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 agoFree-agent cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) was fully cleared for football activities earlier in April, his doctor informed teams in a letter. Howard is currently a free agent and battled a foot injury last year that limited him to 13 games with the Miami Dolphins. In those 13 games, he had 45 tackles (36 solo), an interception and 12 passes defended. Now that the 30-year-old defensive back appears to be fully healthy, he should be able to sign with another team in advance of the 2024 season this fall. The four-time Pro Bowler was a second-round pick by the Dolphins in 2016 out of Baylor and has a total of 331 tackles (258 solo), two sacks, eight tackles for loss, 29 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 95 passes defended, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries (two returned for TDs) in his eight years in Miami.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
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 agoDetroit Lions All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell agreed to terms on a four-year, $112 million contract extension with the Lions on Wednesday that makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. The deal also includes $85 million guaranteed. The Lions were active in keeping several key contributors of their offense around for the long term, as they also gave receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown a four-year extension that makes him the highest-paid wideout in the league for the time being. Sewell, who was drafted seventh overall in 2021 out of Oregon, has made the Pro Bowl each of the last two years and was a first-time All-Pro in 2023. The 23-year-old has been a big reason for the Lions' resurgence in the last two years.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Mike Garofolo
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
1 day agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers did a simple restructure of the salary of pass-rusher Alex Highsmith's contract on Wednesday to create more than $7 million in salary cap space, according to a source. The Steelers will convert a portion of Highsmith's base salary in 2024 into a signing bonus. The 26-year-old former third-round pick in 2020 out of Charlotte has put up 21.5 sacks in the last two years and had 57 tackles (34 solo), seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two forced fumbles in 17 regular-season starts in 2023 in his fourth year in the league. Along with All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt, Highsmith is a key member of the Steelers' defense moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
1 day agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers aren't expected to pick up quarterback
Justin Fields' $25 million fifth-year option, according to league sources. The Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears last month for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Fields and
Russell Wilson will now both be entering the last year of their contracts in 2024. Wilson is fully expected to open the 2024 campaign as the starter under center for Pittsburgh, but if he falters, Fields will get a shot to prove that he belongs with the Steelers beyond this season. The 25-year-old showed some improvement late last year with Chicago, but it wasn't enough to keep him as the franchise signal-caller in the eyes of Bears brass. Fields' fantasy stock is obviously way down entering next season, but he could become a high-upside waiver-wire pickup if Wilson is benched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles infielder
Jackson Holliday is once again taking a seat against a left-handed starter on Wednesday as the team takes on the Los Angeles Angels and southpaw
Tyler Anderson. Holliday has yet to start against same-handed pitching as the rookie gets his feet wet in the big leagues at just 20 years of age. It's been a very slow start out of the gate for the top prospect in baseball as Holliday is hitting just .059 (2-for-34) and is without an extra-base hit across his first 36 big-league plate appearances. Fantasy managers shouldn't hit the panic button yet as any investment in the 2022 first-overall pick should have been for the long haul, although it's not difficult to see the O's send him down to the minors for more seasoning if his immense struggles in the big leagues continue.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoThe Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver
Rashod Bateman to an undisclosed contract extension on Wednesday that ties him to the team through the 2026 season. Bateman was able to stay healthy in 2023, but he was overshadowed by rookie first-rounder
Zay Flowers and finished with a disappointing 32 catches for 367 yards and just one touchdown on 56 targets in 16 regular-season games (12 starts) in his third year in the league. The 24-year-old former 27th overall pick in 2021 out of Minnesota hasn't lived up to his first-round billing and has found the end zone just four times in three years. The Ravens continue to say that Bateman is going to have a bigger role in the passing attack in 2024, but fantasy managers will want to see it before they believe it.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
1 day agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Jung Hoo Lee is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday afternoon with New York Mets left-hander
Sean Manaea toeing the rubber. The lefty-swinging outfielder has been getting regular playing time out of the leadoff spot for the club this season but will take a seat as the Giants stack right-handed bats against Manaea. It's been a solid start to the 25-year-old's big-league career as Lee is hitting .272 with two homers, two steals, and a tiny 8.7% K% across his first 103 trips to the plate. Lee had a history of elite strikeout and contact rates through a wildly successful seven-year run in the KBO.
