RADIO
Elvis Alvarado Emerging as Priority Closer to Pick Up?
Athletics right-hander Elvis Alvarado struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Rockies. He has now converted saves in each of his last two outings and has pitched 5⅓ scoreless innings since returning to the big-league roster on June 5. Alvarado has put himself firmly in the mix in the Athletics' closing committee. Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow, Justin Sterner, Jack Perkins, and Alvarado have all recorded at least one save for the Athletics this season. Through 15 innings this season, Alvarado owns a 5.40 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with a 20:7 K:BB ratio, while adding two saves and four holds. With momentum on his side, he's worth a look for fantasy managers chasing saves and is currently rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelen Culpepper Removed Early from Triple-A Game, On Call-Up Watch?
Minnesota Twins shortstop Kaelen Culpepper was removed early during his Triple-A game in Toledo on Saturday. There hasn't been a reason given yet, which could mean that the 23-year-old is heading to the big leagues. Before this game, Culpepper was slashing .277/.381/.504 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 60 games at Triple-A this season. Culpepper is currently the Twins' No. 2 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. They selected him in the first-round of the 2024 draft out of Kansas State. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates. A move to the big leagues would make Culpepper a popular waiver wire addition.
Source: Emily Waldon
Source: Emily Waldon
Yainer Diaz Could Return Next Week
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (oblique) could rejoin the team as early as next Monday, according to Brian McTaggart. Diaz has been sidelined since early May due to a left oblique strain. He began a rehab assignment in early June and appears to be nearing his return to the big league roster. The assumption is that Diaz will reclaim the starting catcher gig once he's back on the roster. Before going down, Diaz was slashing .238/.255/.347 with two home runs and 14 RBI across 26 games. Those aren't great numbers, but Diaz does have a good track record as a hitter throughout his career. Fantasy managers in need of help at the catching position should consider scooping up Diaz with his return looming.
Source: Brian McTaggart
Source: Brian McTaggart
Angel Martinez Suffers Foot Contusion
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Martinez suffered a left foot contusion when he fouled a ball off his foot during the first inning of this contest. He stayed in the game for a bit, but was replaced by Steven Kwan in the third inning. The X-rays on his left foot came back negative for any fractures. For now, fantasy managers should consider Martinez as day-to-day. He's the second Guardians outfielder to go down during this game, with Chase DeLauter (ribs) leaving as well. The Guardians will need to make some roster changes if neither player can get back in the lineup within a few days.
Source: Tim Stebbins
Source: Tim Stebbins
Chase DeLauter Dealing With Rib-Cage Contusion
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter (ribs) was removed early during Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. DeLauter suffered a right ribcage contusion when he crashed into the wall during the first inning. He stayed in the game and singled in his lone at-bat of the game in the bottom of the inning. DeLauter was pulled for Daniel Schneeman after showing signs of discomfort while running to first base. It's unclear at the moment if DeLauter will be forced to miss additional time from this injury. For now, fantasy managers should consider DeLauter as day-to-day until more information on his status is available.
Source: Zack Meisel
Source: Zack Meisel
Roman Anthony is Progressing Slowly
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) is reportedly still experiencing discomfort when he attempts to swing the bat. Anthony has been out since early May due to a sprained ligament in his finger. He has attempted to resume baseball activities, but was shut down on multiple occasions. Despite the complications, Anthony believes that he is slowly progressing from his injury. Given his current pace, Anthony is unlikely to be back in the mix anytime soon. At best, Anthony might be able to rejoin the Red Sox roster in July after going through a rehab assignment. The young slugger still needs to be able to swing the bat before he can advance any further.
Source: Christopher Smith
Source: Christopher Smith
Rockies to Promote Prospect Eiberson Castellano, Worth a Pickup?
Colorado Rockies pitcher Eiberson Castellano has been called up to the big leagues on Saturday. The 25-year-old is set to make his MLB debut after pitching well in the minor leagues. This season, Castellano owns a 2.44 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 60:29 K:BB ratio across 11 appearances (10 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A. The expectation is that Castellano will work in a long relief role with Jeff Criswell being optioned to the minors. Castellano has worked as both a reliever and a starting pitcher during his time in the minors. He likely won't have fantasy value out of the bullpen, but he could be a deep league option if he sticks in the rotation.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Jose Ramirez Heading to Injured List with Fractured Hamate Bone
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) made an early exit from Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Ramirez was pulled in the sixth inning with an undisclosed injury. Now, Ramirez has been diagnosed with a fractured left hamate bone and will head to the Injured List. The Guardians haven't given a timetable for Ramirez, but he figures to miss at least a month of action. The expectation is that David Fry and Daniel Schneemann will see increased opportunities at the hot corner. The Guardians could turn to prospect Angel Genao, but that's likely dependent on how long Ramirez is going to be sidelined. This is a tough break for the Guardians and for fantasy managers who will be without the superstar slugger for an extended period of time.
