue a three-game set against right-handed pitcher
Jake Irvin and the Washington Nationals. Kiermaier only stayed on the injured list for a minimum of ten days and should be expected to return to his everyday role in center field. The 34-year-old struggled at the plate to open the season with a .193/.246/.228 line but put up a solid .265/.322/.419 line last season, so fantasy managers should expect a nice turnaround. He swiped 14 bags last season and already stole two before being placed on the injured list and remains on pace to smash his 2023 total. Kiermaier remains an AL-only option but could be deployed in a good matchup in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
1 day agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Alex Kirilloff is not in Saturday's lineup as the Twins are slated to face Boston southpaw
Brennan Bernardino. Kirilloff has yet to make a start this season against a left-handed pitcher, and Saturday will be no different. As a result,
Willi Castro will play left field, which opens the hot corner for
Jose Miranda. Kirilloff has put up a solid .247/.310/.449 slash line with three home runs this season. The 26-year-old should be expected to return to the Twins lineup on Sunday, as they are scheduled to face right-hander
Cooper Criswell. Both Castro and Miranda are sneaky plays in DFS on Saturday, as they are batting in the two- and three-holes, respectively, and should see plenty of RBI and scoring opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoThe Philadelphia Eagles placed offensive tackle Le'Raven Clark (undisclosed) on Injured Reserve on Friday and also added rookie undrafted free-agent offensive tackles Gottlieb Ayedze, Anim Dankwah and Laekin Vakalahi, tight end
McCallan Castles, defensive tackle Gabe Hall, running back
Kendall Milton and safety Andre' Sam. The move to put Clark on IR in the offseason will give the Eagles a bit more roster flexibility as training camp approaches this summer. The 31-year-old wasn't with an NFL team last year and last played in 13 games (two starts) for the Tennessee Titans in 2022. The former third-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2016 out of Texas Tech spent the first four years of his career with the Colts before joining the Eagles in 2021.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
1 day agoChicago Cubs infielder
Miles Mastrobuoni was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday in a corresponding move that sent Cubs first base prospect
Matt Mervis back down to the minor leagues. Mervis disappointed fantasy managers in his second major league stint and will most likely not receive another chance until later in the summer. Mervis posted a .115/.148/.154 line in nine games with the Cubs this season, which is not too different from his .167/.242/.289 line he had across 27 games last year. Mastrobuoni played in 61 games last season with the Cubs and put up a modest .241/.308/.301 stat line. The 28-year-old should be expected to reclaim his utility role once again this season after starting games at second base, third base, and in the outfield last season. He is nothing more than a desperation play in DFS when he is in the Cubs lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Mooney
1 day agoGreen Bay Packers rookie safety Kitan Oladapo (toe) said he had surgery on his left big toe recently and is out for the team's offseason workouts. However, he expects to be ready for training camp this summer. Oladapo suffered a stress fracture doing drills on the turf at the NFL combine in February in Indianapolis and powered through more drills at his pro day despite being injured. Along with the 23-year-old, the Packers also took safeties Xavier McKinney and
Anthony Johnson in this year's draft to help them shore up their secondary. Oladapo, who hails from Oregon State, will need to get healthy in a hurry if he wants to impress the coaching staff enough in training camp to secure a spot on the regular-season roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
1 day agoAlcorn State running back
Jarveon Howard has signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent, according to a source. Howard spent three years at Syracuse before transferring to Alcorn State in 2022 for a bigger role in the backfield. The 22-year-old ran for 2,042 yards and 19 yards in his two seasons at Alcorn State. He will now hope to impress Green Bay's coaching staff enough to get a shot to make the team this summer out of training camp. Right now, the Packers' running back depth chart consists of starter
Josh Jacobs, rookie
MarShawn Lloyd,
AJ Dillon,
Emanuel Wilson and
Ellis Merriweather. Howard will be facing an uphill battle to make Green Bay's final roster, but he could stick around on their practice squad.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
1 day agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder
Joey Wiemer (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with left knee discomfort. Infielder
Andruw Monasterio was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Wiemer was removed from Friday's game after injuring
read more...
