RADIO
C.J. Conrad Is One To Watch Heading Into Camp
3 days agoNew York Giants undrafted rookie tight end C.J. Conrad turned heads during organized team activities, making a lot of plays and rarely dropping passes, according to beat writer Dan Salomone. He has plenty of size at 6-foot-4 and 248 pounds and he could emerge as an option in the red zone, and Conrad could be used in two tight end sets with fellow TE Evan Engram as more of a hybrid wideout-tight end, running fly patterns and working out of the slot. At this point he doesn't warrant fantasy consideration, but he is a name to watch as he head into camp.Source: Giants.com - Dan Salomone
Jabrill Peppers Likely To Return Kickoffs, Punts
3 days agoNew York Giants safety Jabrill Peppers was the main kick and punt returner man for the Cleveland Browns, and beat writer Lance Medow expects him to reprise that role with the Giants in 2019. However, since he is the team's starting safety, too, his usage will likely be managed at times. "It's a lot of different scenarios, and it's good to have options," special teams coach Thomas McGaughey said last month. Peppers is considered the front runner for the job, however, and others like wide receivers Corey Coleman, Bennie Fowler, Golden Tate, Cody Latimer and Brittan Golden have also see time in the return game in the past. Rookie Darius Slayton could also factor in.Source: Giants.com - Lance Medow
Wilson Ramos Not In Lineup Thursday Night
3 days agoNew York Mets catcher Wilson Ramos is absent from the starting lineup for Thursday night's tilt against the San Francisco Giants. This move is presumably due to starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard's preference to have Tomas Nido behind the plate defensively. Ramos hasn't had a great 2019 season, though he remains a back-end starting catcher in most fantasy formats due to the mediocre state of the position. He's slashing .267/.344/.398 with nine homers, 43 RBI, and 35 runs scored over 266 at-bats. Ramos also holds a low ISO (.132), wOBA (.327), barrels/PA (3.4%), and hard-hit rate (32.9%) so far this year. Ramos owners will have to continue starting him and hope he returns to his 2018 form - but it would be wise to stay on the lookout for a potential upgrade.Source: MLB.com
Cheslor Cuthbert Launches Sixth Homer
3 days agoKansas City Royals infielder Cheslor Cuthbert ripped his sixth home run of the season into the left-center seats on Thursday afternoon, getting the scoring started for the Royals. Cuthbert's blast continued his trend of hitting more balls out of the park even though he's hitting more grounders than ever. Cuthbert's previous career-high of 12 home runs in a season may be in jeopardy if he keeps this up, but it took him more than 500 plate appearances to reach that number in 2016. He's only at 152 plate appearances so far this season. He'll either need to keep hitting them out at a brisk 15% HR/FB rate or he'll need to start lifting the ball more often. Either way, Cuthbert should only draw mild interest in deep leagues.Source: MLB.com
Brad Keller Snags Sixth Win
3 days agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller cruised to his sixth win of the season on Thursday when he went 6 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs. Though two unearned ones scored after a Cheslor Cuthbert error in the first inning, Keller settled down and only allowed seven more hits over his next 5 1/3 innings. Keller also struck out seven, giving him 14 strikeouts in his last 14 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, Keller's history doesn't lend itself to believing in the new and improved strikeout rate, but a couple nice starts are good to see. Expected to face off against the Braves next, Keller's likely in for a bit rougher time.Source: MLB.com
Is Robert Foster The Bills' Best Receiver?