Source: Zack Meisel
Source: Zack Meisel
Tigers Place Jack Flaherty on Injured List With Peroneal Strain
The Detroit Tigers announced on Saturday that they placed right-hander Jack Flaherty (ankle, foot) on the 15-day injured list with a left peroneal strain and recalled infielder Hao-Yu Lee from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. The Tigers pulled Flaherty from his start early on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians with an injury to his outer ankle/foot. The good news for Detroit is that they are getting ace left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) back on Saturday, with right-hander Casey Mize (groin) coming back from the IL on Sunday in the series finale against Cleveland. It's unclear how much time Flaherty will be forced to miss, but he will at least be out for a couple of turns through the starting rotation. The 30-year-old veteran has had a rough second year in Motown, losing a league-high eight games in his first 15 starts, also posting an ERA above 5.00 with a 1.57 WHIP, 78 strikeouts, and 34 walks in 65 2/3 innings pitched. Flaherty has been a bit unlucky this year, but even when considering his 4.60 expected ERA and 4.10 FIP, there's not a ton to like. He's currently rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Tigers PR
Source: Tigers PR
Randy Arozarena Out of Saturday's Lineup with Hamstring Injury
Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena (left hamstring) exited Friday's game against the Nationals after tweaking his hamstring on a groundout to first base and will be held out of Saturday's lineup. Arozarena limped down the line and was removed as a precaution. Manager Dan Wilson described it as "a little bit of a hamstring strain, might have been more of a spasm or a cramp kind of a thing." Arozarena passed strength tests, did not require imaging, and told reporters he expects to be ready in a couple of days. Arozarena has been one of Seattle's most productive players this season, posting a strong .291/.377/.448 line with 18 doubles, seven home runs, and 19 stolen bases. While he remains out of action on Saturday, Luke Raley and Victor Robles will cover the corner outfield positions while Julio Rodriguez remains the center fielder.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kris Bubic Suffers Setback in First Rehab Outing
Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) suffered a setback in his recovery as he exited his first rehab outing early on Tuesday. Bubic allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings during the outing with Triple-A Omaha. Manager Matt Quatraro said Bubic's forearm feels good, but his shoulder did not respond well to the start. Bubic is scheduled to see a doctor this weekend for further evaluation. Bubic was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 18 with left elbow soreness after his May 14 start against the White Sox, but will now be further evaluated for another injury. What was initially expected to be a short absence has dragged on. In nine starts before the injury, he went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA. Managers in deeper 12+ team leagues should still view him as a viable stash option heading into Week 12, as he was very productive on the bump last season, logging 116 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.55 ERA.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani Returns to Lineup on Saturday After Injury Scare
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (knee) was held out of Friday's lineup against the White Sox due to left-knee inflammation, but he is back in the starting nine ahead of their contest on Saturday. Ohtani experienced discomfort in his left knee and hamstring area following a stolen-base attempt (nullified by a foul ball) and was removed as a precaution. Fortunately, the superstar avoided a major injury and is back at the top of the Dodger lineup serving as the designated hitter. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case the team opts to give him rest days at the dish and potentially modify his short-term pitching schedule. Through 67 games in the batter's box, Ohtani has posted a stellar .305/.421/.543 line with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, and six stolen bases, and remains a must-start option in all formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Paul Sewald Remains Priority Target for Saves on the Waiver Wire
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Paul Sewald has settled in as the primary closer and continues to deliver strong results in high-leverage situations. Sewald owns a 3.20 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings across 28 appearances. He has already recorded 16 saves and has been particularly sharp in recent outings, posting a 1.29 ERA over his last seven appearances. His command has been excellent, and he has limited hard contact while generating consistent swing-and-miss with his sweeper-and-fastball combination. While the Diamondbacks' bullpen has some depth behind him, Sewald has earned the trust of the coaching staff in the ninth inning and looks like the clear closer moving forward. For fantasy managers in need of saves, he remains a reliable and productive option in leagues where he's still available, as he is currently rostered in about 65% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Out of Lineup With Back Tightness
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) is out of the lineup on Saturday due to back tightness. Manager John Schneider commented before the game that the five-time All-Star's back tightened up during Friday's contest and that his absence on Saturday is purely precautionary to avoid aggravating the issue. The good news is that he is feeling better, and the hope is that with minimal time off, he can return to full health. His status is considered day-to-day, with updates likely to provide more clarity ahead of Sunday's game. The usually durable and reliable first baseman has hit just three home runs this season and is enduring what would be considered a down year by his standards, despite posting a .280 batting average. Charles McAdoo will get the start at first base on Saturday and is batting eighth in the lineup.
Source: Mitch Bannon
Source: Mitch Bannon
Giancarlo Stanton Suffers Setback While Running the Bases
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) suffered a setback earlier this week while running the bases. Manager Aaron Boone said that the 36-year-old felt a tweak earlier in the week and that additional imaging may be needed to determine the extent of the injury. There had been some hope that Stanton would return to the lineup at some point during the Yankees' upcoming homestand, but that optimism is now in jeopardy. Given his extensive injury history, the team would be wise to continue taking a cautious approach with his recovery. As such, there is no timetable for his return until more is known about the severity of the setback.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