1 day agoThe Seattle Seahawks signed undrafted free-agent linebackers Sunny Anderson, Nelson Ceaser, Easton Gibbs and Rason Williams II, quarterback
Chevan Cordeiro, offensive tackle Garret Greenfield, wide receivers
Hayden Hatten and
Dee Williams, running backs
George Holani,
Kobe Lewis and
TaMerik Williams, cornerbacks Carlton Johnson and Ro Torrence, defensive end DeVere Levelston, center Mike Novitsky and tight end
Jack Westover on Friday. Cordeiro, who is out of San Jose State, was the Mountain West Conference's all-time leader in total touchdowns, total yards and completions. Ceaser, from Houston, was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and team captain who led his team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2023. Greenfield was a three-time first-team FCS All-American.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
1 day agoSt. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever
Keynan Middleton (forearm) threw a bullpen session off a mound on Saturday for a second straight day. He said he'll throw twice more in St. Louis next week and then head to Double-A Springfield for a minor-league rehab assignment. Middleton has been pain-free since receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right arm on April 6, and it looks like the 30-year-old is getting close to making his season debut out of the Red Birds' bullpen. He had a 3.38 ERA (4.20 FIP), a 1.24 WHIP, two saves, 23 walks and a career-high 64 strikeouts in 50 2/3 relief innings last year with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees and figures to hold a late-inning setup role for the Cardinals when he's healthy, making him an option for those in holds leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
1 day agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Dylan Carlson (shoulder), who is close to a return from his sprained left shoulder, is in the team's clubhouse on Saturday before their game against the visiting Chicago White Sox. It means that Carlson is likely on the verge of officially being activated from the injured list, although he's not in the team's lineup. The 25-year-old played nine innings in the field for Triple-A Memphis on Friday and went 3-for-11 with a solo home run in four rehab games with Memphis. With
Tommy Edman (wrist) still on the IL, Carlson is expected to take over center field duties from rookie
Michael Siani when he's officially active on the Cardinals' roster. The former first-round switch-hitter so far hasn't lived up to expectations in his four years in the big leagues, but he's certainly worth a waiver-wire pickup in deep-mixed leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
1 day agoThe Chicago White Sox placed infielder
Danny Mendick (back) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 2) with lower-back tightness on Saturday and recalled infield prospect
Bryan Ramos from Double-A Birmingham in a corresponding move. Mendick was scratched from Friday's lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals and will now be forced to miss at least 10 days. In the meantime, Ramos, the club's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, could see ample playing time at the hot corner until Mendick is recovered. For what it's worth, infielder
Braden Shewmake is starting at third on Saturday. The 30-year-old Mendick will hit the shelf after hitting .256 (10-for-39) with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base in limited action for the Pale Hose this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
1 day agoThe Chicago White Sox called up infield prospect
Bryan Ramos from Double-A Birmingham on Saturday and placed infielder
Danny Mendick (back) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 2) in a corresponding move. Ramos, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, wasn't hitting the ball very well in the minors, slashing just .182/.265/.307 with 11 RBI in his 98 plate appearances. However, the 22-year-old infielder could get a chance for the rebuilding White Sox in the short term while Mendick is sidelined. Despite never playing at the Triple-A level, Ramos could play regularly at the hot corner in Chicago, making him worth a pickup in AL-only leagues right now. He's obviously still young and inexperienced, but Ramos has the potential for above-average power and an above-average hit tool. He is not in the starting lineup on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
1 day agoChicago Cubs outfielders
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) and
Cody Bellinger (ribs) are hitting and taking part in defensive drills on Saturday. Suzuki is recovering from a right-oblique strain that he suffered on April 14, while Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 24 with a fractured right rib. Suzuki also took on-field batting practice on Friday and is 80 percent recovered. The 29-year-old should be able to go on a minor-league rehab assignment soon, so he will likely return before Bellinger does.
Pete Crow-Armstrong and
Mike Tauchman are seeing more playing time in Chicago with both Suzuki and Bellinger injured, and both outfielders are swinging the bat well. When healthy, Suzuki and Bellinger will be everyday players for Chicago and should be stashed in all fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
1 day agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Saturday, his first bullpen session since he was shut down from throwing in spring training back in March. Cole was giddy while talking about it and said he was looking forward to this step for a long time, his first taste of pitching in an extended stretch. It's a big step for the 33-year-old, who won the American League Cy Young award in 2023. He was put on the 60-day injured list with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow in late March, meaning he won't be eligible to return to the Yankees until May 27. Cole is reportedly targeting a return in mid-June, so fantasy managers are going to have to remain patient and keep him stashed in all leagues until then.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NJ Advance Media - Max Goodman
1 day agoBoston Red Sox second baseman
Vaughn Grissom is getting a scheduled day off on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins after returning from the injured list to make his season debut in Friday's loss. Grissom will be back in the lineup on Sunday as the Red Sox look to ease him back in.
David Hamilton is at the keystone on Saturday and is hitting eighth in the batting order against Twins right-hander
Pablo Lopez. The 23-year-old missed the first month of the season with a hamstring injury and went hitless in three at-bats in his first game of the year with Boston on Friday. Grissom might get more frequent rest days over the course of the next couple weeks, but ultimately he's going to serve as the team's everyday second baseman for the rest of the 2024 season if he can stay healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
1 day agoDetroit Tigers shortstop
Javier Baez is not in the starting lineup on Saturday versus the New York Yankees in the Bronx. The struggling Baez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Friday night's walk-off loss and is now slashing a miserable .183/.228/.258 with one home run, nine RBI, six stolen bases, six runs scored, five walks and 22 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances over his 28 games in 2024. The 31-year-old free swinger has fallen far since his last All-Star appearance in 2019 with the Chicago Cubs, and he's been a massive bust since joining the Tigers in 2022. About the only thing fantasy managers can count on him for now is some modest stolen base numbers.
