23 hours agoCleveland Guardians right-hander
Gavin Williams (elbow) felt the same right-elbow discomfort after his latest start in Arizona as he did this spring. He will receive an injection and will be shut down for seven days as a result. The Guardians are hoping Williams can then resume throwing and won't be set back too far. It's obviously bad news, and there remains no timetable for a potential return for the 24-year-old. Williams started last year at Double-A Akron before making it all the way to Cleveland's starting rotation in his rookie campaign, where he impressed by going 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 37 walks and 81 strikeouts in 82 innings over 16 starts. It's becoming more of an uphill battle for Williams to return to the Guardians in the first half of 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
23 hours agoAs long as New York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez (back) comes out of his final minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday without a setback, the team expects him to be their starting DH on Friday night against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez signed with the Mets late in spring training but didn't join the big-league club for Opening Day because he needed to get his timing down first. A back issue has delayed his arrival to the big leagues in New York, but it sounds like his 2024 debut is right around the corner on Friday. Injuries are probably going to continue to be an issue, but if Martinez is available in your fantasy league, he's worth a pickup if you're in need of a power boost. The 36-year-old six-time All-Star hit .271/.321/.572 with an .893 OPS, 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 113 games with the Dodgers in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
23 hours agoThe Washington Nationals officially placed outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-MCL sprain and recalled infielder
Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move, according to president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. The 28-year-old Thomas hit just .184 with two home runs, 10 RBI, eight walks, 11 stolen bases and six runs scored in 22 games before injuring his knee on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. While he hasn't hit well in the early going, he ranks third in the league with his 11 thefts. If the Nats move
Nick Senzel to the outfield, Lipscomb should see regular starts again at the hot corner in D.C. Thomas is probably going to miss more than 10 days, but he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues after clubbing 28 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Nationals Communications
23 hours agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin classified left-hander
Blake Snell's groin strain as moderate, and he could stay on the injured list beyond the 15 days, but that's to be determined right now. Snell felt the groin strain while throwing a bullpen session the other day and shut himself down briefly, but he didn't feel good when he tried throwing again. He was scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday against the New York Mets. In a bullpen game against the Mets on Wednesday,
Ryan Walker will serve as the opener. The 31-year-old Snell is not only hurt now but is 0-3 with a rough 11.57 ERA and 1.97 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in his first three starts with the Gigantes. Fantasy managers must stash the two-time Cy Young winner in an IL spot in all leagues and hope that he'll be better when he returns to full health.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
23 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs called up outfield prospect
Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday with outfielder
Cody Bellinger (rib) landing on the 10-day injured list due to a rib fracture, according to manager Craig Counsell. Crow-Armstrong is the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and deserves immediate waiver-wire consideration in mixed fantasy leagues, as he could take over primary center-field duties in Chicago until Bellinger is able to return. The 22-year-old former 19th overall pick in 2020 by the New York Mets was hitting just .203 (16-for-79) with two home runs, seven RBI and five stolen bases at Iowa before the call-up. He's more advanced defensively at this point than offensively, but his speed alone could make him valuable in the short-term.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
23 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Cody Bellinger (rib) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday due to a right-rib fracture that he suffered on Tuesday when he crashed into the outfield wall at Wrigley Field, according to manager Craig Counsell. Prospect
Pete Crow-Armstrong is being called up from the minors in a corresponding move. Initial X-rays turned up negative on Bellinger, but a CT scan found the fracture, which will cause the 28-year-old to miss at least several weeks. In the meantime, Bellinger should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. He's currently hitting .226 (19-for-84) with five home runs and 17 RBI in the first 22 games. Crow-Armstrong could see regular playing time as Chicago's center fielder until Bellinger is able to return, making him an attractive short-term waiver-wire pickup in single-year leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Andy Martinez
24 hours agoLos Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that infielder
Brandon Drury (hamstring), who is out of the lineup for the third straight game on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, has been feeling soreness from a left-hamstring injury he suffered last week. Washington added that Drury was left out of Wednesday's lineup as a precaution but could pinch hit, if needed.
Luis Rengifo is filling in at the keystone and is hitting eighth against Orioles right-hander
Dean Kremer. Fantasy managers should consider the 31-year-old Drury as day-to-day for now, but if his hamstring soreness lingers, he could eventually land on the injured list. Drury has been a non-factor offensively for the Halos so far this year, going 13-for-66 (.197) with one homer and four RBI in 19 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Bautista
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles rookie outfielder
Heston Kjerstad is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against Los Angeles Angels left-hander
Tyler Anderson. Kjerstad made his 2024 debut for the O's on Tuesday against a right-hander and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, so he'll head to the bench on Wednesday against a lefty that has been pitching well early this year.
