1 day agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher Cooper Criswell struggled against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, on Thursday. Criswell only last 3 2/3 innings and allowed four hits, five runs (three earned), two walks and three strikeouts. It was the worst performance of the season for Criswell, and he still owns a solid 2.76 ERA with the rough performance. With starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock (oblique) due back as early as next week, Criswell is likely to shift to a swingman role moving forward. Despite his good overall numbers, Criswell is unlikely to help much in the fantasy community and can be avoided in most formats.Source: MLB.com
1 day agoNew York Mets starting pitcher Jose Quintana picked up a no-decision in Thursday's contest versus the division rival Philadelphia Phillies. The veteran lefty tossed 5 1/3 frames and allowed four hits, two runs, no walks and struck out four on the evening. Quintana is who he is at this point in his career and that is an innings eater. With an ugly 5.21 ERA over his first nine starts, the 35-year-old can be avoided in a tough matchup versus the Cleveland Guardians and should remain on the waiver wire in all formats moving forward.Source: MLB.com
1 day agoColorado Rockies outfield prospect Robert Calaz has been off to a great start to the season in the Rookie League and is making a case for a promotion to Single-A. On Thursday, the 18-year-old went 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a triple. This brings him to an incredible .406/.500/.875 slash line through nine games this season. Calaz has now tallied multiple hits in five games and has only gone hitless in two of them. He spent time in the Rookie League last season, logging 43 games with a .325/.423/.561 line. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the 11th overall prospect in the Rockies system but does not expect him to reach the major leagues for another several years. Calaz remains a name to monitor in dynasty leagues, as he could develop into one of Colorado's best young bats.Source: MiLB.com
1 day agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (toe) left Wednesday's start after being hit by a liner on the foot, but he is feeling encouraged about making his next start. Matt Gelb of The Athletic has reported that Walker's toe is not broken. He also notes that it is no sure thing that Walker will make his next start, but the club will see how the right-hander is feeling on Friday. Walker got a late start to the season after dealing with shoulder pain and is 3-0 with a 4.91 ERA over his first four starts of the season. More should be known on his status on Friday, but it does not seem like a long-term injury. If Walker were to miss his next start, Spencer Turnbull would likely draw the spot start.Source: Matt Gelb
2 days agoBaltimore Orioles infield prospect Jackson Holliday tallied two hits and his fourth home run of the season on Thursday. This brings him to a solid .283/.438/.491 line with a stellar 29:26 BB:K ratio through 27 games at Triple-A. Holliday made his major league debut earlier this season but struggled through the small ten-game sample size. Since returning to the minor leagues, Holliday has not been as dominant as he was earlier in the season with a low .234/.395/.406 slash line, but hopefully, Thursday's performance can get him back on track. Holliday is considered the top prospect in all of baseball and should be expected to return to the major leagues very soon. The 20-year-old remains a great stash candidate in all formats.Source: MiLB.com
2 days agoTampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Erasmo Ramirez relieved relief pitcher Jason Adam with two outs in the ninth inning to record his first save of the season in Thursday's victory against the Boston Red Sox. Closer Pete Fairbanks seemed to have the night off and Adam got himself in trouble with two runners on base when Ramirez entered the ballgame. Ramirez has allowed seven runs in the 13 innings he has thrown this year and can be avoided in all formats with Fairbanks and Adam in line to receive most of the Rays save chances moving forward.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Thursday's victory versus the Boston Red Sox. The home run was the second of the season for Lowe. The outfielder began his season on the injured list with an oblique injury, but has hit .294 with a pair of homers and three RBI in his first 34 at-bats since being activated on May 6. Lowe has consistently hit second or third this season for the Rays and should have plenty of opportunities to put up power numbers. He also is capable of stealing bases with 32 in 2023. The 26-year-old offers help across the board and should be rostered in most formats moving forward.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoCincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz had a monster game on Thursday, going 4-for-4 with a double, three runs, an RBI, and an astounding four stolen bases. De La Cruz is now at 30 swipes on the season, putting him on a pace not seen since the 1980s. Although he has slowed down at the dish in May, he is still a major fantasy asset due to his stolen bases. He also has a .277 AVG, 35 runs, nine homers, and 22 RBI to round out his line, making him a five-category contributor. He's looking like a future first-rounder in fantasy leagues at this point.