3 days agoIn an article this week discussing the Buffalo Bills as potential playoff contenders, NFL.com writer Adam Rank expressed his optimism for the team, and in particular, for Robert Foster. Rank deemed Foster "the best receiver on this roster," while also favorably discussing fellow wideouts John Brown and Cole Beasley. The 6'2" Foster certainly showed flashes of potential as a legitimate #1 outside receiver during his rookie campaign last year, but he still has a lot to prove, and now he has more competition for targets from the aforementioned Brown and Beasley. Nonetheless, Foster is a very intriguing sleeper option heading into 2019 and should be on everyone's radar throughout training camp and preseason.Source: NFL.com
Giovanny Urshela Drives In Three In Win
3 days agoWhile the New York Yankees have slowly gotten healthy, Giovanny Urshela continues to be a major contributor. Starting at third base in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader, he recorded three hits, including a game-tying two-run home run and an RBI double in the fifth. While the 27-year-old hasn't been producing at the pace he was doing so earlier in the season, he remains a potent bat, now hitting .308 with nine home runs and 45 RBI. The three-hit game was also his fifth of the season. Urshela figures to remain a consistent player on this club into the latter months of the season and into the postseason.Source: NJ.com
Bubba Starling Steals First MLB Base
3 days agoKansas City Royals rookie Bubba Starling has finally made the leap to the majors, and he snagged his first stolen base on Thursday to help the team sweep the White Sox. The injury-prone prospect who was long considered one of the best in the KC farm system but perennially underperformed put together a strong first half and got the call after the All-Star game. He's since hit safely in five straight games and seems to be getting comfortable quickly. Starling should get quite a bit of play as the season wears on since he's been the team's hope of the future for so long, but whether he'll really be able to stick at the major league level remains to be seen. For now, he's worth a flyer in keeper leagues just in case he's ready.Source: MLB.com
Domingo German Records 12th Victory
3 days agoWhen New York Yankees starter Domingo German went down in early June with a left hip flexor strain, he was leading the AL in wins. Now, having missed almost a full month, the 26-year-old is once again leading the league in victories. German posted a quality start Thursday afternoon as the Yankees took the first game of a doubleheader. He overcame a pair of solo home runs to start the game and settled in, allowing just the two runs on four hits in six innings of work. The Dominican native struck out five and walked a pair in his 90-pitch performance. German's record improved to 12-2 with his ERA now standing at 3.38.Source: NY Yankees Twitter
Billy Hamilton Drives In Two In Win
3 days agoKansas City Royals outfielder Billy Hamilton knocked a pair of singles on Thursday to plate a pair of runs and help the team sweep the White Sox. Hamilton is a natural fit to be a trade chip to go elsewhere, since he's only on a one-year deal and is arguably the fastest man in the game, but his last month isn't going to inspire a lot of confidence in other squads. Prior to Thursday's game, Hamilton last stole a base on June 23, and since then, he'd gone 5-for-35 with 13 strikeouts, zero walks, and one caught stealing. Hopefully, his two hits and swipe on Thursday will be the start of a hot streak. If he can even play mediocre baseball for the next 10 days, he should be in another uniform by August.Source: MLB.com
Bills GM Believes In LeSean McCoy For 2019
3 days agoBuffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane had encouraging words to say about LeSean McCoy to beat reporters. "We’re focused on this year," Beane said. "That’s what we have him under contract for, and I definitely think he’s got enough left in the tank to help us in 2019.” McCoy is 31 years old and entering a contract season. His 3.2 yards per carry last year was a career-worst mark, but the Bills have added some offensive line help as well as more reliable backups in Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon. Don't reach for McCoy on draft day, but there's some sneaky value in McCoy if he falls in your draft. As of now, he stands to receive a good amount of carries in what should be an improved Buffalo offense.Source: NYup.com
Ian Kennedy Records Fifth Save Since Break
3 days agoKansas City Royals closer Ian Kennedy was at it again on Thursday as he nailed down his fifth save since the All-Star break. Kennedy was touched up for his first allowed run of the second-half of the season, but a three-pitch punch out of AJ Reed ended the Chicago comeback. Kennedy is the perfect type of attraction for a trade before the deadline except he has an albatross of a contract. Kennedy is making $12 million per year for this year and next, so he'll probably only be moved this season if KC's willing to eat some more of his contract. Not impossible, but unlikely.Source: MLB.com
Manuel Margot Back On Fantasy Map
3 days agoSan Diego Padres outfielder Manuel Margot came a home run short of the cycle in Thursday’s loss to the Miami Marlins. Margot finished the day 3-for-3 with a walk, lifting his slash to .251/.322/.403. While the overall numbers aren’t impressive, Margot has posted a 1.095 OPS in July with three homers, two steals and a surprising nine walks compared to seven strikeouts. The 24-year-old has gone from fantasy sleeper in 2018 to a nonfactor this season but has quietly improved his plate discipline and earned every day playing time in center field. With a perfect 12-for-12 in steals, if he regains the modest pop he showed in 2017 (13 homers), Margot could reclaim relevance as a deeper-league or low-cost DFS option.Source: MLB.com