Austin Slater will handle leadoff duties as he often does against left-handed pitching. First baseman
LaMonte Wade Jr. is also out on Wednesday against the lefty.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoThe Cincinnati Bengals exercised the fifth-year option for wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase on Wednesday, as expected. Chase is now officially locked up through the 2025 season. The 24-year-old former fifth overall pick in 2021 out of LSU has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in the NFL and set a career-high with 100 catches on 145 targets for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in 2023, despite the fact that quarterback
Joe Burrow (wrist) missed considerable time with a season-ending injury. Chase's seven touchdowns in 2023 were a career-low, but he should bounce back in that department in 2024 as long as Burrow can stay healthy all year. Chase's fantasy arrow continues to point up and he should be considered a top-tier WR1.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
1 day agoThe Detroit Lions agreed to a four-year contract extension with wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown on Wednesday that is worth $120 million with $77 million guaranteed. The deal makes St. Brown the highest-paid receiver in the league and ties him with Miami's
Tyreek Hill in average annual value ($30 million). The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of USC has been an excellent value for Detroit. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons and put up career-highs in catches (119), targets (164), receiving yards (1,515) and touchdowns (10) in 16 regular-season games in his third year in the NFL in 2024. With Quarterback
Jared Goff still peppering St. Brown with targets in 2024, he'll continue to serve as a high-end WR1 for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
1 day agoMilwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Gregory Barrios signed out of Venezuela in early 2021. He has proven himself as a reliable hitter and defender, possessing the qualities needed to ascend through the minors. He's not a power hitter -- he has just one home run over 198 pro games -- but shows a decent understanding of the strike zone, puts the ball in play, runs the bases well, and demonstrates the glovework needed to carve out a significant career at shortstop. Last week, Barrios logged multiple hits in all five of his games. He ultimately went 13-for-18 during his big week, adding six extra-base hits, seven RBI, two walks, one strikeout, and one stolen base. The 20-year-old will need to spend a little more time at High-A before he's ready for a promotion, but Barrios is certainly a name to monitor.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
1 day agoVegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicholas Hague is out for Wednesday's Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the Dallas Stars, according to head coach Bruce Cassidy. No specific reason was given and Hague is listed as day-to-day. The hulking 6-foot-6 defender doesn't contribute much on offense with two goals and 12 points across 73 games this season but is physical with 153 hits and 43 penalty minutes while he also blocked 111 shots on the campaign. It appears Alec Martinez will jump in and make his series debut on Wednesday. He notched four goals and 17 points with 165 blocked shots across 55 games this season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Elliotte Friedman
1 day agoBoston Bruins winger James van Riemsdyk will make his series debut in Wednesday's Game 3 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the series but will replace forward Jakub Lauko to likely skate on the team's fourth line. The 34-year-old tallied 11 goals and 38 points on 142 shots on goal across 71 games this season, his 15th in the NHL. Defensemen Mason Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon will also join the lineup while defenseman Matt Grzelcyk comes out. Fellow defender Andrew Peeke is listed as week to week with a finger injury suffered in Game 2 on Monday.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Fluto Shinzawa
1 day agoTexas Rangers pitching prospect
Winston Santos is a 22-year-old who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. He gets good velocity behind his mid-90s fastball and has also shown the ability to harness his changeup for strikes and induce weak contact. However, he needs to focus on significant development for his slider. The offering is not an established pitch, and he would benefit greatly from rounding out his repertoire with a reliable third offering that generates movement. Last week, Santos made his third start of the season and showcased pure excellence. He tossed five shutout innings, allowing one hit and a pair of walks along the way. However, what stood out most were his 12 strikeouts, a clear reflection of his ability to get control of his top offerings and miss bats. If he can continue to pitch at a high level, he'll be knocking on the door of the majors early next year.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
1 day agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect
Nathan Church was an 11th-round pick in the 2022 draft. The UC Irvine product has terrific bat-to-ball skills and should continue to showcase both contact and power throughout all levels of the minor leagues. He's also swiped some bags. However, he does have some limitations defensively and could be bound to left field long-term. Nevertheless, Church continued to make a name for himself last week, going 9-for-25 with two homers, eight RBI, six walks, and a stolen base. As he has done for his entire career, Church showed terrific plate discipline, adding just two strikeouts to his ledger over last week's six-game span.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
1 day agoFlorida Panthers forward Sam Bennett is set to miss significant time due to an upper-body injury suffered during the second period of Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win. Bennett was struck on the hand my a point shot in the second period and left the game. He briefly returned to the bench but went back to the dressing room without taking another shift. Bennett had tallied a goal and an assist prior to exiting. The gritty center tallied 20 goals and 41 points in 69 games this season but he also provided 173 hits, 100 penalty minutes, 171 shots on goal, and a plus-17 rating on the campaign, providing excellent cross-category production for fantasy managers.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Andy Slater
1 day agoHouston Astros pitching prospect