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado had a tough outing on Thursday, blowing the save and taking the loss in a 6-5 defeat at the hands of the New York Mets. Alvarado allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out two. It was a tough situation for the lefty, who inherited the ghost runner in a one-run game. He had been rock solid of late, allowing just one run in his last eight innings pitched. Alvarado should still be the go-to guy for the Phillies, but don't expect him to always pitch in save situations as the team has shown the willingness to use him earlier in games.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier had his best start of the season on Thursday, going six scoreless innings in an 8-1 win over the Oakland Athletics. Javier allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out a season-high eight. The 27-year-old got 15 whiffs on 39 swings, including five on his slider, six on his changeup, and four on his fastball, indicating he had everything working in this one. He lowered his ERA to 3.23 and his WHIP to 1.24 with the solid start. Although things haven't been easy for Javier this season, he is worth rostering in fantasy because of his ability to have outings like this one.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoPittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar continued his recent run of success on Thursday, tossing a scoreless inning to pick up the save in a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs. Bednar didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one. After a horrid April that included three blown saves and a loss, Bednar has bounced back in May, going 4-for-4 in save opportunities while allowing just two runs in seven innings. Fantasy managers can rest easy with Bednar for now, as he should continue as the team's closer for the foreseeable future.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran had a big game on Thursday, going 3-for-5 with a homer and two doubles in a 7-5 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. Duran added a pair of runs and an RBI to round out his line. The lefty now has five extra-base hits in his last two games after hitting a pair of doubles yesterday and following it up with today's performance. After a slump in late April, Duran has somewhat returned to his early-season form, although the steals haven't been there recently. He isn't much of a fantasy asset without the swipes, so his owners will have to hope those come back.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoHouston Astros outfielder Joey Loperfido went 1-for-3 with his first major league homer in an 8-1 win over the Oakland Athletics. Loperfido also scored a run and drove in two. The 25-year-old has enjoyed modest success in his young career so far, slashing .324/.378/.441 with a homer and a steal in 34 at-bats. He hasn't been playing every day, though, and the pending return of Chas McCormick might make playing time even tougher to come by. He doesn't need to be added in standard leagues unless something changes with his playing time.Source: MLB.com
2 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz (elbow) made his third minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Thursday, throwing 3 1/3 innings while allowing one run on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Baz threw 69 pitches on Thursday as he continues on the road to recovery from Tommy John surgery, and he'll likely need another appearance or two in the minors to sharpen things up before rejoining Tampa Bay's injury-riddled rotation. The 24-year-old former top prospect should be able to return before the end of May at this rate, so he's worth a stash in the majority of fantasy leagues. For his major-league career, Baz features a promising 4.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while fanning 48 and walking 12 through 40 1/3 frames (nine starts) for the Rays.Source: Thomas Nestico
2 days agoSeattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (oblique, hand) is not traveling with the team ahead of Friday's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Crawford's hand is still sore and a little swollen after getting hit by a pitch during Wednesday's minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, and the M's aren't certain when he'll rejoin the club. Working his way back from a strained right oblique as well, the 29-year-old infielder will likely need a few days to allow the swelling in his hand to go down before getting back into game action. It may be enough to keep Crawford from being reinstated from the injured list this weekend. Fantasy managers should have a few more days of streaming value out of utility man Josh Rojas, who's taken over as Seattle's primary leadoff man while slashing a potent .330/.395/.482 with three home runs, nine RBI, 12 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 126 plate appearances (35 games) this year.Source: Ryan Divish - The Seattle Times
2 days agoChicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (hamstring), who remained out of Thursday's lineup, went through a more regular pregame workout before the game against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Craig Counsell said. If all goes well, the hope is that Hoerner will be back in Chicago's lineup for the second game of the series against Pittsburgh on Friday. The 27-year-old contact-hitting infielder appears to be on the cusp of a return from tightness in his left hamstring after being out of the lineup in each of the past three contests, so fantasy managers should expect to get him back without needing a trip to the injured list. In 41 games (156 at-bats) before picking up the injury, Hoerner slashed .269/.361/.391 with two home runs, 11 doubles, 12 RBI, 25 runs scored, and five stolen bases as the Cubs' primary leadoff hitter.Source: Maddie Lee - Chicago Sun-Times