Avonte Maddox Could Have an Increased Role This Season
3 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox could have a bigger role in the defensive secondary this season. He played very well in his rookie season last year and reports stated he was "one of the best players on the field" throughout the Eagles offseason program. Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills seem to be atop the depth chart, but both have legitimate injury concerns which could open up a starting role for Maddox. Even if both guys are healthy, Maddox has looked good enough to earn some time in base packages besides playing his role as slot corner.Source: Philly Voice
Jalen Mills Unlikely to Be Ready for Training Camp
3 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills (foot) is unlikely to be ready to go for the start of training camp. Mills was placed on injured reserve in October after suffering a foot injury and did not participate in any of the offseason program. Reports state that Mills was not even on the field working with the other injured Eagles players. It's unknown for now if Mills is expected to be ready for Week 1, but he'd need to get a lot of work in soon for that to be a realistic possibility. The Eagles may have some depth chart issues in their secondary if some of their guys don't heal quickly.Source: Philly Voice
Randy Gregory Will Apply for Reinstatement This Week
3 days agoDallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory will reportedly apply for reinstatement this week. Gregory recorded six sacks last season, playing in 16 games including playoff games. He was suspended in February for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. It seems that Dallas feels Gregory at least has a good chance at being reinstated however, as the team signed him to a one-year extension in April. For now, the talented defensive lineman is suspended "indefinitely" but no one knows what that means in the NFL's discipline department.Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Matt Chapman Out Thursday
3 days agoThe Oakland Athletics will take the field Thursday without one of their offensive leaders. Matt Chapman exited Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners with ankle soreness and will sit Thursday's game out. Chapman is currently batting .280 and leads Oakland in home runs and RBI with 22 and 59, respectively. The 26-year-old is already two home runs away from matching his career-high as he appears poised for a career year. Chad Pinder will start at third and bat eighth in Chapman's place against the Minnesota Twins.Source: Susan Slusser Twitter
Ender Inciarte Activated Off IL
3 days agoThe Atlanta Braves activated outfielder Ender Inciarte off the injured list Thursday after two months sidelined with a right lumbar strain. The 28-year-old is batting just .218 through 40 games this season, seemingly well on his way to a career-worst season. Inciarte's place on the Braves roster has been called into question lately as other members of the Atlanta roster have outperformed him. That has ultimately led to trade speculation. The Braves currently sit atop the NL East, ahead of the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.Source: Atlanta Braves Twitter
Nick Senzel Out Against St. Louis
3 days agoThe Cincinnati Reds will be without starting center fielder Nick Senzel on Thursday as they begin a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The 24-year-old exited Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs early with a hamstring injury but later downplayed it as nothing serious. The Reds are currently considering him day-to-day, with the possibility of him missing just one game still being viable. The rookie is batting .273 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 61 games since being promoted at the start of May. Jesse Winker will start in center and bat leadoff on Thursday.Source: Cincinnati Reds Twitter
Niko Goodrum Returns To Tigers Lineup
3 days agoDetroit Tigers utility man Niko Goodrum will return to the starting lineup Thursday after missing one day with a right pinky injury. The 27-year-old suffered the injury during batting practice after taking a pitch to his hand. Goodrum later underwent X-rays which came back negative and he's back in the lineup. For the season, the three-year veteran is batting .242 with seven home runs and 30 RBI. Against the Cleveland Indians, the Georgia native will bat ninth and start at first base. This season, Goodrum has started at least one game in every position besides catcher and pitcher.Source: Detroit Tigers Twitter
Corey Kluber Has Successful Bullpen Session
3 days agoFor Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber it's one session down, another one coming soon. The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw a successful bullpen session Wednesday, tossing 20 pitching. According to Indians manager Terry Francona, the 33-year-old will play catch Thursday, long toss Friday and throw his second bullpen session on Sunday. In his first pitching session since suffering a broken arm on May 1st, Kluber exclusively threw fastballs, with the plan being to mix in his other pitches eventually. The Indians never set a timetable for his return and have still not done so.Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel Remain Unsigned
3 days agoApproaching training camp, the San Francisco 49ers first two picks of 2019 remain unsigned. Defensive end Nick Bosa, the second overall pick, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel represent two of the eight total 2019 NFL draftees that have not reached a deal. Bosa, who many experts expect to make an immediate impact, could lift the Niners defense from its 28th-ranked fantasy DST. More worrisome is Samuel, who will miss valuable reps with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo if he’s unable to report to camp on time. With a crowded receiving corps, the rookie could conceivably sink on the depth chart, severely negating any redraft value he currently possesses.Source: Twitter - Field Yates