Aaron Brown is a former ninth-round pick who joined the organization during the 2021 draft. He spent all of last season at Double-A and has consistently shuttled between a bullpen and rotation role. He boasts high strikeout rates and has managed to keep his walk rate down for the most part. Brown made his first start of 2024 last Thursday. He tossed five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and zero walks. Best of all, he managed to record 10 strikeouts along the way, good for a rate of two per inning. Brown's high strikeout rate could make him an appealing multi-inning bullpen arm for Houston next season.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
1 day agoToronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander is unlikely to suit up for a third straight game on Wednesday against the visiting Boston Bruins. Nylander stayed out late with the other projected scratches during Wednesday's morning skate, indicating he will remain out after it was believed he was likely to return. Sportsnet's Nick Alberga reported on Wednesday that it is believed the star winger is dealing with a head injury. Nylander skated in all 82 regular-season games but didn't feel right ahead of Saturday's series opener. He tied a career-high with 40 goals and posted a career-best 98 points in his 82 games this season. The Leafs and Bruins are knotted at one game apiece in another first-round postseason matchup.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Jonas Siegel
1 day agoBoston Red Sox outfield prospect
Matthew Lugo endured a subpar 2023 campaign at the Double-A level, showing a tendency to commit errors on the left side of the infield, as well as a below-average hit tool. The organization has experimented with his positional versatility and seems to have found a better home for him in left field, where he made a Gold Glove-caliber catch last week. Meanwhile, his bat has played very well so far this year as he has demonstrated an ability to put the ball in play, work walks, and even deliver a hint of power. Over five games last week, Lugo went 8-for-21 with two home runs, 11 RBI, five walks, and five strikeouts. He currently owns a seven-game hitting streak and could be pushing for his first-ever promotion to Triple-A sooner rather than later.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
1 day agoCarolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (undisclosed) is likely sidelined for the remainder of the team's first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders. The veteran left Monday's Game 2 win in the second period after suffering a non-contact injury while attempting to turn up the ice and join an offensive rush. He skated just 8:47 in the eventual 5-3 win. The stay-at-home blue-liner notched three goals and 13 points on 107 shots on goal while blocking another 113 shots across 70 games. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's Game 3 in New York holding a 2-0 lead in the series.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 day agoVancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is listed as week to week with an undisclosed injury. The ailment kept him out of Tuesday's 4-1 Game 2 loss to the Nashville Predators and he was originally questionable for the remainder of the series but now it appears he's likely done for the first round. Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said that the ailment is not related to the late-season knee injury that cost the American 14 games. "We're going to evaluate him today on something," Tocchet said. "It wasn't the old injury and that's all I've really got for you guys." Demko was excellent this season, posting a 2.45 goals-against average and a 2.45 save percentage in 51 games. Casey DeSmith started and stopped just 12 of the 15 shots he faced in the loss.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 day agoThe San Francisco Giants placed left-hander
Blake Snell (groin) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday (retroactive to April 23) with a left-adductor strain and recalled right-hander
Landen Roupp from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Snell was scratched from his next start on Wednesday against the New York Mets and will now miss at least the next two weeks. The 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young winner hasn't had a good year so far in 2024 after signing with the Giants just before the start of the regular season. In his three starts so far, he's 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, five walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers need to keep Snell stashed in an IL start everywhere, but expecting him to bounce back to his Cy Young form from a year ago after he returns may be foolish.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Giants
1 day agoNew York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin will be the starter for Thursday's Game 3 of the team's first-round series against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. The Isles went with Semyon Varlamov for the first two games of the series but the team has been out-scored 8-4 so far in the series. However, Varlamov was the hot hand, posting a 1.85 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage from March 28 to April 15. As for Sorokin, the fellow Russian endured a down season, posting a 3.01 GAA and a .909 Sv% in 55 games, just one season after working to a 2.34 GAA and a .924 Sv% in 62 games while finishing as the Vezina Trophy runner-up behind Boston's Linus Ullmark.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 day agoWashington Nationals outfield prospect
Dylan Crews (undisclosed) hasn't played for Double-A Harrisburg since last Wednesday but is fine, according to sources. Crews had a minor undisclosed issue that kept him out a few days last week but was held out of the lineup on Tuesday night as a precaution because of rainy weather. The 22-year-old is most likely dealing with a minor lower-body injury. He should be able to return to action on Wednesday. We'll keep a close eye on whether it affects his upcoming performance. So far through 10 games at Harrisburg, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, is hitting .244/.326/.415 with two home runs and two stolen bases. Crews should be stashed in all dynasty/keeper leagues and even some deeper single-year leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
1 day agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee), who is undergoing an MRI exam on his left knee on Wednesday, is considered very likely to land on the injured list, according to sources. As a result, rookie infielder
Trey Lipscombread more...
1 day 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
1 day 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
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