2 days agoChicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (knee) continued to ramp up his activity ahead of Thursday's game against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, including fielding ground balls. After a period of rest, recovery, and treatment, Swanson did some light running and agility work and played catch before Wednesday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves and seems to be progressing well in his recuperation from a sprained right knee. The 30-year-old star infielder is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list as early as Saturday's contest against Pittsburgh, though it's unclear if he'll need a brief minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs activate him. Although Swanson was slashing a meager .209/.285/.341 with four home runs, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 37 games (129 at-bats) as Chicago's everyday shortstop before the injury, he's a must-stash player in all fantasy leagues.Source: Mike McGraw - Daily Herald
2 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers shortstop/outfield prospect Wilman Diaz tallied two hits and stole three bases on Wednesday to lead Single-A Rancho Cucamonga to a victory. During the season, Diaz has posted a .200/.305/.289 slash line with nine total stolen bases and no home runs. The 20-year-old has flashed his elite speed throughout his time in the minor leagues and is on pace to steal double-digit bases in consecutive years. In the batter's box, this performance will hopefully help Diaz break out of his May slump, as he has a weak .133/.257/.133 line. Diaz could force a promotion to High-A later this summer but should be left on the waiver wire in all dynasty leagues for the foreseeable future.Source: MiLB.com
2 days agoDetroit Tigers shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle extended his hit streak to six games with a two-hit performance on Wednesday. On the season, the 19-year-old has totaled 18 hits through 15 games this season with a .321/.406/.464 slash line with a long ball and an 8:8 BB:K ratio. Since he started his hit streak on May 8, he is sporting an incredible .357/.400/.536 line. McGonigle got a small taste of Single-A last season and is settling in quite nicely in his first extended look. He should be expected to reach High-A later this summer and could become a name to monitor in dynasty leagues down the road.Source: MiLB.com
2 days agoChicago White Sox third base/outfield prospect Wilfred Veras went 3-for-4 at the plate on Wednesday with two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's victory. Veras has been doing very well with Double-A Birmingham this season with a .328/.352/.529 slash line with five home runs through 30 games. However, he has posted a high 40:3 K:BB. Last season in 38 games at Double-A, the 21-year-old posted a similar .309/.346/.533 line with six home runs. MLB Pipeline ranks Veras as the 25th-best prospect in the White Sox's system, but he could easily climb higher due to his stellar performance this season. He should be expected to reach Triple-A later this summer and is worth monitoring in dynasty leagues.Source: MiLB.com
2 days agoTexas Rangers left-hander Brock Burke (hand) has been sent to the Arizona Complex League Rangers in the Rookie league on a minor-league rehab assignment. Burke is scheduled to pitch for the ACL Rangers in Thursday's game against the ACL Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Burke is trying to recover from a broken right (non-throwing) hand that landed him on the injured list on April 13. The 27-year-old southpaw had allowed five earned runs on nine hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out five in three innings out of the Texas bullpen earlier this year before going on the shelf. Since he's currently on the 60-day injured list, Burke will not be eligible to return to the team's big-league bullpen until June 12. When healthy, Burke isn't on the fantasy radar in a middle-relief role.Source: Texas Rangers PR
2 days agoBoston Red Sox shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer has been on fire to begin the season but has been especially dominant through the early part of May. Since May 1, the 21-year-old has a .314/.379/.529 line with one home run, 11 RBI, three stolen bases, and a 6:9 BB:K ratio. On the season, the top prospect in Boston has posted a .310/.359/.496 slash line. After struggling through 43 games at Double-A last season, Mayer has begun to find his footing and is making a case to be moved up to Triple-A very soon. MLB Pipeline projects him to reach the major leagues this season and could become a stash candidate later in the summer if he continues to dominant minor league pitching.Source: MiLB.com
2 days agoThe Los Angeles Angels acquired right-hander Roansy Contreras from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations, according to sources. The Pirates had designated Contreras for assignment last Saturday. The 24-year-old Dominican hurler went 1-0 with the Pirates with a 4.41 ERA (5.01 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with eight walks and 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 relief innings over 12 outings out of the bullpen this year before being traded to the American League. In his four big-league seasons in Pittsburgh, Contreras has made 53 appearances, with 30 of them coming in a starting role, so he could become an option to make some spot starts for the Halos eventually. Contreras has a career 4.83 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with weak 20.2% strikeout rate and a 10.1% walk rate. Fantasy managers can continue ignoring him.Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