Colton Cowser is starting in left field and is batting eighth for the Orioles against Anderson. Kjerstad, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned the promotion to Baltimore after hitting .349/.431/.744 with a 1.176 OPS, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in the first 21 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The 25-year-old should be rostered in mixed leagues, but don't be surprised if he continues to sit against lefties given Baltimore's stacked roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (knee) is back at first base and is hitting third in the order for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander
Tyler Anderson. Mountcastle will return to action after missing the last two games with knee soreness. The 27-year-old former 36th overall pick in 2015 has been swinging the bat well this year with a .333 average (25-for-75) with two home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored in his first two games. Fantasy baseball managers need to make sure to get Mountcastle back into their lineups. He's only faced Anderson twice in his career and is hitless with one RBI. So far against southpaws in 2024, Mountcastle is 8-for-25 (.320) with a homer and three RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
1 day agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Masataka Yoshida is once again on the bench for Wednesday's contest against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander
Carlos Carrasco. The lefty-swinging outfielder hasn't started a game since April 20 as it's unclear if he is dealing with an injury or is simply in manager Alex Cora's doghouse. He did make a pinch-hitting plate appearance on Tuesday, so it appears to be the latter. The 30-year-old isn't exactly off to a terrible start, hitting .250 with two homers, 10 RBI, a tiny 13.6% K%, and a .708 OPS in 21 games, production that grades out 6% above the league average, as per his 106 wRC+.
Rafael Devers is back in the lineup at designated hitter while
Tyler O'Neill and
Wilyer Abreu are manning the corner outfield spots.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoNew York Mets right-handed pitcher
Christian Scott has been excellent at the Triple-A level this season, posting a 2.76 xFIP, 14.81 K/9, and 1.74 BB/9. He has gone 3-0 over the course of four starts, including a strong performance on Tuesday that saw him strike out eight batters over 6.1 innings, allowing just two runs, one hit, and one walk along the way. His terrific start to the year has created plenty of buzz about a potential promotion to the majors, though he still has a couple of flaws in his game. Most notably, he allows plenty of loud contact, surrendering a whopping 2.61 HR/9 and a very low ground ball rate of 30.8%. There's no doubt that Scott is having a great year, but he could reach even greater heights (at Triple-A or the majors) if he cuts down on loud contact.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
1 day agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (knee) is officially in the club's starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander
Carlos Carrasco. It was reported on Tuesday that Devers would sit out one more game before returning as the team's designated hitter for Wednesday's contest. It's been a slow start at the plate for the 27-year-old who is hitting just .188 but his two homers, three doubles, and 15.5% BB% still has his production above the league average, as per his 105 wRC+. Devers last appeared in an April 17 game against the very same Guardians but reported knee discomfort the following day and was scratched from the starting lineup.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoBoston Red Sox right-hander
Brayan Bello (lat) has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right-lat tightness. The club has recalled right-hander
Zack Kelly to take his spot on the active roster. It's another tough injury blow to the club's starting rotation as both
Garrett Whitlock and
Nick Pivetta are sidelined. Additionally, slugger
Triston Casas recently suffered a rib fracture,
Rafael Devers hasn't played in a week since suffering a knee injury,
Trevor Story is out for the season due to shoulder surgery, and
Vaughn Grissom has yet to make his Red Sox debut due to a hamstring issue. Bello, the team's Opening Day starter, has worked to a quality 3.04 ERA across five starts, posting a solid 17.3% K-BB% in that time while generating ground balls at another healthy 51.3% rate.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
1 day agoDetroit Tigers right-hander
Jack Flaherty will be looking for some positive regression to kick in on Wednesday in a road tilt with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 28-year-old has posted a 4.44 ERA through his first four starts in a Tigers uniform but his underlying numbers suggest he has been much better than that. Flaherty has also worked to a 2.90 xFIP, 2.74 SIERA, and a big-time 25.2% K-BB% with a 29.1% K%, as well. He has walked just 3.9% of the batters he has faced and has generated whiffs at a career-best 15.1% clip, a figure that ranks in the league's 95th percentile. He will take on a Rays team that is tied for 23rd with a .299 wOBA and 18th with a 23.1% K% against right-handed pitching on the season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Andrew McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander
Bryse Wilson. The veteran homered as part of a two-hit effort on Tuesday but will give way to
Connor Joe to leadoff and man left field on Wednesday. Interestingly, McCutchen's splits lean heavily towards righties so far this season as he's hitting .295 with all three of his homers coming off of southpaws while he is just 1-for-16 (.063) with three walks in 20 plate appearances against lefties. He is seeing semi-regular playing time this season, appearing in 16 of the team's 24 games but isn't doing a ton for fantasy managers with a .233 average and 30.9% K% on the young season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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