Rich Hill Completes First Tosses In A Month
3 days agoIt has been four weeks since Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill went down with a flexor tendon injury, but on Thursday he made significant progress. The veteran tossed 25 pitches from a distance of 45 feet, his first time throwing a baseball since the injury. Hill, 39, appears to be safe from initial worries, which ranged from him missing the rest of the year to a worst-case scenario of Tommy John surgery. In 10 starts this season, he's posted a 2.55 ERA and a 4-1 record, rounding out a potent Dodgers pitching staff. Should everything go as planned, a return in August would be the likely scenario.Source: Bill Plunkett Twitter
Ryan Borucki To Make Next Start With Toronto
3 days agoRyan Borucki is finally on the verge of making his 2019 Toronto Blue Jays debut. The 24-year-old, who posted a 3.87 in 17 starts as a rookie last year, has been dealing with left elbow soreness for the majority of this season. After beginning a rehab assignment late last month, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo confirmed Thursday that Borucki would make his season debut either Sunday or Monday. In his 18 innings of rehab, he posted a 3.00 ERA and struck out 19, appearing more than ready to contribute to this Blue Jays pitching staff.Source: Mike Wilner Twitter
Nathan Eovaldi Tosses Scoreless Inning In Rehab
3 days agoThe Boston Red Sox are getting closer to activating their future closer. Nathan Eovaldi pitched a scoreless inning with Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday as he continues his comeback. The 29-year-old has been out since late April with a loose body in his right elbow. Recently, the Red Sox announced that he would be returning in a relief role, specifically to be the team closer. Eovaldi could reportedly return to the major league squad as early as this upcoming weekend. The Red Sox have struggled to replace Craig Kimbrel in the closer role, currently 11 games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees in the loss column.Source: Alex Speier Twitter
Wily Peralta Tries To Lose Game, Fails
3 days agoKansas City Royals relief pitcher Wily Peralta tried his best to spoil a five-run lead on Wednesday night, but teammate Ian Kennedy came in to put out the fire at the last second. Peralta was tasked with the easy job of protecting the monster lead for just one inning, but after allowing two runners and getting two outs, Peralta grooved a hanging breaking ball to AJ Reed to see how far he could hit it. Reed deposited the pitch 20 feet over the center-field fence, and Peralta exited to allow Kennedy to finish out the job. Peralta hasn't gone three-straight appearances without allowing a run in nearly a month, and his 5.26 ERA reflects that he still isn't very good. While some members of KC's bullpen might be on the move before the trade deadline, it's unlikely Peralta will be one of them.Source: MLB.com
A.J. Pollock Out of the Lineup on Thursday
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder A.J. Pollock (rest) is out the lineup for the series finale against the Phillies on Thursday. The 31-year-old has produced five home runs, 22 RBI, 21 runs, and a .250 batting average in 33 games this season, but has started to swing the bat really well over the past two weeks with three home runs, eight RBI, and a productive .381 batting average. Alex Verdugo will take over in center field and bat second against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. Both Pollock and Verdugo should be owned in deep mixed leagues.Source: FantasyLabs MLB
Danny Duffy Throws Quality Start In Win
3 days agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy posted his best start since the All-Star break when he held down the White Sox for six innings en route to his fourth win of the season. Duffy's start on Wednesday night included five strikeouts and no walks, and he only allowed two earned runs during his six frames. Duffy's anything but dependable, but he's acceptable as a back-end starter in deeper leagues, waffling between quality starts (five of his last eight starts) and shellackings (two of his last eight starts). One of those losers came at the hands of Boston, as somewhat expected, but the other came from Detroit. Duffy will next face the Braves in Atlanta, which is a start that is more likely to be ugly than useful.Source: MLB.com
Corey Seager Will Rest on Thursday
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is out of the lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Phillies. The 25-year-old has produced eight home runs, 39 RBI, 41 runs and a .270 batting average across 72 games, but will take a seat against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. Enrique Hernandez will bat seventh in the lineup and fill in at shortstop.Source: FantasyLabs MLB
Jorge Soler Knocks In Runs With Singles
3 days agoKansas City Royals slugger Jorge Soler is mostly known for the damage he does with the long ball, but he showed that he can help win a game with just singles on Wednesday. Soler came up with runners on in both the first and fifth innings, and he successfully plated three of them with a pair of sharp hits. The three RBI helped push KC to their fifth victory since the All-Star break, and they extended the slugger's streak of games with either an RBI or a run scored to six straight. Soler's 25 home runs are his bread and butter, and there's no real indication that those will continue to be his main focus, but if he could focus a little more on days like Wednesday, hitting critical singles to drive in some runs, he could leap from low-average power hitter to all-around dangerous player to face.Source: MLB.com