2 days agoKansas City Royals starting pitching prospect Chandler Champlain posted his best outing of the season by tallying 10 punchouts across 6 1/3 shutout innings on Wednesday. This outing brings the 24-year-old to a 3.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through 36 innings at Double-A. Champlain has been on a nice run since the start of May with a 0.52 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings. Champlain is ranked as the 11th-best prospect in the Kanas City system on MLB Pipeline and is projected to reach the majors sometime next season. However, dynasty fantasy managers should begin to pay close attention to him, as a promotion to Triple-A could be imminent. He has totaled 109 innings at Double-A over the past two years.Source: MiLB.com
2 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (foot) was forced to leave his start early on Thursday against the visiting division-rival New York Mets after he was hit by a line drive on his left foot. Before leaving the contest early, Walker allowed two earned runs on four hits (one homer to Pete Alonso) while walking two and striking out one in 3 1/3 innings pitched. The Phillies are likely to do some tests on Walker, at which point we should have a better idea of the severity of his injury and whether it will cause him to miss his next start. The 31-year-old got a late start to the season due to injury and came into Thursday's start with a 4.82 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings over his first three starts. After giving up two more runs on Thursday, Walker's ERA now stands at 4.91. UPDATE: Walker's injury is being called a foot contusion, but he's scheduled for more testing.Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia
2 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (elbow) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his UCL on Wednesday. The procedure was performed successfully by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Sheehan was cleared to face hitters in late March but then was shut down in the middle of April when he had a setback with his right elbow. The 24-year-old will now miss all of the 2024 season and probably will not be able to return for the Dodgers until around midseason in 2025. It's a big blow for one of the Dodgers' promising young arms after he made his big-league debut in 2023, going 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA (4.85 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP while walking 26 and striking out 64 in 60 1/3 innings over his 13 outings (11 starts). Sheehan can now be safely dropped by any fantasy managers in deeper redraft leagues that were hanging onto him in an IL spot.Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
2 days agoFor the second straight day on Thursday, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) went through a full agility workout at Citizens Bank Park while taking ground balls and also hitting inside in the cages. It has only been 13 days since he injured his left hamstring and is progressing at a surprising pace given the original timetable of around six weeks. The 30-year-old All-Star is making fantastic progress, but the Phillies will probably pump the brakes on him returning too soon and aggravating his injury, especially given the nature of Turner's game on the basepaths. However, if Turner continues to progress at this pace, he'll surely beat his projected six-week timetable, which is great news for his fantasy managers. Edmundo Sosa will continue to work as the Phillies' starter at the 6 until Turner returns from his hamstring ailment. Keep Turner stashed in all fantasy formats.Source: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
2 days agoNew York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) is getting closer to a return and being sent on a minor-league rehab assignment. "We all feel better about it here than we would have 5-6 days ago," Stearns said on Thursday. The front-office executive also said Senga had a good bullpen session recently where the Japanese hurler felt like he made some strides. There's no set date for when Senga will go on a rehab assignment, but that's the next step in his recovery after he took a step back recently in his rehab to deal with some mechanical issues. The 31-year-old looks to have moved past those issues and could be on the cusp of making his 2024 debut, although fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the Mets want to see him make a handful of minor-league starts first. Senga should be stashed in all fantasy leagues.Source: SNY
2 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and infielder Jared Triolo are both out of the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a home run in Wednesday's loss to the Milwaukee Brewersread more...
2 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages will be hitting the bench for the first time since his major league promotion on Thursday. The 23-year-old has been a lineup lock for just over the past month in Los Angeles. As a result, Teoscar Hernandez will move over to right field and bat cleanup, which opens up left field for Chris Taylor, who will bat seventh. Pages has performed exceptionally well in his first taste of the majors with a .260/.300/.440 line with four long balls and one swiped bag and should be expected to return to the starting lineup on Friday. Both Hernandez and Taylor are viable options in DFS today, as the Reds will have a bullpen game this evening with southpaw Brent Suter serving as the opener.Source: MLB.com