Zach McKinstry is starting at the 6 on Saturday and is hitting eighth against Yankees right-hander
Clarke Schmidt.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Tigers
1 day agoThe Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres have agreed to a trade that sends second baseman
Luis Arraez to San Diego in exchange for relief pitcher
Woo-Suk Go and three prospects. The prospects San Diego is sending to Miami are
read more...
1 day agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. went 2-for-5 with a home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers. The home run came in the eighth inning and knotted the game up at 2-2, although the Braves would go on to lose in extras. For managers that drafted the reigning MVP first overall, he's been a disappointment for fantasy with just two home runs and eight RBI on the year. The 26-year-old has scored 30 times and has stolen 13 bases, so it hasn't been all bad. Hopefully Acuna can up the power production going forward, although it could be a tall task Saturday against
Tyler Glasnow and his league-leading 53 strikeouts.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Andy Pages collected four hits in Friday's 4-3 win over the Braves, including a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning. Pages was the only Dodger with more than one hit in the game and he's now riding a nine-game hit streak that includes three doubles and two home runs. The 23-year-old is now slashing .333/.354/.567 through his first 60 MLB at-bats with three home runs, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored. He's been an excellent waiver-wire addition for fantasy managers, but it will be interesting to see what they do once
Jason Heyward (back) is healthy, although with Pages hitting from the right and Heyward hitting from the left side, it could make for a good platoon situation.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoSan Diego Padres outfielder
Fernando Tatis Jr. had three hits in five at-bats and drove in three runs in Friday's 7-1 win over the Diamondbacks. One of the hits was a two-run home run, his seventh of the year. It was the fourth time he's collected three hits in a game in 2024, although you might not know it from his .246 batting average. Despite the low average, the 25-year-old is having a solid season with a .333 OBP, .455 SLG, and 131 wRC+. In addition to his seven home runs, the former All-Star has 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and four stolen bases so far so he's been a multi-category contributor for fantasy.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitching prospect
Chayce McDermott led the way on Friday evening with 6 2/3 clean innings to combine for a no-hitter with relief pitchers
Nolan Hoffman and
Kaleb Ort. McDermott struck out 11 batters and allowed just two free passes. Hoffman and Ort did not allow any baserunners. This incredible outing lowered McDermott's ratios to a solid 2.89 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 41 punchouts across 28 innings. The 25-year-old southpaw has gone under the radar this season with Triple-A Norfolk due to the emerging stars on the offensive side of the team. Nonetheless, McDermott should be expected to make his major-league debut later in the summer and may be worth picking up in AL-only leagues when he is promoted.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
1 day agoDetroit Tigers second/third base prospect
Jace Jung broke out of his power slump on Friday by launching his fifth home run of the season. Jung had gone without tallying a long ball for ten games. In his first season at Triple-A, the 23-year-old has posted a solid .257/.373/.486 line with one swiped bag and 25 RBI in 30 games. Jung is on pace to fall just short of 28 home run count from last season, which he tallied across High and Double-A, but he has maintained a very similar batting average this season. The number four prospect in the Detroit pipeline and 54th overall should be expected to reach the majors this season and is worth monitoring closely in deeper redraft formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles catching prospect
Samuel Basallo has been showcasing his elite power potential this past week and added another home run on Friday. Basallo is now up to five home runs on the season and has hit four of them in his past four games. The 19-year-old has a .256/.284/.456 stat line with two stolen bases and 14 RBI in his first full taste of Double-A. He played only four games at this level last year and spent the majority of his time with Single and High-A, hitting a combined .313/.402/.551 with 20 home runs. The 16th-ranked prospect in baseball is beginning to show his incredible power at Double-A but needs to show more consistency at the plate to reach Triple-A this summer. He should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper formats but will have a hard path to seeing relevancy in redraft this year.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
1 day agoColorado Rockies outfield prospect
Braiden Ward swiped six bags on Friday evening to increase his season total to 15. Ward has now stolen at least one base in eight games this season and is emerging as one of the top baserunning threats in the minor leagues. In the batter's box, the 25-year-old has posted a solid .333/.460/.608 stat line with six doubles and four triples. Ward swiped 44 bags in High-A last season and is on pace to smash that feat. If Ward can continue to succeed at the plate, he should be promoted to Double-A this summer and could be worth keeping an eye on in dynasty leagues due to his elite speed alone.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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